Wild New Donkey Kong Truck Swings Into Monster Jam

2007-12-06

For decades, Donkey Kong has thrown his weight around in video games. Now he’s hitting the road – literally. On Saturday, Dec. 8, the outrageous new Donkey Kong Monster Jam truck makes its debut at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minn. Each year some 100 Monster Jam events attract fans from all over the country to see 10,000-pound trucks in action.

The Donkey Kong truck features the iconic video game character looking ready to rumble with the other classic trucks from Monster Jam. The truck includes Donkey Kong’s big ears, stylish tuft of hair and, best of all, his signature red tie. The dress code for Monster Jam trucks just got a little classier.

“Donkey Kong has always been a force to be reckoned with,” says George Harrison, Nintendo of America’s senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications. “The new Donkey Kong truck lets us show off his rowdy behavior to his fans, whether they have been playing his games for decades or just discovered them.”

“Monster Jam has a long history of touring the biggest brand names in the entertainment business, and Donkey Kong is another perfect entertainment brand,” said Ken Hudgens, vice president of marketing, Live Nation Motor Sports, Inc. “We are very excited to get the truck touring, because we think the Donkey Kong monster truck will appeal to fans of all ages.”

Donkey Kong made his debut in the 1981 arcade classic of the same name. He has since starred in numerous video games, most recently Donkey Kong: Barrel Blast for Wii and DK Jungle Climber for Nintendo DS. Worldwide, the Donkey Kong franchise has sold more than 48 million units.

Monster Jam is the leading monster truck tour in the world. Each year Monster Jam shows entertain over 4 million live event spectators in North America and Europe, totaling over 350 performances annually. Monster Jam tours only the 10,000 pound/ 2,000 horse power monster trucks with the most recognizable names in the business, including Grave Digger, Maximum Destruction, Monster Mutt, and El Toro Loco to name a few.

The Donkey Kong Monster Jam truck will join races in various cities throughout 2008. For a list of future appearances of the Donkey Kong Monster Jam truck, keep an eye on www.monsterjamonline.com.