Fayetteville residents have a pretty diverse taste in entertainment. While some people are into theatre and art, others are into simpler past times, while still others are adrenalin junkies. If you fall into the latter category, you are not going to want to miss one of rowdiest events of the new year: ThunderSlam at the Crown Coliseum, Jan. 7-8.

ThunderSlam brings some of the best-known monster trucks in the world to the Crown, and organizers of the event have pulled out all of the stops to make sure that the show will be one for the books.

“We are bringing the biggest, baddest son-of-a-gun of all monster trucks to Fayetteville,” said Ron Leach, the “man, the myth, the legend” behind MonsterSlam.

Leach said that some of the best known names in the sport will be racing, flipping and crushing their way through the coliseum for two rowdy nights of fun.

Headlining the event will be Big Foot, the truck that is also known as the King of Monster Trucks. Big Foot will be in good company with Viper and Ghostrider, the champion back-fl ipping monster truck. Throughout the twohour show, the trucks will race in free-style competitions, with the audience being the judges, a wheelie contest to see how high they can fl y and side-by-side racing.

“The fierce competitive nature of these guys makes for a great show,” said Leach, noting Big Foot’s team refuses to lose, while the Viper team has a “ready to strike” attitude. They will be joined by 25-year veteran Andy Hoffman in War Wagon and the tour’s rookie in The Toxic Truck. “It is guaranteed that everyone in attendance will defi nitely get their money’s worth.

If that isn’t enough, the Metal Mulisha, a West-coast based freestyle motocross team, will be on hand to wow the crowd. It was formed by Brian Deegan, an X Game champion who has garnered three gold medals and seven bronze medals in the X Games. He is the only rider to compete in at least one event in every X Game. He was the fi rst rider ever to do a 360 in competition. He named the trick the “Mulisha Twist.”

“These guys are the international superstars that got freestyle going in motocross,” said Leech.

Headlining the group will be Trigger Gumm, the world record holder and X Games medalist.

“The unbelievable tricks these guys can do with a motorcycle are truly amazing,” said Leach. “They do everything from insane Tail Whips to death defying back flips. These are the rock stars of the freestyle motocross Community; they bring it to you and put it in your face every time they take the spotlight.”

In addition to the motocross event, organizers are bringing in the Globe of Death, a big ball of steel used as a performance vehicle for riders on mini bikes.

“The guys do all sorts of tricks inside the globe,” said Leach. “It’s pretty awesome. The whole event is testosterone at its fi nest — but it’s still good quality family fun at an affordable price.”

Once you’ve seen how the professionals do it, you won’t want to miss local truck enthusiasts as they compete in the Wilson Off-Road Tough Truck Challenge. The Tough Truck competition usually turns out to be a battle between the “good old boys” and the “new technology guys and girls.” Leach said the local competitors range from a Very Strong 65 Ford F-100 to a 2009 Toyota 4×4 and many other great trucks and jeeps built at local shops. He added that the different 4×4 shops in the area are always trying to be better than the other; the people watching them compete are the real winners.

The festivities kick off each night with the “Ace Wrecking Pit Party” from 6-7 p.m.

“This is a great time to bring the family, the camera and the autograph book,” explained Leach. “All the monster trucks and drivers, The Metal Mulisha FMX riders, The Globe of Death riders and the locals competing in the tough truck race will be out on the show floor signing autographs and taking pictures with all our loyal fans. Free Pit Party Passes ($5 Value) are available at Blacks Tire & Rimtyme Automotive and various other locations.”

Tickets are available at the Crown Coliseum at www.atthecrown.com or by calling 438-4100 and are also available online at www.Ticketmaster.com and www.amptour.com. Log in now for great family value packs, pit party passes and VIP group packages, as well as $2 off Holiday discount for single ticket purchases (code “Monster). Members of the military get a $2 discount at all times.

“We always say, we sell you the whole seat, but you’ll only use a couple of inches,” concluded Leach.

Photo: Don’t miss the Monster Truck ThunderSlam at the Crown on Jan. 7 and 8.