A “rip-off” event billed Monster Truck Mayhem has been compared to another Willy Wonka-style fiasco after it featured only one monster truck – which broke down.
Angry spectators are demanding refunds after saying the “shambolic” show in Worcester was also marred by traffic chaos, overpriced food and lack of attractions.
Organisers have since been flooded with complaints after the £20-a-ticket event was held at Worcester Pitchcroft on Sunday (23/6).
Monster Truck Mayhem had promised epic stunts to ‘leave you on the edge of your seat’ – but families were left disappointed by a “brief five-minute show”.
And they said the it descended into farce when the only giant truck on display broke down for a long period with steam billowing from the bonnet.
Many gave up and went home after struggling in the heat before the “grande finale” which featured the sole green monster truck “struggling to get over five cars”.
Customers could also pay to have a ride on the truck but say they were left waiting in queues for up to two hours at the “disgraceful” and “overcrowded” event.
Organiser David Bailey has defended the event by saying that it was always billed as a monster truck show [singular] and not a monster trucks show.
But disgruntled spectators have since demanded refunds while a Facebook group called “Victims of Monster Truck Mayhem” has more than 1,500 members.
One customer Georgina Jantu said: “It was an absolute disgrace.
“There was just one queue for entry so even if you had booked in advance everyone was in the same queue.
“We stayed long enough to watch the only monster truck there giving people rides, the queue for this was also over an hour’s wait, and the monster truck caught fire.
“We had been looking forward to this event for months and I can honestly say it is the worst event we have ever been to.
“I have emailed the organisers requesting a refund.”
Mum-of-two Katie Binnell said the show was billed to begin at 1.30pm but was delayed for 45 minutes until 2.16pm – before finishing at 2.21pm.
Katie, 38, said: “We were really disappointed as it was billed as a monster trucks event. The word trucks appears in plural on the ticket.
“We were stood for 40minutes waiting for the stunt show to start. We was told that it was because they were waiting for gas.
“When it started one truck drove around the arena then “jumped” the cars three times. After five minutes the show was over.
“It was billed as a Monster Trucks show but after this five minutes all that was left was an over priced fairground (£5 a ride) and over priced fast food (£14 for sausage & chips £7 for cheesy chips) so we left.
“Once there everything was extra to pay for and completely overpriced.”
Pat Wilkes said his family spent £50 on ice creams which were £5 each, and added: “This event was complete mayhem from start to finish going as part of a larger family group we were all so disappointed.
“We left with hot, tired, and very disappointed children.”
Lesley Riach Phelps told the BBC: “We thought we were going to see several big shiny trucks with giant wheels parked up in a big arena that would drive around and show off a bit.”
Instead she said her and family only got to see “a small Viking re-enactment and two boys on motorbikes jumping over ramps”.
Others compared it to the infamous Glasgow Willy Wonka experience shambles earlier this year.
Kirsty Brookes wrote: “willy wonka exprience part 2, pure greed…I’ve sent my complaint.”
Andy Fearn commented: “It was like an outdoor version of the Willy Wonka event in Scotland. One monster truck in a field for 5mins…an absolute joke.”
Others joked the only mayhem they saw was traffic gridlock and when the toilets ran out of loo roll
One person commented: “”Mayhem is probably the only thing that describes the event accurately, it was hands down the worst planned event I have ever been to.”
Another wrote: “Poorly managed with traffic and parking, toilets ran out of loo roll and hand sanitizer at 1pm and the main event of the monster trucks was one real monster truck that was broke, started late and then was only on for 10 mins before broke down again. No water stations either even on a hot day.”
Organiser David Bailey said the delay was caused when they had to re-gas the monster truck when a shocker burst and the vehicle got stuck in traffic.
He also blamed people not using public transport and added: “People will complain – it’s a British way of life.”
He said: “They were late getting back and the show went one hour late.
“The show wasn’t cancelled. It has been a success. People will complain – it’s a British way of life.
“We have taken on board what people have said. We will take constructive criticism.
“It’s people not listening to what we were saying – ‘please use public transport where possible and walk if you can and please use city centre car parks, please use infrastructure in the town and try to avoid Pitchcroft’.
“But people don’t listen – and we’re the bad people.”
Extreme Express Monster Ride Truck, which provided vehicles but did not organise the event, said: “We carried out more than what was agreed and went over the cars three times on each occasion.
“We fully understand that the ride truck was very popular and queues were long, but we did everything we could to inform the people in the queue of their estimated wait time.
“The team were amazed at how long people queued up for, and it was uplifting when people told the team members what a great time they had on the ride truck.”
