On the Horizon RC Podcast · Horizon Hobby

LIVE at RC Fest 2023 with Ryan and Weston Anderson

·52 min·5 clips

Ryan Anderson reveals how RC monster trucks can train you to drive real Monster Jam vehicles.

This live episode from Horizon RC Fest 2023 features hosts Chris Dickerson and Steve Petrato interviewing monster truck drivers and brothers Ryan and Weston Anderson. Ryan drives Son-uva Digger and Weston drives Grave Digger, continuing the legacy of their father Dennis Anderson, the creator of Grave Digger. The conversation captures their experiences at the RC event and their deep connection to both full-scale and radio-controlled vehicles. Ryan Anderson details his childhood growing up with Grave Digger, his 2011 debut driving Son-uva Digger, and his three Monster Jam world championships. Weston Anderson discusses winning the Arena Tour East championship in Grave Digger for two consecutive years and also driving the mega trucks King Sling and Bog Hog. The brothers describe bringing a massive haul of RC vehicles to the event, including over 25 large-scale models and numerous SCX24s, which sustained some trailer damage en route. They recount participating in multiple RC Fest competitions, including long jump, mud racing, and crawling. A key insight is Ryan's practice of using a Losi Grave Digger LMT during Monster Jam intermissions to engage crowds and demonstrate RC performance. He passionately argues that driving and maintaining an LMT teaches mechanical skills and vehicle dynamics that directly translate to driving a real monster truck. Weston notes that the suspension geometry and handling characteristics of the Losi LMTs closely mimic their full-scale counterparts, calling them a practical training tool. The brothers share that their own children, like Ryan's eight-year-old son Race, are deeply involved in RC; Race won the mud truck and blindfold races at the event. Ryan reveals he holds a world record for the longest bicycle in a monster truck at 981 feet, explaining the difficulty of balancing past 300 feet. Weston shares the nerve-wracking experience of being thrust into driving Grave Digger professionally with only seven days' notice after testing. The episode includes humorous anecdotes about event moments, like pilot Ali Machinchy's failed rocket-assisted long jump attempt and Horizon staffer Greg Sopa's intense, tattoo-getting alter ego during competitions. The brothers express particular fascination with the dedicated crawling tracks at RC Fest, which consumed hours of their time. The tone is highly conversational, enthusiastic, and informal, filled with camaraderie and inside jokes between the hosts and their guests. The style is a casual, behind-the-scenes interview recorded live at a bustling event, emphasizing shared passion and fun. Listeners who are fans of Monster Jam, the Anderson family, or Losi's licensed monster truck RC vehicles will find this episode especially engaging. Those with no interest in monster trucks or surface-level RC event coverage might choose to skip it.

As heard by us

RC Fest talk mixes family memories, repair stories, and a loose live-event feel.

Recorded at RC Fest 2023, this episode carries the easy energy of Horizon's fifth annual event and the natural back-and-forth between Chris Dickerson and Steve Petrato.

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Why you'd press play

You want live RC Fest energy and a front-row seat on the hobby talk.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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