REDMOND Earplugs not included.

That would have been an apt warning to the almost 8,000 people who bought tickets to the Central Oregon Monster Truck Spring Nationals held at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds this past weekend.

Moms, dads and kids protected their ears any way they could. Some bought $1 ear plugs on sale at the vendors booths. Some wore ear muffs. Some had on those ear protectors that airport employees wear. And others simply used their fingers.

But the noise didn’t bother 6-year-old Cody Simpson of Bend. Armed only with a T-shirt featuring the three-time Monster Truck World Champion Tom Meents, Cody waded into the cacophony with a smile.

”I want to drive one!” he said. ”I already practice at home on my four-wheeler.”

His mom, Amy, 34, said she would prefer rodeo, but gamely accepted her boy’s dreams.

”I’ll support him in whatever he wants to do.”

Called ”Monster Trucks” because of their 5-foot-wheels and gargantuan frames, they have become increasingly popular since arriving on the scene in the early 1970s with the help of television, said Eric Meagher, 34, driver of perhaps the most well-known truck in the business, Big Foot.

”Look at this turnout,” he said, pointing to the 1,700 in the fairgrounds event center stands. ”Some of them drove 150 miles to be here.”

Meagher and his five cohorts raced each other Sunday ”Chicago style” two trucks make three jumps each over four cars at opposite ends of the track. The truck that completes the jumps first wins.

Drivers also competed in a freestyle competition.

Drivers chose their own routines which could consist of crushing cars, doughnuts, jumps and wheelies.

Waiting for the start of his second race, Meagher said the best part about the Monster Truck lifestyle is the fans.

”It’s awesome when the kids come up and give you high fives and ask you to sign their shirts,” he said.

Matthew Koutski Jr. wouldn’t argue with that.

Dancing to the beat of ”Who Let the Dogs Out” in between races, the 8-year-old from Madras said he got the six Monster Truck drivers’ autographs before the competition Friday.

His dad, Matthew Sr., brought him Sunday for his birthday present.

”We’re having a blast,” Matthew Sr. said. ”It’s a great father and son activity.”

Mike Cronin can be reached at 541-617-7836 or mcronin@bendbulletin.com.