The Cali Kid, originally and commonly known as California Kid, is a 1934 Ford Sedan monster truck owned by Straight Up Racing out of Port Orchard, Washington. It is based off of the original truck of the same name that was previously owned by Mike Welch. Since its debut in 2010, the truck has been driven by numerous drivers, including Donald Epidendio, BJ Johnson and many more. The Cali Kid has also featured multiple paint schemes throughout the course of its career.
History[]
California Kid was originally created in 2010, and later entered its first full year of competition with Garrett Ladelle and Donald Epidendio sharing the driving duties. The truck was formerly Miss Behavin.
In 2010, Epidendio would leave Straight Up Racing to begin driving his own truck, Titan full-time. Meanwhile, the truck would also compete under the Carolina Crusher name for select shows.
Following Straight Up Racing’s induction into the Monster Truck Mafia in 2012, California Kid received a new paint scheme. In Russia 2012, Devin Jones drove the truck. Meanwhile, BJ Johnson took over the driving duties as Ladelle departed from SUR to join Living the Dream Racing, where he would go on to drive Detour. Johnson would drive the truck until his departure from the team the following year, and rookie driver Kevin Post took over the driving duties.
At the start of the 2014 season, Post left Straight Up Racing. Tehvyn Goodwin would replace him. California Kid would also debut a new paint scheme. Mid-way through the season, a second California Kid would be featured on what was previously American Graffiti.
In 2015, California Kid received a sponsorship from Hang Loose, and debuted an all-new design, based on a Woody surf wagon. The truck would later resume using its original design from 2010 throughout the 2016 season, as Ezra Wilson took over the driving duties. Later that season, California Kid received a new rusty paint scheme.
California Kid would be shelved throughout the 2018 season, as the truck received an alter-ego, Willy Crash.
The truck would later return in 2019 with a slightly updated paint scheme, and was also rebranded as The Cali Kid with MJ Solorio driving. The truck would also receive a sponsorship from Performance Plus Motor Oil.
Today, The Cali Kid continues to compete with Straight Up Racing in various events throughout the west coast under various drivers. In 2023, MJ Solorio would depart from the team and would join FELD Motorsports to drive El Toro Loco. This would result in Bill Payne driving the truck as well as Becky McDonough and other fill-in drivers under the "Willy Crash” name.
In 2024, Travis Ybarra drives the truck in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada & in Winnemucca, Nevada.
Drivers[]
- "Willy Crash"
- Bill Payne
- Travis Ybarra (Kelowna, British Columbia & Winnemucca, Nevada)
- Becky McDonough
- Bill Payne
- MJ Solorio (2019-2023)
- Tim Manchester
- Juan Muñoz
- Kevin Post
- Devin Jones (Russia 2012)
- BJ Johnson
- Garrett Ladelle
- Donald Epidendio
Video game appearances[]
Trivia[]
- California Kid is one of two trucks owned by Straight Up Racing to be based off of a truck that was previously created by Mike Welch, the second being American Graffiti.
- The truck’s body mold is the same mold that was used by Mike Welch for his first Pirate Pete.
- Because of the fact that on the 2015 design the main logo was smaller than the decorations on the side of the truck, there was much confusion among promoters as to whether the truck was called "California Kid" or "Hang Loose". It was referred as both several times over speedway shows.
Gallery[]
.jpg "336540671 1337001153762123 6533694498067915206 n (2).jpg (674 KB)")
