Strap in and take a ride in car-crushing monster truck at Great Yarmouth Wheels Festival

The two-day free festival is organised by Great Yarmouth Borough Council with sponsorship from individual seafront businesses, and the Greater Yarmouth Tourism and Business Improvement Area company.

This year's expanded festival is set to draw families and vehicle enthusiasts alike for an action-packed weekend, featuring displays of prestige, classic and bespoke cars, large commercial vehicles and other special activities and entertainment.

A headline attraction on both days will be the chance to strap yourself in for a ride in the Red Dragon monster truck - and get your photo taken as it crushes cars. Measuring 19ft long and weighing approximately 5 tons, the truck can carry up to ten passengers at once.

The ride is suitable for people young and old alike - providing they are over 3 feet tall - and is Europe's only tubular-framed race-specification ride truck, with a 6.5-litre Chevy V8 engine giving extra torque to carry the weight of the passengers.

Rides in the back of the truck will be £8.50 per person while the "adrenaline seat" in the cab is priced at £15. Check out the Wheels Festival Facebook page to enter a competition to win free tickets.  

Another festival highlight will be a display from the National Street Rod Association of their members' colourful hotrods, American cruisers which have been lovingly suped-up and customised by their owners.

There will also be displays of lowriders - "bouncing cars" which can be raised and lowered by the driver - as well as a selection of customised vehicles from Best of Britain Modified.

Several car clubs and organisations will be showcasing their special vehicles, including East Coast Pirates, Lotus Car Club, Norwich Classic Vehicle Club, East Coast Truckers and Iconic American Trucks, with Clive Shaw Trucking also offering passenger rides.

In addition, there will be attractions from the world of Hollywood, including movie-themed vehicles from Silverline Cars, the Blues Brothers car and interactive walkabout characters from Transformers, Optimus Prime and Bumblebee.

Furthermore, people will be able to visit a dealers' village to meet local car dealers and inspect models from Desira, Pertwee and Back, and Simpsons.

The festival is brought to you by Great Yarmouth Borough Council in conjunction with the Greater Yarmouth Tourism and Business Improvement Area, Joyland and the American Diner, On the Throttle, Fish & Grill, the Hippodrome Circus and other seafront businesses.

Cllr Graham Plant, chairman of the economic development committee and deputy council leader, said: "The Red Dragon monster truck commands a significant international following and will certainly be a popular highlight at the Wheels Festival, offering a thrilling 'ride of your life' experience for families and petrol-heads alike. 

"It's a real boon to have secured this truck for the 2019 festival, which will be bigger and better than ever with a fantastic line-up of attractions. I would like to thank the festival sponsors for their support."

The festival will take place from 10am to 6pm on the Saturday and 10am to 4pm on the Sunday. On the Saturday, an estimated 15,000 motorcyclists are set to visit the festival, arriving from 10am for On the Throttle's Great Yarmouth Motorcycle Take Over. Then on the Sunday afternoon, Centre 81 Classic Car and Bike Run will parade along the seafront.

This year, motorcyclists planning to access and park within the festival site along the Golden Mile are asked to make a voluntary donation of £2 per bike, which will go towards the running of the festival and the East Anglian Air Ambulance. Bikers are encouraged to make their donation online in advance to get a fast lane entry sticker for parking via www.gywheelsfestival.co.uk

Watch a video of the monster truck in action at www.reddragonmonstertruck.com