Makita/Monster Energy "Ultimate Truck" Winner

Lucky carpenter wins the Makita/Monster Energy drink "Ultimate Truck," and world-class freestyle motocross riders get airborne to highlight event at New Orleans convention center

MARCH 12, 2007 – NEW ORLEANS, LA – A lucky winner drove off in an “Ultimate Truck” loaded with Makita tools and Monster Energy Drink, and X-Game freestyle riders took to the air during a world class demonstration of freestyle motocross at the New Orleans Convention Center. The free event took place this afternoon in conjunction with a Monster Energy Drink corporate sales event at the same venue.

From left, Makita Sales Rep Stephen Ferrera, Sweepstakes winner Kyle Dettlinger, Kelly Dettlinger, and Monster Energy Brand Manager Geoff Bremmer.

Geoff Bremmer, Monster Energy Brand Manager, presented the keys to the Makita/Monster Energy “Ultimate Truck” sweepstakes winner Kyle Dettlinger, a 24-year-old carpenter from Louisville, Kentucky. Dettlinger’s “Ultimate Truck” is a customized 2006 GMC 2500 4x4 Duramax Diesel with 6” Fabtech Suspension and Dirt Logic Shocks, KMC Wheels mounted on 35” BF Goodrich tires, Kicker audio system, customized billet grill, and more. The Truck came fully-loaded with Makita industrial tools from the Makita LXT and AVT Series, as well as a pallet of Monster Energy Drink.

Dettlinger, who made the trip to New Orleans with his wife Kelly, entered the contest on the Makita website after browsing the site for new products. He was thrilled at the news of winning.

“I have always wanted brand new tools to be dropped on my doorstep, and now it has actually happened,” said Dettlinger. “I’m happy about the truck, but I’m even happier about the Makita tools.”

For Makita Brand Manager Brent Withey, the event capped a successful collaboration between Makita and Monster Energy.

“We see Monster Energy drinks on jobsites across the country, so it was a natural for our two brands to work together,” he said. “After collecting thousands of entries, awarding this prize to a professional carpenter is a fitting end to this exciting promotion.”

The afternoon was punctuated by an exhibition of freestyle motocross. Freestyle riders Jeff “Ox” Karogola (X-Games medalist), Ryan Hagy, Chuck Carruthers (X-Games medalist), and Dustin “Wacker” Nowak each took turns jumping their 250cc dirt bikes off a metal ramp, often throwing in a back-flip as they cleared the 75-foot gap. The event was emceed by Mike Metzger, also known has “The Godfather of Freestyle Motocross.”

“This was the first freestyle motocross demonstration of this caliber ever held in New Orleans,”said Paul Taublieb of M.X.i., an extreme sports event producer. “We delivered a world class motorcycle exhibition with some of the best riders on the planet.”