During high school, McQueen started building his first monster truck, a 1956 Willys pick-up. After that, he built many different cars and trucks and took a liking to restoring old snowmobiles, dirt bikes, and vehicles. McQueen’s spare time was consumed with motorcycles, ATVs, jet skis, snowmobiles, trucks, and cars—simply put, anything with a motor that he could race, jump, or crash! After high school, he joined some friends and backpacked through Australia for a couple of months. Then he spent a year at school in Calgary studying mechanical engineering. After that, he joined a local fire department where he volunteered for four years. When things got boring there, he began hanging out with Travis Pastrana and the crew, which of course meant non-stop action and never a dull moment. Eventually, this led into the Nitro Circus world where McQueen was quickly recognized as a valuable “guinea pig,” which, in turn, would fulfill his lifelong aspiration of begin a stuntman. McQueen says that the pay was “horrible,” but the guys were a lot of fun and they got to travel a lot and see some pretty cool stuff. 

 Being a stuntman would eventually lead McQueen into appearing on a couple of TV shows: Nitro Circus on MTV and Thrillbillies on FUEL TV, plus gaining a 10-year series of DVDs. To keep the bills paid during this time, McQueen also worked with OGIO as a Special Event Coordinator. Never one to sit around during any down time, he would return to Kelowna, BC for short periods and pick up different jobs to pass the time. Some of these jobs included managing a blues bar; running a Salmon fishing lodge; selling used cars; fixing and painting race cars; restoring sailboats; bar tending; operating heavy equipment; working commercial construction; and being a motorcycle mechanic, tile setter, and a hockey school instructor. So it was only natural that he would hop into a monster truck when the opportunity came to be a driver— especially when that monster truck sported his friend’s name on its side, Pastrana 199.  

 McQueen jumped at the opportunity to drive a monster truck and made the most of it quickly, winning the sport’s Rising Star Award, among other honors. Following the transition from Pastrana 199 to the Nitro Circus team, he racked up several big wins and stunned the monster truck world by completing a back flip in the Nitro Circus truck during a scored freestyle competition at Jacksonville Stadium in February 2010.  

 
 Q&A with Cam McQueen  

 MonsterJam.com: How did you get started competing on the Monster Jam circuit?  

 Cam McQueen:  I volunteered at shows whenever they were close to my area. I helped out by cleaning trucks, loading trailers, and doing whatever else they would let me do. My first driving opportunity came about when another driver was injured and I was asked to fill in. 

  MonsterJam.com: What do you enjoy doing while on the road with Monster Jam?  

 Cam McQueen:  The people. I’ve been fortunate enough so far to have a really great crew and really great teammates. We have a lot of fun on the road, maybe too much fun. That’s why they keep switching us up. 

  MonsterJam.com: What do you do with your free time?  

 Cam McQueen:  There’s no such thing, time is money! I’m building a Shelby Cobra, right now, and that takes up most of my free time. I also love to spend time hanging out with my wife and our two dogs. 

  MonsterJam.com: What is your greatest memory as a monster truck driver?  

 Cam McQueen:  Jacksonville, 2010!  

  MonsterJam.com: Do you have any pre-show rituals that you run though?  

 Cam McQueen:  I usually try to put on mismatched socks. Marc McDonald introduced me to Monkey Butt Powder; so now that’s part of my dressing routine. I think it is good luck and it feels amazing. 

  MonsterJam.com: If you were not competing on the Monster Jam tour, what career path would you follow?  

 Cam McQueen:  Is this really considered a career? I’ve always loved helping people in trouble, whether it is an old lady loading groceries or a frightened mother who slid off the road and needs a tow. I think I would go back to firefighting or some type of community service.  

  MonsterJam.com: What’s your favorite food?  

 Cam McQueen: Mushroom soup and grilled cheese sandwich 

  MonsterJam.com: What’s your favorite movie?  

 Cam McQueen:  Scent of a Woman 

  MonsterJam.com: What’s your favorite television show?  

 Cam McQueen:  Sons of Anarchy 

  MonsterJam.com: What’s your favorite color?  

  Cam McQueen:  Blue 

  TRUCK INFO  

• Truck Name:  Northern Nightmare 
• Body:  Ford Crew Cab 
• Engine size:  540 CI 
• Transmission:  Coan 2-Speed 

  Sponsors:   Nitro Circus, OGIO,  Advance Auto Parts, Arsenault Associates, ARP Automotive Products, Auto Meter, Awesome Racewear, Cam 2 Racing Oil, Coan, Crower Racing Products, Derale Performance, Energy Suspension, Fel-Pro Performance Gaskets, FK Rod Ends, Hawk Performance, Jaz Products, K & N Filters, King Engine Bearings, Lincoln Welders, Liquid Advanced Technology, Magnaflow Performance, Mechanix Wear, MSD Ignition, NGK Spark Plugs, Optima Batteries, Piloti, TX7, Powermaster, Rockford Rosgate, Speed Pro, Universal Technical Institute, Walker Radiator Works, WISECO, World Products