‘Mini Fyre festival’: Promoter refuses refunds after nightmare monster truck show

A motoring events promoter is standing firm on not refunding around 600 furious petrolheads after a weekend showcase fizzer.

Attendees say they waited all day for an event they claimed only lasted 15 minutes.

It’s bad news for hundreds of petrolheads campaigning for a refund after attending a monster truck show in 37C heat, which they likened to a “mini Fyre festival”.

Disappointed crowds claimed there was a lack of water, shade and, most importantly – monster trucks – as hundreds rallied together to demand their money back.

But all they will get is an apology.

While attempts for comment by news.com.au went unanswered, the event’s organiser, Troy Garcia from monstertrucks.net.au, broke his silence to7News on Tuesday evening.

He said people were leaving before 4pm, claiming it was “the worst show they’ve ever seen”, arguing there was confusion around the timing.

Attendees say they waited all day for an event that only lasted a few minutes. Pictures: Facebook

Mr Garcia offered attendees an apology but stopped short of offering cash back.

“Every comment that’s negative hurts me, and I’m sorry that people should walk away with that feeling,” he said.

The company’s terms and conditions read: “This company offers a nil refund policy, except in the case of a compassion clause and only with the authorisation of the director prior to the show.”

The Monster Truck Grand Final event went ahead on Saturday at Melbourne’s Calder Park, opening its gates at noon ahead of the main show at 5.30pm, then ending at 8pm.

The Monster truck event organiser Troy Garcia.

The 600 peeved attendees, who joined forces in a ploy to be refunded, described it as the most poorly organised event they had ever attended.

Ticket holders complained they had no choice but to be scorched in the sun for hours on end while waiting for the main show, which reportedly involved just four monster trucks and lasted about 15 minutes.

The rest of the day was taken up by cars drifting and doing burnouts, with a performance from a clown attempting to lift crowd spirits, but only those seated in one section could see it.

Among the people complaining were many who believed the grounds had not been cleared of rubbish left from an event held there the day before.

Hundreds of people want their money back after attending an event in 37C heat amid complaints of no water, limited shade and a lack of monster trucks. Pictures: Facebook

A troubling photo also surfaced from the event, showing a child scaling one of the safety barriers.

The whole event was labelled an “unsafe, unprofessional, disorganised sh*t show” by one person.

“The owner should be ashamed of the amount of money we all paid to see monster trucks. Absolutely fake advertising,” one fuming attendee said.

Attendees also slammed the company over ticket prices, with pre-purchased tickets costing $50 each for adults and $40 for kids, while tickets at the gate were $15 cash on the day.

“$15 a ticket … whoever paid $15 did well. My family and I – two adults and two children aged five and four paid $180, and we arrived at 1.30pm. That’s a f***ing joke,” one angry attendee wrote to a dedicated Facebook group.

The crowd were extremely disappointed with the monster truck show but they will not see refunds. Pictures: Facebook

“It was an absolute joke. I hope Calder Park makes a comeback, but the event organiser should be ashamed of themselves that he organised a mini Fyre festival,” another said in reference to an infamous luxury music festival founded by con artist Billy McFarland and rapper Ja Rule.

Entry into the event was reportedly only possible via stairs, making the venue non-accessible for wheelchair users.

“I am so disappointed in yesterday, I paid for my two kids also, who are both under three, only to find out the day before when they made a post saying they are free. I paid $360 odd dollars for sunburn and sooky kids,” an annoyed mum said.

She said following the experience she would “never allow myself to be ripped off by this rubbish again”.

Originally published as ‘Mini Fyre festival’: Promoter refuses refunds after nightmare monster truck show