The Backyard – Revisiting my 2024 Predictions

Hey all and Happy Friday! Welcome to a holiday time-vortex edition of The Backyard!

Well, it’s my last post of the year. With that, time to take a look back at my predictions and see what I got right or wrong. Then, next week I’ll take out the crystal ball and make some educated guesses as to what we will see in 2025!

Quick disclaimer- my predictions for last year were made when I was writing the Monster Truck Madness weekly post, so these are monster truck themed. The Backyard has a general “whatever I want to write about” theme, so my 2025 predictions will be about the general hobby at large, not just one specific niche.

Ok, let’s see what I said. You can read the full predictions post that I made last year right here.

Prediction #1 – Traxxas releases a new monster truck platform

Yep- the Traxxas Mini Maxx makes this technically correct, though I was more thinking it would be something larger scale or solid axle! Still, gonna take the W here!

Prediction #2 – A real competitor to the Losi LMT will arrive in the solid axle monster truck world

Nope, taking the L here. The Losi LMT still reigns supreme relatively unchallenged as far as 1/10 or larger performance oriented solid axle monster trucks go. The Mini LMT has seen a few challengers arrive though, in particular the Redcat Racing MT-18. Still, I was referring to the larger scale stuff so gonna have to file this one in the “didn’t happen” bin.

Prediction #3 – An old school “1980’s style” monster truck will get released

With profound sadness, I am taking another L here. Another year goes by without a proper scale retro old school monster truck release. It’s not that I’m just wanting this to happen- I’m shocked it still hasn’t! There is a big market out there for folks wanting the old school vibes of 1980’s monster trucking in a semi authentic “out of the box” package. Yes, the Clod Buster is a retro monster truck and can be made to be more authentic…but I’m talking something that has leaf springs and/or that works as it should right out of the box (hey, I adore the Clod but it NEEDS some changes to be legit drivable as built in stock form).

Well, 1 out of 3 isn’t great, but at least I didn’t put up a goose egg! Next week I’ll have some predictions for 2025, at least 5 of ’em, maybe more. As mentioned before, they won’t just be monster truck themed- everything hobby is on the table.

Alright folks, back to my eggnog-induced fog. Until next time, keep it on all 4’s!