Benefit Car Shows and More…

Hagerstown MD - American Cancer Society Car Show - June 26, 2009

Frederick MD - Maranatha Church - June 28, 2009

     Mike Vaters and the Black Stallion had quite the weekend of cars shows. First attending the American Cancer Society’s annual benefit car show in Hagerstown MD. The show was very well attended on the bright Friday afternoon. A huge crowd came out to see the Black Stallion and the Iron Warrior on display.

     On Sunday afternoon Mike Vaters took the Black Stallion and the Iron Warrior trucks to be a part of a car show at the Maranatha Church of God in Frederick, MD. The car show was held in appreciation for a local legend Nelson Grimes a custom painter and the original painter for Mike Vaters and the Black Stallion. The car show had over 80 cars on display and over 1,000 spectators who came out to see the classic cars and the monster trucks.  Everyone enjoyed the activities with lots of good food and entertainment for the kids.  The show ended with a fireworks display finale.   The pastor of the church along with other church members were overwhelmingly grateful to Michael Vaters for bringing the trucks to their event.  As they talked with Michael they mentioned it would be nice to see what the truck could do.  There happened to be a large open field with several large hills adjacent to the car show.  Mike was happy to put the truck through it’s’ paces and give the crowd an impromptu demonstration. As is always the case with Michael Vaters behind the wheel of the Black Stallion there is nothing less than pushing the limit to the edge. As the crowd watched on they got to see the big steed come off of one of the hills landing onto the next hill at an awkward angle that ultimately sent the Black Stallion onto its roof!!! The crowd went roared their cheers of approval as they could not believe that Michael Vaters would push the truck that far for a “display.”  The former painter for Michael Vaters’ Black Stallion Nelson Grimes had the biggest smile of all in attendance as he knew he wouldn’t be the one working late hours to repaint the body before the next event.  Overall, the event was a huge success with many of those in attendance who had never been exposed to monster trucks before, becoming fast fans.

Black Stallion Team rocks in Ottawa and Trois Rivierre Canada

Ottawa QC - Scotia Bank Place - June 20, 2009

Trois Rivierre QC - Hippodrome - June 21, 2009

Photo by Stephanie Cotnoir

     The citizens of Canada’s capital came out in droves and filled the Scotia Bank Place to the point of bursting.  They knew that the largest named independents in the monster truck industry would be there and came to see Jim Koehler in Avenger face off against the reigning Monster Spectacular champion, Mike Vaters in the all Ford powered Black Stallion.  Avenger and Black Stallion were pitted closely in the VIP Pit Party and were mobbed by the fans as the tension grew between the competitors.  The other competing drivers were Trey Myers and Iron Warrior, Steve Koehler in Brutus and Steve Hearley in Godzilla.    

Photo by Stephanie Cotnoir

     Trey Myers in the Iron Warrior beat Jim Koehler in Avenger in the first round of racing but lost to Steve Hearley in Godzilla in the next round.  Michael Vaters as the reigning champion could have taken a bi-run into the finals but he wanted to earn is way and demanded that Black Stallion be allowed to race his way to a win.  Considering that Vaters rarely ever loses a straight ahead monster tuck drag race, the smart money would have been on the six time Monster Spectacular Champion.  Unfortunately as the Stallion went up against Godzilla he lost a tranny and lost his chance at the racing win and was unable to change out the tranny in time for freestyle. 

Photo by Stephanie Cotnoir

     Earlier Koehler was quoted as saying “this is how we roll.”  He was speaking of Monster Freestyle in Ottawa.  Brutus rolled in his freestyle run and the heavy equipment could not seem to solve how to get the big dog back on his paws.  But Koehler took a page out of Vaters' playbook and used Avenger to pull Brutus upright.  After a night of incredible monster action the tour team including the same competitors left the ecstatic fans in Ottawa and traveled to the next show in Trois Rivierre QC. 

Photos by Stephanie Cotnoir

     This event was sure to be a treat as it was an outdoor event which allowed for plenty of room to open up the monsters.  The crew put a fresh transmission in the K&N all Ford Powered Black Stallion and Michael Vaters put it to the ultimate test as he roared onto the track for the wheelie competition making multiple passes over the car stack and two van stacks.  The trucks pulled out everything they had and the judging was so close it had to be called by the track officials.  Black Stallion’s aggression paid off and Vaters won the Wheelie Contest.

Photo by Stephanie Cotnoir

     There was no racing scheduled for this event so the ambition of the freestyle win was doubled.  There was a unique obstacle, stacking an extra car on an angle at each end of a five car stack, creating a monster half pipe.  This launched trucks to crash down on their tailgates or front bumpers in the center of the stack. All except for the reigning Monster Spectacular champion Michael Vaters in the K&N all Ford powered Black Stallion.  Vaters hit the half pipe so hard that the Stallion cleared the entire obstacle for the biggest air of the tour and for the freestyle win. 

Photo by Marc Aeschimann, Productions YAZ

     Vaters continued burning up the track after freestyle as he piloted the Kamikaze jet powered 4-wheeler in a spectacular finale.  The Psycho jet 4-wheeler is on route back from the European Monster Jam tour.  Vaters backed the 30,000 rpm jet engine within inches of a van from the stack, Vaters blasted the jet into the van and burned it to ashes.  As the black smoke billowed into the setting sunset, Monster Spectacular closed out its final show. 

     The Black Stallion team headed back to the states and the trucks will be on display Friday June 26 in Hagerstown MD at the Citi Dodson’s Cruisin for Life car show to benefit the American Cancer Society.  The Stallion will also be doing a car show display on Sunday June 28 in Frederick MD for a long time friend Nelson Grimes who did the graphics and painting on the Black Stallion in the early years. 

     Michael Vaters and the Black Stallion team would like to send a special thank you to Ford Racing who hooked us up with a new 2009 Ford F-150 which we added to our ALL FORD POWERED race team fleet. 

Monster Trucks at a Cruise-In for Kids

Hagerstown MD - Cruise In for Kids - June 14, 2009

     This past Sunday the Black Stallion, Iron Warrior, Screamin’ Demon and Black Jack ride truck were all on hand in Hagerstown MD for a benefit car show.  The Rt 40 Kruisers for Kids put on a car show at the Washington County Ag center to benefit two local teens Katie Stains and Josh Forsythe, with Ewing’s Sarcoma (bone cancer).  The Stallion, Warrior and Demon were all on display along with other classic cars and motorcycles.  The Black Jack ride truck provided attendees with monster rides.  There was music performed by local bands and a wide variety of good food.  The kids had plenty to do as well there was a petting zoo, rock climb, super slide, moon bounce and pony rides.  A great time was had by all and the benefit raised over $11,000 for Katie and Josh.  Dave Waple owner of the Black Jack ride truck generously donated all the proceeds $900 to the kids.  The money was divided in two and given to the parents of the two teens to help ease their financial burden. 

     Katie had a tumor removed from her left leg on June 9^th and she miraculously was able to come out for the show a short five days later.  Michael Vaters, Jay Snyder and Steven Thompson were able to meet Katie and get a picture with her.  She is a lovely young lady and we were all moved by her strength.  Josh was not able to attend as he was in the hospital getting his fourteenth round of chemo therapy.  This week Josh was able to come home.  The entire event was a success and everyone in attendance had a good time. 

     Stacey Harbaugh of the Rt 40 Kruisers for Kids did a wonderful job planning and coordinating the event.  Thank you to all the fans that came out to see the trucks and support a great cause.  Thank you again to Jay Snyder with the Screamin’ Demon and Dave Waple with the Black Jack ride truck for joining us in helping out these kids.

     The Black Stallion team travels back to Canada this weekend for the final events of the 2009 Monster Spectacular tour.