The team heads east from Texas to Florida…

January 30, 2010 - Orlando FL - Citrus Bowl

     The Citrus Bowl in Orlando FL was host to the first stadium event of the year for the Black Stallion team.  Along with Michael Vaters in the Black Stallion and Trey Myers behind the wheel of the Iron Warrior the other trucks competing were; Grave Digger, Maximum Destruction, Gunslinger, El Toro Loco, War Wizard, Destroyer, Instigator, Predator, Backdraft, Bad Habit, Eradicator and Pouncer. 

     The parking lot across the street from the stadium was full with about 1000 tailgaters….yeah monster truck fans tailgate too.  The Black Stallion team visited the fans and they were excited to share some of their food with the drivers of the monsters.  With a full belly Michael Vaters and Trey Myers signed autographs during the pit party before the show for three hours.  The time flew by though as they met the fans and took pictures with them in front of their trucks. 

     The sold out crowd of over 60,000 spectators were all anxious to get the monster action started on Saturday evening.  The cars were arranged on the stadium floor into a large oval Chicago style race course to give the drivers plenty of room to open the trucks up.  Racing action was up first and with 14 trucks to work through elimination rounds it was going to take a while. 

     In round one racing Michael Vaters in the all Ford Powered K&N Black Stallion beat and eliminated Destroyer.  Trey followed suit and drove the Iron Warrior across the two sets of cars around the track to fly across the finish line beating Backdraft.  In round two racing the two teammates were paired up against each other Trey Myers in the Iron Warrior and Michael Vaters in the Black Stallion.  It all came down to two things; which driver that came off the light first and who maneuvered their truck around the race course.   The 28 year veteran hasn’t slowed up over the years and sped over the sets of cars staying low to hook up on the ground to race to the next set.  Myers and Vaters came off the light simultaneously and the Warrior kept pace.  Coming out of the first turn the Iron Warrior threw the blower belt off the BDS supercharger and the Black Stallion finished first taking the win. 

     Vaters in the all Ford Powered Black Stallion went to the semi-finals and was lined up beside World Champion Maximum Destruction.  The Black Stallion came off the light and raced towards the first set of cars and beat Max D across that set.  Vaters drove the Black Stallion around the first turn and the truck seemed to be on rails.  Vaters hit the second set of cars a little crooked which sent the Stallion off center to the left.  While Vaters was correcting Max D took the lead and finished just ahead of the Stallion.  Grave Digger went on to take the racing win by beating Maximum Destruction in the Finals.

     Stadium shows have plenty of room for the trucks to get the “Big” air.  The car and van stacks were set up for optimal altitude.  Trey Myers behind the wheel of the Iron Warrior was the 4^th in line for freestyle competition and raised the bar for the remaining trucks.  Trey launched the Warrior across the larger obstacles not tackled up to that point.  He went from car stack to van stack hitting them all and getting some terrific air.  Halfway through his run he broke the champaign cup in the truck.  This part goes on the end of the axle and bolts to the steering knuckle.  Trey continued with his Freestyle without missing a beat and the leaning wheel on the Iron Warrior only seemed to add to the action.  The Black Stallion was the 8^th truck out for freestyle competition.  Vaters was determined to have an action packed run for the fans and for the SPEED TV cameras.  Straight out of the pits he hit all the obstacles that the first 7 trucks wouldn’t.  Vaters launched the all Ford Powered K&N Black Stallion off of the huge dirt freestyle motocross landing ramp.  The crowd went crazy roaring their approval.  The double van stack obstacle consists of a car-van-car elevated on a dirt hill followed by an eighty foot gap then the second van stack.  Vaters wasn’t the first truck to hit the obstacle but was the first one to hit the first van stack clearing the eighty foot gap and landing on the down side of the second van stack.   Mike put the Black Stallion through its paces and had a great freestyle run hitting every obstacle at least once.  The crowd was ecstatic with the monster action and cheered him on.  The judges liked what they saw as well and gave him a score of 23 which was the highest score of the night so far.  Vaters held the lead for a while but in the end lost the lead but still came away with 4^th out of the 14 trucks.  Grave Digger went on to win freestyle.

     The crew headed back home and to make repairs to the Warrior.  The team will be competing in St Louis Missouri at the Edward Jones Dome Saturday night Feb 6.

Photographer Chris Foss

The Black Stallion heads out of the cold into the Texas Heat….

January 22-24, 2010 - Hidalgo TX - Dodge Arena

     Hidalgo Texas……an entire weekend full of monster truck competition and action as the Dodge Arena was host to not one but five shows.  The trucks competing were; the all Ford Powered Black Stallion, Trey Myers behind the wheel of the Iron Warrior, Excalibur driven by Carl VanHorn, John Zimmer driving Shock Therapy, Madusa in Madusa and Chad Tingler in Grave Digger.

     Friday night the action was hot as the drivers pulled out all the stops trying to gain points to get them a step closer to Las Vegas and the Monster Jam World Finals.  Michael Vaters behind the wheel of the all Ford Powered K&N Black Stallion took the win in the wheelie contest.  Grave Digger won the donut contest.  In Racing the Stallion and Warrior both went out in the first round.  Black Stallion lost to Madusa and Iron Warrior to Excalibur.  In freestyle the air was big and all the drivers let it all hang out for the fans.  The weekend has only just begun. 

     Vaters in the Black Stallion came in second in the wheelie competition Saturday afternoon.  Excalibur cycloned his way to a win in the donut contest. In racing action the all Ford Powered K&N Black Stallion beat Madusa in the first round and Excalibur in the semi-finals.  Madusa came back as fast loser and made it to the finals for one more go at the Stallion.  Michael Vaters throttled his way across the finish line first for the racing win.  Michael Vaters in the Black Stallion had an incredible freestyle run almost rolling the truck and making an unbelievable save.  Vaters bent two rims while launching off of a van stack.  Vaters put air under the Stallion while driving in reverse over the cars.  The all Ford Powered Black Stallion took the freestyle win for a “double down” win. 

     Saturday night the tension in the pits was thick as the Black Stallion had unexpected axle problems during introductions.  The pit crew worked hard and fast to replace the rear axle in time to compete in racing.  Trey in the Iron Warrior placed 3^rd in the wheelie contest.  In racing the Warrior lost to Excalibur and the Stallion lost to Madusa in round one.  Vaters in the all Ford Powered K&N Black Stallion came back as fast loser and beat Excalibur.  Back for another shot at Madusa this weekend Vaters lined up the Stallion and punched it as the light turned green.  Vaters raced his way to the win beating Madusa.  In freestyle the Stallion put on another great action packed show and had the spectators on the edge of their seat.  Vaters placed second in freestyle one point behind Digger. 

     On Sunday afternoon the fans were packed in once again to see some of the best trucks on the circuit compete against each other.  Trey behind the wheel of the Iron Warrior took third place in the wheelie and donut contest.  Grave Digger won the wheelie and donut competitions.  In racing the Iron Warrior lost to Madusa in round one.  The Stallion beat Shock Therapy then Madusa in the semi-finals.  In the finals Black Stallion lost to Excalibur by a narrow margin.  The scores for freestyle were a bit confusing but one thing was clear…..the all Ford Powered K&N Black Stallion and the fans won!!

     The last show of a five event weekend on Sunday night…and the stands were packed with spectators anxious to witness some monster destruction.  Trey Myers in the Iron Warrior surprised everyone when he set his sights on racing.  The Warrior beat Madusa in round one and then Grave Digger in the semi-finals.  During the match against Digger the Warrior landed hard on one side nearly flipping the truck on its lid but Trey was able to make a last minute save as the crowd held their collective breath.  Myers had driven the Iron Warrior into the finals against Excalibur but lost.  Black Stallion sheared off an axle in round one racing against Shock Therapy which put him out the rest of the night. 

     Iron Warrior tied for second place in the wheelie contest.  Grave Digger won the donut competition. Excalibur won freestyle.  There are monster fans in large numbers in Hidalgo Texas as the Dodge Arena was sold out…not an empty seat….for all five shows in a row.  This past weekend the Stallion team drove east to Orlando Florida for a televised stadium event…..recap coming soon.  Sorry no photos for Hidalgo but we already have some great shots from Orlando.    

Black Stallion Double Downs with racing and freestyle wins!

January 16, 2010 - Lexington KY - Rupp Arena

     On Thursday afternoon the team arrived in Lexington to put the Iron Warrior on display at a local event sponsor - Taco Bell.  On Friday morning the team met with the local TV station to do quite a few morning media interviews.  The team then traveled over to Advance Auto Parts to display the Black Stallion. The Advance auto display went excellent thanks to all the radio advertisements promoting Black Stallions appearance there.

     The show took place on Saturday night following the Built Ford Tough Party in the Pits and the fans were anxious and ready for some monster action.  The Rupp Arena was a full house, sold out show with approximately 6,000 fans in the stands.  The truck lineup included; Black Stallion, Iron Warrior, Virginia Giant- Diehl Wilson, Raminator- Mark Hall, Rammunition- Geremie Dishman.  The wheelie contest winner was the Virginia Giant with a 23.  Trey in the Iron Warrior tied Raminator for second place with a 22 and one point behind in third was Vaters in the Black Stallion.  The Giant also pulled off the donut win.     

     In monster racing the action was fast and wild.  In round one the all Ford Powered Black Stallion took the win from Raminator.  Warrior lost out to Virginia Giant in the semi-finals.  Michael Vaters at the reins of the Stallion worked his way through the competition round by round and took the racing win in horse country.    

     Monster freestyle was the finale and the Rockin Rupp fans were ready.  The drivers pushed their trucks to their limits as they soared through the air and leaped over van stacks and lines of cars like they were speed bumps.  The action was HOT… as the drivers pushed the steaming trucks to get even crazier angles in the air.  Michael Vaters behind the wheel of the all Ford Powered K&N Black Stallion was unstoppable and pulled off his signature “Saturday Night Special”… a reverser across the car stack.  The arena full of fans went crazy roaring their approval.  The competition was tough but in the end Michael Vaters in the all Ford Powered Black Stallion took the freestyle win!

Photographer Paul Hooper

Stallion & Warrior’s first Thunder National this year…

January 8-9, 2010 - Evansville IN

     The Roberts Stadium in Evansville IN was the venue for the seven time Thunder National Champion……Michael Vaters in the all Ford Powered K&N Black Stallion.  The Stallion was accompanied by Trey Myers in the Iron Warrior competing on the concrete against Virginia Giant, Full Boar and the Ram Boy’s Rammunition and Raminator. 

     Friday was another cold snowy night but there would be some hot monster action going on for the fans in Evansville.  Trey put the Iron Warrior’s nose in the air and pogoed across the cars anxious to get it started at his first show out this year.  The judges just didn’t appreciate his enthusiasm though and he placed respectably in 3^rd.  Tight concrete arenas are Michael Vaters behind the wheel of the all Ford Powered K&N Black Stallion’s specialty and he made sure everyone remembered as he took the wheelie win straight out of the gate.  Full Boar cycloned around the small arena and took the win in the donut competition. 

     In racing Trey had some ignition problems which put him out for the rest of the night.  Michael Vaters in the all Ford Powered K&N Black Stallion stampeded through the racing rounds truck by truck to take the racing win.

     Vaters was on a mission in the Stallion as he launched vertical in the tight arena and seem to just save the truck at the last minute.  This old timer knows just how to maneuver the all Ford Powered K&N Black Stallion across the slick concrete surface and make the crowd think they are in a dome.  The fast paced freestyle exhibition had the fans going crazy roaring their excitement and the judges listened giving him a score of 24 and the WIN!!!

     On Saturday night the competition heated up as adrenaline and testosterone was on the rise behind the wheels of the monsters. First up was Wheelies….Trey Myers came out and was on a mission…..target established….stadium ceiling!  The Ford Powered Iron Warrior was put into a vertical position for what seemed to be an eternity.  Gravity brought the Warrior down and as if that wasn’t enough Trey continued to drive the vertical truck across the line of the cars.  The judges gave Trey Myers in the Iron Warrior the wheelie win with a score of 23.  Michael Vaters in the Stallion was unable to beat Myers but pulled off a respectable 3^rd place.  Full Boar won the donut contest again tonight with a perfect score of 30.  Michael Vaters in the Black Stallion came in second in the donut with a 26. 

     The Warrior continued his mission into racing beating Virginia Giant in round one.  Vaters’ in the Black Stallion was beat by Raminator in round one racing.  In the semi finals Trey Myers in the Iron Warrior lined up against Rammunition and in a very close finish Myers was eliminated.  Rammunition went on to the racing finals and beat teammate Raminator.  

     The competition was so heated that half of the trucks had mechanical failures and couldn’t make Freestyle because the drivers had pushed the trucks to the limit.  Full Boar, Rammunition and the Black Stallion weren’t able to compete.  Vaters had rear differential problems in the first round of racing which haunted him throughout the night causing problems.  Trey was able to compete in the monster freestyle came in second out of 3 with a score of 20.  Raminator won Freestyle.

     The spectators at the Thunder Nationals had a ring side seat for some of the toughest competing trucks in action today.  They got to see them……..TEAR IT UP!!!

Photo's By Patrick Uebelhor

The Black Stallion Starts off New Year in Rochester NY!!

January 2-3, 2010 - Rochester NY

     The Blue Cross arena was host to some of the hardest running trucks in the Monster Jam series; Black Stallion, Grave Digger, El Toro Loco, Back Draft, Raminator and Rammunition.  Trey and the Iron Warrior stayed home for this one.  The Saturday afternoon show started off with the wheelie competition.  The all Ford Powered K&N Black Stallion started the night off with a bang taking the win with a score of 26 a full six points ahead of Raminator who scored a 20.

     In round one racing the all Ford Powered K&N Black Stallion beat Back Draft which put him in the semi-finals beside Grave Digger.  Michael Vaters was on fire and beat out the black and green wrecking machine and then tromped Raminator taking the racing win.  In freestyle the competition was fierce between all the drivers.  The all Ford Powered K&N Black Stallion sped around the arena floor and put on a fast paced exhibition putting big air under the truck.  In the end it came down to the two top trucks the Black Stallion and Grave Digger.  Digger stole the win and Michael Vaters in the Black Stallion took second. 

     The snow was coming down along with the temperatures when the evening show got started and the fans that weathered the storm to see the monster action was not disappointed.  The competition was fierce between the trucks that seemed to have stepped it up.  Michael Vaters in the all Ford Powered K&N Black Stallion started the night off with a winning score of 26 in the wheelie contest.  Vaters had problems with the Remote Ignition Interrupter (RII) after the wheelie win which kept him out of racing and freestyle as the team thrashed to resolve the issue.  Raminator took the win in doughnut contest and went to the finals in racing and won after beating Grave Digger.   

     Sunday afternoon the snow continued to fall as the excited fans piled into the arena.  Michael Vaters in the all Ford Powered K&N Black Stallion swept the weekend with wins after dragging his tailgate across the line of junk cars for the 3^rd time.  Vaters in the Stallion gave it his all in freestyle as he launched the truck over the cars from all angles.  Vaters received a score of 23 from the judges which placed him in second behind the Grave Digger who won Freestyle with a 26 and the doughnut contest with a 25.    

     The all Ford Powered K&N Black Stallion beat Grave Digger in round one racing and then beat out Rammunition in the semi-finals.  Michael Vaters in the all Ford Powered K&N Black Stallion pulled to the line in the racing finals against Raminator and when the trucks launched at the start the Stallion went flying upward as the Raminator stayed low with a very close finish.  Raminator took the win.  All in all the Stallion’s first weekend out was a winner for the team and the fans. 

Rochester NY Photos by Jeff Luckey