NEWS & RESULTS ARCHIVE MARCH 2011

Dayton OH

March 18-19, 2011 - Nutter Center

The all Ford Powered K&N Black Stallion in a last minute booking traveled to Dayton OH for a Monster Jam to compete against; Grave Digger, Rap Attack, El Toro Loco, Bad Habit, Lil’ Miss Dangerous, Full Boar, Virginia Giant, Eradicator and Backdraft.

Friday night’s wheelie competition saw Michael Vaters take the all Ford Powered K&N Black Stallion completely vertical across the line of cars both times nearly clearing the set.  The crowd was roaring their approval as Vaters took the wheelie win.  In racing Black Stallion defeated Rap Attack in round one and in the semi-finals tromped Bad Habit to put him in the racing finals.  In the racing finals Vaters behind the wheel of the Black Stallion took on Lil Miss Dangerous High Maintenance.  The King of Concrete was faster on the light and took the racing victory to make a double down win the for Stallion team so far.  In Freestyle action Vaters put the Ford through its paces but was unable to secure the judges favor and took 3rd place.  Grave Digger won freestyle.

Saturday afternoon Vaters, the wheelie king took the win again with a score of 28.  In round one racing Vaters lost to Rap Attack.  In Freestyle action Vaters’ just wasn’t feeling it with the crowd but still was able to get 4th place.  Grave Digger went on again to win freestyle.

Saturday night monster action was electric as the 7 time Thunder Nationals Champion and king of concrete sailed vertically across the line of cars to take the 3rd wheelie victory of the weekend.  Vaters‘ behind the wheel of the all Ford Powered K&N Black Stallion turned it up in racing to power through the racing rounds to take the Saturday night racing victory.    

Photos by Pall Harry

Freestyle action saw Vaters continue his roll with a fast paced run hitting every obstacle in all directions.  The crowd was on their feet roaring their approval but the judges had Digger fever and awarded the victory to him.  The Stallion came in second....but the fans knew who really won.

The Black Stallion team visits "Sons of Guns"

Hard core fans of Michael Vaters and the all Ford Powered K&N Black Stallion may have noticed a new decal on the truck....”Red Jacket Firearms.”  After leaving Wichita TX the Black Stallion team arrived in Baton Rouge a few days early and decided to drop in and introduce themselves to the stars of the popular reality series “Sons of Guns” at Red Jacket Firearms.  Some “show and tell” so to speak comparing toys and such.  The whole cast was there; Owner Will Hayden and daughter Stephanie, Vince Buckles, Kris Ford, Joe Meauz, Charlie Watson, Glenn Harrison and Glenn Flemming. 

Vaters’ team unloaded the Stallion and the Kamikaze jet powered 4-wheeler to show to the “Red Jacket Firearms” crew.  The Stallion team was excited to meet the Discovery channel stars and the “Guns” crew were psyched to get up close and personal with the Black Stallion and jet.  They all had their photos taken with the trucks and some of their favorite guns. 

The “Red Jacket” gang had never seen a monster truck show except for on TV so they all came out to see the Monster Jam on Friday night.  They thought the show was awesome and enjoyed the destruction and horsepower of the 10,000 pound monster trucks. 

They invited the Black Stallion Team back over to the shop on Sunday after the show for a Louisiana Style BBQ.  This time the Stallion team tired up the Black Stallion and Will took the truck for a drive.  It was an experience he won’t soon forget.  They took some more photos propping up the M50 that they built in one of the TV episodes on the roof of the Black Stallion. 

The “Guns” crew showed the Stallion crew how to operate some of their guns and let them shoot off about 600 rounds in their firing range.  Will also got to straddle the 1500 HP Jet Engine of the Kamikaze while Mike Vaters fired it up......what a thrill.  Michael Vaters and the Black Stallion crew had a blast and want to thank everyone at “Red Jacket Firearms” for showing them real southern hospitality...they are a really great group of people.     

Baton Rouge LA

River Center - March 11-12, 2011

The trucks competing at the River Center that weekend were the Black Stallion Race team:  Michael Vaters in the Black Stallion and Trey Myers behind the wheel of the Iron Warrior.  Other trucks competing were; Grave Digger The Legend, Monster Mutt Dalmatian, Nitro Circus and Destroyer.

Friday night Monster competition started off with sky wheelies.  Mike Vaters in the Black Stallion was on a roll from the previous weekend’s wheelie victory sweep and took a full leap and drug the tailgate on the way down across the junkers scoring him a 24.  The Stallion’s sore rump was bruised even more when he lost the win to the Legend’s score of 27.  In round one racing the Stallion beat team mate Warrior putting him out of the line up.  In the semi-finals Michael Vaters in the all Ford Powered K&N Black Stallion whipped the Mutt’s tail putting him in place for the final round of racing.  The finals brought Grave Digger the Legend vs Black Stallion.....and a smoking whole shot off the line gave the “King of Concrete” the edge and the racing championship for the night.  Freestyle action was furious and competitive.  The Black Stallion pulled out all the stops and while pushing its’ limits blew a left rear steering pump.  Even with the mechanical difficulties Mike drove the Black Stallion to 3rd place in freestyle.  The Legend took the freestyle win.

On Saturday afternoon Michael Vaters in the Black Stallion took 3rd in the wheelie competition while Legend took the win.  In round one racing the Black Stallion beat team mate Iron Warrior and in the semi-finals beat Destroyer.  The Black Stallion faced up Monster Mutt in the finals and once again a repeat performance beat the Mutt and took the second racing championship of the weekend.  In Freestyle action Michael Vaters laid down a punishing run, fast paced with lots of air hitting every obstacle.  The win would go to the Legend again and once again Mike had to settle for 3rd.    

Photo by Matt Ison

Saturday nights show was the last show of the weekend and the fans packed the stands at River Center and were excited to get the show started.  Grave Digger the Legend was the judges favorite as he was awarded the win for his performance with a score of 28.  In racing Black Stallion eliminated Iron Warrior and in the semi-finals the Warrior came back as fast loser.  Warrior lost to Stallion and Vaters raced his way into the racing finals once again this weekend.  It was another racing clean sweep in Baton Rouge as Michael Vaters in the all Ford Powered Black Stallion beat Nitro Circus and won the racing championship.

Michael Vaters in the Black Stallion poured it on for the last competition of the weekend hitting each obstacle like he meant it.  The judges were watching this time and gave him a 24 putting him in the lead but alas he didn’t stay there.... after Digger fever hit the judges they scored him  one more point at 25 to gain the win.  was actually a Team Texas rider in a white jersey. An incensed Team Louisiana sought and got revenge.

Black Stallion Freestyle:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqNZQemJuZ8

Wichita Falls TX

March 4-5, 2011 - Kay Yeager Coliseum

Trucks that competed with the Black Stallion driven by Michael Vaters and the Iron Warrior driven by Trey Myers were; Grave Digger, Blue Thunder, Captain's Curse and Madusa. 

On Friday night it all got started with monster wheelies where Grave Digger took the win.  Racing saw both all Ford Powered Monsters work their way through the elimination rounds into the finals.  Iron Warrior vs Black Stallion and long time veteran Michael Vaters in the all Ford Powered K&N Black Stallion took the racing win from his teammate.  

Monster freestyle action had all the 10,000 pound acrobatics with big air and twisted launches.  Vaters in the all Ford Powered K&N Black Stallion tied for second place with a score of 21.  Captains Curse took the win with a 24.

Saturday afternoon competition started off with the sky wheelie contest.  Vaters’ took the reins of the Black Stallion with its All Ford Power plant putting the nose in the air and stampeding across the line of cars.  The Black Stallion took the wheelie win with a score of 25 and Trey Myers in the Iron Warrior coming in second with a 23.  The Black Stallion team was off to a good start this afternoon.

Monster racing was spectacular and the crowd was on the edge of their seat as the Black Stallion team took yet another victory.  That was the second racing win that weekend and Vaters who is a 7 time Thunder Nationals Champion and “King of the Concrete” was primed for a clean sweep.  Freestyle action was extreme as each truck raised the bar higher for the next driver coming out onto the arena floor.  Each exhibition was more awesome than the one before.  In the end Captains Curse took another freestyle win and the Black Stallion took a 3rd place.

Saturday night action was hot, hot, hot!  Right off the bat Michael Vaters in the all Ford Powered K&N Black Stallion launched over the line of cars almost clearing the set in vertical position.  Mike’s flying ability won him a high score of 27 and the wheelie victory.

Monster racing saw Trey Myers in the Iron Warrior worked his way through the elimination rounds to make it to the finals for the second time that weekend.  Unfortunately the Warrior had a rear steer problem and couldn’t race Captain’s Curse in the final round.  Teammate Michael Vaters behind the wheel of the monster all Ford Powered Black Stallion had already taken two racing championships this weekend was called to take Trey’s place.  It was an oh sooooo close race but the Curse that had haunted Mike the first quarter stole the racing win in the finals.

Monster freestyle action saw some gravity defying air and close saves.  Michael Vaters in the All Ford Powered K&N Black Stallion came in 3rd place in the judging receiving a score of 23.  Grave Digger won the freestyle competition.

Jet Quad donut  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlhlccLfEIA