2010 Was Vaters Monster Motorsports Grandest Season Yet - But Beware 2011
- Jan 27, 2011
The team's impressively consistent success last year wasn't overlooked by Monster Truck Racing Association either. "The MTRA voted our small production company, Vaters' Monster Motorsports, 2010 Promoter of the Year," added Vaters. "These numbers indicate just how popular monster trucks are and the loyalty of the fan base," continues Vaters. "In comparison, I think monster truck tickets are more affordable than other motorsports events. If it wasn't for the fans spending there hard earned money on tickets, and our sponsors support such as K&N, we wouldn't be out here doing what we love."
It's Vaters' pragmatic approach to his sport that will continue to keep him at the very upper levels, and perhaps to redefine even greater levels of the sport. By all measures, Vaters had an exceptional year, with great competition results and minimal property damage to his trucks. "We have so much faith in this motorsport that we reinvested in the team and are bringing out a third truck this year," said Vaters.
The driver of the second Black Stallion is long time friend James Tracey. Tracey has been helping the team out with the trucks since he was a teenager. "He is a great mechanic and has racing experience in the form of drag racing at the local tracks," detailed Vaters. "We have some great ideas for a more permanent identity for the truck. In preparation for bringing a third truck into competition we had to completely over-haul one of our toter-homes, which took a great deal of time, along with getting the new truck race ready." The 2011 is the first year that Vaters Monster Motorsports team will be going in different directions, to different venues, and it is a challenge that the team eagerly accepts. Ever vigilant to the promoters view Vaters adds "This is great for our sponsors, as it increases the number of spectators that will see their logo." Talking about the start of the 2011 season Vaters says "The first weekend out was really hard on us, we had expensive mechanical problems on all three trucks. This is not uncommon, as the trucks are completely torn down, and all the parts are gone through and replaced as needed in the down season of November and December. It often takes a show, or two, to break everything in, and work out the bugs of the new parts." "The whole team deserves credit, they all worked day and night to get the trucks ready to go out, and then the first weekend out we broke stuff up, and they all pitched in again to get everything back together again." The Black Stallion team that works at the shop, and on the road as pit crew, are all great guys, and put in the extra effort, with little or no pay, just for the love of the sport, according to Vaters. That team consists of: Michael Thompson, Matt Cody, Jimmy Tracey, Jeff Dickinson, David Rhinecker, Mikey Vaters II, Andrew Moats, Cory Newcomer, Rich Wright, Jimmy Tracey JR and Ronnie Schildtknecht. The Black Stallion 2 team was able to return to the home shop and make the needed repairs. "Trey and I, in Black Stallion and Iron Warrior, geographically couldn't make it back to the shop," said Vaters "The great thing about monster truck racing is the good relationship between the competitors. We were able to stay out and borrow another drivers shop to make the needed repairs. The team really pulled together and we were able to get all the repairs completed and back out for the next weekends show." For Black Stallion and Iron Warrior that next show is this weekend, January 29, in Indianapolis, Indiana. And James Tracey in the second Black Stallion will be in Salisbury, Maryland, this Friday January 28. Find K&N products for your vehicle using the K&N application search then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer in your part of the world. |
