Batman was a custom-bodied monster truck owned by FELD Motorsports and licensed by DC Comics, based on the comic book character of the same name and designed after his titular vehicle, the Batmobile. Introduced in 2006, the truck had many drivers over the years, including John Seasock, Jason Childress, and Norman Miller. Batman became a fan favorite for its design and was a staple in Monster Jam events for eight years, retiring by the end of the 2014 season. The truck also competed in seven World Finals events, winning two back-to-back racing championships under Seasock.
History[]
Background[]
On January 10, 2005, Warner Bros. Consumer Products announced their partnership with Clear Channel Entertainment (Monster Jam's owners at the time) and their intention to create monster trucks based on DC Comics superheroes Batman and Superman, as well as the Tasmanian Devil from Looney Tunes.[1] The Superman truck had already debuted just two days before, while Batman and Taz were planned to debut later in the year; however, issues with the Batman truck's custom body style, based on a Hot Wheels toy from 2004,[2] resulted in it being delayed for the entire year.[3]
2006[]
On January 6, 2006, Batman made its competition debut in Charlotte, driven by Jason Childress. The truck would have a strong season in its debut year, as Childress would win racing in Phoenix, breaking Linsey Weenk's immense winning streak in the process. After the truck's first World Finals appearance that year,[4][5] Childress would retire from competition, leaving Batman without a full-time driver for the remainder of the year. Several other drivers would take his place at off-season events, including Marc McDonald at Monsters on the Beach, Charlie Pauken at Monsters on Mainstreet (where he'd win freestyle), and Dan Evans during the European Tour.
2007-12[]
In 2007, Batman would receive a new full-time driver, former T-Maxx driver John Seasock, as well as working flamethrowers in the rear. Batman would have another strong season, with Seasock winning racing in Atlanta. At World Finals 8, Seasock won his first world racing championship, defeating reigning champion Dennis Anderson in Grave Digger for the title.[6] At the subsequent World Finals in 2008, Seasock would win racing again over Jimmy Creten in Bounty Hunter, becoming the second driver in Monster Jam history (after Tom Meents) to successfully defend their world championship for multiple years. Bobby Parr drives the truck at a speedway show in Saluda.
In 2009, Batman would receive a new chassis while the previous one is converted into Grave Digger 22. At World Finals 11, Seasock received a score of 4 points in freestyle after breaking early.[7] Seasock would leave the Batman team in 2011, in favor of Advance Auto Parts Grinder; Norm Miller would take his place, while Tim Missentzis drive the truck at Saginaw 2012. In December of 2012, Bari Musawwir would drive Batman for one show in Minneapolis on a new, silver chassis; this would also be the last appearance of the original Batman body.
2013-14[]
In 2013, Batman's body was updated, slimming down the hood while removing the wings and afterburners and changing the logo; Miller remained as the truck's driver. At the World Finals 14, Miller felt ill and was unable to compete in freestyle, so Carl Van Horn took his place, only to rank dead last with a score of 6.[8] Jon Zimmer drives the truck for an encore in East Rutherford with Morgan Kane in Superman. At the start of the 2014 season, Miller began driving the recently-introduced New Earth Authority Police truck while Seasock returned as Batman's primary driver. This was Batman's final year of competition, as the DC license expired by the end of the year. Its final show was in Warsaw on June 7, as part of that year's European tour. This would also be the last show for Man of Steel, Superman's successor.
Drivers[]
- Jason Childress (2006)
- Marc McDonald (Monsters on the Beach 2006)
- Charlie Pauken (Monsters on Mainstreet 2006)
- Frank Krmel (West Lebanon 2006, Fishersville 2011)
- Dan Evans (2006 European Tour)
- John Seasock (2007-10, 2014)
- Bobby Parr (Saluda 2008)
- Norm Miller (2011-13)
- Alex Blackwell (San Jose 2011)
- Tim Missentzis (Saginaw 2012)
- Bari Musawwir (Minneapolis 2012)
- Carl Van Horn (World Finals 14 freestyle)
- Chad Tingler (Bismarck 2013)
- Jon Zimmer (East Rutherford encore 2013)
- Mike Christensen (Unknown show(s)/year)
Events competed[]
2006[]
- Charlotte, NC, Jan 6-7
- Denver, CO, Jan 14-15
- Tampa, FL, Jan 21
- Phoenix, AZ, Jan 28
- Charleston, WV, Feb 3-4
- Uniondale, NY, Feb 10-12
- Fresno, CA, Feb 17-18
- Calgary, AB, Feb 24-26
- Winnipeg, MB, Mar 3-5
- Beaumont, TX, Mar 10-12
- World Finals VII, Las Vegas, NV, Mar 25
- Virginia Beach, VA (Monsters on the Beach), May 12-13
- Sylva, NC (Monsters on Mainstreet), Jul 1
- West Lebanon, NY, Jul 10-12
- Oberhausen, Germany, Sep 8-10
- Zurich, Switzerland, Sep 22-24
- Arnhem, Netherlands, Sep 30-Oct 1
- Antwerp, Belgium, Oct 6-8
- Paris, France, Oct 13-15
- Lisbon, Portugal, Oct 28-29
- Stockholm, Sweden, Nov 10-12
2007[]
- Houston, TX, Jan 6
- Atlanta, GA, Jan 13
- Toronto, ON, Jan 20-21
- Indianapolis, IN, Jan 27
- Fargo, ND, Feb 2-3
- Uniondale, NY, Feb 9-11
- Rosemont, IL, Feb 16-18
- Jacksonville, FL, Feb 24
- El Paso, TX, Mar 3
- World Finals VIII, Las Vegas, NV, Mar 24
- Gothenburg, Sweden, Jun 9
- Arnhem, Netherlands, Sep 29-30
- Antwerp, Belgium, Oct 5-7
- Cardiff, Wales, Oct 27
- Stockholm, Sweden, Nov 9-11
- Helsinki, Finland, Nov 16-18
2008[]
2009[]
- Cincinnati, OH, Jan 3-4
- San Antonio, TX, Jan 10-11
- Detroit, MI, Jan 17
- Indianapolis, IN, Jan 24
- Vancouver, BC, Jan 31
- Edmonton, AB, Feb 6-8
- Calgary, AB, Feb 13-15
- Spokane, WA, Feb 20-22
- Oakland, CA, Feb 28
- El Paso, TX, Mar 6-7
- World Finals X, Las Vegas, NV, Mar 28
- Chorzów, Poland, May 30
- Cardiff, Wales, Jun 6
- Gothenburg, Sweden, Jun 13
- Arnhem, Holland, Sep 26-27
- Barcelona, Spain, Oct 24
- Helsinki, Finland, Oct 30-Nov 1
- Stockholm, Sweden, Nov 14-15
2010[]
2011[]
2012[]
2013[]
2014[]
World Finals appearances[]
World Finals | Year | Driver(s) | Appearance | Performance |
---|---|---|---|---|
Monster Jam World Finals VII | 2006 | Jason Childress | Main field |
|
Monster Jam World Finals VIII | 2007 | John Seasock | Main field |
|
Monster Jam World Finals IX | 2008 | John Seasock | Main field |
|
Monster Jam World Finals X | 2009 | John Seasock | Main field |
|
Monster Jam World Finals XI | 2010 | John Seasock | Main field |
|
Monster Jam World Finals XIII | 2011 | Norman Miller | Main field |
|
Monster Jam World Finals XIV | 2013 |
|
Main field |
|
Monster Jam World Finals XV | 2014 | N/A | Display only |
|
Trivia[]
- Batman's custom body was originally designed by Fraser Campbell, a British Hot Wheels designer, in 2003; because it was initially concieved as a toy, creative liberties were taken with many of its details, such as a red windshield, wheels with the Batman symbol on them, a turbine in the hood, giant wings, and a sleeker body.[9] Most of these details were removed (or, regarding the wings and body, reproportioned) on the real-life truck, and subsequent Hot Wheels releases would follow suit by replacing them with more accurate ones (such as the turbine being replaced with a yellow bat logo).[10]
- Though it shares some similarities with the Batmobile featured in the Tim Burton Batman films, the truck's design is a wholly original take on the vehicle and isn't specifically based on any version of it.
- The original Hot Wheels toy was simply named "Batmobile."[11]
- Batman's body cost $18,000.[12]
- In 2020, Spin Master released their own version of Batman, with a more tank-like design.
- The twin afterburners on Batman's body were equipped with flamethrowers, a unique feature that was built into the chassis and triggered by the driver.
- Initially, the afterburners were solid gray props without any additional function; the flamethrowers were added by March of 2007.
- In early 2006, Batman's wings had a small silver line in the middle.[13] By March, however, this line would extend to cover the entire length of the wing.[14]
- Batman's 2013-14 theme song, "Molossus" by James Newton Howard & Hans Zimmer, comes from the score of the 2005 film Batman Begins.
- John Seasock is one of only three drivers who have won the World Finals racing championship in two consecutive years, the others being Adam Anderson (Grave Digger the Legend) and Tom Meents (Goldberg/Maximum Destruction).
- In 2007, an Australian Batman truck, owned by KC's Fireworks, made its debut. While it was initially based on the Tumbler from The Dark Night Trilogy, it would be redesigned in 2008 to look much closer to its U.S. counterpart. This truck was scrapped in 2012, and its body was repurposed as Wicked.
Gallery[]
Merchandise[]
Micellaenous[]
References[]
- ↑ Announcement on ushra.com: https://web.archive.org/web/20050204110527/http://www.ushra.com/articleDetail?id=Article.2005-01-10.2353
- ↑ 2004-1 07-Batmobile (2).jpg
- ↑ monster-style.com archive, January 6, 2006: https://web.archive.org/web/20060106144252/http://www.monster-style.com/
- ↑ Batman's World Finals 7 freestyle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZXxg0jQIA4
- ↑ Seasock celebrating his victory: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UpVkUIpuzM
- ↑ Batman racing in World Finals 8 racing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TeVxIi98Rs
- ↑ Batman's World Finals 11 freestyle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCpNR1yM4SA
- ↑ Batman's World Finals 14 freestyle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDMiMniuTnc
- ↑ 2004-1 07-Batmobile (2).jpg
- ↑ 2005 27-Batman (4).jpg
- ↑ File:2004-1 07-Batmobile (1).jpg
- ↑ Source needed
- ↑ File:Batman (truck).jpg
- ↑ Vegasae06108.jpg
- ↑ Video needed