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Batman was a custom "Batmobile" 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[]

2004[]

The first incarnation of a Batman themed monster truck was originally released in diecast form by Mattel named simply "Batmobile". The toy's custom body was originally designed by Fraser Campbell, a British Hot Wheels designer. Because it was initially released 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.[1] 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).[2]

2005[]

On January 10th, 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.[3] 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,[4] resulted in it being delayed for the entire year.[5]

2006[]

On January 6th, Batman made its competition debut in Charlotte, driven by Jason Childress. At the time of its debut, Batman's wings had a small silver line in the middle[6] however, this line would extend to cover the entire length of the wing by March of that year.[7]

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,[8] Childress would retire from competition, leaving Batman without a full-time driver for the remainder of the year. As a result, several 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), Frank Krmel in West Lebanon, and Dan Evans during the European Tour.

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 VIII, Seasock won his first world racing championship, defeating reigning champion Dennis Anderson in Grave Digger for the title.[9][10]

2008[]

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.

In June, Bobby Parr drives the truck in Saluda, Virginia.

2009[]

Batman would receive a new chassis, while the previous one is converted into Grave Digger 22.

In January, the truck picked up televised racing victories in Detroit and at the first Monster Jam event at Lucas Oil Stadium, with the latter event being won under unusual circumstances. A new rule had been added that year, however, stating that the final race of every show would not have 3 hits on the cars as usual, but instead have 5 hits. Tom Meents ended up finishing the first 4 hits before John Seasock, however, he had forgotten the added lap and began celebrating by doing donuts and jumping obstacles. John took the opportunity, and finished the 5th hit on the cars and ended up winning racing. Tom only found out after the race had concluded that he had actually lost the race.

2010[]

At World Finals XI, Seasock received a score of 4 points in freestyle after breaking early.[11]

2011[]

Seasock would leave the Batman team in favor of Advance Auto Parts Grinder, resulting in Norm Miller to take his place.

In July, Carl Van Horn drove the truck in North East, Pennsylvania[12], while Frank Krmel drove the truck again in Fisherville, Pennsylvania.

2012[]

In March, Tim Missentzis drove the truck in Saginaw, Michigan and Mike Christensen drove the truck in Nampa, Idaho for the third show[13]. Meanwhile, the truck would not receive an invite to compete at World Finals XIII.

In December, Bari Musawwir drove the truck for one show in Minneapolis on a new, silver chassis. This would also be the last appearance of the original Batman body.

2013[]

Miller remained as the truck's driver, as the truck received an updated body style, slimming down the hood, while removing the wings and afterburners and changing the logo.

In March, the truck was invited to compete at World Finals XIV. After the racing competition, 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.[14]

In April, Chad Tingler drove the truck in Bismarck, North Dakota.[15]

In June, Jon Zimmer drove the truck in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Bangor, Maine, and for an encore in East Rutherford alongside Morgan Kane in Superman.

In July, John Seasock returned to driving the truck after his tenure in Grinder, which retired that December.

2014[]

Miller left the truck to begin driving the recently introduced New Earth Authority Police truck, leading to Seasock returning as Batman's primary driver. This was Batman's final year of competition, as the DC license expired by the end of the year.

On June 7th, the truck competed at its final event in Warsaw, Poland as part of that year's European tour. For the rest of the tour, Seasock would ironically run his chassis as Spider-Man, which is owned by DC Comics' rival Marvel Comics.

2020[]

Despite the truck having been retired, Spin Master released their own version of Batman, with a more tank-like design.

Events competed[]

2006
Date Event Driver Notes
January 6-7th Charlotte, NC Jason Childress Debut show
Won Racing, Show 1
January 14-15th Denver, CO
January 21st Tampa, FL
January 28th Phoenix, AZ Won Racing
February 3-4th Charleston, WV Won Racing, Show 1
February 10-12th Uniondale, NY
February 17-18th Fresno, CA Won Freestyle, Shows 1 and 2
February 24-26th Calgary, AB Won:
  • Racing, Show 3
  • Freestyle, Show 2
March 3-5th Winnipeg, MB
March 10-12th Beaumont, TX Won:
  • Racing, Shows 1 and 2
  • Freestyle, all 3 shows
March 25th Las Vegas, NV (World Finals VII)
May 12-13th Virginia Beach, VA (Monsters on the Beach) Marc McDonald
July 1st Sylva, NC (Monsters on Mainstreet) Charlie Pauken Won Freestyle
July 10-12th West Lebanon, NY Frank Krmel
September 8-10th Oberhausen, Germany Dan Evans Won Wheelies, Show 2
September 22-24th Zurich, Switzerland Won Freestyle, Show 3
September 30-October 1st Arnhem, Netherlands
October 6-8th Antwerp, Belgium
October 13-15th Paris, France
October 28-29th Lisbon, Portugal Won:
  • Wheelies, Show 1
  • Racing, Show 2
November 10-12th Stockholm, Sweden Won Racing, Show 3
2007
Date Event Driver Notes
January 6th Houston, TX John Seasock
January 13th Atlanta, GA Won Racing
January 20-21st Toronto, ON
January 27th Indianapolis, IN
February 2-3rd Fargo, ND Won Wheelies, Show 1
February 9-11th Uniondale, NY Won Wheelies, Shows 2 and 3
February 16-18th Rosemont, IL
February 24th Jacksonville, FL
March 3rd El Paso, TX
March 24th Las Vegas, NV (World Finals VIII) Won Racing Championship
June 9th Gothenburg, Sweden
September 29-30th Arnhem, Netherlands
October 6-7th Antwerp, Belgium
October 27th Cardiff, Wales
November 9-11th Stockholm, Sweden
November 16-18th Helsinki, Finland Won Wheelies, Show 1
2008
Date Event Driver Notes
January 5th Houston, TX John Seasock
January 12th Anaheim, CA
January 18-20th Tacoma, WA
January 26th Phoenix, AZ
February 2nd Houston, TX
February 16th St. Louis, MO
February 22-23rd Oklahoma City, OK
March 1st El Paso, TX
March 7-9th Reno, NV Won Wheelies, Show 3
March 28-29th Las Vegas, NV (World Finals IX) Won Racing Championship
May 2-4th San Jose, Costa Rica Won Racing, Show 1
May 18th Lima, OH
May 31st Syracuse, NY
June 6-7th Saluda, VA Bobby Parr Won Racing, Show 2
July 11-13th Bloomsburg, IN John Seasock
July 14-16th West Lebanon, NY
July 26th Houston, TX (Monsters on Mainstreet)
August 15-16th Sunrise, FL Won:
  • Racing, Show 3
  • Donuts, Show 1
  • Freestyle, Show 3
September 5-6th Corpus Christi, TX
September 26-28th Wildwood, NJ (Thunder on the Beach)
October 24-25th Louisville, KY
November 21-22nd Hamilton, ON
December 6th Minneapolis, MN
2009
Date Event Driver Notes
January 3-4th Cincinnati, OH John Seasock Won Racing, Show 1
January 10-11th San Antonio, TX
January 17th Detroit, MI Won Racing
January 24th Indianapolis, IN
January 31st Vancouver, BC
February 6-8th Edmonton, AB Won:
  • Racing, Shows 1 and 2
  • Freestyle, Show 1
February 13-15th Calgary, AB Won:
  • Wheelies, Show 1
  • Freestyle, Shows 1 and 3
February 20-22nd Spokane, WA
February 28th Oakland, CA Won Racing
March 6-7th El Paso, TX
March 27-28th Las Vegas, NV (World Finals X)
May 30th Chorzów, Poland
June 6th Cardiff, Wales
June 13th Gothenburg, Sweden Won Racing
September 26-27th Arnhem, Netherlands
October 24th Barcelona, Spain
October 30-November 1st Helsinki, Finland
November 14-15th Stockholm, Sweden
2010
Date Event Driver Notes
January 9th Atlanta, GA John Seasock
January 15-17th Tacoma, WA Won Racing, Show 4
Januuary 22-24th Sacramento, CA
January 30th Phoenix, AZ
February 6-7th Hartford, CT Won Racing, Show 3
February 13-14th Cleveland, OH
February 19-20th Chattanooga, TN Won:
  • Wheelies, Shows 1 and 3
  • Racing, Show 2
February 27th Arlington, TX
March 6-7th El Paso, TX
March 27th Las Vegas, NV (World Finals XI)
2011
Date Event Driver Notes
January 7-8th Evansville, IN Norman Miller
January 15th Anaheim, CA
January 22nd San Diego, CA
January 29th Phoenix, AZ
February 4-5th Tallahassee, FL
February 11-13th Rosemont, IL
February 18-19th Memphis, TN
February 25-27th Chattanooga, TN
March 26th Las Vegas, NV (World Finals XII)
May 13-15th San Jose, Costa Rica Alex Blackwell
July 8-9th North East, PA Carl Van Horn Won:
  • Wheelies, Show 1
  • Racing, both shows
  • Freestyle, both shows
July 21st Englishtown, NJ (Motorsports Spectacular) Alex Blackwell
July 29-30th Fishersville, VA Frank Krmel
2012
Date Event Driver Notes
January 6-7th Columbus, OH Norman Miller Won Wheelies, Show 3
January 14th Atlanta, GA
January 20-21st Albany, NY
January 27-29th Washington, DC Won Racing, Shows 1 and 2
February 3-4th Rockford, IL Won:
  • Wheelies, Show 1
  • Racing, Shows 1 and 2
February 11-12th Denver, CO
February 17-18th Tallahassee, FL Won:
  • Wheelies, Show 1
  • Racing, Show 1
February 24th-26th Wheeling, WV Won:
  • Wheelies, Show 4
  • Racing, Shows 1, 3 and 4
  • Freestyle, Show 4
March 2-3rd Saginaw, MI Tim Missentzis
March 9-11th Tucson, AZ Norman Miller Won:
  • Racing, Show 4
  • Donuts, Show 2
March 16-17th Nampa, ID Norm Miller (shows 1 and 2)

Mike Christensen (show 3)

December 1st Minneapolis, MN Bari Musawwir
2013
Date Event Driver Notes
January 4-5th Birmingham, AL Norman Miller
January 11-12th Knoxville, TN Won Freestyle, Show 1
January 19-20th Toronto, ON
January 26th Phoenix, AZ
February 2nd Houston, TX
February 9th Anaheim, CA
February 15-17th Spokane, WA
February 23-24th Winnipeg, MB
March 2nd Detroit, MI
March 9th Syracuse, NY
March 23rd Las Vegas, NV (World Finals XIV) Racing only
Carl Van Horn Freestyle fill-in
April 26-27th Bismarck, MD Chad Tingler
June 1-2nd Halifax, NS Jon Zimmer Won Wheelies, Show 2
June 7-9th Bangor, ME Won:
  • Wheelies, Show 1
  • Racing, Shows 3 and 4
  • Freestyle, Show 3
June 15th East Rutherford, NJ Encore only
July 26-27th Mobile, AL John Seasock Won Racing, Show 2
September 20-22nd Monterrey, Mexico
September 28-29th Mexico City, Mexico
December 7th Minneapolis, MN
2014
Date Event Driver Notes
January 3-4th Trenton, NJ John Seasock Won:
  • Wheelies, Shows 1 and 2
  • Racing, Shows 1 and 2
January 10-11th Wichita, KS Won:
  • Wheelies, Shows 1 and 2
  • Racing, Shows 1 and 3
  • Freestyle, Shows 2 and 3
January 17-19th Sacramento, CA Won Racing, Shows 1 and 2
January 25th Anaheim, CA
February 1st Houston, TX
February 7-9th Kansas City, MO Won Racing, Shows 1 and 2
February 14-16th Worcester, MA Won Wheelies, Show 4
June 7th Warsaw, Poland Final show

World Finals appearances[]

Year Driver Results
2006 Jason Childress Qualifying: 14th (18.07) Racing: defeated in Round 1 by Monster Mutt Freestyle: 11th (21)
2007 John Seasock Qualifying: 8th (16.59) Racing: defeated Grave Digger in the finals Freestyle: 21st (8)
2008 Qualifying: 3rd (16.62) Racing: defeated Bounty Hunter in the finals Freestyle: 18th (16)
2009 Qualifying: 18th (17.65) Racing: defeated in Round 1 by El Toro Loco Freestyle: 12th (21)
2010 Qualifying: 10th (16.63) Racing: defeated in Round 2 by Air Force Afterburner Freestyle: 21st (4)
2011 Norman Miller Qualifying: 16th (16.94) Racing: defeated in Round 2 by Grave Digger Freestyle: 16th (18)
2013 Norman Miller (Racing) Qualifying: 19th (17.446) Racing: defeated in Round 1 by Metal Mulisha Freestyle: 27th (6)
Carl Van Horn (Freestyle)

Trivia[]

  • 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 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.
  • The truck had its own separate introduction in the 2006 and 2007 European Tours.[16]
  • 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 Tom Meents (2000/2001 and 2001/2002) and Adam Anderson (2013 and 2014).
  • 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.
  • Batman is one of 6 known trucks to not have the name itself on the body, but did have the classic Batman symbol.
  • According to John Seasock, the cost of the Batman body was $18,000.

Gallery[]

Merchandise[]

Miscellaneous[]

References[]