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:
| |
March 3-5th | Winnipeg, MB | ||
March 10-12th | Beaumont, TX | Won:
| |
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:
| |
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:
| |
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:
| |
February 13-15th | Calgary, AB | Won:
| |
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:
| |
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:
|
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:
| |
February 11-12th | Denver, CO | ||
February 17-18th | Tallahassee, FL | Won:
| |
February 24th-26th | Wheeling, WV | Won:
| |
March 2-3rd | Saginaw, MI | Tim Missentzis | |
March 9-11th | Tucson, AZ | Norman Miller | Won:
|
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:
| |
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:
|
January 10-11th | Wichita, KS | Won:
| |
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[]
- ↑ 2004-1 07-Batmobile (2).jpg
- ↑ 2005 27-Batman (4).jpg
- ↑ 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/
- ↑ File:Batman (truck).jpg
- ↑ Vegasae06108.jpg
- ↑ 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
- ↑ THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF ADVANCE AUTO PARTS MONSTER JAM MONSTER TRUCKS - Results - 2011 - Erie, PA
- ↑ Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam - Results - 2012 - Nampa, ID
- ↑ Batman's World Finals 14 freestyle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDMiMniuTnc
- ↑ THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF MONSTER JAM - Results - 2013 - Bismarck, ND
- ↑ Video needed