MONSTER TRUCKS INVADE K-C !!!!

Steel Crushing Action and serious Air Time

K-C Raceway readies for a big 2011 racing season with plenty of
surprises
By Julie Billings (Photos also courtesy of Julie Billings)

Although there is snow on the ground and sub-freezing temperatures
outside, plans for the 2011 racing season are heating up for K-C
Raceway owners Jeff and Vickie Schrader.
The 2011 schedule should be released by the middle of January with
racing set to begin in the spring.
"Our Classic race in April was a success. We had a boat load of
modifieds and late models signed in for this race. It was too bad
that we were only able to get one day in (due to weather)," said Jeff
Schrader. "Bringing Speed Week back to K-C was also a big thrill."
Those events should be back on the 2011 schedule as well as many
other goodies that should please area racing enthusiasts.

Mud Slinger blasting off!!!!

"We were able to go out and get some great sponsors who wanted to
team up with K-C to make it a better racing facility. By having a
year under our belt, it was easier with setting up a schedule that
worked for our drivers and fans," said Jeff.
"I would say, 'thank you so much'. The crowds have gotten bigger
from the first year, and we have gotten smarter. The drivers and the
car owners have been supportive racing with us every week and putting
on great shows."
Schrader wants to keep working on drawing fans of all ages,
especially kids.
"The biggest challenge is trying to get the fans in the stands, and
that is where you sometimes have to think outside the box," said
Schrader.
In order to get younger kids interested in coming to the races,
Schrader plans to have something different going all of the time to
keep them interested and wanting to come back to K-C Raceway.
One event that was really popular with the youngsters was the
Monster Truck show, held on Sept. 18.
"The Monster Truck show brought in more young kids than I think K-C
has ever seen at one time. We had close to 1,500 kids ages 12 and
under," said Schrader.
"I believe the fans got what they paid for — a great show with five
of the top of the line monster trucks. Vallery Ford was the sponsor
for that show, and they were so happy at the outcome they saw at
their dealership."
Schrader isn't sure whether the monster trucks will return in 2011,
but they are talking with the promoter, so it is a possibility.
"Our track is a bit too small to really get the big jumps that those
trucks can do. We have not ruled anything out though we have been
talking to the promoter of that show."
The promoters, Denise and Mike Vaters of Vaters Motorsports, felt
the show at K-C went well.
"From my point of view the show was great. I look at show flow
meaning there is always something going on down on the track to
entertain the spectators. Little or no down time is what we strive
for at Vaters’ Monster Motorsports," said Denise Vaters. "People in
general today are very 'fast food'. They are busy and come to see
action. They don’t want to sit in the stand and wait for someone to
fix a truck for 15 minutes or wait while a truck is towed off the
track. The show went will with little downtime, and the crowd was
very enthusiastic in response to the show.
"I must say the crowd that K-C Raceway was one of the most
enthusiastic and excited that I have witnessed."
The show at K-C Raceway featured five trucks including Avenger (Jim
Koehler of Columbus, Mich.), Black Stallion (Michael Vaters of
Hagerstown, Md.), Brutus (Chris Bergeron of Columbus, Mich.), Iron
Warrior (Trey Myers of Brunswick, Md. with Michael Vaters as owner)
and local Samson (Dan Patrick of Circleville). Mikey Vaters II, son
of Michael Vaters, was the FMX Rider who provided entertainment
between truck events by doing tricks and jumps on his 2005 Suzuki RM
250 bike.
The end of the show featured Michael Vaters riding the Kamikaze Jet
4-Wheeler. The powerful 1500 horse power jet engines strike awe into
the crowd with thrust and burner pops. The jet engines shoot out
flames over twenty five feet as they speed by the spectators. Vaters
also did a car burn, using powerful flames to destroy a salvage car.
"On average we have two to five trucks. We have had as little as a
one truck exhibition which some venues will use to spice up routine
racing or a demo derby. Our largest show had 12 trucks," said Denise
Vaters.
Once Vaters Motorsports books an event and the venue selects a date,
Denise contacts drivers to see who is available based on the size of
the show.
"We come in set up the track a day or so before the show and often
to set up static displays with the trucks somewhere in the community
to let the public now that the trucks will be at a particular venue.
We choreograph the event making up a show schedule and have a meeting
before the show to review the format with all the exhibitors," said
Vaters. "We have people on the ground and are in communication with
them throughout the show to keep it flowing and make changes in the
schedule as needed in the case of an unforeseeable problem. We pay
all the exhibitors at the end of the show, tear everything down, load
up and move on to the next show."
The show at K-C Raceway followed the basic format of a typical
Vaters Motorsports Show with jumps, races and car crushing. Typical
racing competition is performed side by side over piles of cars or
“Chicago” style over cars. A full-timed qualifying competition heat
will take place to decide running order for the trucks in the show.
Standard bracketed racing will take place to determine who the
champion of the night is. Finally each truck will explode out on the
track and perform individual freestyles to see just which driver can
get the craziest. The freestyle competition is the highlight of a
full evening’s entertainment.
Whether or not the monster trucks return in 2011, Schrader wants
fans to know they should expect an entertaining evening of racing
action when they visit the track.
"I would say if you want to get the biggest bang for your buck, K-C
Raceway is the place to come. We start racing at 7 p.m. and run until
11 p.m., and it is non-stop entertainment," said Schrader. "We have a
great announcer, Bruce Hines, who keeps the fans informed and lets
them know about sponsors. We have a playground for the kids to play
on until the races start, and like I said, there is always something
going on at K-C."
Schrader said racing has been good for the local economy as well.
"More than $4,000,000 (according to the county commissioners) was
spent in the community this year with K-C being open and racing on a
weekly basis. Fans come from all over the USA to watch a show at K-C,
and even Australia," said Schrader. "We paid out $450,000 to the
drivers in 2011. The rest comes from gas, hotel, motel, and food and
drinks that the fans and drivers bought while coming and leaving the
race track. That was estimated on revenue brought into both counties."
Fans should know in the very near future what to expect when the
2011 schedule is released.

Putting some "teeth" into this one!

The Iron Warrior wearing some hot iron!

One of the most thrilling stunts was this motorcycle jump! High as the flagpole!

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