AUTO RACING: Megasauras, Monster Of Fire

By Allen Gregory
Sports Writer / Bristol Herald Courier
Published: May 31, 2008

BY ALLEN GREGORY
BRISTOL HERALD COURIER
BRISTOL, Tenn.  — Mike West is the master of a monster.

His creation stand over three stories tall, weighs over 50,000 pounds and spits fire.

Introducing Megasaurus.

“We can literally pick up a car and tear it in half,” West said. “We can also eat through a car and tear the roof off.

“When Megasaurus is hungry, he’ll eat anything.”

West and partner Scott Neely operate the control on their mechanical marvel, which has 40,000 pounds of pressure in its hydraulically activated arms and claws.

The unique feature of Megasaurus is that it transforms from a tank-like device into a flame-spitting dinosaur.

“It’s just like the transformers all the kids play with, but this is a transformer for big kids and we’re just the trainers,” West said. Kids squealed with a mix of glee and horror when Megasaurus roared onto the starting line during Friday’s Night of Fire program at Bristol Dragway.

The handlers of Megasaurus are accustomed to the reaction.

“We’ve been doing Monster truck shows and exhibitions like this for almost 24 years,” said West, the owner of Wild West Entertainment.  “We build a lot of jet vehicles for the gearhead, likes the 50-mph, 200 horsepower recliner we brought to Bristol, but the whole reason for Megasaurus is for the kids.”

And those kids seemed transfixed Friday when the hatch opened and the menacing dinosaur head emerged from deep within Megasuarus.

“Every kid either has or wants a dinosaur,” West said.

Bryan Clawson of Gray, Tenn. brought his two 15-year-old kids into the Bristol Dragway pits early Friday to get a close-up view of the beast at rest.

“This is a good inexpensive event that a lot of people can come to,” Clawson said. “I haven’t been to one of these shows before, but the kids have seen some of these cars on TV and they wanted to come out.”

Bob Gilbertson posted a time of 302.41 during his early run in the Trick Tank Funny Car. The veteran NHRA and IHRA competitor feels programs such as the Night of Fire offer a wide appeal.

“For 15 bucks, this is good entertainment,” Gilbertson said. “Folks get tired of seeing the same thing, and ticket prices are much lower.

“I think they are going to try do this event every year at Bristol Dragway. They will build on it and pretty soon it will be a big show. It’s good for everybody.”

And the 48-year-old West is eager to unleash his monster for more fans.

“It’s our first time to Bristol, and this place is just fantastic,” West said. “We’d love to come back with Megasaurus.”

(276) 669-2544.