In 1981, Michael Vaters bought a black 1982 Ford F250 at a local dealership. At that time, a Lift Kit wasn't available for this truck, so he designed and built one himself. He added 40 inch tires, which had recently become available, thus creating his street car, the Black Stallion.

A year later, the Black Stallion went under a transformation. It now boasted a 12' Suspension Lift with 44" tires. Mike designed and built Rear Steering and the Black Stallion crab-walked down his hometown streets. The Stallion could be heard coming because of its Alpine Stereo with Bose Amplifiers and 12 speaker Sound System. As if maneuvering this beast was not enough, the Stallion had a custom fitted in-dash television.

The Black Stallion was not only being driven on the streets, but Mike would also mud bog in it one weekend and then spend the entire week cleaning it to enter a show and shine competition the next weekend, where he would typically win first place or best in show.  In 1983, the Black Stallion made a trip over 500 miles to Indianapolis , Indiana for the Jamboree and won runner up for the "Best Engineered Truck."

Later in 1983, Mike corralled the Black Stallion back into the garage. The inline 6 Cylinder Stock Engine was replaced with a 460 Cubic Inch V8 Ford Engine. A Hydraulic Tilt Front End was installed to display the new engine and to add a few more inches of lift. Before these modifications were complete, Maryland 's bumper height laws for trucks became more strict.  Mike was left with a dilemma to either lower Black Stallion to run legally on the streets, or go to the extreme and build a monster truck. Mike had monster fever so the result was inevitable.  Mike and his friends worked about one and a half years in their spare time transforming the Black Stallion into a monster truck.
 
In the fall of 1985 the Monster was complete. It stood 12 feet high, and was 12 feet wide, weighing in at 13,000 pounds. It was powered by a 460 Ford Tunnel Ram with two Chrome Predator Carburetors. The Monster’s motor was displayed by the Hydraulic Tilt Front End. The Monster rode on huge 66" Terra Tires supported by 5 ton Military Axles from Boyce Equipment. Mike also didn't forget about his show truck touches. Any removable part on this truck that would fit in a Chrome Plating Tank, was Chrome. The interior fashioned plush seats, a stereo, TV, and a sunroof. Black Stallion became the most beautiful and luxurious Monster Truck at that time.

In the spring of 1986, Michael was approached by Lorilard Tobacco Co. to run their logo, Beechnut, on his truck. Mike agreed, even though this meant removing the Black Stallion body.  For the next year Mike ran the Beechnut body on his truck in the "Beechnut Tour," which included 110 shows in 1 year, thus sidelining the Stallion. However, One year later, the Beechnut Crusher was retired and the Black Stallion body re-emerged. At this time, Monster Truck entertainment progressed to a higher level with Promoters beginning to race Monster Trucks side by side over junk cars. In an endeavor to remain competitive, Mike went to work on the Black Stallion truck again, experimenting with different leaf springs, shocks, and suspension. He then built a bigger motor; a 477cc Ford with an 871supercharger and 2 chrome plated carburetors. The Stallion continued to crush cars and race at different events and displays. In the spring of 1987 the Black Stallion was the first monster truck to travel to the Bahamas for a demonstration at an air show.

In the spring of 1988, the Black Stallion went back into the garage. The body was replaced with a 1988 Ford F250. The stereo, TV, and luxury items were removed to lighten the truck for racing. Then, in 1991, Mike realized the need for a better Suspension, so he designed and built Air Suspension, which replaced the Leaf Springs. Then, out of curiosity, he decided to take a trip to California to visit Kuster, a company that built Shocks for off-road desert racers. He approached the company about producing Shocks that could be used in Monster Trucks. After that visit, the Black Stallion became the first monster truck to have and use this Shock Technology. Mike became the first to design and build a Bypass Tube Shock creating 36’ of travel. The Bypass Tubes are externally adjustable, allowing them to be set according to tack conditions. This Shock design enables the Black Stallion to fly higher and farther than ever before. After Mike’s introduction of Bypass Tube Shocks into the Monster Truck Industry, it has become a common staple on all Monster Trucks.

In the fall of 1995, Mike finally decided to build a new Black Stallion monster truck. Mike and his friends thrashed 16 hour days 7 days a week for 2 months to build the Black Stallion 2000. Mike named it "Black Stallion 2000" because for year’s friends and fellow drivers ribbed Mike that it would be the new millennium before he ever got around to building his new truck.
 
In January of 1996, the Black Stallion 2000 was debuted in Worcester, Massachusetts, where it placed 12th in the PENDA point series in the same year.  

In 1997 and 1998, the Black Stallion was raced in Special Events and in the Thunder National Series. 
 
In 1999, the Black Stallion won the Thunder National and Monster National championship. In the same year, while at the Bloomsburg, PA event, the Black Stallion flew over the top of the Nitemare Monster Truck, thrilling the crowd and becoming the first Monster Truck to ever jump another Monster Truck. 
 
In 2000 Mike and the Black Stallion were chosen by popular vote from the Thunder National series to attend the Monster Jam World Finals in Las Vegas . However, due to prior bookings they were unable to attend. When the 2001 Monster Jam World Finals came around, Mike made sure he had that date open when the Black Stallion was chosen by the fans to compete.

Over the years, spectators have been thrilled and awed by Black Stallion’s fearless display of high flying leaps, unbounded wheel stands, and whirling donuts. “The Reverser,” a inherent backwards leap across a line of junk cars, is now a classic in the performances. Black Stallion is a six time USHRA Thunder National Champion and has made it to the USHRA Monster Jam World Finals four times. The Black Stallion finished 3rd in the Freestyle Competition at the 2005 Monster Jam World Finals. The year 2007 marked 25 years for the Black Stallion in Monster Truck Racing. With these characteristics, it is ensured that Mike Vaters and the Black Stallion will be around for years to come to entertain and thrill the fans. 

Black Stallion Monster Truck Highlights  

• *- Seven time USHRA Thunder Nationals Champion
• *- Four time USHRA World Finalist
• *- Five time Monster Spectacular Champion
• *- Finished third in Freestyle Competition out of the 20 best trucks in the country at the televised 2005 Monster Jam World Finals in Las Vegas
• *- The first Monster Truck to successfully jump another Monster Truck driving forward in 1999
• *- First Monster Truck to successfully jump another Monster Truck driving in reverse, setting a world record distance of 70 feet in 2002 at Indianapolis, Indiana