Passengers waiting at a BC Ferries terminal in Nanaimo were probably not expecting to see a fire-breathing dinosaur during the long-weekend ferry lineup.
Bill Payne, owner of the independent monster truck team , said it all started with a father and his young son. Payne and his crew had just finished a successful weekend at the Saratoga Speedway in Black Creek and were waiting at the Departure Bay ferry terminal to go back home to Washington.
He and his crew perform on the Island roughly twice as a year as they tour the West Coast putting on monster truck events. When not in use, the trucks are wrapped with their names and pictures on the exterior, as they were on Monday, May 22, at the ferry terminal.
害羞草研究所淭here were people of all types there,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淭here were people playing football in the parking lot, there were people in hammocks sleeping, there were people setting up movies in the back of their SUVs 害羞草研究所� And then there were people yelling and screaming at the ferry workers, honking their horns 害羞草研究所� It was absolute chaos at the waiting terminal.害羞草研究所�
During their five-hour sailing wait, Payne said people would come up and ask questions. A father and son took a special interest in Megasauraus, the transforming T-rex that 害羞草研究所渆ats cars and blows fire.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淎nd the kid brought up his hands like they were claws and started roaring 害羞草研究所� like what Megasauraus does,害羞草研究所� Payne said. 害羞草研究所淎nd that pretty much brought the kid out in all of my guys.害羞草研究所�
Although reluctant at first, Payne eventually caved to his crew and own inner child and said 害羞草研究所測ou got three minutes to get it out and do a show.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟
His crew then worked quickly to unstrap and stand up the mechanical monster.
An exciting incendiary show amazed passengers and momentarily eased boredom at the terminal.
Just as they were lowering the dino back down, Payne said a loud speaker announcement asked 害羞草研究所渨ill the over-sized vehicle please stop shooting fire?害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� quickly followed by BC Ferries workers running up and asking them to stop.
Almost as quickly as the dino had appeared, it was gone.
Payne said the ferry staff were 害羞草研究所渏ust doing their job and playing it safe害羞草研究所� and that they wanted to ensure the dino wouldn害羞草研究所檛 rear its head again.
害羞草研究所淲e didn害羞草研究所檛 do this for recognition. We only did this for the people, just to put some smiles on faces. That害羞草研究所檚 what we do,害羞草研究所� Payne said.
He said that Megasauraus, which is constructed out of an old military tank and other steel and hydraulics, also holds indoor performances at hockey arenas and performance centres. It uses a two-gallon propane tank to create fireballs, and goes through fire marshal inspections routinely, as well as its own safety inspections weekly.
害羞草研究所淢y whole life is built around 害羞草研究所� [creating] memories and dreams and hopefully put a kid on the right path to do something cool with their life.害羞草研究所�
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