MONSTER JAM VISITS SACRED HEART CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL Scott Heaton

Monster Jam weekend in Spokane, Washington is usually about Big Trucks, Big Air, and Big Carnage. The commercials on T.V. and on the radio highlight the trucks, air and carnage. The Spokane Arena is filled 4 times over the weekend to capacity to see Monster Jam. When the Monster Jam takes to the race track, the crowd cheers for their favorite truck, and the trucks have become the stars and legends of Monster Jam.
During the Built Ford Tough Party in the Pits, and after each Monster Jam, the drivers are more accessible than any other in motor sports, although it still seems to be about the truck.
My name is Scott Heaton, Motor Sports Announcer for Monster Jam. I get to know the men and women in the seats of the Monster Jam stars on a pretty personal level, so I tend to think more on the lines of the driver and not the truck, but I still get lost in the thrill of Monster Jam and the huge trucks, air and carnage. This weekend in Spokane I had a reality check that was very touching.
Mike Wine and Jeff Bainter, two tremendously talented drivers, in two hugely popular trucks, Monster Mutt and Captain USA, made an unscheduled stop on the Monster Jam Tour. Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital was host to the guys for a morning of jokes, smiles, autographs, photographs and hugs. Jeff and Mike took time out of their busy race weekend programs to hang out in the hospital and play rooms at Sacred Heart. Dave Johnson and Coyote from KCDA 103.1 got together with the Children’s Miracle Network and invited the boys to come and meet the fantastic kids at Sacred Heart. We were able to visit several kids and their parents in the Pediatric Ward. Such young and precious kids. They enjoyed the photos and toys that Mike and Jeff gave away. The parents seemed to get more of a kick out of it than the kids, talking with the drivers and asking questions, while the kids pushed the Hot Wheels toys around on the floor. Well, they played with them for a while, until they spotted some of the other great toys in the play room. We moved on to some of the older kids, and were able to meet a whole room full of wonderful young people in the next play room. Drew, Jason, Chris and Emma are just a few of the names that had an impact on me. The quiet, shy kids that entered the room were quickly turned into outgoing and boisterous young people. Mike Wine is probably the largest and oldest kid I or the kids have ever met. He has no off switch. He has no rev limiter. He is pure love and enthusiasm. Even the most shy of the kids were soon crawling over him like he was a jungle gym. Jeff had brought his 4 year old daughter Halley along, and the two of them signed autographs and chatted with the kids. Jeff is a super companionate man and is always looking for ways to be involved with the community, whether it’s his own or someone else’s. I am very fortunate to have been able to witness these two rough and tumble guys be so soft and gentle. I guess to do what these guys do for a living you have to retain a little bit of your childhood. Mike Wine was constantly making jokes, pulling legs and teasing. Everyone. No one was exempt. Not the nurses or patients. At one point he had Jeff talked into riding in a little red wagon. All of the kids seemed to really liven up with the attentions of the drivers showered on them. They all were waving their flags and chattering away. It was a definite bright spot in my year. Even when we visited some of the kids that could not come out of their rooms, the atmosphere in each room was much lighter with the arrival of Jeff and Mike. The guys offered signed pictures and advice on when Monster Jam could be seen on Speed. I’m sure that nearly every room was tuned into channel 35 at 3pm!! The last visit of the day is the one that will stay with me for the rest of my life. Josh. He visibly brightened with the visit from Mike and Jeff. He had not moved much or said more than “water” for 4 days previous to our visit. By the end of our stay, he was talking, and trying to sit up higher in bed. He was able to look up at the camera and give thumbs up with Mike and Jeff. Josh’s mom was obviously thrilled with his response to the visit. The guys and their actions gave that mom some relief and hope. You could see it in her eyes and on her face as well as the nice things she kept saying over and over.
Monster Jam will always be about the big trucks and all that go along with it, but Friday morning in Spokane it was about people. The people that make the trucks go and the people who are fans. The children are so special. But these 2 men, they are special too.

Click here to view a photo gallery from their visit.

**Below is a letter written by Jeff Bainter expressing his gratification for being a part of this touching event.

Feb. 14th 2007

Dear Scott,
I just wanted to thank you for allowing my daughter Haley and myself to accompany you and Mike Wine (driver of Monster Mutt) last week to the children’s ward at Sacred Heart hospital in Spokane. When you asked if I was busy on Friday morning at the start of a 3- day 4- show Monster Jam event, I naturally said yes. But once you explained the nature of your mission, I knew that I was going to make time for those kids. Being a part of the Monster Jam family we are used to entertaining kids at the shows, now was a chance to bring a little bit of Monster Jam to these very- deserving and courageous kids, some of who are fighting for their lives each day. Being in a hospital, even one as nice as Sacred Heart is not much fun, for the sick kids or their parents, I could tell that our visit was welcome immeditaly, by the hospital staff, the parents and especially the kids that are there for treatment. I tried to explain to my 4- year old daughter where we were going and why, and remember thinking just how lucky I was to have a healthy child and feeling so bad for the parents who must feel helpless sometimes. Mike Wine and myself tried to keep things upbeat and positive, as that is the attitude I saw from all those kids and their parents. They all really liked the monster truck pictures, toys and flags as well as getting their pictures taken with Mike and myself. I don’t know if Mike Wine has the smarts to be a doctor, but he definitely has an awesome bedside manner with those kids. (He did however make the nurses a little nervous,) Visiting these hospitals to see these brave kids and help brighten their day is a very rewarding experience and I would encourage all other monster truck drivers to make an effort to do so. These kids have enough negative things to look forward to; it’s great to give them something to get excited about. Plan it out with Live Nation staff, bring lots of swag, and make it your mission to make these kids smile.
Thanks again for letting us be a part.
Best Wishes,
Jeff, Haley and the CAPTAIN USA monster truck team.