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.

B次元官网网址淭here were people of all types there,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭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 B次元官网网址� And then there were people yelling and screaming at the ferry workers, honking their horns B次元官网网址� It was absolute chaos at the waiting terminal.B次元官网网址�

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 B次元官网网址渆ats cars and blows fire.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淎nd the kid brought up his hands like they were claws and started roaring B次元官网网址� like what Megasauraus does,B次元官网网址� Payne said. B次元官网网址淎nd that pretty much brought the kid out in all of my guys.B次元官网网址�

Although reluctant at first, Payne eventually caved to his crew and own inner child and said B次元官网网址測ou got three minutes to get it out and do a show.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

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 B次元官网网址渨ill the over-sized vehicle please stop shooting fire?B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� 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 B次元官网网址渏ust doing their job and playing it safeB次元官网网址� and that they wanted to ensure the dino wouldnB次元官网网址檛 rear its head again.

B次元官网网址淲e didnB次元官网网址檛 do this for recognition. We only did this for the people, just to put some smiles on faces. ThatB次元官网网址檚 what we do,B次元官网网址� 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.

B次元官网网址淢y whole life is built around B次元官网网址� [creating] memories and dreams and hopefully put a kid on the right path to do something cool with their life.B次元官网网址�

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mandy.moraes@nanaimobulletin.com
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