THE MENTER FAMILY
Kid: MASON MENTER, 11 years old
Parent: MIKE
RAMONA, CA
For father and son, Mason and Mike and racing is a full-time obsession. Mason’s father Mike raced boats professionally for many years and even has a National Champion title under his belt. Mike ended up trading water for land when his son Mason discovered his love for circle track racing at the age of five. Mason competed for over two years on a Circle Track in a “Mini Dwarf” even taking 2nd place in his league. However, it was always the world of Monster Trucks that caught Mason’s attention.
Mike and Mason have invested and dedicated the last few years into Mason’s dream of becoming a professional monster truck driver. While Mason is currently operating a mini-monster truck under the “Kid KJ” team name the plan is to put Mason in a FULL SIZE Monster Truck by next year. Mike has his eye on the prize of Mason becoming the youngest professional monster truck driver by the time he turns twelve. The current title holder is Shane Plato (also former Kid KJ) who is currently 13 years old. It’s no secret that Mike is coming for Shane’s title and the two dad’s know each other from the monster truck circuit.
Mike home schools’ Mason so they can dedicate their time to the truck and being on the road. Mike even sold their old house for a new, larger home with a mechanic shop so they can accommodate the massive truck. Mike manages Mason’s career 24/7 and is constantly banging down the doors of promoters and sponsors. Mason’s career is very much a business and it is run very much like a business. They are always looking to raise the bar and impress fans from across the country. Mike is currently divorced and has a “civil” relationship with Mason’s mother, although she doesn’t quite understand the obsession with motorsports.
Mike and Mason are currently in the process of building a full size monster truck. Mike says that going from a mini monster truck with 200 horsepower to a full size monster truck with 1500 horsepower at such a young age is no easy task. There are a lot of risks in this transition and it will definitely be a learning curve for Mason. Not to mention the extreme expense of buying a truck that is over $100,000! At this point, Mike has over-turned his life so much, he has nearly everything riding on his son’s success, they have to make it happen. The goal for next year: if he can get his son into the full-size truck the headlines will write themselves and the phone will be ringing off the hook.