FULL FORCE
LOUISVILLE SHOW BREAKS RECORDS AGAIN
After a year of construction woes, the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) was back in full force, solidifying itself as the most powerful trucking industry event on Earth. Completion of the newly renovated North Wing of the Kentucky Exposition Center further bolstered an already incredible facility of more than 1.2 million square feet of exhibit space. With 1,174 exhibitors representing 47 states and 12 foreign countries, the 37th annual event, held March 27-29, forged its place in the industry record books by delivering the largest heavy-duty trucking event in history. Some 76,500 trucking professionals from all 50 states and 48 foreign countries made the trip to Louisville, Kentucky to be a part of this phenomenal event.
With an uncertain (or downright flat) economy, it was hard to predict if the show was going to be really good this year or just okay, but to our surprise, it was fantastic. We thought that some companies would cancel at the last minute while others might “downsize” their booths, but that was not the case. In fact, we have never seen so many amazing displays as the ones we saw at MATS this year. Like the show itself, it seemed that the exhibitors were going “full force” as well. The crowds were a little less than usual, but with fuel prices going through the roof, that was expected. Show attendees utilized the three days to visit all of the various indoor and outdoor show features, and many truckers took advantage of the free Sugarland concert on Friday night (presented by Kenworth). There really is too much to see and do at MATS – those three days just fly by every year.
The biggest buzz of the show was the unveiling of International’s new Class 8 tractor, the LoneStar. This revolutionary truck, which combines head-turning styling with the latest aerodynamic innovations, was built to appeal to owner operators. The three models they had in their booth were continuously covered with people gawking and taking pictures. Outside with the show trucks, International had a huge tent set up with more LoneStars on display, as well as a tricked-out 1939 International pickup, which was the original inspiration for the LoneStar. They had food and drinks, International merchandise for sale, and a real tattoo artist offering free International tattoos for anyone who wanted one. And, surprisingly, people were lined up all three days to get the International logo inked on their skin forever.
Another truck that was unveiled at MATS was the new Mack Titan. The Titan is the largest truck Mack has ever made. Powered by the new Mack MP10 engine, the 16-liter modern-day workhorse has a top rating of 605 horsepower and 2,060 ft-lbs of torque. While the Titan raises the bar for the company in terms of horsepower and torque, it also establishes a new standard for visual appeal with its overpowering physical presence and bold styling. Customers may pre-order Titan models from Mack dealers now, with deliveries scheduled to begin later this year.
Out in the Broadbent Arena, the new cast of “Trick My Truck” actually tricked out a Hino straight truck during the three days of the show. The guys, now known as Outcast Kustoms, painted the truck, re-did the interior, and added all sorts of wild accessories while crowds of fans watched. A company that builds paint booths (Col-Met) actually brought in and set up a complete spray booth and ventilation system so that painter Ryan “Ryno” Templeton could work his magic during the show. The black truck with blue flames was revealed on Saturday afternoon as the show came to a close.
Over in the Castrol Tection booth, the Chrome Shop Mafia announced the winner of the Castrol Big Honkin’ Truck Makeover. Don Wolford Jr. of Greencastle, PA was chosen as the grand prize winner. Don’s 1979 KW W900A will receive a $50,000 makeover from the Chrome Shop Mafia, which will be revealed in Dallas this August at the GATS show. The Great American Insurance Group gave away a custom 2004 Peterbilt 379 in their Big Rig Giveaway for the second year in a row. Michael Van Ness of Danville, IA was the lucky winner. In a tent outside of the main lobby doors, the winner of Arrow’s Back On The Road 2008 contest was announced by legendary radio personality Bill Mack. Don Turkelson of Battle Creek, MI won not only a specially-equipped 2005 Volvo VNL 670 truck, but he also received a one year work agreement with Heartland Express.
Also outside of the main front lobby, in the parking lot, the National Association of Show Trucks (NAST) held their Truck-Lite Trophy competition. The seven finalists in attendance had each earned a spot at the finals by winning one of NAST’s official events held throughout the previous year. We were pleased to learn that our November 2007 cover truck, owned by Truett Novosad of Caldwell, TX was crowned as the 2007 Truck-Lite Trophy Champion. Congratulations, Truett!
Out in the back parking lot, 100 of the finest working and show trucks came to compete in the 19th Annual Paul K. Young Memorial Truck Beauty Championship. Hosted by the folks at Pride & Polish (formerly Stars & Stripes), this collection of rigs was one of the finest ever. Many of the big winners were names you would recognize – names like Sandvik, Baird, Muirhead, McCord, Brinker and Caton (Eilen & Sons), but there were a few surprises. The People’s Choice award went to Michael Most’s yellow Freightliner Classic (Legends & Heroes), which he brought out all the way from Arizona. Don & Kim Fisher debuted their “Gambler” Peterbilt, complete with extensive murals and pop-up headlights that disappear into the fenders when turned off. Bob & Shelley Brinker really cleaned house at this show, winning four first place trophies, securing them the Best of Show Bobtail award. Another unique rig was Mario Bergeron’s “Xtreme Machine” from Canada. This 1999 Peterbilt featured amazing orange and silver paint, a wild interior, an immaculate engine, tons of custom fabrication, and much more. This truck could have held its own if it had competed in the Big-Rig Build-Off. Mario’s truck got a lot of attention – and a 1st place in the Bobtail (Limited Mileage) class.
Also out with the competing show trucks was a neat black and green Peterbilt that was put together by students in the Diesel Technology Program at the Clarion County Career Center in Pennsylvania. Some 25+ high-school aged kids not only built the truck themselves, but they made the trek to Louisville to show it off as well. Led by Don Doverspike, the kids transformed a stock 1993 Peterbilt conventional into a flashy show truck they called “The Educator” for obvious reasons. Complete with custom fabricated fenders and a host of other unique accessories, the truck earned all of the kids a special trophy for teamwork, which was presented to them at the awards ceremony on Saturday.
But the rigs that really attracted the crowds were the four “Build-Off” trucks. For the fourth year, builders from around the country (and Canada) competed against each other to build the wildest custom creation. Voted on by show attendees, this year there was not only a People’s Choice award, but there was also an Engineer’s Choice. Engineers from several truck manufacturers came out and judged the trucks from an engineering standpoint. Four companies competed in the Build-Off this year.
Phil Langevin of Valley Custom Trucks in Ontario, Canada has competed in every Build-Off, but still not taken home the prize. This year, he built a cool, retro-styled Freightliner painted white with blue and silver stripes. Starting with a stock 1997 Freightliner Classic, he tore the whole truck down, chopped the top, built a totally custom straight hood with no slant, extended the cab and sleeper panels, re-did the interior, and performed tons of other “subtle” customizing. He did not go for the “wow factor” this year, opting instead for a more subdued look.
Rick Boardwine from Peterbilt of Bristol in Virginia built a neat Peterbilt with a distinct grille that extended all the way down to the bottom of the fenders. Starting with a 2005 Pete 379 that was purchased at an auction, Rick and his crew chopped the top of the sleeper seven inches, installed four fuel tanks that looked like two huge ones (a band covered the gap between them), removed every visible bolt from the frame, installed a tumbled granite floor inside, painted the outside True Candy Apple Red with a silver base and then added ghost flames. This truck is wild, but it is also drivable and saleable (Rick would not build a truck that he couldn’t sell).
Jordan Hitchcock of MBH Trucking in Webberville, MI built a cool 1996 Pete 379 that used to be his father’s working truck. They took it down to bare frame rails and went from there. Powered by a 550 Cat 3406E, the truck featured Candy Apple Red paint over a Gold base, a mural on the back of the sleeper, a custom wire-mesh grille that Jordan made himself, custom step boxes and a 1970s-styled red and black interior complete with shag carpet, crushed velvet and leather upholstery, and a neat “blanked-out” fiberglass dash. Jordan and his brothers plan on working the truck a little, but are mostly looking forward to just showing it off.
This year’s winner of the 4th Annual Big-Rig Build-Off was Randy Stroup of First Class Services in Lewisport, Kentucky. Randy took both the People’s Choice trophy and the Engineer’s Choice award. Starting with a stock 1986 Peterbilt 359, Randy and his crew, which included Roger Blair, Frank Estes, Greg Boarman and several others, transformed the plain truck into something truly spectacular. Featuring a tricked-out Cat 3406 under the hood, twin sticks inside, a 305-inch wheelbase and pleated body panels on the back of the 63-inch flattop Unibilt sleeper, the truck was painted with an exciting mix of Copper, Burnt Orange and Candy Red paint. Other details include several custom body panels from 12 Gauge Customs, the “First Class” logo engraved on the ends of the axles, and “Twisted Sticks” made by Outlaw Customs in Colorado for the shifters, the clutch pedal, the sleeper suspension track rod and the radiator supports. The interior is pretty amazing, too. Much more was done to this truck, but there is just too much to list it all here. Randy plans on taking the truck to several trucking shows and events this year, so keep an eye out for it (it would be hard to miss) and check it out for yourself – you will not be disappointed.
The 2009 show is scheduled for March 19-21 and is expected to be even bigger and better than this year’s event. Mark your calendars and start making your plans now, because you won’t want to miss this show. Following is a list of all the 2008 winners:
BOBTAIL (ANTIQUE): 1st Warren Roosevelt Jr. – 1966 Peterbilt 281; 2nd Gary Robey – 1963 Peterbilt 351; 3rd Jerry Howard – 1954 Autocar DC75.
BOBTAIL (FIRST SHOW): 1st Josh Stier – 1984 Peterbilt 359; 2nd Drennon Durham – 2007 Peterbilt 379; 3rd Clayton Fletcher – 1998 Peterbilt 379.
BOBTAIL (NEW TRUCK UNDER 75K MI): 1st Tom & Maryann Quick – 2007 Freightliner Coronado; 2nd Don & Kim Fisher – 2007 Peterbilt 379 Legacy; 3rd Jonathan Dyck – 2007 Peterbilt 379.
BOBTAIL (COMPANY TRUCK): 1st Curt Miller, J & R Schugel Trucking – 2007 International 9900ix; 2nd Josh Lyles, Taylor Transport – 2006 Peterbilt 379; 3rd Lowell Wilderman, Schneider – 2008 Freightliner Cascadia.
BOBTAIL (2000 & OLDER): 1st Bob & Shelley Brinker – 2000 Freightliner Classic XL; 2nd Michael Most – 1998 Freightliner Classic; 3rd Ron Brubaker – 1993 Peterbilt 379.
BOBTAIL (2001-2006): 1st Lynn & Shelley Baxter – 2006 Freightliner M2; 2nd J.R. Roth – 2006 Kenworth T800; 3rd Tom & Daveda Reitz – 2005 Peterbilt 379.
BOBTAIL (2007 & NEWER): 1st Dallas McCord – 2007 Peterbilt 379; 2nd Edward Bosket – 2007 Freightliner Coronado; 3rd Matthew McCord – 2007 Peterbilt 379.
BOBTAIL (LTD. MILEAGE): 1st Mario Bergeron – 1999 Peterbilt 379; 2nd Ryan Danylchuk – 2001 Peterbilt 379; 3rd David Carey – 1979 International Transtar.
COMBO (ANTIQUE): 1st David Ratliff – 1970 Peterbilt 359 and 1969 Great Dane Reefer; 2nd Richard Gingerich – 1951 Autocar DC100 and 1976 American Livestock Museum trailer.
COMBO (FIRST SHOW): 1st Dan Mitchell – 2007 Kenworth W900L and 2009 Timpte Super Hopper; 2nd Curt Miller – 2006 Kenworth W900L and 2008 Great Dane Dry Van; 3rd Brian & Kim Landry – 2008 International ProStar and 2008 Stoughton Dry Van.
COMBO (NEW TRUCK UNDER 75K MI): 1st John & Jandy Lee – 2008 Peterbilt 389 and 2008 Kentucky Enclosed Auto Carrier; 2nd Scott Hess – 2007 Kenworth W900 and 2008 East Genesis Dump; 3rd W.M. Gorman Jr. – 2009 Kenworth W900L and 2008 Lake Region Model MA2AA.
COMBO (COMPANY OWNED): 1st Keith Bell, Muirhead Trucking – 2007 Peterbilt 379 Legacy and 2008 Great Dane Reefer; 2nd Phillip Clayton, Priority Trans. – 2005 Peterbilt 379 and 2007 Great Dane; 3rd Ronnie Johnson, Witte Bros. Exchange – 2007 Peterbilt 379 and 2009 Utility Reefer.
COMBO (2000 & OLDER): 1st Bob Greiner – 1997 Peterbilt 379 and 2006 Transcraft Flatbed; 2nd Ryan Hooten – 1996 Peterbilt 379 and 1994 Custom Double Flatbeds; 3rd James Davis – 1993 Peterbilt 379 and 2000 Wilson Curtain Van.
COMBO (2001 & NEWER): 1st Tyler Muirhead – 2007 Peterbilt 379 and 2004 Great Dane Reefer; 2nd Brad Caton – 2007 Peterbilt 379 and 2007 Mac End Dump; 3rd Les Sullivan – 2007 Western Star and 2001 Wabash Reefer.
COMBO (LTD. MILEAGE): 1st Ron Baird – 2000 Peterbilt 379 and 2000 Heil Dry Bulk Tank; 2nd Bill & Marie Sandvik – 1998 Peterbilt 379 and 1993 Ravens Flatbed; 3rd Vinnie Diorio – 2005 Peterbilt 379 and 2008 Mac Curtain Van.
INTERIOR (CAB ONLY): 1st (tie) Ronnie Johnson – 2007 Peterbilt 379 and 2009 Utility Reefer AND Chad Blackwell – 2007 Peterbilt 379 Legacy; 2nd Tom & Daveda Reitz – 2005 Peterbilt 379; 3rd Bob & Geri Martin – 1995 Peterbilt 379.
INTERIOR (OEM SLEEPER): 1st Bob & Shelley Brinker – 2000 Freightliner Classic XL; 2nd Dallas McCord – 2007 Peterbilt 379; 3rd Matthew McCord – 2007 Peterbilt 379.
INTERIOR (CUSTOM SLEEPER): 1st John & Jandy Lee – 2008 Peterbilt 389 and 2008 Kentucky Enclosed Auto Carrier; 2nd Don & Kim Fisher – 2007 Peterbilt 379 Legacy; 3rd Tom & Maryann Quick – 2007 Freightliner Coronado.
LIGHTS (BOBTAIL): 1st Bill Stout & Teresa Bartley – 2005 Kenworth W900L; 2nd Lynn & Shelley Baxter – 2006 Freightliner M2; 3rd Tom & Maryann Quick – 2007 Freightliner Coronado.
LIGHTS (COMBO): 1st John & Jandy Lee – 2008 Peterbilt 389 and 2008 Kentucky Enclosed Auto Carrier; 2nd Brad Caton – 2007 Peterbilt 379 and 2007 Mac End Dump; 3rd Phillip Clayton – 2005 Peterbilt 379 and 2007 Great Dane.
CUSTOM PAINT (BOBTAIL): 1st Bob & Shelley Brinker – 2000 Freightliner Classic XL; 2nd Michael Most – 1998 Freightliner Classic; 3rd Don & Kim Fisher – 2007 Peterbilt 379 Legacy.
CUSTOM PAINT (COMBO): 1st Brad Caton – 2007 Peterbilt 379 and 2007 Mac End Dump; 2nd Tyler Muirhead – 2007 Peterbilt 379 and 2004 Great Dane Reefer; 3rd Dan & Cheryl Lubberts – 2002 Peterbilt 379 and 2008 Benson Curtain Van.
ENGINE (WORKING TRUCK): 1st Bob & Shelley Brinker – 2000 Freightliner Classic XL; 2nd Brad Caton – 2007 Peterbilt 379 and 2007 Mac End Dump; 3rd Ronnie Johnson – 2007 Peterbilt 379 and 2009 Utility Reefer.
ENGINE (LIMITED MILEAGE): Bill & Marie Sandvik – 1998 Peterbilt 379 and 1993 Ravens Flatbed.
BEST PETERBILT AWARD: 1st Brad Caton – 2007 Peterbilt 379 and 2007 Mac End Dump; 2nd Chad Blackwell – 2007 Peterbilt 379 Legacy; 3rd Cliff King – 2007 Peterbilt 386 and 2006 Wabash Dry Van.
BEST FREIGHTLINER AWARD: 1st Michael Most – 1998 Freightliner Classic; 2nd Tom & Maryann Quick – 2007 Freightliner Coronado; 3rd Leonard Martin – 2007 Freightliner Coronado.
DIESEL DAVE’S PICK OF THE LITTER: Ron Baird – 2000 Green Peterbilt 379 and 2000 Heil Dry Bulk Tank (Hoffman’s Hotrod).
ROADWORKS “BEST USE OF CHROME OR STAINLESS” AWARD: Josh Lyles – 2006 Viper Red Peterbilt 379.
TRUK-RODZ “BEST THEME” AWARD: Don & Kim Fisher – 2007 Red & White Peterbilt 379 Legacy with murals (The Gambler).
BEST OF SHOW BOBTAIL: Bob & Shelley Brinker – 2000 Black Freightliner Classic XL with murals (Legend of the Black Pearl).
BEST OF SHOW COMBO: Brad Caton, Eilen & Sons – 2007 Blue & Silver Peterbilt 379 and matching 2007 Mac End Dump.
PEOPLE’S CHOICE: Michael Most – 1998 Yellow Freightliner Classic with murals (Legends & Heroes).
BIG-RIG BUILD-OFF IV CHAMPION (ENGINEER’S CHOICE): Randy Stroup, First Class Services, Lewisport, KY – 1986 Burnt Orange Peterbilt 359.
BIG-RIG BUILD-OFF IV CHAMPION (PEOPLE’S CHOICE): Randy Stroup, First Class Services, Lewisport, KY – 1986 Burnt Orange Peterbilt 359.