THE ULTIMATE TAILGATE PARTY
3RD ANNUAL SHOW & DRAGS IN FONTANA, CA
Mikie Boy Inc. presented the 3rd annual West Coast Kustom Rigs Super Show & Drags at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA on July 10, 2010. Although the amount of participating trucks was a little down this year, the level of competition was still high. In addition to the 60 or 70 trucks participating in the beauty contest, there was a lot of other stuff going on to keep the attendees very busy all day.
The show started off with a Mariachi band that played on a custom built stage that was in the shape of a “T” made out of three 48-foot flatbed trailers (sponsored by McKinney Trailer Rentals). The stage was wired with a killer sound system that offered high-quality professional sound for everyone to hear the events of the day. The stage also featured an aluminum trussing system that stood 25-feet high. Nice black linen skirting was wrapped around the bottom half of the trailers to give the stage that finished look. In the years past, the stage has been nice, but never has it actually been a focal point itself.
One of the goals with the show producers was to keep the event exciting and fun for the entire family, so this year they introduced new activities that provided some extra excitement. One of the more anticipated events was the Tire Changing Challenge. Tire changing is something that truckers just can’t avoid, so why not find a fun way of recognizing what has to be done. This year’s champion, who changed a tire in just 21 seconds, will have to return next year to defend his title. They also added a show and shine category for SUVs and pick-ups. Up on the big stage, there was also a fashion show that featured dozens of beautiful models, followed by a tasteful pin-up girl contest. The contestants ranged from 5-31 years old, but a 16-year-old girl took home the sash and the cash.
You can’t have an outdoor event without great food, so they had a chili cook-off contest (the winner received a cash prize). There was also a train horn contest, a back-up contest, truck drags, a Jake brake contest, and a People’s Choice award, just to name a few. This year, over $10,000 in cash and prizes was awarded! Working hard to provide fun for the entire family, show producers added a Kid’s Zone section (sponsored by O Daddy O) which featured pony rides, a petting zoo, carnival rides and games, a face painter, a balloon artist, a rock climbing wall, a huge spin art machine, a portable video gaming truck and a trackless train. All of the Kid Zone vendors donated money to Autism Speaks, a charity that was chosen by the show producers. The event ended after dark with a traditional light show and trophy ceremony.
Some companies brought out more than one truck (or even a bunch), including Gardner Trucking, Sandvik Trucking, Ecology Auto Parts, Yamko Truck Lines, Jessica Martinez Trucking, MIPP Transport, Jeff Botelho, Mark Tarascou, Lil’ Ray’s Transport and Green Thumb Produce, while others like Stephen Ashburn, John Silva, Steve Vermeer, Joe Arias and Andy Smith brought out just one - but good ones!
Although registrations were down, quality was definitely up. Being a judge at this event was not an easy job. Everyone at West Coast Kustom Rigs Super Show & Drags would like to thank all of the sponsors, vendors and participants for helping make this event a success. They hope that all of you and more will attend next year.
The show producers also wanted to invite you to their next event – Trucker’s Night – at Irwindale Speedway on September 25, 2010. In addition to the regular auto racing that night, there will be show trucks to act as the pace cars, as well as a back-up contest and a commercial big rig race on the oval track. There will also be a light parade which will be judged by the crowd. Everyone with a commercial driver’s license will get in free, as well as the younger children. For event information or more details about entering your truck in the race, call (562) 843-4424.
2-AXLE CONV (1991-2010): 1st John T. Silva of Silva Hay; 2nd Brian Bambarger of Clearwater Pipeline.
2-AXLE CONV (1984-1990): 1st Andy Smith of Andy Smith Trucking.
3-AXLE CONV (2005-2010): 1st Robert Davis of Green Thumb Produce; 2nd John Gonzalez of Yamko Truck Lines; 3rd Robert Rising of Yamko Truck Lines.
3-AXLE CONV (2001-2004): 1st Jeff Botelho representing PDI; 2nd Fred Maestaz of Maestaz Trucking; 3rd Alex of Gardner Trucking.
3-AXLE CONV (1996-2000): 1st Ray Rodriguez Jr. of Lil Ray’s Transport; 2nd Joseph Arzola of Gardner Trucking; 3rd Mike Hibma of Art Bousema Construction.
3-AXLE CONV (1991-1995): 1st Isaac Aguilar of Sandvik Trucking; 2nd Victor Maestaz of Maestaz Trucking; 3rd Donald Arias of D.J. Arias & Sons.
3-AXLE CONV (1984-1990): 1st Ray Rodriguez of Lil Ray’s Transport; 2nd Ernie Rubio of Jessica Martinez Trucking; 3rd Jeff Buehler of Buehler’s Trucking.
3-AXLE CABOVER: 1st Robert Keffer of Ownby Trucking; 2nd Sean Ingo of Gardner Trucking; 3rd Alex Jr. of Gardner Trucking.
DOUBLES COMBO: 1st John T. Silva of Silva Hay; 2nd Scott Armas of Scott Armas Trucking.
CAR HAULER: 1st Stephen Ashburn of Ashburn Auto Transport.
WORKING ANTIQUE: 1st Ruben Cendejas of Arrowhead Water; 2nd Bob Campbell of R.D. Campbell; 3rd David Bryson of Perris Valley Transport.
TRUCK & TRAILER COMBO: 1st Robert Davis of Green Thumb Produce (red truck); 2nd Robert Davis of Green Thumb Produce (black truck); 3rd Daniel Quimiro of Yamko Truck Lines.
TRANSFER DUMP: 1st Henry Estevan of Ecology Auto Parts.
TANKER: 1st Mike Salcido of Arrowhead Water; 2nd Dane Nelson of Vermeer Transport.
DUMP TRUCK & PUP: 1st Mark Tarascou of Tarascou Trucking; 2nd Mark Tarascou of Tarascou Trucking; 3rd Mark Tarascou of Tarascou Trucking.
FLATBED COMBO: 1st Ray Rodriguez Jr. of Lil Ray’s Transport; 2nd Bobby Encinas of Bobby E Trucking; 3rd Ray Rodriguez of Lil Ray’s Transport.
MID-SIZE TOW TRUCK: 1st Jose Quevedo of Ecology Auto Parts.
HEAVY DUTY WRECKER: 1st Chris Governo of Southside Tow.
SERVICE TRUCK: 1st Brian Bambarger of Clearwater Pipeline; 2nd Sam Johnson of Gardner Trucking.
SPECIALTY RIG: 1st Stephen Ashburn of Ashburn Auto Transport.
HEAVY EQUIPMENT COMBO: 1st Kendall Kirkland of Kirkland Cowbed Inc; 2nd Victor Peralta of Ecology Auto Parts.
LOWBOY COMBO: 1st Jose Oliveras of HC Enterprises; 2nd Jamie Sircus of Ecology Auto Parts.
LIGHTS (BOBTAIL): 1st Derrick Payton of Big Boy Trucking; 2nd Andres Ruiz of MIPP Trucking.
LIGHTS (COMBO): 1st Stephen Ashburn of Ashburn Auto Transport; 2nd Ray Rodriguez of Lil Ray’s Transport; 3rd Robert Davis of Green Thumb Produce (red truck).
BEST NEW FLEET: KLC Trucking.
BEST FLEET: Yamko Truck Lines.
BEST GRAPHICS: Jeff Botelho representing PDI.
BEST INTERIOR: Isaac Aguilar of Sandvik Trucking.
BEST POLISH: Robert Davis of Green Thumb Produce.
BEST CHROME: Robert Davis of Green Thumb Produce.
LOUDEST TRAIN HORN: Kimberly Fulton of Horn Blasters.
JAKE BRAKE CONTEST: MIPP Trucking.
BEST PAINT: Isaac Aguilar of Sandvik Trucking.
BEST ENGINE: Isaac Aguilar of Sandvik Trucking.
LADIE’S CHOICE: Isaac Aguilar of Sandvik Trucking.
BEST KENWORTH: Robert Keffer of Ownby Trucking.
BEST FREIGHTLINER: Tamo Trucking.
BEST PETERBILT: Robert Davis of Green Thumb Produce (red truck).
BEST FULL KUSTOM TRUCK: Jeff Botelho representing PDI.
PEOPLE’S CHOICE: Jeff Botelho representing PDI.