10-4 Magazine

Truck Show Report
Truckerfest 2001
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Rigs Roll into Reno for Truckerfest 2001

The Alamo Travel Center in Reno, Nevada once again hosted a fabulous four-day celebration on August 16-19 commemorating National Truck Driver Appreciation Week. Focusing on the everyday trucker (like we at 10-4 do), this show has become one of the more popular events on our official annual schedule. It’s always a good time. But in times of a stalling economy and an industry strangled by rising costs, choking regulations, fierce competition and diminishing profits, Newport’s Roadstar and The Alamo Travel Center put out an extraordinary effort to honor our nation’s truck drivers and show them their well-deserved appreciation for keeping America running.

Thursday night, August 16, saw the glamorous Parade of Pride, featuring dozens of beautiful show trucks slowly cruising down Virginia Street in the heart of Downtown Reno under the famous “The Biggest Little City in the World” arch. Thousands of spectators came out of the casinos and hotels to line the street and help kick-off Truckerfest 2001 with pride and joy. What followed was an exciting, fun-filled celebration that lasted until Sunday afternoon.

Friday morning began with the opening of the exhibitor’s booths and ended with a lot of good noise. Back by popular demand, country star Neal McCoy (photo 1) rocked the house with a free open-air concert on Friday night. Some 8,000 people (and one spectacular sunset) were entertained by Neal and his band as they performed a variety of popular music, jokes and country hits. This guy is truly an entertainer by every definition of the word. It seemed one highlight followed another at Truckerfest.

Saturday was judging day for all of the beautiful trucks competing in the Stars & Stripes competition. By the afternoon, it was time to relax and have fun. The Best Buddy Pet Contest, sponsored by BTW and Mack Trucks, featured a variety of pets (birds, dogs (photo 5), iguanas, you name it) that go on the road with their owners. As the sun went down on Saturday night, the lights came on - on the trucks that is. The Stars & Stripes Light Show was a fantastic warm-up for the Alamo’s famous fireworks display and music extravaganza. Yet another outstanding performance!

As official emcee of the parade, concert and fireworks display, Valerie Ferrari (photo 3) and her team from 94.5 “The Mountain” (Reno’s country music station) did a fine job of keeping everyone informed, amused and involved in all of the evening happenings. Providing live simulcasts of each event and running several promos the week before the show began helped get the events at Truckerfest and the significance of appreciating truckers to the forefront of everyone’s mind in Reno - whether they were involved in the trucking industry or not.

Sunday revealed the long-awaited-for results of the Stars & Stripes competition, sponsored by Chevron. 33 of the finest rigs came to compete in the event. Winners in the Best of Show Combo, Best of Show Bobtail, Competitor’s Choice and People’s Choice were competing not only for the pride of winning but also $400 cash (for the winner of each category). First-place finishers in the regular classes each won $100 and earned “bragging rights” for the rest of the show. The fact that People’s Choice winner Chuck Prigge of Sandvik Trucking donated his $400 back to the Trucker Buddy program showed the spirit of the entire show, where many truckers came together to support each other and make sure everyone felt like they were a member of one big happy family.

The 240 employees of the Alamo (with some extra help from many of their teenage children) took care of everybody by preparing thousands of free steak dinners for all CDL holders and their companions in attendance at the show. And we’re not talking about one night - they cooked these dinners every day of the show! And we’re not talking about a lousy, small, boring sack lunch type of meal - we’re talking freshly barbecued steak, baked beans, corn, potato salad, bread, soda and strawberry shortcake for dessert. Thanks go to Crete Carrier Corporation, Interstate Distributors, Landstar System and Schneider National for sponsoring all these delicious dinners. A special “thank you” also goes out to Bob Cashell, Esther and Charlie of The Alamo Travel Center, for taking such good care of everyone at 10-4.

In between all of these fun activities each day of the show, there seemed not to be enough time to participate in all the trucker games, stop and enjoy the live entertainment by Joey Holiday, or visit all of the exhibitor’s booths. Transportation companies were on hand recruiting drivers; the CHP, DOT and NHP were there educating drivers and answering questions; manufacturers like APP Forged Wheels, TruckGen, Wax Dynamics, Vortox, Michelin, and others were showing off their latest products; several booths featured NASCAR fun including exciting racing videos and the opportunity to “drive” a remote-controlled racecar on a miniature NASCAR track; and the list could go on. There was a lot to see and do at Truckerfest 2001.

Congratulations and thanks to everyone involved in making this event so much fun. Take a few well-deserved weeks off before the 11 months of preparation for Truckerfest 2002 begins and everything starts all over again!! Special thanks go out to Suzanne Stempinski for flying out from her home in Chicago to help organize the show truck competition. Here is a complete list of all the winners: