10-4 Magazine - For Today's Trucker

HOT WHEELS AT WALCOTT
BY ROVING REPORTER SUZANNE STEMPINSKI

What do you get when you mix show trucks, working trucks, antique trucks, truck drivers and their families, pork chops, a pet contest, Trucker OlympicsTM, exhibitors, new trucks, accessories, country music, hot sunny days and warm lit-up nights? You get a trip to Walcott, Iowa for the 26th Annual Iowa 80 Truckers Jamboree, held July 14-15, 2005.

During the Super Truck Beauty Contest, 70 entrants competed for trophies and recognition. There was a great collection of returning favorites and new participants from across the United States and Canada, working hard to display their trucks to their best advantage as crowds of attendees admired the workmanship and originality displayed on almost every truck. In spite of rapidly escalating fuel prices, truckers from all across the country, area residents and trucking fans of all ages turned out to celebrate trucking – Iowa 80-style.

A returning crowd favorite, Ronnie Baird of Thornton, Indiana, brought out his spectacular green 2000 Peterbilt 379 and Heil tanker (photo 4). Muralled and customized from front to back, this truck doesn’t see a lot of work each day, but presents a picture of trucking excellence that’s tough to beat. Baird walked away with four trophies recognizing his showmanship in every area from lights to painted murals to his interior to the truck’s overall theme.

Also at the top of his game, Gailand Johnston of Lamar, Missouri, brought his award-winning copper and silver 2003 Kenworth W900L “Inferno” out to the show (photo 3). Johnston’s ride, which was completely re-done over the winter, has been making the rounds of truck beauty contests in 2005, bringing home trophies and winning new fans at every venue. His flame paint job, which resembles a series of panels with rivets (nope, they’re painted on), flamed leather interior, awesome stereo and immaculate detailing, had folks questioning whether this truck ever sees dirt. Well, it does – Johnston has been using it to haul a gasoline tanker close to his home base.

Many truck drivers are also motorcycle enthusiasts, as evidenced by the Harley Davidson-themed crowd pleasers owned by Russ & Debbie Brown and Ryan Avenarius. Avenarius’ gray and orange 2001 Freightliner Classic XL wowed the crowds with its foot pegs down by the pedals, spot mirror and attention to Harley detail both inside and out. The Browns’ black and orange 1999 Freightliner Classic XL “Brothers In the Wind” (photo 2) included a customized interior, painted and wire-loomed motor, a specially-designed hood pull and a Harley Davidson outfit for the dog! No detail was left to chance as the Browns planned and executed their theme.

Strolling attendees had plenty of ground to cover as they admired the 70 Super Trucks, 200 antique trucks, visited with more than 150 vendors and tried their hands (and feet and backs) at the Trucker OlympicsTM where two days of events included the Water Balloon Toss (no one minded getting wet and cooling down), Tire Flip, and the Strong Pull where both men and women tried to pull a 13,000 lb truck from dead still, get it rolling and across a designated finish line.

On stage, local bands kicked up their heels and provided great entertainment, and the Colgate Country Showdown held one of their competitions to the cheers of a delighted crowd. At night, the show trucks turned on their lights in a dazzling display of LED, incandescent, neon, and strobe. Lights blazed from bumpers, fenders, undercarriages, interiors, nooks and crannies, and created a glow that could be seen for miles.

At the end of the event, every Super Truck Beauty Contestant received a trophy, compliments of Iowa 80, in recognition of their participation. And the other trophies were awarded to:

BOBTAIL CONV (2006-2003): 1st Jeremy Heiderscheit, Peosta, IL - brown & blue 2003 Pete 379; 2nd Matt Baenziger, Kingston, IL - red 2005 Pete 379; 3rd Mike Panek, Batavia, IL - gray 2003 Kenworth W900L.

BOBTAIL CONV (2002-1996): 1st Ryan Avenarius, Dubuque, IA - gray 2001 Freightliner Classic XL; 2nd Russ & Debbie Brown, Moore, OK - black & orange 1999 Freightliner Classic XL; 3rd Butch Garrard, Fairmont, IL - hunter green 1999 Western Star.

BOBTAIL CONV (1995-1989): 1st Ron Brubaker, Sigourney, IA - yellow 1993 Pete 379; 2nd Randy Huddleston, Willow Hill, IL - champagne 1995 Freightliner FLD 132.

BOBTAIL CONV (1988-1981): 1st Gary Vaughn, Johnston, IA - yellow 1981 Kenworth W900A; 2nd Darrel Madden, New London, MO - blue 1986 Mack Superliner; 3rd Jerry Hockaday, Moline, IL - green & white 1986 Pete 359.

BOBTAIL CONV (1980 & OLDER): 1st Mike Stoneman, Payette, ID - brown 1951 GMC 970; 2nd Tim Miller, Oelwein, IA - green 1969 Pete 359.

COMBO (2006-2001): 1st Kirk Rolling, LeMars, IA - candy apple red 2003 Pete 379; 2nd Billy Carter, Victor, IA - white 2003 Kenworth W900L; 3rd Shawn Swanson, Prophetstown, IL - white & purple 2002 Kenworth W900B.

COMBO (2000-1992): 1st Tom & Kim Turner, Cynthiana, KY - teakwood & beige 1995 Pete 379; 2nd Carl Johnson, Carlisle, PA - blue 1996 Freightliner Classic; 3rd Neal Dykman, Butler, MO - blue 2000 Pete 379.

COMBO (1991 & OLDER): 1st Mickey Gwillim, Waverly, IL - white & lime green 1986 Pete 359; 2nd Dave Friend, Rossville, IN - red 1980 Pete; 3rd Lavern Cross, Middlebury, IN - teal & purple 1982 Kenworth W900A.

BOBTAIL PAINT (GRAPHICS): 1st Jeff Hamilton, Florissant, MO - orange, red & gold 2001 Kenworth W900L; 2nd Randy Huddleston, Willow Hill, IL - champagne 1995 Freightliner FLD 132; 3rd Andy Zary, Saskatoon, SK, Canada - purple 1959 Mack B61.

COMBO PAINT (GRAPHICS): 1st Mickey Gwillim, Waverly, IL - white & lime green 1986 Pete 359; 2nd Les Sullivan, Springfield, IL - white & ultra violet 2003 Western Star; 3rd Tom & Kim Turner, Cynthiana, KY - teakwood & beige 1995 Pete 379.

BOBTAIL PAINT (MURALS): 1st Gailand Johnston, Lamar, MO - copper & silver 2003 Kenworth W900L; 2nd Mike Stoneman, Payette, ID - brown 1951 GMC 970; 3rd Pat Eilen, Hampton, MN - silver & blue 2003 Pete 379.

COMBO PAINT (MURALS): 1st Ron Baird, Thornton, IN - green 2000 Pete 379; 2nd Mike Schwersenske, Westfield, WI - yellow 2002 Kenworth W900L; 3rd Carl Johnson, Carlisle, PA - blue 1996 Freightliner Classic.

POLISH & DETAIL: 1st Shawn Swanson, Prophetstown, IL - white & purple 2002 Kenworth W900B; 2nd Pat Eilen, Hampton, MN - silver & blue 2003 Pete 379; 3rd Mickey Gwillim, Waverly, IL - white & lime green 1986 Pete 359.

INTERIOR (OEM SLEEPER): 1st Ryan Avenarius, Dubuque, IA - gray 2001 Freightliner Classic XL; 2nd Gailand Johnston, Lamar, MO - copper & silver 2003 Kenworth W900L; 3rd Glen Page, Camden, MI - red & black 2001 Pete 379.

INTERIOR (OEM CONVERSION SLEEPER): 1st Russ & Debbie Brown, Moore, OK - black & orange 1999 Freightliner Classic XL; 2nd Ron Baird, Thornton, IN - green 2000 Pete 379; 3rd Mike Stoneman, Payette, ID - brown 1951 GMC 970.

INTERIOR (CUSTOM SLEEPER): 1st Tom & Kim Turner, Cynthiana, KY - teakwood & beige 1995 Pete 379; 2nd Andy Zary, Saskatoon, SK, Canada - purple 1959 Mack B61; 3rd Ed Borger, Moulton, IA - red 2005 Pete.

LIGHTS AT NIGHT (BOBTAIL): 1st Pat Eilen, Hampton, MN - silver & blue 2003 Pete 379; 2nd Butch Garrard, Fairmont, IL - hunter green 1999 Western Star; 3rd Ernie Vole, Vernon Hills, IL - red & black 1971 Pete 359.

LIGHTS AT NIGHT (COMBO): 1st Ron Baird, Thornton, IN - green 2000 Pete 379; 2nd Tom & Kim Turner, Cynthiana, KY - teakwood & beige 1995 Pete 379; 3rd Mickey Gwillim, Waverly, IL - white & lime green 1986 Pete 359.

BEST OVERALL THEME: Ron Baird, Thornton, IN - green 2000 Peterbilt 379 & Heil Tanker “Hoffman’s Hot Rod”.

BEST SHOW TRUCK: Gailand Johnston, Lamar, MO - copper & silver 2003 Kenworth W900L “Inferno”.

BEST SPECIALTY TRUCK: Pat Eilen, Hampton, MN - silver & blue 2003 Peterbilt 379 dump truck “Nitro Bucket”.

TRUCKER’S CHOICE: Andy Zary, Saskatoon, SK, Canada - purple 1959 Mack B61 (photo 1).