Not Sitn Still

This month’s “creation” was built for Park Mastre (38) of Galva, Kansas. With a name like Park, you might think that this guy sits around a lot, but that would not be the case. Park is a man on the move, and works his butt off to provide for his family. Park is not the first Mastre to buy a truck from Clint – his brother Todd (36) has also bought two cool flattops from him in the past.

Growing up on a farm, Park started helping his grandpa when he was just 12 years old. At 16, his grandpa sold the farm so Park joined a custom harvest crew for almost four years, which is where he got the chance to start driving at 19. He ran local until he turned 21 and was able to leave the state – he said that it was the challenge of going through the gears that hooked him.

At 21 years old, Park bought his first truck from a guy he was working for (it was the only way he knew how to get started) – it was a 1995 IHC 9200. He ran that conventional for about a year and then upgraded to a newer IHC 9370. Then, in 2001, he purchased his first new Peterbilt – a gray flattop with red fenders and a 6NZ. He drove that truck for four years and then ordered a fully-loaded 2005 Peterbilt 379X.

Park and his brother Todd are not normal when it comes to keeping a truck clean. When at home, they both park their trucks inside and they always put towels on the floor – shoes never touch the carpet! Park’s brother Todd met Clint through a friend, and in 2010 Clint convinced Todd to order a new flattop from him. Then, in 2012, Todd ordered another one – a beautiful blue 389 flattop. This is how Clint met Park, and whenever he would stop by the dealership to say hello, his 379X was always looking perfect. Park loved his 379X, but the time eventually came when he was ready to upgrade. And even with 1.5 million miles on the odometer, the truck was so nice and clean, Clint had it sold and under a different trailer within 48 hours.

When it came time to order the new truck, Park wanted it to stand out, so he had a good friend, Whitney Unruh, come up with the catchy orange and white paint scheme. The new Pete 389, with a 78-inch HR and 291-inch wheelbase, was ordered all orange with Low-Air suspension and a car-hauler front axle on air-ride. With a Platinum interior package and all the goodies, the truck was already looking nice when it arrived.

Once the truck showed up, Jesus and the boys in the KC Peterbilt shop added a visor, cab lights, stainless boxes, aluminum body drop panels and dummy straight pipes (the truck has a weed-burner exhaust). Next, they painted and installed aluminum full fenders on the rear using a set of Clint’s hidden brackets and then painted the fuel tanks. As usual, Clint’s dad chopped the air cleaner screens. For the finishing touch, painter Don Cooper, after doing some tweaking to Whitney’s original paint layout, sprayed all of the white on the truck – and it turned out even better than Park had ever imagined!

Pulling mostly step-decks in the Midwest, Park, Todd and Whitney work together. At times, Park misses his old 379X, but he is glad it went to a good home – and the more he drives his new 389, the more he loves it! Park’s brother Todd and his wife and kids come to Kansas City quite a bit, and they always try to drop by and say “hi” to Clint whenever possible. Park loves being a trucker, but wishes that he was home more to spend time with his wife and kids.

Married to his wife Dawn for almost 14 years, the couple has two kids – a daughter named Jayci (12) and a son named Cason (10). Park knew Dawn while growing up but the two never dated. After graduating from high school, Dawn went off to college for five years and got a degree in sociology. They got together after that and were married shortly thereafter. Today, she is a social worker and she loves her job. Park says that Dawn is very intelligent and, unlike himself, she has a passion for learning.

But even though Park misses some of the kid’s games and such, they know that he loves them and is always there for them as much as he possibly can be. When Park brought the new truck home, Cason wanted him to bring it by the house before taking it to the shop so that he could be the first to see it. He was super excited to see the second bunk, saying that after all of his games were done, he wants to go out with dad on the road (he also called dibs on the upper bunk). In honor of his unusual name and his commitment to hard work, Clint came up with the perfect dash plaque, which reads, “PARKD BUT NOT SITN STILL” – and that about sums it up!