March Madness

Spring is in the air – well, almost! I just love the month of March. Not only is it my birthday month, but it’s also the beginning of spring. Flowers will bloom, grass will grow, snow will melt, and the Mid-America Trucking Show is fast approaching! Known by many as the show that kicks off the truck show season, the Mid-America Trucking Show is the biggest annual convention in the trucking industry – you simply cannot see it all in one day (or three) and fully take it all in. The caliber of high-end show trucks is beyond belief. My personal favorites are the weathered yet properly-preserved workhorses of yesteryear – especially from the late 50’s through the early 90’s. Then, there are the vendor booths, demonstrations and seminars that will keep you strolling the halls all weekend long, checking out the latest products and trends, and educating you about the regulations that are hitting the trucking industry. It’s truly an amazing show! And not just because it is entertaining for us trucking-minded folks, but also because it is an eye-opener for those who are not totally familiar with our beloved profession. In honor of the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) and of the trend-setters from the shows from years ago, I submit this parody of the Grandpa Jones hit song, “Eight More Miles to Louisville” – I call it, “Take Your Ride to Louisville.” I recall the stories of the fellowship and friendly-fierce competition that the men and women who show their rides have shared. Iconic trucks like Darian Stephens’ “Keystone JR” Freightliner, Bobby and BJ Montgomery’s KW that was a tribute to the space shuttle Challenger crew, and Bob Guy’s “Gun Runner” Peterbilt are the ones that stand out in my memories, as well as the story I heard about the late Leonard Testerman, and how he could be found after-hours polishing the wheels of a fellow competitor’s truck! I simply love the professionalism that folks like these have brought to the public’s eye. I hope you enjoy this parody. And, by the way, if Joey Holiday or Leland Martin would like to sing this parody in the good fun and spirit of Grandpa Jones, that wouldn’t hurt my feelings a bit!

TAKE YOUR RIDE TO LOUISVILLE

I’ve polished on this big ol’ rig,
She’s lookin’ pretty fair.
Up and down her body lines,
I’ve polished everywhere.
She ain’t the worst, she ain’t the best,
But I’m just glad she’s mine.
I’ll put her in a show contest,
And park her there in line.

Take your ride to Louisville,
And see what she will do.
Take a ride down this old road,
And I can promise you…
That you’ll see rigs, and that’s a fact,
As rolling works of art.
And you’ll meet friends, in Louisville,
That you’ll keep in your heart.

You’re bound to see a rig out there,
That you like best of all.
Some are built to show and shine,
But some are built to haul.
And there’s the kind, you won’t find,
Rolling across the land.
They’ve had their day, made their pay,
And proudly make their stand.

So take a while, in Louisville,
And see what you can do.
Take your friends and family,
And they will love it, too!
You’ll see Pete, Jim, Ken and Mack,
A ‘Shaker and a Star.
And you’ll meet friends, in Louisville,
That you’ll keep in your heart.

Well, I can picture, in my mind,
The trucks that used to roam.
The ones I’d seen in magazines,
In polished paint and chrome.
And late at night, a million lights,
Would fill us all with zeal!
And Leonard Testerman would polish,
Someone else’s wheels.

Oh, take your ride to Louisville,
And see what she will do.
Take it empty, take a load,
Whatever pleases you.
Just roll a flame from that ol’ stack,
Then pull ‘er in and park.
There ain’t no show like Louisville,
The truck show season’s start!