The 38th annual Truckin’ For Kids Show & Drags was held once again at the Irwindale Event Center in Irwindale, California on October 6-7, 2018. Held each year to raise money for children’s charities, the primary beneficiary of this show for the past few years has been the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, which strives to improve lives and one day cure Type 1 diabetes. This year, in addition to all the typical fun this event brings, we at 10-4 Magazine were also celebrating our 25th anniversary with a few special things.
For us, the show started on Friday, as we arrived early to get set up. Trucks began rolling in immediately, including a few of our past cover trucks that were getting parked near our booth before the rush. Our thanks to Tom and Ron Lanting, Bill LaBrocca, Miro Dragich and John Jaikes for arriving early to be part of our display (they were all cover trucks this year). Also close by were a few more past cover trucks and friends like Ron Kelsey and Vince Jenkins, as well as Kaleb Hammett, Rolando Nava, Greg Ragan (this month’s cover) and so many more.
Saturday was busy, with everyone getting parked, and the vendors getting set up. Trucks rolled in all day, quickly filling up the vast concrete parking lot of the Irwindale Event Center (formerly Irwindale Speedway), which makes up this venue. Our social media manager John Testa and his business partner Adam Frick showed up on Saturday afternoon and began doing live remotes, which are always a big hit (especially for those who cannot get out to the show). And, before we knew it, by late Saturday afternoon, we were surrounded by a lot full of hundreds of cool rides.
A special truck in attendance at the show was Ken Weiland’s old dark blue A-Model Kenworth, which was featured on our cover way back in April 1999. Ken passed away earlier this year and now the truck is owned (and being used) by Wes Wimmer. Another “classic” 10-4 cover truck in attendance was Bob Wilson’s old “Ironsides” KW, which was on our cover in September 1995! It is always a nice treat to see that truck parked with its old “rolling bar/casino” trailer – and out on the drag strip doing amazing burnouts, just like back in the day when the TFK show was held out in Palmdale at L.A. County Raceway, when Bob was still alive.
For the past several years, we have hosted a BBQ dinner for all the event volunteers and anyone else at the show who is hungry on Saturday night. Last year, we decided to sell the over-flowing plates and make the dinner a fund-raiser for the various TFK charities. Feeding well over 200 people a totally handmade meal, by us personally, featuring smoked brisket and tri-tip and several homemade sides, the dinner was a huge success, raising about $1,400 for the cause. But it was a LOT of work, which took us well over a week to prepare for!
This year, we didn’t have enough time to prepare, as we were running around the country going to truck shows and such, so we opted to bring in a caterer to do the heavy lifting and cook the meal, which featured smoked brisket and ribs, macaroni and cheese, baked beans, rolls, root beer floats and more.
Our thanks to Leo Martinez of Brew Hawg BBQ for providing a great dinner, and to Vic Caliva for helping us out with some of the costs. In the end, this year we raised $2,000 for the TFK charities! Thank you to everyone who helped us serve, including Jean Osugi, Shannon Linss, Glenn Cassity, Stephanie Haas, Kim Grimm, Greg Ragan, April Jarvis and Erik Sieben.
Sunday morning came with some overcast skies, but the weather was still very pleasant. Judging was in full swing first thing in the morning, with almost 300 trucks to score, and then the truck drags began in the afternoon.
Over in the 10-4 Magazine booth, we had limited-edition 25th anniversary commemorative t-shirts and coffee mugs for sale, as well as custom engraved stainless-steel bottle openers we were passing out for free, made by Rockwood Products and Roadsknz, that are sure to become collector items. These things turned out really nice – so nice, in fact, we are going to have one more batch made to hand out at MATS in Louisville, KY in March. But, after that, there will be no more, so if you didn’t get one yet, be sure to come by our booth early at MATS, as they won’t last long!
During the awards ceremony on Sunday afternoon, we presented Frank Pangburn, producer of the TFK event and our longtime friend, with the stack of cash raised at our dinner the night before. In addition to the awards being handed out, raffle prizes were given away and t-shirts were thrown into the crowd. Near the end of the ceremony, we at 10-4 presented our unique and beautiful “Sponsor’s Choice” trophy, made for us by Rockwood and Dynaflex, to Jake Bast. Jake’s “old school” all white Peterbilt 379 with a stand-up sleeper and a custom interior really made us stop and look – and then look again – this thing has so many cool little hidden details, you really have to look a few times to see them all.
As the end of the awards drew near, everyone was holding their breath, wondering who would take home the coveted “Best of Show” trophy. When they called Ron Kelsey’s name, everyone just nodded in agreement – his orange rig has 4 million miles on it and still runs every day – and still looks “best of show” worthy! This truck has been on our cover twice (1998 and 2009), and Ron has been part of our organization for almost 15 years, delivering magazines each month to stops in Arizona. Ron bought his 1981 Pete 359 in 1984 and has run it ever since – it is the only truck he has ever owned. Needless to say, we were excited he got this award.
With the big trophy handed out, the 2018 TFK show came to an end. In a matter of mere moments, trucks were firing up and pop-ups were being taken down. It is amazing how long it takes to set up an event like this, and then how quickly it all comes down when it’s over. After breaking down and loading the cars, we headed to our celebratory dinner at Chili’s, next to our hotel, with a big group of rowdy and obnoxious truck drivers – it is always a great time, and something we look forward to each and every year after the show is over.
The show is on contract to have one more event in Irwindale in 2019, but after that the fate of the venue is still unknown. Like a few previous years, next year might be the last, so you won’t want to miss it. Stay tuned to 10-4 for dates and other information as it becomes available. Thank you to everyone who works so hard to put this show together, especially Frank and Diana Pangburn, and to everyone who came to our booth on Saturday night and bought a dinner. Your generosity and dedication to the cause is what truly makes our dinner, and this event, a success every year. And the 2018 winners were:
SATURDAY LITE THE LOT
ANTIQUE: Joe Placencia.
BOBTAIL: Randy Manning.
COMBO (CLASS A): Adrian Covarrubias.
COMBO (CLASS B): Nick Flores.
DRAG RACING WINNERS
DIESEL PICKUP: Paul Serrano.
PU W/SLICKS: John Sapone
PU W/O SLICKS: Danny Marquez.
BIG RIG BRACKET: Sergio Molina.
QUICKEST PICKUP: Rene Reyes.
QUICKEST BIG RIG: Mark Tarascou.
SUPER DRAGS: Mark Tarascou.
SHOW & SHINE AWARDS
PROFESSIONAL SHOW TRUCK: 1st Tom Lanting; 2nd Rollin R; 3rd Randy Manning.
3-AXLE CONV (2017-2018): 1st Hammett Excavation; 2nd Arrowhead/Nestle Water; 3rd Mendonca Trucking.
3-AXLE CONV (2013-2016): 1st So-Cal Express; 2nd Yamko Truck Lines; 3rd Halbersleben Trucking.
3-AXLE CONV (2008-2012): 1st Central Valley Transport; 2nd R&E Trucking; 3rd Mendonca Trucking.
3-AXLE CONV (2001-2007): 1st Rollin R Inc; 2nd Elite Transportation; 3rd RAM Transportation.
3-AXLE CONV (1994-2000): 1st Michael Hibma; 2nd Hinojosa & Sons; 3rd Ynot Transport.
2-AXLE CONV (2012-2018): 1st Flint McVey; 2nd After Midnight Trucking; 3rd Lanting Hay.
2-AXLE CONV (2006-2011): 1st Gardner Trucking; 2nd J. Soto Trucking.
2-AXLE CONV (1994-2005): 1st Solares Transport.
CABOVER: 1st Jacob Lagomarsino; 2nd RAM Transportation; 3rd Southside BBQ.
WORKING ANTIQUE (1970-1993): 1st Kelsey’s Trucking; 2nd Harbor Pride; 3rd Armies Demolition.
WORKING ANTIQUE (1936-1969): 1st Eastside Transport; 2nd Rockview Farms; 3rd Garmon Trucking.
NON-WORKING ANTIQUE: 1st Tom Lanting; 2nd Joe Placencia; 3rd Maggini & Son.
LOCAL DELIVERY: 1st R&B Produce; 2nd Yamko Truck Lines; 3rd Rollin R.
DUMP TRUCK: 1st Perrault Corp; 2nd Bravo Trucking; 3rd Solares Transport.
WRECKER/ROLL BACK: 1st Miguel Martinez; 2nd Arrowhead/Nestle Water; 3rd Lopez Towing.
SERVICE TRUCK: 1st FJ Willert; 2nd Richard’s Tire; 3rd Mike Mayes.
SPECIALTY RIG: 1st After Midnight Trucking; 2nd Yamko Truck Lines; 3rd Today’s Towing.
HOBBY TRUCK: 1st Rockview Farms; 2nd Lemke Speed & Marine; 3rd Jacob Lagomarsino.
SMALL FLEET: 1st M&J Transportation Services; 2nd DeFrancesco’s Dairy Transport; 3rd Harbor Pride.
LARGE FLEET: 1st Liberty Linehaul West; 2nd Arrowhead/Nestle Water.
ROCKWOOD INTERIOR: 1st Ragan Transport; 2nd Turner Transport; 3rd REA Hauling.
SPECIALTY TRAILER: 1st John Lagomarsino; 2nd Joshua Grading; 3rd Arrowhead/Nestle Water.
FLATBED: 1st Nick Flores; 2nd RAM Transportation; 3rd DeFrancesco’s Dairy Transport.
EQUIP/LOW BED: 1st Henkels & McCay; 2nd John Lagomarsino; 3rd Central Valley Transport.
END DUMP: 1st Tarascou Trucking; 2nd Los Morales Trucking; 3rd M&J Transportation Services.
TRANSFER: 1st Bruce Campbell; 2nd Bruce Campbell; 3rd REA Hauling.
TANKER (STEEL): 1st Double E Trucking; 2nd Arrowhead/Nestle Water; 3rd Double E Trucking.
TANKER (ALUMINUM): 1st M&J Tank Lines; 2nd M&J Tank Lines; 3rd Thompson & Harvey.
OTR TRUCK: 1st Turner Transport; 2nd John Lagomarsino; 3rd R&E Trucking.
SPECIALTY TROPHIES
BEST GRAPHICS: Ragan Transport.
BEST ENGINE: Turner Transport.
BEST INTERIOR: Pete Lora of Pete’s Auto Transport.
BEST SLEEPER: Maggini & Son.
LONGEST TOW: Jim Stouffer (PA).
UGLIEST TRUCK: Alexis Trucking.
BEST FREIGHTLINER: Arrowhead/Nestle Water.
BEST INTERNATIONAL: Mark Tarascou of Tarascou Trucking.
BEST KENWORTH: J&H Trucking.
BEST PETERBILT: M&R Trucking.
BEST METAL SHINE: Ver Steeg.
10-4 MAGAZINE’S CHOICE: Jake Bast.
PEOPLE’S CHOICE: Arrowhead/Nestle Water.
BEST OF SHOW: Ron Kelsey.