10-4 Magazine - For Today's Trucker

A Super SuperRigs

A husband and wife team, Tony and Robin Bartels, was named Best of Show winner at the 22nd annual ROTELLA^® SuperRigs Truck Beauty Contest, June 24-26, at the Bosselman Travel Center in Grand Island, NE. The decision was made after judges reviewed the vehicles of more than 90 working class trucks representing 24 states and three Canadian provinces. And what a GREAT show this was!

This show is different from most in that judging is done in a drive-thru-the-line style, and that anyone can participate. Some people get confused with the calendar and the judging awards. The two are separate - just because you make the calendar doesn’t mean you’ll get an award and vice-versa. The places for the photo shoots are predetermined and then they pick the trucks that they feel will best fit in that shot. We were picked in 1999 at Walcott for the 2000 calendar and let me tell you, what a thrill! I would like to say CONGRATULATIONS to all that were picked for the calendar this year!! From what I heard of the photo shoots, it should be a great calendar. No, I’m not going to tell you who I know that made the calendar and spoil the surprise, but I will tell you that the calendars will be available for purchase in plenty of time for 2005 (sometime around October) at www.rotella.com or at a truckstop near you.

Trucks started rolling in as early as Sunday, even though the show didn’t start until Thursday. We got to stop by on Wednesday night for a quick peek at who was there and have supper with friends Harvey and Karen Zander. Then, it was off to Chicago to deliver and then Wisconsin to reload. On Friday morning, after a quick stop at home to pick up our ladder and cleaning supplies, it was off to Omaha for a new water pump. That let us get to Grand Island at about 5:00 PM, just in time for the excellent dinner, served free to CDL holders, which included a succulent steak, salad, baked potato and ice cold lemonade. They served 700 dinners, and I heard not one complaint - only raves - about the food.

We stop at Bosselman’s weekly on our way west and we know how excited all the employees were about hosting this show and how hard they all worked to prepare for it and make it a success. Corey and all the guys in the shop that work on our old girl, Tally and all the other fuel desk attendants, and all the waitress’ in the restaurant, you did a great job. Mission Accomplished! Everyone I talked to said that everything was first class and they couldn’t have been happier. Tod Job said, “We were treated like kings and everyone was so nice.” It’s like that all the time there, not just for the show, which is why we have made it a regular stop on our route.

A visitor from Oklahoma had sent his daughter-in-law in to buy more film and batteries and she accidentally left his billfold in the ladies restroom. I was standing at the fuel desk when she frantically asked about it. After describing it, they handed it to her and when she opened it, the money was still there. She was so relieved. Later, I learned from her that the wallet contained $275. It was nice to hear something turn out that way.

Since we didn’t get the truck washed until almost 9:00 PM on Friday night, it meant that we had to do a little night work, which I have to give Rod credit - he was working hard on our truck and trailer while I enjoyed a little nap, before getting up and lettering tires by the yard lights. We did get a few hours sleep before finishing in the morning, and had enough time to take a shower and go through the line to be judged, just before the noon deadline.

Shell has always been generous with what they give you, just for going through the judging line, with this year being no exception. Our “goodie” package included a gallon of Shell Rotella 15/40 oil, a gallon of ELC Coolant, a tube of Shell Retinax LC grease, a gallon of SPIRAX heavy duty gear oil, a hat and t-shirt, a neat Shell Rotella mini-mag flashlight and a Shell Rotella blanket. Then, Chuck Bosselman added a Bosselman laundry bag filled with a tire bat, Grandma Max’s Cookbook, The Man From Worms book (it’s about how Fred Bosselman started it all), an insulated cup, a really nice thermos, a cigarette lighter, key chains, (2) free buffet coupons and a coupon for a free Quick Pick lottery ticket. Everyone really appreciated all the extra stuff.

Saturday afternoon, the rain held off to just a few sprinkles, and then it was awards time! We are very happy to report that joining the 4th Place Bobtail trophy we won in Denver, CO there is now a 4th Place Combo trophy. This year, the trophies were really nice - silver plates with the engraving in the center!

We’re already looking forward to next year’s show, wherever they choose to have it. The location is usually announced at the Mid America Trucking Show in Louisville, KY in March. If you missed this year, be sure to get there next year if you can. The 2004 ROTELLA^® SuperRigs Truck Beauty Contest winners were:

BEST OF SHOW: 1st Tony & Robin Bartels of Kahoka, MO; 2nd Chris Lewis of Jackson, MO; 3rd Neal Dykman of Butler, MO.

COMBINATION: 1st Max Haertling of Poplar Bluff, MO; 2nd Tod Job of Jefferson City, MO; 3rd Thomas & Kimberly Turner of Cynthiana, KY; 4th Rod & Kim Grimm of Vinton, IA; 5th Andre Bellemare of Berthierville, OK.

BOBTAIL: 1st Scott Batten of Deer Grove, IL; 2nd Ryan Avenarius of Dubuque, IA; 3rd Pat Eilen of Hampton, MN; 4th Dustin Foster of Butler, MO; 5th Harvey & Karen Zander of St. Louis Park, MN.

CLASSIC: 1st Bill Culver of Ratcliff, AR; 2nd Dan & Zack Kemerling of Wahoo, NE; 3rd Gabe & Brad Hansen of Griswold, IA; 4th Cody White of Doniphan, NE; 5th Trevin Frederiksen of Platteville, CO.