MORE “LATINO” FUN
TRUCK SHOW LATINO TURNS FOUR
The 2008 Truck Show Latino proved, once again, that it is the “little show that could”. In its fourth year, this show has never been one of the bigger events on the circuit, but year after year it delivers, in regards to business and fun. Started as a “Latino-friendly” show designed to cater to the Latino trucker, this event draws in just as many Gringos as Latinos - and that is a good thing.
With over 120 vendors and 40 top-quality working (and non-working) show trucks filling two buildings of the Fairplex in Pomona just east of Los Angeles, there was plenty to see and do at the show. Held on October 18-19, this show marked the end of the 2008 truck show season (for us, at least). Because of that fact, the Truck Show Latino always has a festive atmosphere and great after-hours parties. And this year was no different.
Strolling the show floor we saw many of our advertisers on display including Transit Insurance, Campos & Associates (with their now-famous Campos girls), Commercial Tire, Drake Supply, Empire Company, Franklin Truck Parts, Mayan Truck Accessories, Progressive Insurance, Shipper’s West Trucking, United Pacific and Utility Trailer. We also got to visit with some of our industry friends like Darrell Cox from the Truck Gazette, Frank Pangburn of Truckin’ for Kids, RJ Taylor and Sam Eichenberger of Ol’ Blue, USA, and a host of others. It is always nice to see these folks.
For the second year in a row, the show producers gave away a brand new Ford F150 pick-up to one very lucky attendee. Last year the giveaway was limited to just CDL holders, but this year it was opened up to anyone. The big “catch” of the giveaway is that you need to be present to win. They draw the winning name on Sunday afternoon, so anyone who signed up on Saturday had to return and anyone who entered on Sunday morning had to stick around until 3:00. And when the first name pulled was read, it was a woman who had already left for the day (I bet she will regret that decision). The second name pulled was Jose Figueroa of Chino, California. Not only was he in the crowd, but he was very excited as well.
One building was dedicated (for the most part) to the vendor booths, while the other was dedicated to the show trucks entered in the final stop of the 2008 Pride & Polish Truck Beauty Contest series. About 40 of the finest trucks showed up to strut their stuff and compete for one of the coveted trophies awarded on Sunday. As usual, Carl Carstens at Rockwood supplied the cool “Best of Show” trophies featuring a lighted wood base topped with a Waterford crystal bowl. Only a few folks at each show are fortunate enough (or work hard enough) to get one of these custom creations. And at this show, the big winners were Jeff Davidson, Isaac Aguilar and Ryan Hooten.
Jeff Davidson and the crew at John’s Truck Repair in Cotati, California built and then brought out Mike Salinas’ tricked-out 1997 Peterbilt. This rig is sweet! Featuring tons of custom fabrication and a flashy orange, blue and black flamed paint job, this truck was the talk of the show. Jeff took home the “Best Limited Mileage Bobtail” trophy. In the working classes, our friend Ryan Hooten and his neat Peterbilt and custom hay trailers (our February 2008 cover feature) earned the “Best of Show Working Combo” award, while driver Isaac Aguilar of Sandvik Trucking won the “Best of Show Working Bobtail” award for his newly-remodeled purple and silver Peterbilt.
Some other big winners included Kris Gaare and his blue Peterbilt with black stacks, Ernie Rubio and Sherry Martinez of Jessica Martinez Trucking (each one of them had a colorfully-muralled truck that took home a 1st Place trophy), Mike Salcido of Arrowhead Water and his red Freightliner Columbia and stainless steel tanker, and John Mundall and his 2009 black Kenworth T-800 super dump with green flames.
We had a great time at the Truck Show Latino, as well as every other show we attended this year, and are looking forward to all of the fun events we will be attending next year. The next Truck Show Latino is scheduled to be held once again at the Fairplex in Pomona, California on October 17-18, 2009. Mark your calendars now. We hope to see you there!
WORKING BOBTAIL (1989 & OLDER): 1st D.J. Arias – 1989 Blue Peterbilt 379; 2nd Rolando Nava – 1998 Maroon & White Kenworth T-600; 3rd (tie) Enrique Vanegas – 1988 Black Peterbilt 379 AND Hector Carrion – 1989 Blue Peterbilt 379.
WORKING BOBTAIL (1990-1996): 1st Isaac Aguilar of Sandvik Trucking – 1992 Burgundy Peterbilt 379; 2nd Jose Dueñas of SAMASA Trucking – 1995 Purple & Black Peterbilt 379; 3rd Mark Leekley of Hawthorne Rent-It – 1996 White & Yellow Freightliner FLD.
WORKING BOBTAIL (1997 & NEWER): 1st Kris Gaare – 1998 Blue Peterbilt 379; 2nd William Flores of SG & SONS – 1997 Teal Peterbilt 379; 3rd Alberto Caballero of Betuco’s Trucking – 1999 Grey Freightliner Classic.
SPECIALIZED TRUCK: 1st Jose Trujillo – 1996 Black Peterbilt 379 Dump; 2nd Eddie Hall – 1975 Purple Peterbilt 359 Dump.
WORKING COMBO (1998 & OLDER): 1st Ryan Hooten of Ryan’s Feed – 1995 Black Cherry Peterbilt 379 & 1994 Custom Flatbed Hay Trailers; 2nd Markie Pounds of Central Valley Transport – 1987 Purple & Orange Flamed Freightliner Cabover and Custom Double Flatbeds; 3rd Richard Cobb of Hawthorne Rent-It – 1998 White Freightliner FLD & 2003 Trail King.
WORKING COMBO (1999 & NEWER): 1st Mike Salcido of Arrowhead Water – 2007 Red Freightliner Columbia & 1991 Stainless Steel Brenner Tanker; 2nd Rolando Nava – 2003 Maroon Kenworth W900L & 1998 Wabash Reefer; 3rd David Nazeri of Showmotion – 2005 Black Peterbilt 379 & 2001 Utility Van.
INTERIOR (CAB ONLY): 1st Isaac Aguilar of Sandvik Trucking – 1992 Burgundy Peterbilt 379; 2nd Mike Salcido of Arrowhead Water – 2007 Red Freightliner Columbia & 1991 Stainless Steel Brenner Tanker; 3rd Mark Leekley of Hawthorne Rent-It – 1996 White & Yellow Freightliner FLD.
INTERIOR (OEM SLEEPER): 1st Ryan Hooten of Ryan’s Feed – 1995 Black Cherry Peterbilt 379 & 1994 Custom Flatbed Hay Trailers; 2nd Jose Dueñas of SAMASA Trucking – 1995 Purple & Black Peterbilt 379; 3rd Rolando Nava – 1988 Maroon & White Kenworth T-600.
ENGINE (WORKING TRUCK): 1st Isaac Aguilar of Sandvik Trucking – 1992 Burgundy Peterbilt 379; 2nd Ryan Hooten of Ryan’s Feed – 1995 Black Cherry Peterbilt 379 & 1994 Custom Flatbed Hay Trailers; 3rd Jose Dueñas of SAMASA Trucking – 1995 Purple & Black Peterbilt 379.
PAINT & GRAPHICS (WORKING BOBTAIL): 1st Ernie Rubio of Jessica Martinez Trucking – 1989 Orange & Black Muralled Peterbilt 379; 2nd Sherry Martinez of Jessica Martinez Trucking – 1990 Blue Muralled Peterbilt 379; 3rd Isaac Aguilar of Sandvik Trucking – 1992 Burgundy Peterbilt 379.
PAINT & GRAPHICS (WORKING COMBO): 1st Ryan Hooten of Ryan’s Feed – 1995 Black Cherry Peterbilt 379 & 1994 Custom Flatbed Hay Trailers; 2nd Mike Salcido of Arrowhead Water – 2007 Red Freightliner Columbia & 1991 Stainless Steel Brenner Tanker; 3rd Markie Pounds of Central Valley Transport – 1987 Purple & Orange Flamed Freightliner Cabover and Custom Double Flatbeds.
BEST INTERIOR (LIMITED MILEAGE): Mike Maggini of Maggini & Son Trucking – 1998 Yellow & Green Flamed Peterbilt 379.
BEST ENGINE (LIMITED MILEAGE): Bill & Marie Sandvik of Sandvik Trucking – 1998 White & Blue Muralled Peterbilt 379.
BEST PAINT (LIMITED MILEAGE): Jeff Davidson of John’s Truck Repair for Owner Mike Salinas – 1997 Black, Orange & Blue Flamed Peterbilt 379.
LIMITED MILEAGE BOBTAIL: 1st Jeff Davidson of John’s Truck Repair for Owner Mike Salinas – 1997 Black, Orange & Blue Flamed Peterbilt 379; 2nd Bill & Marie Sandvik of Sandvik Trucking – 1998 White & Blue Muralled Peterbilt 379; 3rd Mike Maggini of Maggini & Son Trucking – 1998 Yellow & Green Flamed Peterbilt 379.
ROADWORKS BEST USE OF CHROME OR STAINLESS: John Mundall of Mundall Trucking – 2009 Black & Green Flamed Kenworth T-800 Super Dump.
TRUK RODZ BEST THEME AWARD: Sherry Martinez of Jessica Martinez Trucking – 1990 Blue Muralled Peterbilt 379.
BEST OF SHOW WORKING BOBTAIL: Isaac Aguilar of Sandvik Trucking – 1992 Burgundy Peterbilt 379.
BEST OF SHOW WORKING COMBO: Ryan Hooten of Ryan’s Feed – 1995 Black Cherry Peterbilt 379 & 1994 Custom Flatbed Hay Trailers.