If heat is what you’re looking for, Dallas is a great place to go. And this year’s Great American Trucking Show (GATS), held August 25-27 at the beautiful Dallas Convention Center, was most-definitely hot, hot, hot! The temperatures were hot, the trucks were hot, and the level of competition was, amazingly, even hotter. And with a “National Championship” trophy on the line, all of the best rigs from across the country were in Dallas to compete, as well as a bunch of other top-notch trucks and competitors.
After years of struggling, like all of the other shows out there, GATS made a good comeback this year. The amount of vendors was impressive, the number of attendees was good, and the quality and quantity (75) of trucks in the Pride & Polish Truck Beauty Competition was one of the best groups of trucks we have ever seen (for real – no exaggeration). Part of that was due to the fact that the first group of “National Champions” were to be awarded at this event, so many of the finest trucks were in attendance.
The contenders for this first National Championship were chosen at five preliminary contests in different areas of the United States (Truckin’ for Kids 2010 in California; the 2010 Charlotte Diesel Super Show in North Carolina; the 2011 Wildwood 75 Chrome Shop show in Florida; the 2011 Great West Truck Show in Nevada; and then the 2011 GATS show in Texas). All of the Best of Show winners in four different categories automatically qualified for a spot in the National Championships judging round. All of the winners were announced at GATS, and it was no surprise to hear names like Eilen and Sandvik called, as well as Randy Stroup of First Class Services for his perfect Pete 359 and newcomer (sort of) Paul Voight with his “Disorderly Conduct” 1998 Peterbilt and 2004 Great Dane reefer combination.
In addition to the trucks vying for the National Championship awards, there were tons of awesome rigs, including Scott Rud’s silver 2000 Peterbilt with dark red stripes (Scott won 1st place in the Working Bobtail First Show class), Jake Lindamood’s tan and brown 2007 Peterbilt and 2002 CPS end dump (which took 2nd place in the Limited Miles Combo class), and Sam & Shawn Helt’s beautiful 1965 green Peterbilt 281 (which earned a 3rd place in the Limited Miles Bobtail class), just to name a few. Several of our California friends (and former cover trucks) were at GATS too, including Lil Ray, Ryan Hooten, Bill & Marie Sandvik and John Silva – and all of them did very well.
There were so many nice rides at GATS it is hard to mention them all, but the truck that got the most amount of attention was “Project One” from the guys at Texas Chrome Shop. This rig has been around for a few years, but the guys recently sold it to Albert Aguero of Premier Eagle Ford Services, and Albert had them build an incredible matching trailer to hook-up behind it. Tricked-out with the same type of elements that made the tractor stand out, the 2007 CPS belly dump trailer took over four months to build and features a bevy of custom-fabricated and painted pieces. One of the more interesting recent modifications the guys made to the truck was boring an oval-shaped hole through the center of each fuel tank! This combo takes the world of custom truck building about as far as it can possibly go.
The show floor was busy. Several booths had popular personalities at the show to sign autographs (like Maya Sieber from Ice Road Truckers), many new products were introduced (including Minimizer’s new simulated polished chrome poly fenders), and there were plenty of giveaways and raffles. There was also a free concert by country singer Jamey Johnson, a 5K run-walk to promote health awareness and raise money for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and educational seminars and meetings every day of the show. Also, Robb Mariani, host of Speed Channel’s “American Trucker” series, was roaming the show all three days with a film crew, taping for a future episode of the show.
Although the show was bigger and better than it has been for a few years, it still has a long way to go to get back to where it was before the economy crashed, but it will get there. So, if you’re looking for some heat, we recommend that you mark your calendars now for August 23-25 and start making plans to be at the 2012 show – because it’s gonna be hot!
WORKING BOBTAIL (FIRST SHOW): 1st Scott Rud – 2000 Silver Peterbilt 379; 2nd Skip Avara – 2010 Red Peterbilt 389; 3rd Dustin Pope/David Pope Produce – 2003 Viper Red Kenworth W900L.
WORKING BOBTAIL (2000 & OLDER): 1st Napoleone Leiva/Jaime Jimenez – 1999 Yellow & Black Freightliner Century; 2nd Gil’s Trucking/Texas Chrome Shop – 1984 Blue Peterbilt 359; 3rd Mike Harper – 1985 Orange & Blue Peterbilt 359.
WORKING BOBTAIL (2001-2005): 1st Bruce Smith/Tim Ables – 2003 Brown Peterbilt 379; 2nd Mike Lemley – 2000 Red Peterbilt 379; 3rd Rusty Conn – 2003 Black Peterbilt 379.
WORKING BOBTAIL (2006 & NEWER): 1st Tuffy Yeary/Yeary Trucking – 2010 Blue & Black Kenworth W900L; 2nd Michael Manuel – 2006 Black & Copper Peterbilt 379; 3rd Mike Auker/TD Transport – 2007 Red Peterbilt 379.
ANTIQUE (BOBTAIL): 1st Eric Hardage – 1963 Black Mack B-83; 2nd Wade Wardlaw – 1975 White & Black Peterbilt 359; 3rd Jimmy Wiley/Yeary Trucking – 1986 Blue & Black Kenworth W900B.
WORKING COMBO (FIRST SHOW): 1st Ronald Smith/Harkness Litter Service – 1999 Purple Peterbilt 379 & 2011 Trinity trailer; 2nd Matthew Wright – 2005 Peterbilt 379 & 2011 Mac end dump; 3rd Troy French – 2005 Black Peterbilt 379 & 2011 Mac end dump.
WORKING COMBO (1999 & OLDER): 1st Ryan Hooten – 1995 Black Cherry Peterbilt 379 & 1994 custom double hay hauler; 2nd Ray Rodriquez/Lil. Rays Transport – 1988 Peterbilt 379 & 2003 Fontaine flatbed; 3rd Tommy Roach – 1999 White Peterbilt 379 & 2005 Wilson flatbed.
WORKING COMBO (2000-2005): 1st David Silva/Bill Hall Jr. – 2001 Nightmare Blue Peterbilt 379 & 2010 Wink end dump; 2nd Justin Hall/Bill Hall Jr. – 2004 Nightmare Blue Kenworth W900L & matching end dump; 3rd Ray Rodriquez/Lil. Rays Transport – 2000 Purple Peterbilt 379 & 2006 Transcraft flatbed.
WORKING COMBO (2006-2007): 1st Billy Wheeler – 2007 Garnet Peterbilt 379 & 2011 Mac end dump; 2nd Mr. Pizarro/Texas Chrome Shop – 2006 Maroon Peterbilt 379 & 2006 Wabash; 3rd Shane Sandhoff – 2006 White Peterbilt 379 & 2011 Mac end dump.
WORKING COMBO (2008 & NEWER): 1st Jonathan Eilen – 2010 Black & Orange Peterbilt 389 & 2007 Mac end dump; 2nd Tommy Larsen/Ryan Hooten – 2008 White & Red Peterbilt 388 & 2012 Western drop-deck; 3rd Johnny Villanueva/Adan Alonso – 2008 Silver Peterbilt 386 & 2000 Vantage.
ANTIQUE (COMBO): 1st Gary Salisbury – 1979 Green Kenworth W900A & 1978 Utility flatbed.
INTERIOR (CAB ONLY): 1st Ray Graves – 1982 White Peterbilt 359; 2nd Jonathan Eilen – 2010 Black & Orange Peterbilt 389 & 2007 Mac end dump; 3rd Michael Holland – 2007 Red Peterbilt 379.
INTERIOR (OEM SLEEPER): 1st Tuffy Yeary/Yeary Trucking – 2010 Blue & Black Kenworth W900L; 2nd Ryan Hooten – 1995 Black Cherry Peterbilt 379 & 1994 custom double hay hauler; 3rd Justin Hall/Bill Hall Jr. – 2004 Nightmare Blue Kenworth W900L & matching end dump.
ENGINE (WORKING): 1st Jonathan Eilen – 2010 Black & Orange Peterbilt 389 & 2007 Mac end dump; 2nd Ray Graves – 1982 White Peterbilt 359; 3rd Michael Manuel – 2006 Black & Copper Peterbilt 379.
PAINT (BOBTAIL): 1st Ray Graves – 1982 White Peterbilt 359; 2nd Bruce Smith/Tim Ables – 2003 Brown Peterbilt 379; 3rd (tie) Angel Sanchez/Texas Chrome Shop – 2003 Grey & Red Peterbilt AND Gil’s Trucking/Texas Chrome Shop – 1984 Blue Peterbilt 359.
PAINT (COMBO): 1st Jonathan Eilen – 2010 Black & Orange Peterbilt 389 & 2007 Mac end dump; 2nd Ray Rodriquez/Lil. Rays Transport – 1988 Peterbilt 379 & 2003 Fontaine flatbed; 3rd Justin Hall/Bill Hall Jr. – 2004 Nightmare Blue Kenworth W900L & matching end dump.
LIMITED MILES (BOBTAIL): 1st Randy Stroup/First Class Trucking – 1986 Candy Vibrance Peterbilt 359; 2nd Michael Most – 1998 Corvette Yellow Freightliner Classic; 3rd Sam & Shawn Helt – 1965 Jade Green Peterbilt 281.
LIMITED MILES (COMBO): 1st Paul Voigt/Night Train Trucking – 1999 Blue & Black Peterbilt 379 & 2004 Great Dane reefer; 2nd (tie) Albert Aguero/Premier Eagle Ford Services – 1997 Orange & Gold Peterbilt 379 & 2007 CPS belly bump AND Jake Lindamood/Lindamood Demolition – 2007 Brown Peterbilt 379 & 2002 CPS end dump; 3rd Jeff Hardage – 1986 Black Peterbilt 359 & 2004 Fontaine RGN.
LIMITED MILES (BEST INTERIOR): Albert Aguero/Premier Eagle Ford Services – 1997 Orange & Gold Peterbilt 379 & 2007 CPS belly bump.
LIMITED MILES (BEST ENGINE): Randy Stroup/First Class Trucking – 1986 Candy Vibrance Peterbilt 359.
LIMITED MILES (BEST PAINT BOBTAIL): Bruce Smith/Thomas Ivy – 1986 Blue Peterbilt 359.
LIMITED MILES (BEST PAINT COMBO): Paul Voigt/Night Train Trucking – 1999 Blue & Black Peterbilt 379 & 2004 Great Dane reefer.
BEST OF SHOW WORKING BOBTAIL: Bruce Smith/Tim Ables, Kilgore, TX – 2003 Brown Peterbilt 379 – “Audrie Lynn”.
BEST OF SHOW WORKING COMBO: Jonathan Eilen, Hampton, MN – 2010 Black & Orange Peterbilt 389 & 2007 Mac end dump – “Iron Afflicted”.
NATIONAL CHAMPION 2011 – OVERALL BEST LIMITED MILES BOBTAIL: Randy Stroup/First Class Trucking, Lewisport, KY – 1986 Candy Vibrance Peterbilt 359 – “First In Class”.
NATIONAL CHAMPION 2011 – OVERALL BEST LIMITED MILES COMBO: Paul Voigt/Night Train Trucking, St Cloud, MN – 1999 Blue & Black Peterbilt 379 & 2004 Great Dane Reefer – “Disorderly Conduct”.
NATIONAL CHAMPION 2011 – OVERALL BEST WORKING BOBTAIL: Bill & Marie Sandvik, Valley Center, CA – 2005 Brown & Red Peterbilt 379.
NATIONAL CHAMPION 2011 – OVERALL BEST WORKING COMBO: Jonathan Eilen, Hampton, MN – 2010 Black & Orange Peterbilt 389 & 2007 Mac end dump – “Iron Afflicted”.
