There was no way that I was going to miss this year’s Idaho Truck Show. This was a definite must-attend event for my bride-to-be Jami and I this year for several reasons – not only did it make for a great road trip, but we just couldn’t miss up another opportunity to enjoy the great company of this show’s organizers, including Talie, Rod, Barry and their entire crew. But what we were most curious to find out was how the venue change this year was going to turn out, going from the grassy grounds at Gabiola Field in Caldwell to the smooth black pavement of the Idaho Center in Nampa, Idaho. Final verdict: the new location worked out great!
This year’s show was terrific, like always, and it was made even better by this new location. If for no other reason, the event was now within walking distance of the hotel, making it easy for the families and kids to take a break from the heat and hop in the pool whenever needed, not to mention being able to simply stumble back to the rooms on foot Friday night after a fun time at the annual banquet dinner and comedy night (and a lot of polishing). Thanks to George Van Dyke, this year, Jami and I rolled on over to Nampa, Idaho in his canary yellow 379 Pete with black fenders, which made our trip over even better. And then, when the weathermen changed the forecast and reduced his 105-degree “prediction” down to a comfy 85 degrees, it got even better (the cooler temperatures were just fine with everyone shinin’ up their wagons at the show on Friday).
We rolled into the Idaho Center mid-day on Friday, and the good times were already in high gear! Our past cover trucker Barry Skavlem (December 2010), Cody Gardner, and Brian Carpenter and his wife were already there from Washington “standin’ tall” with their purely pressed-out rides. Barry’s truck has never looked more sleek, rollin’ without a liftable 4th axle this year for the first time ever, and Cody was there, pullin’ his totally pressed spread-axle flatbed, making a sweet combo that just gets better and better every time we turn around. Brian Carpenter made heads turn with his combo, as well, sittin’ there with his white and blue KW hooked to his newly-remodeled Western 4-axle 53-foot trailer. Needless to say, the “Washington boys” brought the heat!
Frank Pangburn and wife Dianna from the Truckin’ for Kids show in California and Doug Flowers from the Wheel Jam show in Huron, South Dakota, were our trusty buds helpin’ out in the 10-4 booth this year – and what a good time it always is to hang out with them. Making it even better this year was having Ryan Van Dyke, along with his good friend and fellow Van Dyke driver Gus Hulstein, at the show helping out alongside the rest of us. Let’s just say that between the music and comedy banquet and staying down at the show grounds until past midnight, time just flew by on Friday!
As always, Saturday morning came fast and, thankfully, the sun was shining but it was not too hot. Talie and her crew had the show grounds packed with nice rides, along with plenty of vendors. From great food to helpful trucking necessities, everybody at the show in Nampa was dialed in. A lot of rigs caught my eye this year, and with around 40 trucks to gawk at and photograph, I was like a kid in a candy store. One of the antique trucks that caught my eye (and the Antique class trophy) was a neat rig owned by Stuart Robinson from Boise, Idaho. Stuart’s yellow 1956 “Big Job” F700 Ford flatbed, which was decked out with chrome stacks and plenty of diamond plate, looked like a mini big rig. Mixed in with the beautiful big rigs were also a couple of classic pickups, including Rick Van Vliet’s pearl orange 1955 Ford, which took the top honors in the Pickup Truck class.
And speaking of cool orange rides, Jason Morton of B-D Oil Company and his bright orange 2007 Peterbilt 379 and matching polished and painted 2010 Heil tanker simply blew us away. Based out of Idaho Falls, Jason uses this truck to deliver fuel to gas stations and farms around Idaho, Utah, Montana, Wyoming and northern Nevada. Featuring Fibertech front fenders, cab and sleeper drop panels, an 8-inch exhaust, and a Cummins ISX that has been “tweaked” by PDI, this rig, which already has 460,000 miles on the odometer, puts almost 600 horses to the ground. Jason’s rig was looking’ good enough to earn him 1st place in the Specialized class.
This year, the Best Combination trophy went to Noel Smith of Montevideo, Minnesota. Noel’s amazing dark brown and black long hood 1987 Peterbilt 359 with a big custom bunk left us speechless – this thing is about as classy as they have ever come! Jay Transport also rolled into the show with a few of their stellar Petes, as well, and let’s not forget about Brent McGrath of Brent’s Custom Trucks in White City, Oregon. Brent brought out his latest wild creation, an eye-popping bright red 1968 Peterbilt 358 needle-nose he built for Leroy & Joanie Bracelin of Coos Bay, Oregon. This totally custom street rod show stopper features a 400 Cummins, a 13-speed transmission, and a 250” wheelbase, and, in my humble opinion, is one of the finest street-rod-style big rigs ever built! This truck, which is dialed in from front to back, top to bottom, and inside out, not only took home the trophy in the Show Truck class, but also bagged the coveted People’s Choice award.
Another big winner this year, like in past years, was Tyler Picknell of Roseburg, Oregon. Tyler, along with his wife Chrissy and their crew, once again made the trek out to Idaho and brought out their rockin’ dark green 1996 Pete 379. Lookin’ top-notch, as usual, Tyler’s rig, which was prepped for competition by its driver Lawrence Gibbons, took home the Best Bobtail award, and was also crowned the Best of Show overall. Boise Boys Transport debuted their new tan and blue Peterbilt 386 this year and redefined what a cool “sloped hood” truck looks like. And, whether you like the new aerodynamic trucks or not, this slick rig was turning heads and getting second looks all weekend long.
The Marshall Company from Payette, Idaho brought out a pair of their single-axle brown cabovers which proved that cabovers still rule! And, speaking of cabovers, how can we forget Bobby Delgado’s two-tone brown 1985 Peterbilt 362 hay truck and matching set of hay trailers from Standlee Hay Company in Eden, Idaho. This long combination showed up loaded with hand-stacked hay on all three beds and made quite an impression on everyone at the show. Brian Van Laar, who runs a small but fabulous fleet in Washington, sent out one of his drivers in a super-clean dark red Peterbilt 379 with black fenders that looked really good. From awesome cattle trucks, to sweet tankers and flatbeds, to drop-dead amazing show trucks, and just about everything in-between (even a few nice Harleys), Idaho, once again, had it all going on!
Thanks again go out to Event Coordinator Talie Elordi and everyone else involved in making this show so great, and to Frank, Doug, Dianna, and our buds, Ryan and Gus, for all of their time in helping to make the 10-4 “party tent” fun as always. Seriously, Idaho is becoming thee place to be in July – not only because of the quality rides, but also because of the quality people who attend, participate and volunteer. I would have a virtually impossible task choosing the winners if the judging was up to me – there were a lot of stellar rides at this event – so I am glad that is not one of my “job” descriptions when in Idaho. So, letting the photos speak for themselves, until next time, “happy trails” folks! We hope to see you all next year at the Idaho Truck Show.
PHOTOS: 1) Ryan Van Dyke getting his shine on; 2) B-D Oil Company; 3) Brian Carpenter; 4) Leroy Bracelin; 5) Noel Smith; 6) Boise Boys; 7) Tyler Picknell; 8) Stuart Robinson; 9) Brian Van Laar; 10) The Marshall Company; 11) George Van Dyke (photo taken by Ryan Van Dyke); 12) Cody Gardner; 13) Rick Van Vliet; 14) Barry Skavlem; 15) Most of the 10-4 booth crew; 16) Jami showing off her polishing skills; 17) Jay Transport; 18) George Van Dyke’s canary yellow Peterbilt 379 (Jami & Bryan’s ride for the weekend); 19) Brent McGrath of Brent’s Custom Trucks; 20) Bobby Delgado’s 1985 Peterbilt 362 hay truck and matching set of triples.
