There are a lot of truck shows out there, but most don’t make a difference in people’s lives as much as the annual “Kidney Kamp” truck show. The Great Salt Lake Truck Show, held once again at Electric Park at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, Utah on August 16 and 17, has benefited the National Kidney Foundation of Utah and Idaho for the past 24 years. Put on by Jeff England, president of Pride Transport, and his fantastic crew, the show raises money each year so the Kidney Kamp can continue their great work, benefiting individuals and their families who live with kidney conditions in Utah and Idaho.
Because this show is not simply about just trophies and shining up a ride, it has become an event with one of the most friendly, enjoyable atmospheres around. The night before and the morning of the start of the show are a time at which drivers help one another, lending polish, tire shine or even their own elbow grease, to help get all the trucks ready. And shine, polish and clean, they do! By “rags down” time on Friday morning, the trucks are clean enough for their white-glove inspection. But, keep in mind, most of trucks that come to this show have work waiting for them on Monday morning. Shine is a culture in around Utah and Idaho, and it is a culture that they certainly take seriously.
With sunny skies and little wind to kick up the dirt, Electric Park, with its thick grass and paved walkways, proved as great a location as ever. In fact, the major weather concern was the then-raging Park City wildfire, which was dropping speckles of ash on all of the trucks occasionally, necessitating an extra wipe-down every now and then (this concern was taken into account when judging the trucks). After the polish and rags were put away and the judging was finished, the walking-around and showing-off commenced. With some familiar rigs, as well as some new ones this year, the show proved better than ever.
Francis Trucking of Brigham City, Utah brought down several of their rides, including a recently-finished pink and white 388 Peterbilt daycab. Spec’d and ordered by “Mama Francis” herself, the truck was built in honor of breast cancer awareness and was prepared for the competition by Francis Trucking’s Ryan Dorius and his wife, Jynette. Jay Transport brought in their “Copper Penny” Peterbilt with a matching aluminum spread-axle flatbed. Driven by Jason Jackman, the truck was a great representation of Idaho – and kept the boys in Utah honest. As always, Jeff England made sure plenty of Pride trucks arrived at the show, including his classic, long-hood A-model Kenworth. Justin Mascaro arrived with his recently-built T660 bull-hauler and matching Wilson cattle-pot, as well as Wendy Mascaro, Justin’s sister-in-law, and her elegant black and maroon W900 dump truck.
Following the “rags down” announcement and the judging, Friday night featured a light show. Always a crowd favorite, trucks on the lot lit up Electric Park. “Shorty” Koppinger, however, stole the show with his ’86 Peterbilt 359 and matching reefer. Featuring hundreds of ultra-bright “penny light” LEDs, the truck lit itself up, and most of the trucks surrounding it. Sporting LEDs even in the mud-flap weights, Shorty’s amazing 359 was a stand-out at the light show, for sure.
With Saturday came the crowds, and a moment of relaxation for the show participants. With warm and mostly-clear weather, it provided a great time for both Utah locals and individuals and families from the Kidney Kamp to walk around and admire the shined-up and polished-out rides that roll around the highways of Utah, Idaho, and the surrounding states. It was also great to finally get to meet and talk with some of the families that actually benefit directly from the money raised at this truck show, too.
Kidney disease and kidney failure are serious medical issues. Something that isn’t really “cured” but treated, kidney disease and its complications are usually dealt with, at some level, throughout the afflicted individual’s entire life. This year, I was able to sit down with Troy and Teresa Peterson, a couple, both of whom experienced kidney failure, who have been going to the Kidney Kamp for the past 13 years. Both Troy and Teresa suffered kidney failure from the same type of infection, streptococcal pharyngitis, commonly known as strep-throat, but at differing times. Both have undergone kidney transplants, and though kidney transplants can often be a beneficial solution to kidney failure, it is not a fail-safe method. Aside from complications of the transplant itself and the risk of the body rejecting the new organ, as Teresa and Troy put it, often transplants are more of a long-term, though not permanent, fix. Some transplanted organs may last a few years – some for decades – but often those who have received a transplant will need further transplants later in their lives.
While individuals may be on the waiting list for a transplant, or if transplants may not be an option, the other primary method of treatment for kidney disease is dialysis. There are two primary types of dialysis: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Hemodialysis is the more recognized method of treatment, involving pumping the blood of the individual out and pushing it through an artificial filter to remove the various toxins and contaminants that are present in the blood before it re-enters the person’s body. Peritoneal dialysis, on the other hand, involves pumping sugar water into the peritoneal cavity (a cavity within your torso) to filter blood. Though each method has its advantages and complications, neither method truly “fixes” the problem. Rather, each method is a way to replace the function of the kidneys (filtering the blood), and the frequency of treatment can be as often as every day.
Needless to say, living with kidney disease or failure is no easy task – your whole life revolves around the treatment. Traveling can require careful planning so an individual is never far enough away from a dialysis center or other area of treatment that it may be life-threatening. Sometimes travel isn’t even an option – this is where the Kidney Kamp really makes a difference. The Kidney Kamp, located in Aspen Grove, Utah, provides individuals and their families who deal with kidney disease, a way to get away from the hospitals, the dialysis centers, the doctors and the constant medical treatment, and gives them a break. While at the Kidney Kamp, individuals are provided the necessary medical treatment they need while still being able to be away in the mountains, with other individuals dealing with the same problems, and having a fantastic, fun time. The Kidney Kamp, held once a year and paid for by the proceeds from this show, gives those with kidney disease and their families that little bit of normalcy – a weekend in the mountains, without having to focus on the disease, for once.
And that is why we at 10-4 Magazine consider the Great Salt Lake Truck Show one of the best shows (and one of most important) you can attend. We often don’t consider how lucky we are just to have our health. The simple pleasure of being able to go for a hike in the mountains (or a walk down the street) is something we all often take for granted, and for folks out there like the Peterson family, even organizing a small mountain camping trip involves complexities, concerns and considerations most of us couldn’t begin to fathom. But, you can do your part to help these folks out. It’s as simple as asking yourself, if given the opportunity, would you do something fun that would also make a positive difference in someone else’s life? If you said yes, come to the Great Salt Lake Truck Show and help make a difference – for real!
Jeff England and his crew have always managed to organize and put on a fantastic truck show at Electric Park, and next year will be the 25th anniversary of this event. Few truck shows offer the opportunity to see great trucks while also serving a great cause, but this show does. All of the proceeds from this show benefit the Kidney Foundation of Utah and Idaho, and help make the annual Kidney Kamp possible. So, c’mon folks, let’s bust the capacity of that park next year and make the event’s 25th anniversary something truly memorable!
Myself, and everyone at 10-4 Magazine, would also like to offer our congratulations to the Petersons as Donald, Teresa and Troy’s oldest son, and his wife Katie, recently welcomed the newest member of their family, baby Emma. Our congratulations also go out to all of this year’s winners at the 2013 Great Salt Lake “Kidney Kamp” Truck Show. And here they are:
OPEN TRACTOR: 1st Skidmore/Todd Henry; 2nd Robinson/Matt Long; 3rd Oropeza Brothers Trkg/Isidoro Oropeza.
SMALL FLEET TRACTOR: 1st Skidmore/Jim Henry; 2nd Francis/Kyle Larsen; 3rd Francis/Cass Henderson.
LARGE FLEET TRACTOR: 1st Godfrey/Joe Deede; 2nd Francis/Ryan Dorisu; 3rd Walmart/Levi.
OWNER OPERATOR TRACTOR: 1st Tri H Farms/Glen Hansen; 2nd Aero Express/Mark; 3rd Oropeza Brothers Trkg/Maximo Oropeza.
NEW TRACTOR: 1st Robinson/Mike Christensen; 2nd TUF Transport/Jerry Brown; 3rd TUF Transport/Shaun Higgins.
OLD WORKING TRACTOR: 1st Mike Higley/Jarrad Smith; 2nd Skidmore/Josh Skidmore; 3rd Robert Campbell.
OPEN COMBO: 1st Advantage Trans/Carey Bess; 2nd Utah Food Bank/David Johnson.
SMALL FLEET COMBO: 1st Marshall Company; 2nd Jay Transport/Jason Jackman; 3rd Don Stockley Trkg/Rick Sutton.
LARGE FLEET COMBO: 1st Tommy Bennett; 2nd Godfrey; 3rd Alpha Trans/Adam Lindsay.
NEW COMBO: 1st Jerry Stanford; 2nd J.M. Mascaro Livestock/Justin & Macy Mascaro; 3rd CR England/Ron Chatwin.
OLD WORKING COMBO: 1st Koppinger Trkg/Shorty Koppinger; 2nd David Schaffer.
ANTIQUE: 1st Savage/Jeff Johnson; 2nd CR England/Todd England; 3rd Savage/Leon Bird.
WRECKER/VOCATIONAL: 1st Harper Precast/James Hepner; 2nd Ralph Smith/Jason Speth.
TANKER: 1st Christensen Oil/Brandon Scott; 2nd KB Oil/Stacey Bettridge; 3rd Cardwell.
MEDIUM DUTY: 1st Robinson/Jerry Lopshire; 2nd Skeen Const/David Skeen; 3rd Alex Brown.
LARGE COMBO VEHICLE: 1st Christensen Oil/Brandon Scott; 2nd Ralph Smith/Terrell Lund.
DRY BULK: 1st Wendy Mascaro; 2nd Ralph Smith/Jason Speth; 3rd Ralph Smith/Terrell Lund.
ENGINE: 1st Skidmore/Todd Henry; 2nd Savage/Jeff Johnson; 3rd Mike Higley/Jarrad Smith.
INTERIOR (CAB ONLY): 1st Savage/Jeff Johnson; 2nd Robinson/Matt Long; 3rd Robinson/Mike Christensen.
INTERIOR (CAB & SLEEPER): 1st Skidmore/Todd Henry; 2nd J.M. Mascaro/Justin & Macy Mascaro; 3rd Koppinger Trkg/Shorty Koppinger.
PAINT/GRAPHICS TRACTOR: 1st Robinson/Matt Long; 2nd Tri H Farms/Glen Hansen; 3rd Oropeza Brothers Trkg/Isidoro Oropeza.
PAINT/GRAPHICS COMBO: 1st Advantage Trans/Carey Bess; 2nd Christensen Oil/Brandon Scott; 3rd Christensen Oil/Brandon Scott.
PAINT/MURAL TRACTOR: 1st Aero Express/Mark; 2nd J.M. Mascaro Livestock/Justin & Macy Mascaro; 3rd Mike Higley/Jarrad Smith.
PAINT/MURAL COMBO: 1st Marshall Company; 2nd Walmart/Levi.
LIGHTS BOBTAIL: 1st Tri H Farms/Glen Hansen; 2nd Robinson/Matt Long; 3rd Jeff Singh.
LIGHTS COMBO: 1st Koppinger Trkg/Shorty Koppinger; 2nd KB Oil/Stacey Bettridge; 3rd J.M. Mascaro Livestock/Justin & Macy Mascaro.
BEST OF SHOW TRACTOR: Skidmore/Todd Henry – 2007 Peterbilt 379.
BEST OF SHOW COMBO: Koppinger Trkg/Shorty Koppinger – 1983 Peterbilt 359.
BEST OF SHOW SPECIALTY: Christensen Oil/Brandon Scott – 2002 Kenworth W900.
PEOPLE’S CHOICE: Oropeza Brothers Trkg/Isidoro Oropeza – 2007 Peterbilt 379.
