The first show of 2014 for Overdrive’s Pride & Polish Championship truck show series was hosted by 75 Chrome Shop on March 25-27 in Wildwood, Florida. Wildwood is always a “wild” time, and this year was no different. The 75 Chrome Shop facility offered the venue to showcase nearly 60 custom trucks competing in the first stop of the 2014 Pride & Polish truck show season.
Established in 1990, 75 Chrome Shop offers a full inventory of chrome accessories for almost every truck on the road (it is also a good to place to pick up your free copy of 10-4 each and every month). “We would like to thank everyone for attending our 16th Annual Truck Show. It was our best show yet, and we look forward to making them better every year,” said Debbie Farkus, owner of 75 Chrome Shop. “Pride & Polish and our staff here worked really hard to make this show spectacular! To all the contestants, thank you for all your dedication and hard work that you do for our show. Good rigs and good people are what make a good truck show. We hope to see everyone back again next year.”
Competitors put their best side up in the extreme white-glove competition of the Pride & Polish portion of the event, while the folks in the Wash & Show classes enjoyed a more relaxed but still head-turning contest. Main classes included working trucks, limited mileage trucks, non-working antiques and a builder’s class. Specialty classes highlighting paint, interior, engine and lights were also offered. “Our diverse array of classes allow all drivers the ability to showcase their truck and join the fun,” said Suzanne Stempinski of the Pride & Polish management team.
A packed crowd of more than 4,000 attendees enjoyed getting an up-close look at these highly-customized trucks, visiting with a wide variety of trucking industry vendors and enjoyed a live band. Always a crowd favorite, the lot was glowing and packed with happy spectators as the trucks “lit up the night” with an amazing display of their lights.
Some of the notable winners included Joel Dawes of Waterford, WI and his 1988 white and green Pete 379 “Family Tradition” that took the Best of Show Limited Mileage Bobtail award, and Vinnie Diorio of Richfield, WI and his 2013 orange and purple Peterbilt 389 and 2008 MAC Curtainside “Trendsettin” that won the Best of Show Limited Mileage Combo trophy. In the working truck classes, Bob & Shelley Brinker of Grayling, MI and their 2000 Muralled Freigthliner Classic XL “Legend of the Black Pearl” cleaned house in a bunch of classes and went home with the Best of Show Bobtail trophy, while Bill & Sayra Rethwisch of Tomah, WI and their beautiful 2013 green and white Peterbilt 389 and 2013 Polar tanker “Blood, Sweat & Gas” earned top honors in the Best of Show Combo class.
All of these “best of show” winners have now earned the opportunity to compete in the Pride & Polish National Championship at The Great American Trucking Show (GATS) in Dallas on August 21-23, 2014. With five different events being held in locations across the country, all of the “best of show” winners from each of these events will converge at the GATS show in Dallas to compete for the lofty title of National Champion for the year.
In the Wash & Show classes, Drey Ellzey of Seminary, MS and his 1997 Purple Kenworth W900L fetched the Best of Show Bobtail award, while Kevin Pascavis and Vinnie Diorio of Richfield, WI and their 2013 blue and orange Peterbilt 389 and 2010 MAC Curtainside “NV’d” (our December 2012 cover feature truck) took the Best of Show Combo trophy. In the antique class, the 1st Place trophy went to Lou DeBerardinis of DeBerardinis Trucking in Orlando, FL for his stellar 1929 red and black Mack AK.
Honoring creativity, excellence and dedication to the toughest profession you’ll ever love, Pride & Polish is the premier truck beauty championship series in North America. The Pride & Polish championship series begins and ends each year at the Great American Trucking Show in Dallas, Texas. The next Pride & Polish event will be held at and hosted by River States Customz in La Crosse, WI on June 27-28, 2014. For more information about all of the Pride & Polish events, visit www.prideandpolish.com.
WASH & SHOW WINNERS
BOBTAIL (2003 & OLDER): 1st Drey Ellzey, 1997 Purple Kenworth W900L; 2nd Pedro Urra, 1993 Brown Kenworth W900B; 3rd Mike Auker/CDT, 1985 Orange & White Peterbilt 359.
BOBTAIL (2004 & NEWER): 1st Tom Doty/Rick Holloway, 2005 Red Kenworth T600; 2nd Jesse Shirey, 2006 Purple International Eagle; 3rd Brad Janke/Walbon & Co, 2013 Gold Kenworth T660.
COMBO (2000 & OLDER): 1st Jay Palachuk, 1996 Green Kenworth W900L & 2007 Stainless Trailmobile Drop Van; 2nd Hayden Eady/Detroit Radiator, 1999 Red Kenworth W900 & 1995 Featherlite; 3rd Brody Lathrop, 1998 Red & Grey Peterbilt 379 & 2002 Fontaine Flatbed.
COMBO (2001-2005): 1st Mike Stephenson, 2004 Cream & Beige Peterbilt 379 & 2015 MAC Step-deck; 2nd Von Tompkins III, 2003 Blue Peterbilt 379 & 2014 Transcraft; 3rd Chad Gamola/Jesse Shirey, 2004 Brown International 9900ix & 2014 MAC Maximizer.
COMBO (2006 & NEWER): 1st Kevin Pascavis/Vinnie Diorio, 2013 Blue & Orange Peterbilt 389 & 2010 MAC Curtainside; 2nd Robert Cullen, 2006 Silver Peterbilt 379 & 2012 Featherlite Enclosed Car Hauler; 3rd Dave Brendel, 2006 Grey & Green Kenworth W900B & 2006 Wabash Reefer.
WASH & SHOW BEST OF SHOW BOBTAIL: Drey Ellzey, 1997 Purple Kenworth W900L.
WASH & SHOW BEST OF SHOW COMBO: Kevin Pascavis/Vinnie Diorio, 2013 Blue & Orange Peterbilt 389 & 2010 MAC Curtainside.
PRIDE & POLISH WINNERS
BOBTAIL (ANTIQUE): 1st Lou DeBerardinis/DeBerardinis Trucking, 1929 Red & Black Mack AK; 2nd Darrin Kling/Kling Towing & Recovery, 1955 Red Chevy Cabover; 3rd Mike O’Brien/Robert Pini, 1971 Berry Red Peterbilt 282.
BOBTAIL (SPECIALIZED): 1st Darrin Kling/Kling Towing & Recovery, 2012 White Kenworth W900; 2nd Jeff Revis, 2014 Red Peterbilt 388.
BOBTAIL (COMPANY TRUCK): 1st Austin Ashley/Ashley Farms Trucking, 2007 Purple & White Peterbilt 379; 2nd Brian Fretwell/Taylor Transport, 2013 Black Kenworth W900; 3rd William Reynolds, 2012 Blue Kenworth T660.
BOBTAIL (WORKING): 1st Bob & Shelley Brinker, 2000 Muralled Freightliner Classic; 2nd Troy Huddleston, 1991 Viper Red Freightliner Classic; 3rd David Foster, 2005 Red & Silver Kenworth W900L.
COMBO (SPECIALIZED): 1st Michael LeCrenier/Walpole, Inc., 2014 Kenworth T880 & 2008 Polar Tanker; 2nd Tim Fisher, 2000 Black & Silver Peterbilt 330 & 2012 Titan Enclosed Service Trailer; 3rd Scoobey Meltcher, 1991 Red & White Kenworth 100E-S & 2005 Wally Car Hauler.
COMBO (2000 & OLDER): 1st Ryan Derrickson, 1999 White & Blue Peterbilt 379 & 2014 Great Dane Reefer; 2nd Paul Rissler, 1996 White & Green Peterbilt 379 & 2008 Great Dane Reefer; 3rd Doug Scholten/Rabbit River Transport, 1986 White & Gold Peterbilt 359 & 2001 Utility Reefer.
COMBO (2001 & NEWER): 1st Bill & Sayra Rethwisch, 2013 Green & White Peterbilt 389 & 2013 Polar Tanker; 2nd Shawn Cielke, 2007 Grey & Green Kenworth T600 & 2014 Wabash Reefer; 3rd Jim Gambrell/CDT, 2014 White & Orange Kenworth T660 & 2014 Utility Reefer.
INTERIOR (CAB ONLY): 1st Austin Ashley/Ashley Farms Trucking, 2007 Purple & White Peterbilt 379; 2nd Troy Huddleston, 1991 Viper Red Freightliner Classic; 3rd Jeff Revis, 2014 Red Peterbilt 388 Wrecker.
INTERIOR (OEM SLEEPER): 1st Bob & Shelley Brinker, 2000 Muralled Freightliner Classic; 2nd Bill & Sayra Rethwisch, 2013 Green & White Peterbilt 389 & 2013 Polar Tanker; 3rd Ryan Derrickson, 1999 White & Blue Peterbilt 379 & 2014 Great Dane Reefer.
BEST INTERIOR (LIMITED MILEAGE): (tie) Brian Davis/Davis Bros. Trucking, 2005 Black & Blue Peterbilt 379 & 2012 Wilson Grain Hopper AND Vinnie Diorio, 2013 Orange & Purple Peterbilt 389 & 2008 MAC Curtainside.
LIGHTS (BOBTAIL): 1st Bob & Shelley Brinker, 2000 Muralled Freightliner Classic; 2nd David Foster, 2005 Red & Silver Kenworth W900L; 3rd Tom Davis/Davis Bros. Trucking, 2014 White & Orange Peterbilt 389.
LIGHTS (COMBO): 1st (tie) Brian Davis/Davis Bros. Trucking, 2005 Black & Blue Peterbilt 379 & 2012 Wilson Grain Hopper AND Vinnie Diorio, 2013 Orange & Purple Peterbilt 389 & 2008 MAC Curtainside; 2nd Bill & Sayra Rethwisch, 2013 Green & White Peterbilt 389 & 2013 Polar Tanker; 3rd Shawn Cielke, 2007 Grey & Green Kenworth T600 & 2014 Wabash Reefer.
PAINT (BOBTAIL): 1st Bob & Shelley Brinker, 2000 Muralled Freightliner Classic; 2nd Austin Ashley/Ashley Farms Trucking, 2007 Purple & White Peterbilt 379; 3rd Darrin Kling/Kling Towing & Recovery, 1955 Red Chevy Cabover.
PAINT (COMBO): 1st Bill & Sayra Rethwisch, 2013 Green & White Peterbilt 389 & 2013 Polar Tanker; 2nd Ryan Derrickson, 1999 White & Blue Peterbilt 379 & 2014 Great Dane Reefer; 3rd Shawn Cielke, 2007 Grey & Green Kenworth T600 & 2014 Wabash Reefer.
BEST PAINT (LIMITED MILEAGE BOBTAIL): Tom Davis/Davis Bros. Trucking, 2014 White & Orange Peterbilt 389.
BEST PAINT (LIMITED MILEAGE COMBO): Vinnie Diorio, 2013 Orange & Purple Peterbilt 389 & 2008 MAC Curtainside.
ENGINE (WORKING): 1st Bob & Shelley Brinker, 2000 Muralled Freightliner Classic; 2nd Bill & Sayra Rethwisch, 2013 Green & White Peterbilt 389 & 2013 Polar Tanker; 3rd Austin Ashley/Ashley Farms Trucking, 2007 Purple & White Peterbilt 379.
BEST ENGINE (LIMITED MILEAGE): Vinnie Diorio, 2013 Orange & Purple Peterbilt 389 & 2008 MAC Curtainside.
BEST OF BUILDER’S CLASS: Armando Garcia, 1997 Black Peterbilt 379.
BEST OF SHOW LIMITED MILEAGE (BOBTAIL): Joel Dawes, 1988 White & Green Peterbilt 379.
BEST OF SHOW LIMITED MILEAGE (COMBO): Vinnie Diorio, 2013 Orange & Purple Peterbilt 389 & 2008 MAC Curtainside.
BEST OF SHOW (WORKING BOBTAIL): Bob & Shelley Brinker, 2000 Muralled Freightliner Classic.
BEST OF SHOW (WORKING COMBO): Bill & Sayra Rethwisch, 2013 Green & White Peterbilt 389 & 2013 Polar Tanker.
