The second show of 2014 for Overdrive’s Pride & Polish Championship series was hosted by River States Customz on June 27-28 in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The River States Customz facility showcased about 40 trucks competing in the 2013/2014 Championship series. This was the first time that River States had hosted a Pride & Polish event, and everyone involved in the show was pleased with the results. And with so many amazing rides residing nearby in the Wisconsin area, some of the coolest rigs in the country were there – and the competition was fierce.
Founded in 1972, River States Truck and Trailer is the premier truck and trailer dealer and service center in Western Wisconsin. Still family owned and operated, River States has grown to employ over 150 staff members at their three full-service dealerships and two satellite locations (River States Customz specializes in custom truck fabrication and painting). “We are very excited about the turnout at the event,” said Kacee Schwartz from River States Customz. “These competitors put their heart and soul into these trucks and the public were in awe as they got an up-close look at them.”
Competitors put their best side up in the extreme white glove competition of the Pride & Polish portion of the event, while folks in the Wash & Show classes enjoyed a more relaxed but still head-turning contest. Main classes included working trucks, limited mileage trucks, antiques, and a builder’s class. Specialty classes highlighting paint, interior, engine and lights were also offered. “Pride & Polish is a great opportunity for drivers to show off their rigs and be part of the fun,” said Doug Holder of the Pride & Polish management team. “We appreciate River States Customz for helping sponsor the competition. They worked hard to help us create an awesome experience for the competitors.”
A large crowd enjoyed getting an up-close look at these highly-customized trucks, visiting with a wide variety of trucking industry vendors, food and beverage vendors, a kids coloring contest, and attendees enjoyed a Friday night fireworks display. The lot was glowing and packed with happy spectators as the trucks lit up the lot at night with a show of lights.
Some of the notable winners included Seth Denning of Prime Time Express in Corsica, SD and their 2006 cream and orange Peterbilt 379, which took home the Best of Show trophy in the Limited Mileage Bobtail class. In the Best of Show Limited Mileage Combo class, Vinnie Diorio of Richfield, WI and his 2013 orange and purple Peterbilt 379 and 2009 MAC curtainside trailer once again earned the top honors. Truck show veterans Bob & Shelley Brinker of Grayling, MI and their popular pirate-themed Freightliner Classic XL won the Best of Show award in the Working Bobtail class, while truck show newcomer Eric Bilgo of Jackson, WI and his 1995 Black & Bronze Peterbilt 379 and 2014 MAC curtainside “Down with the Sickness” took home the Best of Show trophy in the Working 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, Texas to compete for the lofty title of National Champion for the year.
Since Bob & Shelley Brinker, Vinnie Diorio and Paul Marcotte have already qualified for the nationals at other events, the next best finishers have been invited to compete – in this case, Kenny Fisher of Muscoda, WI and his 1997 mocha and green Peterbilt 379 has now qualified to compete in the Working Bobtail class, while John McKevitt of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada and his sweet 1984 blue Kenworth K100 cabover and 2004 Great Dane reefer has now qualified to compete in the Limited Mileage Combo class.
In the Wash & Show classes, which feature a more relaxed judging criteria, Mark Wilm of Hack A Way Forest Products in Baraboo, WI and their 2003 Red & Black Peterbilt 379 earned the Best of Show Bobtail award, while Jerry Linander of Winona, MN and his 2007 Black Kenworth W900L and 2014 Great Dane got the big trophy in the Best of Show Combination class. The coveted People’s Choice award went to Brian Davis of Davis Bros. in Owensville, IN for their 2005 Black & Blue Peterbilt 379 and 2012 Wilson Hopper (their super-clean “Super Freak” rig also earned 1st place in the Builder’s class).
By 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 (which just happens to be their next event – held on August 21-23). For more information about all of the Pride & Polish events, visit www.prideandpolish.com. And the winners were…
WASH & SHOW WINNERS:
BOBTAIL: 1st Mark Wilm/Hack A Way Forest Products, 2003 Red & Black Peterbilt 379; 2nd J.D. Nodolf, 2009 Grey Peterbilt 389; 3rd Mike Meyer, 2006 Deep Red International 9900ix.
COMBO (2000 & OLDER): 1st Davey Kirchner, 1987 Black Cherry Peterbilt 359 & 2007 Great Dane Reefer; 2nd Lyle Johnson, 1989 Red & White Kenworth W900B & 1989 Featherlite; 3rd Kiegan Nelson/Vinnie Diorio, 1985 Brown Peterbilt 359 & 2014 MAC Flatbed.
COMBO (2005 & NEWER): 1st Jerry Linander, 2007 Black Kenworth W900L & 2014 Great Dane Van; 2nd Kevin Pascavis/Vinnie Diorio, 2013 Blue & Orange Peterbilt 389 & 2010 MAC Curtainside; 3rd Steve Finneman, 2013 Yellow Peterbilt 389 & 2007 East Curtainside.
WASH & SHOW BEST OF SHOW BOBTAIL: Mark Wilm/Hack A Way Forest Products, 2003 Red & Black Peterbilt 379.
WASH & SHOW BEST OF SHOW COMBO: Jerry Linander, 2007 Black Kenworth W900L & 2014 Great Dane Van.
PRIDE & POLISH WINNERS:
BOBTAIL (2000 & OLDER): 1st Kenny Fisher, 1997 Mocha & Green Peterbilt 379; 2nd Doug Perkins, 2000 Gray, Black & Red Peterbilt 379; 3rd Bob & Shelley Brinker, 2000 Muralled Freightliner Classic XL.
BOBTAIL (2006 & NEWER): 1st Dan Brown, 2013 Green Peterbilt 389; 2nd (tie) Michael Parks, 2009 Purple Freightliner Cascadia AND Josh Gerlach, 2006 Red Peterbilt 379; 3rd Martin Warner/Jade Transport, 2013 Green & White Peterbilt 388.
BOBTAIL (ANTIQUE): 1st Mike Meyer, 1984 Green & White Kenworth W900A; 2nd Sandra Kirchner/Davey Kirchner Trucking, 1979 Blue Peterbilt 352H; 3rd Kenny Hubka, 1977 Red & White International Transtar 4200.
BOBTAIL (SPECIALIZED): 1st Michael Coyne, 1996 Maroon & Black International 4900; 2nd Paul Dwyer, 2014 Blue Freightliner Coronado.
BOBTAIL (LIMITED MILEAGE): 1st Seth Denning/Prime Time Express, 2006 Cream & Orange Peterbilt 379; 2nd Joel Dawes, 1988 White & Green Peterbilt 379.
COMBO (WORKING): 1st David Marcotte, 1992 Black & Red Peterbilt 379 & 1979 Heil Tanker; 2nd Chris Dreyer/Long Haul Trucking, 2007 Blue & White Peterbilt 379 & 2014 MAC Flatbed; 3rd Eric Bilgo, 1995 Black & Bronze Peterbilt 379 & 2014 MAC Curtainside.
COMBO (ANTIQUE): TJ Timblin/Blue Leasing, 1983 Blue Peterbilt 362 & 2004 Great Dane.
COMBO (LIMITED MILEAGE): Vinnie Diorio, 2013 Orange & Purple Peterbilt 379 & 2009 MAC Curtainside; 2nd Paul Marcotte, 1999 Red & Black Peterbilt 379 & 1976 Heil Tanker; 3rd John McKevitt, 1984 Blue Kenworth K100 & 2004 Great Dane Reefer.
INTERIOR (CAB ONLY): 1st David Marcotte, 1992 Black & Red Peterbilt 379 & 1979 Heil Tanker; 2nd Doug Perkins, 2000 Gray, Black & Red Peterbilt 379; 3rd Chris Dreyer/Long Haul Trucking, 2007 Blue & White Peterbilt 379 & 2014 MAC Flatbed.
INTERIOR (OEM SLEEPER): 1st Bob & Shelley Brinker, 2000 Muralled Freightliner Classic XL; 2nd Kenny Fisher, 1997 Mocha & Green Peterbilt 379; 3rd Eric Bilgo, 1995 Black & Bronze Peterbilt 379 & 2014 MAC Curtainside.
INTERIOR (LIMITED MILEAGE): Vinnie Diorio, 2013 Orange & Purple Peterbilt 379 & 2009 MAC Curtainside.
PAINT (BOBTAIL): 1st Bob & Shelley Brinker, 2000 Muralled Freightliner Classic XL; 2nd Kenny Fisher, 1997 Mocha & Green Peterbilt 379; 3rd Doug Perkins, 2000 Gray, Black & Red Peterbilt 379.
PAINT (COMBO): 1st (tie) Eric Bilgo, 1995 Black & Bronze Peterbilt 379 & 2014 MAC Curtainside AND TJ Timblin/Blue Leasing, 1983 Blue Peterbilt 362 & 2004 Great Dane.
PAINT (LIMITED MILEAGE BOBTAIL): Seth Denning/Prime Time Express, 2006 Cream & Orange Peterbilt 379.
PAINT (LIMITED MILEAGE COMBO): Vinnie Diorio, 2013 Orange & Purple Peterbilt 379 & 2009 MAC Curtainside.
ENGINE (WORKING): 1st Bob & Shelley Brinker, 2000 Muralled Freightliner Classic XL; 2nd Eric Bilgo, 1995 Black & Bronze Peterbilt 379 & 2014 MAC Curtainside; 3rd Kenny Fisher, 1997 Mocha & Green Peterbilt 379.
ENGINE (LIMITED MILEAGE): Vinnie Diorio, 2013 Orange & Purple Peterbilt 379 & 2009 MAC Curtainside.
LIGHTS (ALL BOBTAILS): 1st Bob & Shelley Brinker, 2000 Muralled Freightliner Classic XL; 2nd Joel Dawes, 1988 White & Green Peterbilt 379; 3rd Seth Denning/Prime Time Express, 2006 Cream & Orange Peterbilt 379.
LIGHTS (ALL COMBOS): 1st Brian Davis/Davis Bros, 2005 Black & Blue Peterbilt 379 & 2012 Wilson Hopper; 2nd Vinnie Diorio, 2013 Orange & Purple Peterbilt 379 & 2009 MAC Curtainside; 3rd Paul Marcotte, 1999 Red & Black Peterbilt 379 & 1976 Heil Tanker.
BUILDER’S CLASS: Brian Davis/Davis Bros. of Owensville, Indiana – 2005 Black & Blue Peterbilt 379 & 2012 Wilson Hopper (“Super Freak”).
BEST OF SHOW WORKING BOBTAIL: Bob & Shelley Brinker of Grayling, Michigan – 2000 Black & Blue Freightliner Classic XL Covered with Murals (“Legend of the Black Pearl”).
BEST OF SHOW WORKING COMBO: Eric Bilgo of Jackson, Wisconsin – 1995 Black & Bronze Peterbilt 379 & 2014 MAC Curtainside (“Down with the Sickness”).
PEOPLE’S CHOICE: Brian Davis/Davis Bros. of Owensville, Indiana – 2005 Black & Blue Peterbilt 379 & 2012 Wilson Hopper (“Super Freak”).
