The first show of 2016 for the Pride & Polish Truck Show Series, co-produced by Randall-Reilly and 75 Chrome Shop, culminated on April 22-24 in Wildwood, Florida. The 75 Chrome Shop facility offered the venue, as they have for years, to showcase over 100 custom trucks competing for trophies and prizes, as well as the opportunity to earn a spot in the 2015/2016 National Championship, where qualifying trucks and their owners get a chance to compete for a national title at the Great American Trucking Show (GATS) in Dallas, TX later this summer. With all that in mind, the stage was set for a great event, and this show did not disappoint.
“We would like to thank everyone for attending our 18th 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. “Pride & Polish and our staff here worked really hard to make this show spectacular. To all the contestants, thank you for all the dedication and hard work that you do for our show. Good trucks and good people are what make a good truck show. We hope to see everyone again next year!”
Competitors put their best sides up in the extreme white glove competition of the “Pride & Polish” portion of the show, while the “Wash-N-Show” part of the contest was more relaxed, but just as competitive. Main classes included working trucks, limited mileage rigs, non-working antiques and a new “Builder’s Class” for pure show trucks. There were also several specialty classes which highlighted the truck’s paint, interior, engine and lights.
Suzanne Stempinski of Pride & Polish said, “We’re thrilled to have helped 75 Chrome achieve a record turnout of truly exceptional trucks. Year after year, it just keeps getting better. With 104 trucks parked, we surpassed our estimates by a considerable amount. I can’t wait to see where we go from here!”
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. The lot was glowing and packed with happy spectators as the trucks lit up the lot at night with the show of lights.
There were so many great rigs at this event – just look at the pictures! The winners in the “Wash-N-Show” classes included Darrell Ferguson/Larry Bredwater of Mulberry, IN with their 2013 black Mack CH (BOS Bobtail) and Mike Stephenson of New Port Richey, FL with his 2004 cream and brown Peterbilt 379 and 2016 MAC flatbed (BOS Combo).
But the big winners (and the ones who qualified for the National Championships) in the “Pride & Polish” white-glove competition included Doug Jameson/James Williams of Springfield, MO with their 2015 red and black Pete 389 – “Contender” (BOS Limited Mileage Bobtail); Brian Davis/Davis Bros. Trucking of Owensville, IN with their 2015 blue and white Pete 386 and 2016 Wilson Trailer – “Buzz Kill” (BOS Limited Mileage Combo); Sid Colangelo/Kyle Cousins of Carthage, MO with their 2015 purple Kenworth Icon (BOS Working Bobtail); and Shawn Cielke of Haugan, MT with his 2005 burnt orange KW T600 and 2017 Wabash – “Redneck Low” (BOS Working Combo).
These Best of Show winners in the “Pride & Polish” portion of the competition will now be eligible to compete in the Pride & Polish National Championship at GATS in Dallas on August 25-27, 2016 (the championship title season begins and ends each year at GATS). Between now and then, there is one more show – and one more chance to qualify to compete for the title – at Fitzgerald Glider Kits in Crossville, TN on July 15-16, 2016. It’s going to be another great show, and we hope to see many of you there. For more details about this series and other upcoming events, visit www.prideandpolish.com.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Special thanks to our friend Frank Strohmyer of Bedford, OH for the awesome photos used in this report.
And the 2016 winners are…
LIGHTS (BOBTAIL): 1st Bob Harley, Burbank, OH – 1972 Purple Peterbilt 358A (Bad Attitude); 2nd Doug Jameson/James Williams, Springfield, MO – 2015 Red & Black Peterbilt 389 (Contender); 3rd Erlys Gonzalez/A&A Stainless Steel, Opa Locka, FL – 2005 White Peterbilt 379.
LIGHTS (COMBO): 1st (tie) Luke Leister/Rich Hart, Mantua, OH – 2016 Blue Peterbilt 389/2016 MAC Dump AND Michael Manuel, Front Royal, VA – 2015 Blue Peterbilt 389/2017 MAC Curtainside (One of Many); 2nd John Jaikes, Nanticoke, PA – 1999 Purple Kenworth W900L/2006 Utility Reefer (O.N.L.Y. C.L.A.S.S.); 3rd Jeff Schultz/Rethwisch Transport, Elroy, WI – 2013 White & Green Peterbilt 389/2012 Polar Tanker (Blood, Sweat & Gass).
WASH & SHOW WINNERS
BOBTAIL (2000 & OLDER): 1st Martin Clagett & Chris Lange, Walden, CO – 1999 White & Brown Peterbilt 379 (Colorado Cool); 2nd John Culp, Vero Beach, FL – 1998 Yellow & White Mack CL713; 3rd Luis Rodriguez, Kissimmee, FL – 1999 Daytona Sunset Mack CH612.
BOBTAIL (2001-2010): 1st Marcus Copeland, Kissimmee, FL – 2007 Red Peterbilt 335; 2nd (tie) Mitch Broderson, East Peoria, IL – 2007 Black & White Western Star Lowmax 4900 EX (Live to Ride) AND Frank Trujillo, Groupland, FL – 2002 Yellow Peterbilt; 3rd Dave Loudin, Buckhannon, WV – 2007 Green Peterbilt 379.
BOBTAIL (2011 & NEWER): 1st Darrell Ferguson/Larry Bredwater, Mulberry, IN – 2013 Black Mack CH; 2nd (tie) Bubba Branch, Lakeland, FL – 2014 Silver Peterbilt 579 (Night Train) AND PJ Kennedy, Lovettsville, VA – 2016 Orange Peterbilt 579 (Paid Vacation); 3rd Lee Whitaker, Orange Park, FL – 2016 Black Kenworth W900L.
COMBO (1999 & OLDER): 1st Lance Whitaker, Orange Park, FL – 1990 Orange & Cream Kenworth K100/2016 Trailstar Dump; 2nd Brody Lathrop, Fanning Springs, FL – 1998 Red & Grey Peterbilt 379/2002 Fontaine Flatbed (Devil Dog); 3rd Jeffery DuBois, Sorrento, FL – 1995 Tan & Blue Peterbilt 379/2014 MAC Dump.
COMBO (2000-2010): 1st Mike Stephenson, New Port Richey, FL – 2004 Cream & Brown Peterbilt 379/2016 MAC Flatbed; 2nd Chris Grimshaw, Daytona Beach, FL – 2007 White Peterbilt 379/2010 Great Dane Van (Faith); 3rd Brandon Stine, Belvidere, NJ – 2005 Blue Peterbilt 379/2017 East Dump.
COMBO (2011 & NEWER): 1st (tie) Brennan LaTourette, Ft. Meyers, FL – 2014 Radiant Red Peterbilt 389/2001 Load King AND Leonard Whitaker, Orange Park, FL – 2017 Red Kenworth W900L/2017 Travis Dump (Red Riding Hood); 2nd Allen Holsomback, Conyers, GA – 2016 Black Kenworth Icon 900/2015 Timpte Hopper; 3rd Cary Bess/Advantage Transportation, West Jordan, UT – 2015 Yellow Kenworth 680/2013 Utility.
BEST OF SHOW WASH & SHOW BOBTAIL: Darrell Ferguson/Larry Bredwater, Mulberry, IN – 2013 Black Mack CH.
BEST OF SHOW WASH & SHOW COMBO: Mike Stephenson, New Port Richey, FL – 2004 Cream & Brown Peterbilt 379/2016 MAC Flatbed.
PRIDE & POLISH WINNERS
ANTIQUE: 1st Keith Capone, Wimauma, FL – 1947 Green Mack LJT; 2nd Adam Kimball, Cumming, GA – 1990 Seafoam Green Peterbilt 379 (High Roller); 3rd Gene Patterson, Dade City, FL – 1956 Black Diamond T 921.
BOBTAIL (SPECIALIZED): 1st Daniel Bingel, Jr./Sean Ioscalzo, Davie, FL – 2013 Green Kenworth T800 Wrecker (Crane Train); 2nd Earl Millirons/New Image Towing, Forest Park, GA – 2005 Red & Black Peterbilt 379 Wrecker; 3rd Douglas Lancaster, Orlando, FL – 2016 Red & Black Peterbilt 389 Wrecker.
BOBTAIL (2000 & OLDER): 1st Eric Bilgo, Jackson, WI – 1995 Black & Copper Peterbilt 379; 2nd Brian Cooper, LeMars, IA – 2000 Light Blue & Plum Kenworth W900L (Best of Both Worlds); 3rd David & Tonya Smith, Richmond, KY – 1984 White & Black Peterbilt 359.
BOBTAIL (2001-2007): 1st Roque Brothers/A&A Stainless Steel, Opa Locka, FL – 2003 Blue Peterbilt 379; 2nd Erlys Gonzalez/A&A Stainless Steel, Opa Locka, FL – 2005 White Peterbilt 379; 3rd Brian Rudisell/Kuhnle Bros. – 2005 Green Kenworth W900 (Gone Green).
BOBTAIL (2008 & NEWER): 1st (tie) Stan Rudnitsky, Orlando, FL – 2008 Red Kenworth W900 (Big Red) AND Sid Colangelo/Kyle Cousins, Carthage, MO – 2015 Purple Kenworth W900L; 2nd Joel Dawes/Dawes Contract Cartage, Waterford, WI – 2014 Viper Red Kenworth T660 (Thrills, Chills & Dollar Bills); 3rd Dan VanDyke/Opel Logistics, Hudsonville, MI – 2015 Dark Red Peterbilt 389.
COMBO (FIRST SHOW): 1st Tony Amodeo, Palm Coast, FL – 2006 White & Red Freightliner Classic XL/2001 Great Dane (Bad Apple); 2nd Jonathan Terry, Crossville, TN – 1995 White Kenworth W900L/2005 Reitnour (Driveway Dream).
COMBO (1992-2012): 1st Shawn Cielke, Haugan, MT – 2005 Burnt Orange Kenworth T600/2017 Wabash (Redneck Low); 2nd Chad Berry, Medford, WI – 2012 Black & Purple Peterbilt 386/2017 MAC Curtainside (The Next Episode); 3rd John Jaikes, Nanticoke, PA – 1999 Purple Kenworth W900L/2006 Utility Reefer (O.N.L.Y. C.L.A.S.S.).
COMBO (2013 & NEWER): 1st Jeff Schultz/Rethwisch Transport, Elroy, WI – 2013 White & Green Peterbilt 389/2012 Polar Tanker (Blood, Sweat & Gass); 2nd Clint Dicks/CDT, Lake City, FL – 2017 Orange Volvo VN630/2016 Utility Flatbed; 3rd Casey Moro, Ft. Meyers, FL – 2016 White Kenworth T370/2016 Rolls Right.
INTERIOR (CAB ONLY): 1st (tie) Joel Dawes/Dawes Contract Cartage, Waterford, WI – 2014 Viper Red Kenworth T660 (Thrills, Chills & Dollar Bills) AND Randy Menkel/James Williams, Springfield, MO – 2013 Black Peterbilt 389/2015 Etnyre Detachable Heavy Haul; 2nd (tie) Daniel Bingel, Jr./Sean Loscalzo, Davie, FL – 2013 Green Kenworth T800 Wrecker (Crane Train) AND Clint Dicks/CDT, Lake City, FL – 2017 Orange Volvo VN630/2016 Utility Flatbed; 3rd David & Tonya Smith, Richmond, KY – 1984 White & Black Peterbilt 359.
INTERIOR (OEM SLEEPER): 1st Jeff Schultz/Rethwisch Transport, Elroy, WI – 2013 White & Green Peterbilt 389/2012 Polar Tanker (Blood, Sweat & Gass); 2nd Chad Berry, Medford, WI – 2012 Black & Purple Peterbilt 386/2017 MAC Curtainside (The Next Episode); 3rd Sid Colangelo/Kyle Cousins, Carthage, MO – 2015 Purple Kenworth W900L.
BEST INTERIOR (LIMITED MILEAGE/BUILDERS): Michael Manuel, Front Royal, VA – 2015 Blue Peterbilt 389/2017 MAC Curtainside (One of Many).
PAINT (BOBTAIL): 1st Eric Bilgo, Jackson, WI – 1995 Black & Copper Peterbilt 379; 2nd Erlys Gonzalez/A&A Stainless Steel, Opa Locka, FL – 2005 White Peterbilt 379; 3rd (tie) Joel Dawes/Dawes Contract Cartage, Waterford, WI – 2014 Viper Red Kenworth T660 (Thrills, Chills & Dollar Bills) AND Roque Brothers/A&A Stainless Steel, Opa Locka, FL – 2003 Blue Peterbilt 379.
BEST PAINT (LIMITED MILEAGE/BUILDERS BOBTAIL): Doug Jameson/James Williams, Springfield, MO – 2015 Red & Black Peterbilt 389 (Contender).
PAINT (COMBO): 1st Chad Berry, Medford, WI – 2012 Black & Purple Peterbilt 386/2017 MAC Curtainside (The Next Episode); 2nd Jeff Schultz/Rethwisch Transport, Elroy, WI – 2013 White & Green Peterbilt 389/2012 Polar Tanker (Blood, Sweat & Gass); 3rd Shawn Cielke, Haugan, MT – 2005 Burnt Orange Kenworth T600/2017 Wabash (Redneck Low).
BEST PAINT (LIMITED MILEAGE/BUILDERS COMBO): Brian Davis/Davis Bros. Trucking, Owensville, IN – 2015 Blue & White Peterbilt 386/2016 Wilson Grain Trailer (Buzz Kill).
ENGINE: 1st Randy Menkel/James Williams, Springfield, MO – 2013 Black Peterbilt 389/2015 Etnyre Detachable Heavy Haul; 2nd Jeff Schultz/Rethwisch Transport, Elroy, WI – 2013 White & Green Peterbilt 389/2012 Polar Tanker (Blood, Sweat & Gass); 3rd Sid Colangelo/Kyle Cousins, Carthage, MO – 2015 Purple Kenworth W900L.
BEST ENGINE (LIMITED MILEAGE/BUILDERS): Bob Harley, Burbank, OH – 1972 Purple Peterbilt 358A (Bad Attitude).
LIMITED MILEAGE BOBTAIL: 1st Doug Jameson/James Williams, Springfield, MO – 2015 Red & Black Peterbilt 389 (Contender); 2nd Kevin Hlavac, Canton, GA – 1988 Brown Kenworth K100E (Unconventional); 3rd Keith Smart, Jr., Juneau, WI – 2015 White & Orange Peterbilt 389 (Talk of the Town).
LIMITED MILEAGE COMBO: 1st Brian Davis/Davis Bros. Trucking, Owensville, IN – 2015 Blue & White Peterbilt 386/2016 Wilson Grain Trailer (Buzz Kill); 2nd Luke Leister/Rich Hart, Mantua, OH – 2016 Blue Peterbilt 389/2016 MAC Dump; 3rd Brian Fretwell/Taylor Transport, Cartersville, GA – 2016 Blue Kenworth W900L/2015 MAC Flatbed.
BEST OF SHOW BUILDER’S CLASS BOBTAIL: Bob Harley, Burbank, OH – 1972 Purple Peterbilt 358A (Bad Attitude).
BEST OF SHOW BUILDER’S CLASS COMBO: Michael Manuel, Front Royal, VA – 2015 Blue Peterbilt 389/2017 MAC Curtainside (One of Many).
BEST OF SHOW WORKING BOBTAIL: Sid Colangelo/Kyle Cousins, Carthage, MO – 2015 Purple Kenworth W900L.
BEST OF SHOW WORKING COMBO: Shawn Cielke, Haugan, MT – 2005 Burnt Orange Kenworth T600/2017 Wabash (Redneck Low).
PEOPLE’S CHOICE: Michael Manuel, Front Royal, VA – 2015 Blue Peterbilt 389/2017 MAC Curtainside (One of Many).
COMPETITOR’S CHOICE: Bob Harley, Burbank, OH – 1972 Purple Peterbilt 358A (Bad Attitude).
