Every year Paul Riggle has a show at their yard in Apollo, PA held as a gathering to raise money for various charities, and also to show appreciation to their drivers and their families. This year, the event was on June 4th, and I am glad that I decided to go and check it out. Paul Riggle & Sons is a small but sharp fleet that operates dump trucks, flatbeds, tri-axle trailers and water trucks for the oil industry, which is booming in their area. Held in Apollo, Pennsylvania, which is about 35 miles northeast of Pittsburgh (a former coal mining region), it was a great family-oriented event.
The show caught my attention a few years ago, and I had been wanting to go several times but never made it. This year, I finally did – and boy, I was not disappointed! There were a lot of really nice rides at this little show, as you can see in the pictures. This region of the United States is famous for having sweet rides, so when you go to a show in Pennsylvania, you usually won’t be disappointed whatsoever. Bryan Martin of 4 State Trucks and the Chrome Shop Mafia once told me that they send more chrome accessories to customers in Pennsylvania than any other state in the country. And I totally believe it – the trucks back east from Pennsylvania are just as sharp as the big rides from out west in California!
With a little rain in the morning, I had some last-minute doubts about going to the show and almost canceled, but once the rain stopped falling it dried-up fast and made way for a nice, warm afternoon. As the day went on, more trucks kept rolling in. With a D.J. playing music and two food vendors, there was plenty of great tunes and delicious food. Other vendors at the show included Hunter Peterbilt, Kenworth of New Stanton, Tri-State Trailer Sales (with an aluminum Reitnouer flatbed trailer on display), and a few others, including our friends from LargeCar Mag.
This show is a non-judged event, but there is a “People’s Choice” award given. This year, a super-sharp red Peterbilt with a standup sleeper took that coveted trophy. When it was all said and done, there was a great turnout of rigs, along with their owners and drivers, on-hand at the event. As the perfect finish to a fantastic day, they ended this charity event with a light show at dusk.
If you find yourself in the area when this show is happening next year (sometime in early June – we will keep you posted when a date is determined), I would highly suggest checking it out. With the vendors they have on-hand, the food, the music, the amazing rigs and, most importantly, the great people, it is well-worth your time. And hey, it’s all for charity, so if you needed one more reason to go, there it is. Next year, be a part of the “east coast cool” scene, and don’t miss this great little show in Pennsylvania!
