For the second year in a row the “Shine In The Pines Truck Chrome and Bike Show” took place at the Southern Pines Recreation Department in Dublin, GA on Saturday, March 9, 2019. After their inaugural year last year and fine tuning what they needed to do with 35 trucks, they grew their show this year to 62 trucks registered.
Logan Bonin, a two-year-old boy, has been battling a high risk stage 4 Neuroblastoma cancer since February 2018. His treatment is ongoing and currently, for the next few months, is taking the family back and forth to New York. Logan and his family reside in Glennville, GA and were chosen by the show coordinators as the recipients of the proceeds from this 2019 show. All of the support not only from registrants that poured in but from the attendees who came to see the trucks, definitely made this a show of large cars for Logan.
Some may or may not know, but southern Georgia has been a favorite place of mine since 2003 – and home to one of my best friends. So, when Dakota McDaniel, one of the coordinators for Shine In The Pines contacted me via my Diesel Addict Photos page on Facebook, I was definitely interested in attending. My preliminary scheduling of truck shows to attend in 2019 started being put together in November 2018, and this show had already been put on the list. Fast forward through February, with too many months of cold winter weather, and I was really looking forward to seeing some clean rigs and experiencing some warmer temperatures.
I came into town on Thursday, March 7, and anticipated the start of the show. Friday was a relaxing day which included going to the show grounds to see if there were any trucks that had already came in. There were about 5 or 6 trucks already on the lot, including my friend Rusty Moss (1st place recipient in the Combo class) of MAG Enterprises, LLC in Blacksburg, SC and his red and black 2000 Peterbilt 379 loaded up with a CAT 312 excavator on his 2018 Dorsey stepdeck trailer. With Rusty was Josh Swartz of Swartz Trucking LLC out of Wagener, SC and his red 2002 Peterbilt 379, and Brad Bailey, also from South Carolina, who works for BMB Hauling out of Sugartit, SC. Brad brought his dark green 2006 Kenworth W900, hooked to a 2017 Utility trailer, which also sports the South Carolina Truck Convoy for Special Olympics logo.
A group of owners came to Shine In The Pines, including Brad, to bring awareness to the convoy, which is scheduled for Saturday, October 5, 2019 in Columbia, SC. The convoy producers hope to raise even more money than they did last year for Special Olympics participants in their area. A group of us took in some Mexican food for dinner that evening and then, getting back to the hotel, I met up with a few people who were part of a big group of hot air balloon pilots, who were set to take off Saturday morning at 7:00 A.M.
Some may or may not be interested, but I have only seen hot air balloons on the horizon and maybe one or two take off or land from a distance, but I have never been as close as I was to seeing these massive balloons as I was that morning. There was an incredible sunrise that left quicker than I would have liked, but then, as scheduled, the balloons took flight starting at 7:00 A.M. My only disappointment was there were only a handful of trucks on the show lot because more trucks would have made for some epic photos. The weather was a slightly balmy 50-some degrees and overcast to start, but it continually got warmer as the morning progressed. One of the first trucks to roll into the grounds was the green Diesel Life, Inc. Peterbilt 389 that hauls around the Diesel Life apparel trailer.
A convoy was set to depart at 11:15 A.M. but was canceled due to the fact that the show almost doubled the amount of trucks from last year and it would have proven a little difficult to strategically re-park all the trucks again. As the cool morning turned into a warm afternoon, the parking lot was filling up quickly. Most drivers had already finished wiping down their trucks, the DJ was set up and playing a variety of music, and the “Dude with the Food” crew was serving hot-off-the-grill items. A bounce house was set up for the kids to enjoy, as well as several vendors for the adults. But the main attraction was definitely all the trucks that participated in the event.
The crew from Big Rig Videos was also in attendance and captured some driver interviews with Daniel Anderson, owner of Anderson Timber and Daniel Anderson Trucking of Reidsville, GA, conducting the interviews.
One of the interviews was done on a truck that caught my eye as soon as he pulled into the main entrance to the park. The truck was a white 1980 Freightliner FLC owned by Kenny Wilson out of Covington, GA. Another interview was done of JT Mercier (People’s Choice recipient) of Mercier Trucking LLC out of Lincolnton, GA. JT brought in his 2005 Kenworth W900 hooked to a Reitnouer MaxMiser trailer. We also learned of his Facebook group, Largecar Life, which promotes a brotherhood of drivers helping drivers, especially in and around his area of Georgia.
Of all the things I could have forgotten that day, sunscreen would have been the most important. As the day progressed to sunny and about 80 degrees, my face reminded me of the lack of UV protection. Regardless of the sunburn, there was no way I could have complained about anything during that day. Little Logan made an appearance mid-afternoon, and he greeted everyone with a beaming smile.
As the sun started to set, the awards ceremony took place for five classes with first through third place trophy spots for most of the classes. After the sun went down, all the truck lights came on and trucks and attendees started making their way out of the grounds. The day went so fast! The date and location for the 3rd annual show has not yet been decided, but please follow their Facebook page, as that information will be posted soon, as they search for a larger venue.
I thoroughly enjoyed this show and look forward to seeing what it grows to in 2020. Special thanks to the sponsors and, most importantly, to all the drivers and truck owners who participated in this year’s event, bringing out their large cars for Logan, and helping to raise $7,800. Continued prayers go out to Logan and his family for continued strength to persevere and keep fighting. As always, to all the drivers out there doing the deal, truck safe.
BOBTAIL:
1st Daniel McDowell of Hoschton, GA (1999 Kenworth W900L);
2nd Robert Johnson of Glennville, GA (2018 Peterbilt 389);
3rd Kenneth Day of Vidalia, GA (2018 Peterbilt 388).
HEAVY DUTY TOW TRUCKS:
1st Joey Moran of Milledgeville, GA (2018 Peterbilt 389);
2nd Randy Hendrix of Metter, GA (2010 Kenworth T800);
3rd Earl Millrons, Forest Park, GA (2007 Peterbilt 379).
MEDIUM DUTY / SERVICE TRUCKS:
1st Jerry Sutphin of Monticello, FL (1996 Lil Pete Peterbilt 379);
2nd Phillip Sparks of Lyman, GA (2011 Freightliner M2 Rollback).
VINTAGE:
1st Benjamin Cadle of Hephzibah, GA (1982 Freightliner 10464T);
2nd Jerry Mays of Gray, GA (1957 Mack B61);
3rd Bob’s Truck & Equip. of Alley, GA (1993 Kenworth K100E).
COMBINATION:
1st Rusty Moss of Blacksburg, SC (2000 Peterbilt 379);
2nd Marcia Stephens of Madison, GA (1999 Kenworth W900L);
3rd Kodi Green of Byron, GA (1988 Peterbilt 379).
PEOPLE’S CHOICE:
JT Mercier of Lincolnton, GA (2005 Kenworth W900).