The World’s Largest Truck Stop once again celebrated America’s truckers on July 8-10 with an estimated 44,500 drivers, their families, and local residents in attendance during the 42nd Walcott Truckers Jamboree. Visitors came from 22 states and three Canadian provinces to display their trucks, with some drivers coming all the way from Arizona and Vermont to join the party.
This event is always a “rain or shine” kind of deal, and you can bet that almost every year there is a fair amount of both – and this year was no different. Over the years we have had contributors attend this event and write reports, but this was first time we at 10-4 Magazine had come to the show as a vendor.
Arriving at the truck stop on Wednesday morning, the day before the show started, we spent the day checking out trucks, talking to people, and setting up our booth. Just as we were completing our booth setup, dark clouds rolled in and dumped a tremendous amount of rain. The deluge lasted for about an hour and put 4 inches of water on the parking lot. Apparently, this part of the country is prepared for downpours like this, because once the rain stopped, it took less than an hour for all that water to drain away and the parking lot to start drying. If this would have happened in California, they would have been calling the National Guard for assistance!
During the three-day event, guests enjoyed over 150 exhibits, a Super Truck Beauty Contest with about 90 registered contestants, a fantastic antique truck display with over 100 vehicles, an Iowa pork chop cookout, Trucker Olympics, a pet contest, free live concerts, light shows at night and fireworks.
Thursday blessed us with really good weather and no rain. As the show got going, the “Trucker Olympics” began and featured fun competitions doing things like tire flipping, running through an obstacle course while carrying a full cup of coffee, tire rolling, strap winding, a water balloon toss, and even a truck pulling contest, for men and women. These “games” happened each day, so the folks that might not have done as well as they had hoped on one day, could try to redeem themselves the next.
Over in the 10-4 Magazine booth, under our bright red canopy, we brought a brand-new shirt to sell and this design, which we call “The Back Row” shirt, was very popular. We also had free posters and magazines to hand out over the three-day event, but grossly underestimated how much we needed to bring. In fact, we went through our entire allotment on the first day, so our man Eric Hill, who lives in Illinois, drove home on Thursday night to get more supplies! Once it got dark, the light show began, and then, at about 9:00 PM, there was an amazing fireworks display. We ended up staying at the show until 11:30 PM that night, so it was a long day.
On Friday, the weather was even better than the day before, with temps in the 70s and very low humidity, which never happens during this event, so we were told. In addition to the “Trucker Olympics” happening, there was also a “Trucker’s Best Friend” pet contest on Friday, with three categories, including Best Trick, Best Dressed, and Owner Look-A-Like. Around noon, some of us had to leave the show to attend a wedding nearby (see this month’s Trucker Talk column) so we left Eric Hill in charge of the booth – and it was another very busy day. Getting back to the show around 7:00 PM, we had just enough time to close our booth and get everything put away before another torrential downpour began. This rain forced a concert by Lonestar to be canceled, along with the fireworks scheduled for that night.
Saturday came fast, and brought with it even cooler temperatures, a cold wind, and light rain off and on all day. Every time the sun came out or the rain stopped, crowds appeared, but when the rain returned, the people would scatter. This went on all day, but it was still a great day! Having a show at a truck stop – and not just ANY truck stop – the World’s Largest Truck Stop – is a genius idea, because it creates a constant flow of new attendees throughout the day, every day, which means we were very busy at the booth during the entire event.
The awards were presented at about 4:00 PM on Saturday, and by 5:00 PM, the parking lot was practically empty! It is amazing how quickly these shows clear out when finished. With about 30 classes, there were plenty of trophies to pass out, but a handful of people seemed to dominate, taking home several awards, and getting their exercise walking up to get their trophies. Some of those folks included Daniel & Phyllis Snow, Shawn Swanson, Keaton Giza, Don Wood, Paul Saline, and Michael & Jackie Wallace.
But the biggest winner was Marcel Pontbriand of Pahrump, NV. Marcel, a French Canadian that does not speak very good English, brought out his 1989 Peterbilt 379 and 2015 Great Dane that was painted and customized like no other truck we have ever seen. His “Cowboy of the Road” combination was adorned with hand-painted murals throughout, intricate details, display cases featuring old western towns and model cars and trucks built into various parts of the truck and protected with plexiglass, and much more. Amazingly, Marcel still runs this truck every day, which now has over five million miles on the odometer. Winning his class, Marcel and his dark blue rig also took home big trophies for Best Theme and Trucker’s Choice.
This was a wet and wild weekend in Walcott, and one we won’t soon forget. Thank you to everyone who came by our booth, and to the folks at Iowa 80, for producing such a fantastic event. We enjoyed spending quality time with our fans, our friends, and many of our advertisers, including Valley Chrome, RoadWorks, Lifetime Nut Covers and Hogebuilt, just to name a few. This is a terrific event, with amazing trucks, easy access, and lots of fun activities. If you have never been to this show, plan to come next year and mark your calendar now, as the dates have already been set for July 14-16, 2022. And this year’s winners were:
CABOVER:
1st Austin Jaeger, Worthington, IA – 1980 Peterbilt 352; 2nd Randy Yearton, Monroe Center, IL – 1972 Terrybilt K100; 3rd Matt Schleuger, Wesley, IA – 1993 Kenworth K100E.
COMPANY TRUCK (BOBTAIL):
1st Dawson Taylor, Cameron, NC – 2020 Freightliner Cascadia; 2nd Travis Marker, Palestine, TX – 2019 Peterbilt 389; 3rd Daniel Huffman, Kalona, IA – 2021 Peterbilt 389.
COMPANY TRUCK (COMBO):
1st Eva Knelsen, Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada – 2021 Kenworth W900L & 2018 Wabash; 2nd Rex Neely, Pahrump, NV – 2022 Peterbilt 389 & 2003 Manac; 3rd Zach Pletcher, Elkhart, IN – 2015 Peterbilt 389 & 2015 MAC.
BEST RAT ROD:
Danny Autullo, Monee, IL – 1948 Diamond T.
BOBTAIL (2021-2018):
1st Aaron Walters, Pipestone, MN – 2019 Peterbilt 389; 2nd Brandon Graddick, Iowa City, IA – 2022 Peterbilt 389; 3rd Keaton Giza, Creston, IA – 2019 Peterbilt 389.
BOBTAIL (2017-2003):
1st Paul Saline, Rio, IL – 2009 Kenworth W900L; 2nd James Weverka, Octavia, NE – 2005 Kenworth W900L; 3rd Karen Jack, Eustis, NE – 2006 Peterbilt 379 Ext. Hood.
BOBTAIL (2002-1997):
1st Shawn Swanson, Prophetstown, IL – 2002 Kenworth W900B; 2nd Tim Bauman, New Paris, IN – 1999 Freightliner Classic; 3rd Blake & Leann Dannhaus, Dripping Springs, TX – 2001 Pete 379.
BOBTAIL (1996 & OLDER):
1st JR Schleuger, Britt, IA – 1985 Kenworth K100; 2nd Marvin Hughes, New Boston, IL – 1994 Peterbilt 379; 3rd Lavern Cross, Middlebury, IN – 1982 Kenworth W900A.
COMBO (2021-2016):
1st TJ & Scott Hansen, New Denmark, New Brunswick, Canada – 2021 Peterbilt 389 & 2021 Utility; 2nd Dylan McCrabb, Williamsburg, IA – 2022 Peterbilt 389 & 2022 Wilson; 3rd Andy Schwarz, Davenport, IA – 2019 Peterbilt 389 & 2021 MAC.
COMBO (2015-2007):
1st Michael & Jackie Wallace, Ashville, AL – 2007 Freightliner Coronado & 2014 Great Dane;
2nd Mary Peterson Norton, Knapp, WI – 2014 Kenworth T660 & 2009 Great Dane;
3rd Timothy Olden, N. Chesterfield, VA – 2012 Peterbilt 386 & 2018 Great Dane.
COMBO (2006 & OLDER):
1st Marcel Pontbriand, Pahrump, NV – 1989 Peterbilt 379 & 2015 Great Dane;
2nd Daniel & Phyllis Snow, Harrison, AR – 1996 Freightliner Classic & 2019 Utility;
3rd Gary Jones Jr, Lawson, MO – 1999 Pete 379 & 2019 Globe.
SHOW CLASS:
1st Don Wood, Denmark, WI – 2003 Pete 379 & 2021 MAC;
2nd Ron Brubaker, Sigourney, IA – 1993 Pete 379;
3rd Brett Wright, Sigourney, IA – 2020 Peterbilt 389.
CUSTOM PAINT (BOBTAIL):
1st Ron Deardurff, Wyoming, MI – 1979 Kenworth W900;
2nd Brett Wright, Sigourney, IA – 2020 Peterbilt 389;
3rd JR Schleuger, Britt, IA – 1985 Kenworth K100.
CUSTOM PAINT (COMBO):
1st Dave Schroyer, Celina, OH – 2013 Peterbilt 389 & 2013 Landoll;
2nd Andy Schwarz, Davenport, IA – 2019 Peterbilt 389 & 2021 MAC;
3rd Gary Jones Jr, Lawson, MO – 1999 Peterbilt 379 & 2020 XL Specialized.
CUSTOM GRAPHICS (BOBTAIL):
1st Paul Saline, Rio, IL – 2009 KW W900L;
2nd Shawn Swanson, Prophetstown, IL – 2002 Kenworth W900B;
3rd Dawson Taylor, Cameron, NC – 2020 Freightliner Cascadia.
CUSTOM GRAPHICS (COMBO):
1st Rex Neely, Pahrump, NV – 2022 Pete 389 & 2003 Manac;
2nd Daniel & Phyllis Snow, Harrison, AR – 1996 Freightliner Classic & 2019 Utility;
3rd Michael VanNess, Georgetown, IL – 2018 Peterbilt 567 & 2021 Walker.
POLISH & DETAIL (BOBTAIL):
1st Shawn Swanson, Prophetstown, IL – 2002 KW W900B;
2nd Keaton Giza, Creston, IA – 2019 Pete 389;
3rd Ron Brubaker, Sigourney, IA – 1993 Pete 379.
POLISH & DETAIL (COMBO):
1st Don Wood, Denmark, WI – 2003 Peterbilt 379 & 2021 MAC;
2nd Jay Hawthorne, Grand Mound, IA – 2018 Peterbilt 389 & 2017 Reitnouer;
3rd Andy Schwarz, Davenport, IA – 2019 Peterbilt 389 & 2021 MAC.
OEM SLEEPER (BOBTAIL):
1st Dawson Taylor, Cameron, NC – 2020 Freightliner Cascadia;
2nd Shawn Swanson, Prophetstown, IL – 2002 Kenworth W900B;
3rd Paul Saline, Rio, IL – 2009 Kenworth W900L.
OEM SLEEPER (COMBO):
1st Terry & Kasey Aslinger, Marquand, MO – 1996 Peterbilt 379 & 2020 Sun Country;
2nd Rob Hallahan, LaCrosse, WI – 2022 Peterbilt 389 & 2022 Great Dane;
3rd Dylan McCrabb, Williamsburg, IA – 2022 Peterbilt 389 & 2022 Wilson.
OEM CONVERSION SLEEPER:
1st Andy Schwarz, Davenport, IA – 2019 Peterbilt 389 & 2021 MAC;
2nd Jay Hawthorne, Grand Mound, IA – 2018 Peterbilt 389 & 2017 Reitnouer;
3rd Don Wood, Denmark, WI – 2003 Peterbilt 379 & 2021 MAC.
CUSTOM SLEEPER:
1st Daniel & Phyllis Snow, Harrison, AR – 1996 Freightliner Classic & 2019 Utility;
2nd Michael & Jackie Wallace, Ashville, AL – 2007 Freightliner Coronado & 2014 Great Dane;
3rd Lavern Cross, Middlebury, IN – 1982 Kenworth W900A.
LEGAL LIGHTS (BOBTAIL):
1st Keaton Giza, Creston, IA – 2019 Pete 389;
2nd Shaun Miller, Palm Bay, FL – 2022 Peterbilt 389;
3rd Daniel Huffman, Kalona, IA – 2021 Pete 389.
LEGAL LIGHTS (COMBO):
1st Darren Nolt, Ephrata, PA – 1984 Peterbilt 359 & 2018 Great Dane;
2nd Kendall Nolt, Ephrata, PA – 1987 Pete 359 & 2020 Great Dane;
3rd Dennis Durand, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada – 2017 Kenworth W900 & 2016 Tremcar.
BEST SHOW ONLY LIGHTS (BOBTAIL):
Aaron Walters, Pipestone, MN – 2019 Peterbilt 389.
SHOW ONLY LIGHTS (COMBO):
1st Don Wood, Denmark, WI – 2003 Peterbilt 379 & 2021 MAC;
2nd Marcel Pontbriand, Pahrump, NV – 1989 Pete 379 & 2015 Great Dane;
3rd Daniel & Phyllis Snow, Harrison, AR – 1996 Freightliner Classic XL & 2019 Utility.
BEST LIGHTS (SPECIALTY):
Danny Autullo, Monee, IL – 1993 Custom Peterbilt Ratrod.
BEST OVERALL THEME:
Marcel Pontbriand, Pahrump, NV – 1989 Peterbilt 379 & 2015 Great Dane.
TRUCKER’S CHOICE:
Marcel Pontbriand, Pahrump, NV – 1989 Peterbilt 379 & 2015 Great Dane.
