My second show of the season this year was the Paul Riggle and Son’s Truck Show in Apollo, PA – and it never disappoints. Why? Because every year there are new trucks, along with all the regulars, and they all come out to show off their stuff. And the trucks in this area are second to none, as some of the nicest rigs that run our interstate system are from Pennsylvania. This show features all types of trucks, from old to new, and everything in between. Last year’s show was held on the same weekend as the ATHS National Convention and Antique Truck Show in Harrisonburg, VA, so a lot of the old trucks did not show up last year – but they were back this year.
The show was held on June 4, 2022, and it was a beautiful day. We couldn’t have asked for a better day, with plenty of sunshine and temps in the 70s. There were 65 registered trucks on the lot, and more that showed up later and didn’t register. I’m always excited to get to this show and start looking around to see what is there already, and to see what comes in later throughout the day. It is always good to see and talk to the regulars and shake the hands of the new people that I haven’t met yet.
The first truck that caught my eye was Cody Warner of Seneca Rocks, WV. Cody is the son of Bill Warner of Bill Warner & Sons out of Circleville, WV. Cody brought out his freshly finished two-tone green 2022 Peterbilt 389 with a 58” flattop sleeper, powered by a 565 Cummins X15, hooked to an 18-speed, and 3.55 rears. He ordered the truck through our contributor and friend, Clint Moore at Kansas City Peterbilt.
Brandon Bier of Mount Pleasant, PA brought out his black 1984 Pete 359 short hood, riding on a 265” wheelbase, and fitted with a 36” sleeper, a 3406 Cat motor, and an 18-speed. His father had bought the truck back in 1996 and worked it until 2010, at which point it was parked in a barn. Brandon pulled it out of the barn and did a three-year restoration on the truck. In April, he started working it full time, pulling a van trailer. This is truly a classic ride.
Mike Shermenti of Saltsburg, PA brought his very cool looking green 1955 Mack W-71 cabover. You don’t see many of these anymore! It has a 250 Cummins and 5+3 twin sticks. It took Mike three years to complete the restoration of the Mack, and it turned out incredible. A lot of work done in a relatively short amount of time – great job, Mike!
A few days before the show, I saw my friend Richie Foster make a post on Instagram with a picture of him hauling a combine out of Illinois, so I wasn’t expecting him to be there. But low and behold, there he was. His latest rig made its debut at MATS in Louisville, KY last March and was parked in the Reinsfelder booth as a recruitment tool. Reinsfelder let him spec out and order this truck, and then he added some cool features that make it really stand out. It took a while to get everything just the way he wanted, but he got it done. Richie has been to this show several times over the years with many of the cool rides that he has driven for Reinsfelder, and it is always good to see him and talk trucks.
Arien Ruell pulled into the show with his freshly painted – and I mean freshly – 1993 Peterbilt 379. Powered by a Cat motor and a 13-speed, the red and black rig rides on a 327” wheelbase. The truck is also fitted with a 96” Double Eagle sleeper he found. I walked up to him after he got parked and asked, “Is the paint dry yet?” It had just come from the paint shop. He told me that he has been working on this truck for the last six years. He stretched the frame and took off the 63” Peterbilt flattop sleeper to make way for the big Double Eagle bunk. We at 10-4 Magazine would like to congratulate Arien and his bride Rae Rae on their recent wedding nuptials, held on July 30. Congratulations!
Valerie and Austin Walker out of Somerset, PA brought their teal 1970 Pete 359 with a white stripe and a 36” sleeper. They did a three-year restoration on the rig. Austin’s cousin Chad Walker did some of the body work and paint on the truck. It was really great to meet the Walkers! Last year I met Chad, and this year I got to meet his nephew, Taylor. Taylor is an apprentice under Kevin Montgomery at Morocco Welding in Somerset, PA. Kevin has some cool tricks up his sleeve and in his head, as a lot of really cool stuff has come out of the Morocco Welding shop from Kevin. It’s really awesome to see Taylor Walker take up a craft like this after graduating from high school. We need more young men and women, working with their hands, and working in the trades.
Something you don’t see a lot at shows are International trucks, but James Brown of Indiana, PA fixed that by bringing out his 2007 9900ix with a 72” mid-roof sleeper cab. Powered by a Cat motor and a 13-speed, what really caught my eye was the 1970-ish port hole window in the shape of a heart. Back in the 70s, with the custom van craze, there were all sorts of oddball shaped windows, but they were all cool. James works the truck and is leased on with Jones Motor Group of Spring City, PA. Jones Motor Group just happens to be the oldest major common carrier in the United States!
I stayed for the light show and caught a few pictures of trucks, but there was this one that truly stood out from the rest. From about 200 feet away, I looked over my shoulder and noticed a blue glow cast on the trucks around it. I really didn’t pay much attention to this truck during the day, but when the lights came on, it definitely got my attention. The truck is a white 2022 Peterbilt 389 with blue stripes, a 72” flattop sleeper, a 605-hp Cummins, an 18-speed, and 3.36 rears. The truck is owned by CLB Trucking and driven by Mike Riggle of Blairsville, PA. It hauls cement in a pneumatic trailer, but you wouldn’t know it by just looking at it. I was truly impressed by this truck.
This show is always held on the first weekend of June, so keep an eye out for more details about the 2023 event as they become available. With plenty of food vendors and music, this show is always a great time for the locals (and the not-so-locals) to reunite, show off what they have, and have a good time. I look forward to attending this event in Apollo, PA again next year, and hope to see you there, too!
