After looking at the truck show calendar for a break in the action, there was no relief in sight until mid-October. Whew! This time we were off to Texas for the 14th annual Great American Trucking Show (GATS) held on August 23-25 at the Dallas Convention Center. Thankfully, the weather was in a cooling mode, as temps had been in the 100’s every day the week before, but this week looked to be pretty nice.
On Wednesday, the exhibitors set up their displays as the truckers rubbed on their rigs, preparing to compete for awards and the Pride & Polish National Championship title. The Best of Show winners from four preceding qualifying events were looking top-notch and hoping to win some heavy metal (literally) – the beautiful National Champion trophies, made by Lincoln Chrome, weighed 45 lbs. each! And with 72 registered trucks, representing just about every make, model and style of truck our industry has to offer, there was something for everyone.
It is always nice to walk the show floor and see so many 10-4 cover trucks, advertisers and friends, and to be able to catch up on all of the happenings from around the continent. The attendance on Thursday was impressive, and it only grew from there throughout the three-day event. We enjoyed visiting with Lincoln Chrome, 16 Ton Industries, Pittsburgh Power, Western Truck Insurance, Axle Surgeons, Dynaflex and Lipe Clutch, just to name a few. Over at the Ol’ Blue, USA Safety Center, it was so jam-packed every day that our buddy RJ Taylor found it hard to take any breaks. And, when he did, he had to zig-zag his way through the crowded aisles to get to his destination. RJ told us that he felt that this was one of the best Great American Trucking Shows he had ever attended.
Over in the Pride and Polish area, the gleaming bobtails and combinations were parked in true formation, as the judges completed their rounds around the block. Most of the competitors, as is the custom, mingled around their rigs while the judging was taking place so they could add some personal feedback about themselves and their truck. And, upon closer inspection, the judges took everything into account as they quietly marked the scorecards. As usual, we were shooting our cameras and had many great conversations with the owners/drivers of these beautiful rigs. It was fun chatting with the entire Lindamood crew, locally from Irving, Texas, as well as the folks over at Bill Hall Jr. Trucking, Jade Transport, Gary Collins of Boss Racing, Tommy Roach, Austin Ashley of Ashley Transport out of Mississippi, and so many more.
One of the rigs that seemed to be getting a lot of attention was a truck and trailer owned by young Dustin Pope (21) of Greenville, Texas. His dad, David Pope, died from cancer just last summer. Dustin’s truck and trailer (which has a huge mural on each side) is a tribute to him, as well as some famous trucks, people, and items of trucking culture. The artist, Von Otto Dickey, worked without stencils, projectors, or even a roughly-drawn sketch – he just chose the color of paint and started working! The detail is amazing and the whole work of art is like a giant seek-and-find puzzle, with images of animals and people hidden all throughout. There were a lot of incredible trucks at GATS this year, but none more special than Dustin Pope’s Viper Red 2003 Kenworth W900 and 2010 Utility trailer.
With the finale set for the big winners on Saturday, the anticipation went to another level of anxiety and stress. All were gathered to see who would win the bragging rights and the heavy hardware. Randy Stroup of First Class Services brought their “First Gear” combo (our September 2012 cover truck) and became the first-ever person to earn back-to-back National Champion trophies – last year, he took home the Limited Mileage Bobtail trophy and this year his detailed rig earned him the Limited Mileage Combo award. The other National Champions included Clean Slate Environmental’s “The Low Life” working combination and two trucks, one called “Black Magic” (a black Peterbilt with green flames) and the other called “Show Me The Money” (a dark blue Peterbilt with light blue flames), both owned by PDI out of St. George, Utah.
After hours in Dallas could start anywhere, but with the brand new Omni Hotel right next door (built where the old parking lot out front used to be), the “Owner’s Box” was the place to be. Just a five-minute walk from the show to the hotel gave many exhibitors and attendees a fun and casual place to share stories and unwind from the day’s activities. It was nice to see this show back on the right track. With plenty of beautiful iron and more than 500 exhibitors, it seems that we have more to look forward to in the future from GATS. Next year’s show is scheduled for August 22-24, 2013, so don’t miss it. And the winners were…
WORKING BOBTAIL (FIRST SHOW): 1st Caleb Eilers, Odessa, TX – 2000 Green & Black Peterbilt 379 (Blood, Sweat & Tears); 2nd Leniel Kimble/L Kimble Trucking, LLC, Fordache, LA – 1985 Taupe Peterbilt 359; 3rd Leonard C Piggott, Alvarado, TX – 1986 White Mack Superliner 2.
WORKING BOBTAIL (COMPANY TRUCK): 1st Austin Ashley/Ashley Transport, Raleigh, MS – 2007 Purple & Pearl White Peterbilt 379 (Double Take); 2nd Chris Riojas/Lindamood Heavy Hauling, Irving, TX – 2007 Blue, Gray & White Peterbilt 379; 3rd David Kosar, Sr., Dallas, TX – 2008 White, Red & Gold Peterbilt 389 (Touch of Class).
WORKING BOBTAIL (1999 & OLDER): 1st Voris Steward, Pearland, TX – 1994 Black Kenworth W900 (Redeemer); 2nd Shawn Gibson, Broken Bow, OK – 1999 Black Kenworth W900L; 3rd Freddie Jimenez/Jimenez Trucking, Bakersfield, CA – 1981 White & Green Peterbilt 359.
WORKING BOBTAIL (2000-2003): 1st Scott Rud, Byron, MN – 2000 Silver & Red Peterbilt 379; 2nd Angel Sanchez, Midland, TX – 2003 Red & Gray Peterbilt 379 (Lit Up); 3rd Rusty Conn, San Augustine, TX – 2003 Black Peterbilt 379 (Black Gold Texas Tea).
WORKING BOBTAIL (2004-2005): 1st Bruce Smith/Tim Ables, Kilgore, TX – 2005 Brown Peterbilt 379 (Audrie Lynn); 2nd Thomas Ivy, Kilgore, TX – 2004 Army Green Peterbilt 379 (Heavy Artillery); 3rd David Foster, Joplin, MO – 2005 Red & Silver Kenworth W900L
WORKING BOBTAIL (2010 & NEWER): 1st Bob & Linda Caffee, Sitex, MO – 2012 White Freightliner Cascadia Expediter; 2nd Tuffy Yeary/Yeary Trucking, Weatherford, TX – 2010 Blue & Black Kenworth W900L (The Untouchable); 3rd Charlie Newicki/Joseph Mazzaferro, Williamsburg, VA – 2012 Black & Pink Peterbilt 389.
WORKING COMBO (FIRST SHOW): 1st Joe Seguin, Jr./Bill Hall Jr. Trucking, Ltd., San Antonio, TX – 2005 Blue Peterbilt 379 & 2013 Clement Ultra Lite (Deja Blue); 2nd Jamiil Harris, Aubrey, TX – 2006 Blue Freightliner Century & 2013 Mac Pneumatic (Empty Pockets).
WORKING COMBO (COMPANY TRUCK): 1st Gregory Muirhead/Muirhead Trucking Inc, Mabank, TX – 2007 White & Black Cherry Peterbilt 379 & 2004 Great Dane Reefer; 2nd Barry Kasdorf/Jade Transport, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada – 2008 Green Peterbilt 389 & 2010 Brenner Tanker (Sublime); 3rd Tom Holloway/Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores, Oklahoma City, OK – 2013 Yellow Freightliner Cascadia & 2012 Beall Tanker.
WORKING COMBO (2001 & OLDER): 1st Ray Rodriquez Jr./Lil. Ray’s Transport, Salinas, CA – 2000 Purple Peterbilt 379 & 2006 Transcraft Flatbed (El Patron); 2nd James Gonzales/Bill Hall Jr. Trucking, Ltd., San Antonio, TX – 2001 Blue Peterbilt 379 & 2013 Clement UltraLite (True Blue); 3rd Gary Collins, El Dorado Springs, MO – 1993 Red Kenworth W900 & 2000 Wabash Drop Deck (Boss Racing).
WORKING COMBO (2003 & NEWER): 1st Justin Hall/Bill Hall Jr. Trucking, Ltd, San Antonio, TX – 2003 Blue Kenworth W900L & 2013 Clement UltraLite (El Patron); 2nd Dustin Pope, Greenville, TX – 2003 Viper Red Kenworth W900 & 2010 Utility; 3rd Matt Wright, Cumby, TX – 2006 Green Peterbilt 379 & 2012 Mac End Dump (Green Machine).
WORKING COMBO (NEW): 1st Bill Duckworth/John Christner Trucking, Sapulpa, OK – 2012 Gray & Black Freightliner Coronado & 2012 Utility Van; 2nd Tim Dean/Werner Enterprises, Omaha, NE – 2013 Blue Freightliner Cascadia & 2013 Wabash; 3rd Danny Wolf/Lone Star Milk Transport, Windthorst, TX – 2012 White Freightliner & 2012 Walker Transport (Driver of the Year).
ANTIQUE: 1st Billy Griffin/Lindamood Heavy Hauling, Irving, TX – 1987 Black Peterbilt 359 (Old #44); 2nd (tie) Greg Johnson/Amigo Truck, LLC, Houston, TX – 1969 Red & Black Peterbilt 359; 2nd (tie) Jimmy Wiley/Yeary Trucking, Weatherford, TX – 1986 Blue & Black Kenworth W900B (Ol Blue); 3rd Howard Henley, Ft. Worth, TX – 1988 Yellow & Red International Eagle 9300 (Just Enuf).
INTERIOR (CAB ONLY): 1st David Kosar, Jr., Grand Prairie, TX – 2004 Blue Peterbilt 379 (Just Passin Thru); 2nd Bruce Smith/Tim Ables, Kilgore, TX – 2005 Brown Peterbilt 379 (Audrie Lynn); 3rd Austin Ashley/Ashley Transport, Raleigh, MS – 2007 Purple & Pearl White Peterbilt 379 (Double Take).
INTERIOR (OEM SLEEPER): 1st Rusty Conn, San Augustine, TX – 2003 Black Peterbilt 379 (Black Gold Texas Tea); 2nd Bill Duckworth/John Christner Trucking, Sapulpa, OK – 2012 Gray & Black Freightliner Coronado & 2012 Utility Van; 3rd Caleb Eilers, Odessa, TX – 2000 Green & Black Peterbilt 379 (Blood, Sweat & Tears).
INTERIOR (CUSTOM SLEEPER): 1st Bob & Linda Caffee, Sitex, MO – 2012 White Freightliner Cascadia Expediter.
BEST INTERIOR (LIMITED MILEAGE): Jaime & Joey Villanueva/Texas Chrome Shop, Atascosa, TX – 2002 Red Peterbilt 379 (Caliente).
ENGINE (WORKING TRUCK): 1st Thomas Ivy, Kilgore, TX – 2004 Army Green Peterbilt 379 (Heavy Artillery); 2nd Austin Ashley/Ashley Transport, Raleigh, MS – 2007 Purple & Pearl White Peterbilt 379 (Double Take); 3rd Bruce Smith/Tim Ables, Kilgore, TX – 2005 Brown Peterbilt 379 (Audrie Lynn).
BEST ENGINE (LIMITED MILEAGE): Jaime & Joey Villanueva/Texas Chrome Shop, Atascosa, TX – 2002 Red Peterbilt 379 (Caliente).
PAINT (WORKING BOBTAIL): 1st Austin Ashley/Ashley Transport, Raleigh, MS – 2007 Purple & Pearl White Peterbilt 379 (Double Take); 2nd (tie) Thomas Ivy, Kilgore, TX – 2004 Army Green Peterbilt 379 (Heavy Artillery); 2nd (tie) Angel Sanchez, Midland, TX – 2003 Red & Gray Peterbilt 379 (Lit Up); 3rd (tie) Bruce Smith/Tim Ables, Kilgore, TX – 2005 Brown Peterbilt 379 (Audrie Lynn); 3rd (tie) Chris Riojas/Lindamood Heavy Hauling, Irving, TX – 2007 Blue, Gray & White Peterbilt 379.
PAINT (WORKING COMBO): 1st Dustin Pope, Greenville, TX – 2003 Viper Red Kenworth W900 & 2010 Utility; 2nd Ray Rodriquez Jr./Lil. Ray’s Transport, Salinas, CA – 2000 Purple Peterbilt 379 & 2006 Transcraft Flatbed (El Patron); 3rd Justin Hall/Bill Hall Jr. Trucking, Ltd, San Antonio, TX – 2003 Blue Kenworth W900L & 2013 Clement UltraLite (El Patron).
BEST PAINT (LIMITED MILEAGE): Jaime & Joey Villanueva/Texas Chrome Shop, Atascosa, TX – 2002 Red Peterbilt 379 (Caliente).
BEST OF SHOW (LIMITED MILEAGE): 1st Jaime & Joey Villanueva/Texas Chrome Shop, Atascosa, TX – 2002 Red Peterbilt 379 (Caliente); 2nd (tie) Bruce Smith/Thomas Ivy, Kilgore, TX – 1986 Blue Peterbilt 359 (Ivy’s Poison); 2nd (tie) Jonathan Dyck/Jade Transport, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada – 2007 Orange Peterbilt 379 (High Anxiety); 3rd (tie) Wade Autrey/Yeary Trucking, Weatherford, TX – 1978 Red & Brown Kenworth W900A (Texas Style); 3rd (tie) Shawn Helt & Sam Helt, Pleasant Hill, MO – 1965 Jade Green Peterbilt 351 (Helt Up).
BEST OF SHOW (WORKING BOBTAIL): Austin Ashley/Ashley Transport, Raleigh, MS – 2007 Purple & Pearl White Peterbilt 379 (Double Take).
BEST OF SHOW (WORKING COMBO): Justin Hall/Bill Hall Jr. Trucking, Ltd, San Antonio, TX – 2003 Blue Kenworth W900L & 2013 Clement UltraLite (El Patron).
2012 PRIDE & POLISH SERIES NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
OVERALL BEST LIMITED MILEAGE BOBTAIL: 1st Jed Howard/Performance Diesel, Inc., St George, UT – 2002 Black & Green Peterbilt 379 (Black Magic); 2nd Brent & Diane Greer, Renfrew, Ontario, Canada – 1996 Copper & Cream Peterbilt 379.
OVERALL BEST LIMITED MILEAGE COMBO: 1st Randy Stroup/First Class Services, Lewisport, KY – 2005 White & Candy Vibrance Red Peterbilt 379 & 2012 Etnyre Tanker (First Gear); 2nd John Silva/Silva Hay, Chowchilla, CA – 2000 Red Peterbilt 379 & 1973 Utility Hay Trailers; 3rd Paul Marcotte/Marcotte Farms, Momence, IL – 1977 Black & Red Peterbilt 379 & 1976 Heil Tanker (Barely Legal).
OVERALL BEST WORKING BOBTAIL: 1st Jerad Wittwer/Performance Diesel, Inc, St George, UT – 2006 Blue Peterbilt 379 (Show Me The Money); 2nd Ron Huey/L.B. Trucking, Inc, Greensburg, IN – 2010 Gray Metallic International ProStar.
OVERALL BEST WORKING COMBO: 1st John O’Keefe/Clean Slate Environmental, Inc., Hebron, CT – 2007 Orange & Black Peterbilt 379 & 2011 Mac Dump (The Low Life); 2nd Ray Rodriquez/Lil. Ray’s Transport, Salinas, CA – 1988 Purple Peterbilt 379 & 2003 Transcraft Flatbed (Hardway); 3rd Mike Bunning, Brooklyn, CT – 2008 Viper Red Peterbilt 389 & 2010 M
