The 2012 Truckin’ For Kids Show & Drags was the best one in years! This charity event, held annually for the last 32 years, was held this year on October 6-7 at Irwindale Speedway in Irwindale, California. With perfect weather, a great turnout, lots of money raised for the cause (the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), and more “family” and friends on-hand than we could shake a stick at, it was an awesome event. For the last few years, the JDRF has been the primary beneficiary of the show. This year, the event raised over $12,000, which is twice the amount it raised last year. Our thanks go out to everyone who came out to the show.
Things got going on Saturday morning as vendors arrived early to setup their booths and truckers arrived early to get parked and start cleaning. Before the day even came to an end, the lot was quickly filling up with tall rides. Once the sun went down, the “Light the Lot” contest, sponsored by Truck-Lite, lit up the night. The big winners this year were Matt McReynolds (bobtail), Doug Gaudi (combo), and Phil Callen (antique).
After a late night on Saturday for many in attendance, the next morning came fast. Sunday was filled with judging, drag racing, eating and drinking, picture-taking, talking, walking – it all went by in a blur! This year, due to a lack of participation in previous years, there were no working contests, which disappointed a few folks. Maybe they will bring them back if enough of you tell the powers that be (Frank Pangburn) that you want to do it and are willing to sign up. After a long hiatus, it was a bit surprising to see Wayne Talkington and his Lucas-sponsored racing KW, which took home the “Quickest Big Rig” award and 1st place in the “Super Drag Truck” class.
Over at the 10-4 Magazine party tent, we had a brand new t-shirt design for sale at the show. Available with either an orange, green or purple accent color, the shirts were a hot item (especially the purple ones). We also handed out hundreds of free magazines and posters, and sold a few laminated placemats, as well. Special thanks go out to our helpers, Parker and Paige Linss, for working so hard in the booth all day.
With over 225 trucks on the lot, there were plenty of cool rigs to check out. Some of the ones that stood out to us included Bruce Gieg’s bright yellow Peterbilt 379 and matching yellow and black curtain van (which was the winner of our “Sponsor’s Choice” award); Curtis Christians’ black and orange Peterbilt that came all the way from Rock Port, MO; Matt McReynolds’ recently revamped black Pete with blue flames, complete with a bench seat inside (pic #14); Platinum Enterprises’ three Peterbilts (a black one, a blue one and a red one) – they were all lookin’ sharp; a cool silver water truck with black tribal flames (pic #20); and a neat old red and orange 359 Peterbilt owned by Nelson’s Trucking out of Menifee, CA.
Not to be outdone by anyone, the 1968 viper red Peterbilt 358, built by Brent’s Custom Trucks for Leroy Bracelin, was turning heads and dropping jaws all day long. Not far from that truck were Tyler Picknell’s dark green 1996 Peterbilt and blue-grey 1988 KW, both with a Cummins KTA-600 under the hood! We were also pleased to have our October 2012 cover truck and its owner, Wes Prater, parked next to our booth all weekend. There were tons of our past cover trucks at the show, and one of them from way back in February of 2008 (Ryan Hooten), took home the “Best of Show” trophy! Another one of our past cover truckers, John T. Silva (March 2010), took home the “People’s Choice” award. Our congratulations go out to both of these guys for taking home one of the few “big” trophies.
By the end of the day (and the long awards ceremony), we were all exhausted. But that did not stop us from going out that night with a bunch of our friends for a little post-show celebration! Our thanks go out to the Maggini family (pic #12) and everyone else who was there – it was a great dinner with good friends. The Truckin’ For Kids Show & Drags is always a “Good Time for a Great Cause” – and this year, that was especially true! If you missed the show this year, we hope to see you next time in 2013.
SATURDAY NIGHT “LIGHT THE LOT” WINNERS
BOBTAIL: 1st Matt McReynolds; 2nd John Gonzales; 3rd David Perris.
COMBINATION: 1st Doug Gaudi; 2nd Robert Dees; 3rd Juan Henriquez.
ANTIQUE: 1st Phil Callen; 2nd Melvin Maggini; 3rd Juan Gonzales.
DRAG RACING WINNERS
DIESEL BIG RIG: 1st Arman McKee; 2nd Mark Tarascou.
SUPER DRAG TRUCK: 1st Wayne Talkington; 2nd Keith Pounds.
JR. DRAGSTER: Brandon Seraphene, Britney Garcia and Clay Criner.
PICK-UP/SUV (SLICKS): 1st John Sapone; 2nd Edgar Reyes.
PICK-UP/SUV (STREET TIRES): 1st Dan Grant; 2nd Ron Reiswig.
DIESEL PICK-UP: 1st Steve Price; 2nd Dan Grant.
BEST REACTION TIME: Dan Grant.
QUICKEST PICK-UP: Larry Sayag.
QUICKEST BIG RIG: Wayne Talkington (pic #3).
SHOW & SHINE CLASS WINNERS
PROFESSIONAL SHOW TRUCK: 1st Leroy Bracelin & Brent’s Custom Trucks (pic #13); 2nd Alberto Caballero/Betuco’s; 3rd Yofon Enriquez/GSF.
3-AXLE CONV (2009-2012): 1st John Gonzales/Yamko; 2nd Albert Guzman/Guzman Express; 3rd Jeremy Jones/R.D. Reed.
3-AXLE CONV (2005-2008): 1st Curtis Christians/Dedicated Ride (pic #9); 2nd Paul Brown/Ram; 3rd Jimmy DeLeon/American Wrecking.
3-AXLE CONV (1999-2004): 1st Monte Orsi/Orsi Transport; 2nd George Lions/Guzman Express; 3rd Steve Hettinga/Hettinga Transport.
3-AXLE CONV (1994-1998): 1st Peter Wassenaar; 2nd Jason Setterberg/FCT; 3rd John Lagomarsino/Lagomarsino Transport.
3-AXLE CONV (1988-1993): 1st James Davis/JDT (pic #17); 2nd Ernie Rubio/Jessica Martinez Trucking; 3rd Matt McReynolds.
2-AXLE CONV (2009-2012): 1st Scott Armas (pic #6).
2-AXLE CONV (2004-2008): 1st Shane Mosqueda/Gardner; 2nd Adrian Gonzales/Gardner.
2-AXLE CONV (1999-2003): 1st John Silva; 2nd Jharod VanderTuig; 3rd Hector Santos.
2-AXLE CONV (1988-1998): 1st Gilbert Gonzales/G & R; 2nd Danny Flenniken/MC Coating; 3rd Alexis Solares/Alexis Trucking.
3-AXLE COE: 1st Dennis McCluskey/Maggini; 2nd Lazaro Aguirre/Gardner.
2-AXLE COE: 1st Chase Brassart/Maggini; 2nd Josh Loya/Gardner; 3rd Jonny Cat/Hemme Hay.
WORKING ANTIQUE (1946-1966): 1st Steve Hettinga/Hettinga Trans.
WORKING ANTIQUE (1967-1987): 1st Ron Kelsey/Kelsey’s Trucking; 2nd Terry Norris/Norris Transport; 3rd Ryan Nelson (pic #8).
NON-WORKING ANTIQUE: 1st Bob Weyers/Heavy Transport (pic #10); 2nd Joyce Hofstee; 3rd (tie) Ruben Cendejas AND Roger Ghidelli/Maggini.
LOCAL DELIVERY: 1st John Lagomarsino/Lagomarsino Transport; 2nd Toni Gibbons/Tyler Picknell Trucking; 3rd Steve Hettinga/Hettinga Trans.
DUMP TRUCK: 1st Steve Hettinga/Hettinga Transport; 2nd (tie) Joseph Chavez/Viramontes AND Jake Marval; 3rd David Leon/Viramontes.
WRECKER: 1st Ruben Cendejas/Arrowhead; 2nd John Lagomarsino/Lagomarsino Transport (pic #19); 3rd Kelvin Monzon/Monzon & Sons Enterprises (pic #16).
SERVICE TRUCK: 1st Michael Fletcher/Fletcher’s Diesel; 2nd John Murray/ M & J Transportation; 3rd Tim Reiderer/R.D. Reed Transport.
SPECIALTY TRUCK: 1st John Lagomarsino/Lagomarsino Transport; 2nd Steve Hettinga/Hettinga Trans; 3rd Steve Hettinga/Hettinga Trans.
HOBBY TRUCK: 1st Pat Rodriguez/TRS; 2nd Pete Carpenter/Big Rig Exhaust Covers; 3rd Steve Hettinga/Hettinga Transport.
SMALL FLEET (MIN. 3 TRUCKS ENTERED): 1st Liberty Linehaul; 2nd Arrowhead/Nestle; 3rd Hettinga Transport (pic #5).
LARGE FLEET (MIN. 8 TRUCKS ENTERED): 1st Golden State Foods; 2nd Gardner Trucking.
BEST ROCKWOOD INTERIOR: 1st John Gonzales/Yamko; 2nd James Davis/JDT; 3rd Juan Henriquez/Yamko (pic #18).
SPECIALTY TRAILER: 1st Steve Hettinga/Hettinga Transport; 2nd David Fagundes; 3rd Jharod VanderTuig/VanderTuig & Sons Trucking.
FLATBED: 1st George Lions/Guzman Express; 2nd Tommy Larson/Ryan’s Feed; 3rd James Davis/JDT.
HEAVY EQUIP. HAULER: 1st Brad Janson/Gravel ’N Grit (pic #2); 2nd Hank DeWitt/R.D. Reed Trans. (pic #7); 3rd Jose Oliveres/HC Enterprises.
END DUMP: 1st Steve Hettinga/Hettinga Transport; 2nd Jimmy DeLeon/American Wrecking; 3rd Robert Douglas/American Wrecking.
TRANSFER DUMP: 1st John Murray/M & J Transportation; 2nd Joe Arias/DJ Arias & Sons; 3rd Bruce Dodds/Mountain Materials.
TANKER (STAINLESS): 1st Shawn McClintic/Arrowhead; 2nd Steve Jones/Vermeer Transportation.
OVER-THE-ROAD TRUCK: 1st Monte Orsi/Orsi Transport; 2nd Peter Todd/PMT Trucking; 3rd Steve Beatie/Godfrey Trucking.
SPECIALTY AWARD WINNERS
LONGEST TOW: Mike Blanton/Son Rise, Inc. (Taylorsville, NC).
UGLIEST TRUCK: Kelvin Monzon/Monzon & Sons Enterprises.
BEST METAL SHINE: Mike Doggett/M & J Tank Lines.
BEST PAINT: Ernie Rubio/Jessica Martinez Trucking.
BEST ENGINE: Tyler Picknell/Tyler Picknell Trucking.
KING OF THE HILL: Brian VanDyne/R.D. Reed Transport.
BEST INTERIOR (CAB ONLY): John Gonzales/Yamko.
BEST SLEEPER: Curtis Christians/Dedicated Ride.
BEST PETERBILT: Leroy Bracelin & Brent’s Custom Trucks.
BEST FREIGHTLINER: Josh Loya/Gardner Trucking.
BEST KENWORTH: Yofon Enriquez/Golden State Foods.
BEST INTERNATIONAL: Daniel Rodriguez/Golden State Foods.
SPONSOR’S CHOICE (10-4 MAGAZINE): Bruce Gieg/T & D Trucking (pic #4).
PEOPLE’S CHOICE: John Silva/Silva Hay (pic #15).
BEST OF SHOW: Ryan Hooten/Ryan’s Feed (pics #1 and #11).
