Every show producer out there hopes that their event gets bigger and better every year. And while some accomplish this goal, others just stay the same year after year – or fade away. The Great American Trucking Show (GATS), held at the newly-renamed Kay Bailey Convention Center in Dallas, Texas on August 21-23, 2014, is one of the shows that just keeps getting better. The past recession did create a few lean years, like with all the shows, but for the past few years GATS has seen steady and consistent growth.
Now in its 16th year, the producers of GATS reported record increases in attendance, exhibitors, exhibiting floor space, and in the Pride and Polish truck beauty competition, which had over 60 of the country’s finest trucks competing for the cash and prizes this year. Also on the line were five National Championship titles, with winners of the past qualifying events competing to take home some pretty impressive hardware created by Lincoln Chrome.
Arriving on Wednesday, set up was in full swing on both the upper and lower levels of the convention center. Down on the lower level, the trucks were being pulled into an inside staging area to get them (and their drivers) out of the hot sun – and to get some final polishing done before being parked. The trucks competing for the National Championship titles were parked in their own area to fully showcase their amazing beauty, detail, cleanliness and craftsmanship. And with no obvious winners, the competition was going to be fierce, for sure.
The show kicked off on Thursday morning, and after a VIP-only session to start the event, the aisles quickly filled-up with attendees from around the world. Walking the floor, we saw just about every aspect of the industry represented, including the OEMs, accessory manufacturers, recruiters, parts distributors, service-orientated companies, health and wellness businesses, performance products, and so much more. Like most shows, it was an opportunity knocking, for those who wanted to open the door.
After the show closed on Thursday, the exhibitors’ happy hour, hosted by Red Eye Radio, had live music and plenty to eat and drink. This little get-together is always a good time, and a fitting way to say “thanks” to everyone who helps make the show a true happening. During the after-hours, many headed over to the “Owners Box” in the hotel next door to the convention center, where the fun was extended late into the night. It was there where many of us relaxed, shot some pool, and enjoyed a few “cold ones” together in the Dallas heat out on the patio.
As with any show, even after 20 years, it is always nice to see familiar faces. Walking the aisles, we met up with many of our advertisers, including Lynn of Clark Transfer, Jim with Axle Surgeons, Pete from Pittsburgh Power and Nick of Truck-It-Smart. We also saw the Lincoln Chrome crew (Katie, Josh and Ali), Dave at Trux, Bob from Sentinel Insurance, and Howard & Jerry with Howes Lubricator, as well as Hogebuilt, Grand General, Big Rig Chrome Shop, Bad Ass Customs and more. We also had fun seeing some of our old trucking friends like Shane Boullion from Louisiana, Jake Lindamood and his posse from Texas, Jerry Mies and his beautiful family from Kansas, and several others.
Many of the show trucks looked amazing, but only a few rose to the top. The Best of Show awards this year went to: Jerry & Kay Kissinger’s 1978 black cherry Mack Superliner (Limited Mileage Bobtail); Ray Rodriquez’ 2015 lavender & purple Peterbilt 389 and Western Step-Deck (Limited Mileage Combo); Mike Lemley’s 2000 viper red Peterbilt 379 (Working Bobtail); and Dustin Pope’s 2003 viper red Kenworth W900L & mural-covered Utility reefer (Working Combo).
In the competition for the National titles, the winners were: Austin Ashley’s 2007 white & purple Peterbilt 379 (Limited Mileage Bobtail); Vinnie Diorio’s 2013 orange & purple Peterbilt 389 & MAC curtainside (Limited Mileage Combo); Bob & Shelley Brinker’s 2000 black Freightliner Classic XL (Working Bobtail); and Bill & Sayra Rethwisch’s 2013 green & white Peterbilt 389 & Polar tanker. Austin Ashley was also awarded top honors for the second year in a row for winning the online voting category (Trucker’s Choice).
With numbers on the rise, you don’t want to miss another show in Dallas. Next year’s GATS is scheduled for August 27-29, 2015, so mark your calendars now and plan to be there! This year’s winners were:
WORKING BOBTAIL (FIRST SHOW): 1st Carlos Acevedo’s White & Red Pete 379; 2nd Werner Enterprises’ 2015 Blue Freightliner Cascadia; 3rd Alan Harmer’s 2014 White Kenworth T370.
WORKING BOBTAIL (COMPANY TRUCK): 1st David Kosar Jr.’s 2004 Blue Peterbilt 379; 2nd David Kosar Sr.’s 2008 White, Red & Gold Pete 389; 3rd Robert Freeman’s 1996 Grey, Orange & Blue Peterbilt 379.
WORKING BOBTAIL (2000 & OLDER): 1st Mike Lemley’s 2000 Viper Red Peterbilt 379; 2nd Caleb Eilers’ 2000 Green & Black Peterbilt 379; 3rd Voris Steward’s 1994 Black KW W900L.
WORKING BOBTAIL (2001-2004): 1st Albert Aguero’s 2003 White & Blue Peterbilt 379; 2nd Billy Wheeler’s 2004 Blue & Black Peterbilt 379; 3rd Shane Boullion’s 2001 Rose Grey Pete 379.
WORKING BOBTAIL (2005 & NEWER): 1st Mitch Broderson’s 2007 White & Black Western Star LowMax 4900EX; 2nd Tom Davis’ 2013 White & Orange Peterbilt 389; 3rd David Foster’s 2005 Red & Silver Kenworth W900L.
WORKING COMBO (FIRST SHOW): 1st Ladarren Jones’ 2015 White Mack & 2015 Southern Vac Tanker; 2nd Charles Bassett’s 2015 Black KW T680 & 2015 Utility; 3rd Steve Shackelford’s 2015 Red KW T880 & 2015 Rogue Custom Pup.
WORKING COMBO (COMPANY TRUCK): 1st Dave Conkling’s 2013 Blue Freightliner Cascadia & 2014 Wabash Van; 2nd Pablo Cuellar’s 2014 Black Kenworth T660 & 1995 Utility Curtainside.
WORKING COMBO (2000 & OLDER): 1st Ray Rodriquez’ 1988 Lavender & Purple Peterbilt 379 & 2003 Fruehauf Flatbed; 2nd Ray Rodriquez’ 2000 Lavender & Purple Peterbilt 379 & 2006 Transcraft Flatbed; 3rd Gilbert Velasquez’ 2000 White Peterbilt 379 & 2013 Great Dane Van.
WORKING COMBO (2001-2007): 1st Dustin Pope’s 2003 Viper Red Kenworth W900L & 2010 Utility Reefer; 2nd Dean Jay’s 2007 Cream & Brown Peterbilt 379 & 2013 MAC Flatbed; 3rd Billy Enoch’s 2007 Blue & Black Peterbilt 379 & 2013 MAC Pneumatic Tank.
WORKING COMBO (2014 & NEWER): 1st Michael Hernandez’ 2014 Baby Blue & White Peterbilt 389 & 2014 Clement Round Belly End Dump; 2nd Henry Lopez’ 2014 Green Peterbilt & 2014 Travis End Dump; 3rd Warren Carter’s 2015 Beige & Orange Peterbilt 389 & 2015 Manac Belly Dump.
ANTIQUE (BOBTAIL): 1st Geo Cuellar’s 1985 Blue Kenworth K100E; 2nd David Schnautz’ 1981 Blue Kenworth W900A; 3rd Wade Wardlaw’s 1975 White & Copper Peterbilt 359.
ANTIQUE (COMBO): 1st Doug Scholten’s 1986 White & Gold Peterbilt 359 & 2001 Utility Reefer.
INTERIOR (CAB ONLY): 1st Caleb Eilers’ 2000 Green & Black Pete 379; 2nd Tom Davis’ 2013 White & Orange Pete 389; 3rd Dustin Pope’s 2003 Viper Red KW W900L & 2010 Utility Reefer.
INTERIOR (OEM SLEEPER): 1st Doug Scholten’s 1986 White & Gold Peterbilt 359 & 2001 Utility Reefer; 2nd Mike Lemley’s 2000 Viper Red Pete 379; 3rd (tie) Mitch Broderson’s 2007 White & Black Western Star LowMax 4900EX AND Dean Jay’s 2007 Cream & Brown Peterbilt 379 & 2013 MAC Flatbed.
BEST INTERIOR (LIMITED MILEAGE): Ray Rodriquez’ 2015 Lavender & Purple Peterbilt 389 & 2015 Western Step-Deck.
ENGINE (WORKING TRUCK): 1st Doug Scholten’s 1986 White & Gold Pete 359 & 2001 Utility Reefer; 2nd Ray Rodriquez’ 2000 Lavender & Purple Peterbilt 379 & 2006 Transcraft Flatbed; 3rd Ray Rodriquez’ 1988 Lavender & Purple Peterbilt 379 & 2003 Fruehauf Flatbed.
BEST ENGINE (LIMITED MILEAGE): Ray Rodriquez’ 2015 Lavender & Purple Peterbilt 389 & 2015 Western Step-Deck.
CUSTOM PAINT (BOBTAIL): 1st Mike Lemley’s 2000 Viper Red Pete 379; 2nd Robert Freeman’s 1996 Grey, Orange & Blue Pete 379; 3rd Albert Aguero’s 2003 White & Blue Peterbilt 379.
CUSTOM PAINT (COMBO): 1st Ray Rodriquez’ 1988 Lavender & Purple Peterbilt 379 & 2003 Fruehauf Flatbed; 2nd Dean Jay’s 2007 Cream & Brown Peterbilt 379 & 2013 MAC Flatbed; 3rd Dustin Pope’s 2003 Viper Red Kenworth W900L & 2010 Utility Reefer.
BEST PAINT (LIMITED MILEAGE BOBTAIL): (tie) Jerry & Kay Kissinger’s 1978 Black Cherry Mack Superliner AND Dustin Allen’s 1984 Black Peterbilt 359.
BEST PAINT (LIMITED MILEAGE COMBO): Ray Rodriquez’ 2015 Lavender & Purple Peterbilt 389 & 2015 Western Step-Deck.
BUILDERS CLASS (BOBTAIL): 1st Robert Moneypenny’s 1988 Orange & Black Pete 379; 2nd Jerry Cruz’ 2000 Black & Orange Pete 379.
BEST OF SHOW LIMITED MILEAGE BOBTAIL: Jerry & Kay Kissinger’s 1978 Black Cherry Mack Superliner – “Puff”
BEST OF SHOW LIMITED MILEAGE COMBO: Ray Rodriquez’ 2015 Lavender & Purple Pete 389 & 2015 Western Step-Deck – “Wicked”
BEST OF SHOW WORKING BOBTAIL: Mike Lemley’s 2000 Viper Red Peterbilt 379 – “Cathouse”
BEST OF SHOW WORKING COMBO: Dustin Pope’s 2003 Viper Red Kenworth W900L & 2010 Utility Reefer – “Cash On The Barrelhead”
NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
LIMITED MILEAGE BOBTAIL OVERALL NATIONAL CHAMPION 2014: Austin Ashley of Ashley Transport in Raleigh, MS – 2007 Purple & White Peterbilt 379 – “Double Take”
LIMITED MILEAGE COMBO OVERALL NATIONAL CHAMPION 2014: Vinnie Diorio of Rollin Transport in Richfield, WI – 2013 Purple & Orange Peterbilt 389 & 2009 MAC Curtainside – “Trendsettin”
WORKING BOBTAIL OVERALL NATIONAL CHAMPION 2014: Bob & Shelley Brinker of Grayling, MI – 2000 Muralled Freightliner Classic XL – “Legend of the Black Pearl”
WORKING COMBO OVERALL NATIONAL CHAMPION 2014: Bill & Sayra Rethwisch of Rethwisch Transport in Tomah, WI – 2013 Green & White Peterbilt 389 & 2013 Polar Tanker – “Blood, Sweat & Gass”
TRUCKER’S CHOICE (ONLINE VOTING): Austin Ashley of Ashley Transport in Raleigh, MS – 2007 Purple & White Peterbilt 379 – “Double Take”
1 Comment
I am looking for custom semi trucks and trailers combo for sale. I would like to receive links or websites to find a perfect rig to purchase