THE RAIN GANG
BY TRUCKER/POET/ARTIST TREVOR HARDWICK
I got inspired to write this poem about the nice trucks in the Pacific Northwest from the experiences Gary Van Laar and I ran into while hauling relief supply loads to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. We got a lot of attention wherever we went, and when they found out we were from northwestern Washington, they were always amazed. Gary even got stopped in a small town in Texas because the officer wanted to get a better look at his truck. Gary’s truck was as nice (or nicer) than many of the cool rigs we saw running down south, yet he didn’t have the advantage of running in constant sunshine. That got me thinking about all of the other nice trucks up here in our little corner of the country that look good, and how their owners are able to keep them shining, even when the sun isn’t.
THE RAIN GANG
By Trevor Hardwick
There’s a lot of nice trucks, that are runnin’ down south.
Low in the seat, hittin’ the street, and lettin’ it all hang out.
I-40, I-20, I-10 and I-8, lookin’ fancy, in those sun-shiny states.
I give you credit for a job well done, havin’ fun, runnin’ in the sun.
But this one’s for the mountain men, I like to call the best.
Who roll their fancy rigs up here, in the great Pacific Northwest.
Like the fleet of fancy Olson trucks, or a Van Dyke curtain van.
And the “Sasquatch” truck that’s driven by, a big ol’ biker man.
Billy Bender’s silver rig, is a sweet 359.
I’d be lying if I said, I didn’t wish that truck was mine.
Douglas Gerhardts classic truck, is a propane pullin’ Pete.
Another Pickett custom truck, that sure is lookin’ sweet!
Steve Holcomb’s yellow Peterbilt, is long and low and raked.
You’ll find it flattenin’ out the hills, between Seattle and Salt Lake.
The most electrifying thing you’ll see, on I-5, by the way.
Is Gary Van Laar’s pride and joy, he runs to ‘Frisco bay.
Jimmie Sernach took his chrome, his lights and tossed them out.
Then redefined what long and low, and black is all about!
It’s not just highway rigs up here, that shine despite the rain.
There’s a flashy fleet of dump trucks, that wear Steve Gibson’s name.
Ronnie Nobach, rest in peace, may the good Lord have your soul.
You hit the heavens hammer down, but still your big trucks roll.
There’s two red Kenworth W-9’s, from Kent that look real good.
They’re twins except that one of them, has windows in the hood!
Chandler, Perbaugh, C.H. Rowe, Hixon’s orange and polished Pete.
These guys go the extra mile, to make their trucks look neat.
I want a truck like these so bad, I sometimes shed a tear.
I see one and I say a word, that my mom don’t like to hear!
To ride with pride like these guys do, it ain’t no easy task.
To wash ‘em, wax ‘em, wipe ‘em down, then run a mountain pass.
We love the sun but often times, we wash ‘em in the rain.
And you can bet that we know how, to hang a set of chains!
Late at night in the great Northwest, when the forecast calls for sun.
If you listen close you just might hear, a high speed buffer hum.
We may not have the luxury, of truckin’ where it’s hot.
But we’ll weather the weather, no matter the weather.
Whether we like it or not!