10-4 Magazine - For Today's Trucker

FONTANA ROCKS!
CHARITY SHOW GETS NEW HOME AT CALIFORNIA SPEEDWAY

The 26th Annual Truckin’ for Kids Truck Drags and Show & Shine got a new home in Fontana - and boy did that make a difference! After many years in Palmdale and then two years in Famoso (just north of Bakersfield), this show moved to the heart of it all and, judging by the numbers, we’re sure it has found a place to stay for a while. Held Sunday, September 24, 2006 at California Dragway (the new drag strip in the parking lot at California Speedway), this event was crazy.

Expecting to see a drop in the number of participants due to the move, race director Frank Pangburn and his crew anticipated and planned for about 150 trucks to show up (last year, in Famoso, they had about 220 trucks), but, to their delight and surprise, just over 300 came out to play. Nobody was ready for that many trucks, and it made for a hectic day. To save money, Frank only paid to rent the facility for one day, and no trucks were allowed to enter the drag strip area until 6:00 AM on Sunday. Many truckers rolled in on Saturday and shut down in a parking lot just outside the show area. After the light parade participants did a few circles around the parking lot, Saturday turned into an all-night party.

In the morning, everyone began trying to get inside to park - it was a mad house. Even the vendors and spectators that showed up in their cars had to wait up to an hour to get inside. Many trucks did not get parked until after 11:00 AM. But let’s face it, if you’re putting on a truck show, especially one for charity, having too many trucks is a problem you WANT to have, and the folks at Truckin’ for Kids did all they could to get the job done and keep everyone happy. They held up well under the pressure!

The shape and layout of the venue (which is long and narrow) forced all of the trucks to line up in two rows, one on each side with an “aisle” in the middle. The line of trucks stretched almost half a mile, so if you wanted to walk the line and then walk back, you were looking at a full mile of walking. That might not sound too bad, but if you had to do it a few times, you better have worn your comfortable shoes.

With about 17 of our past cover feature trucks on hand at the show, it was like a 10-4 reunion. Way down at one end of the show, our booth was brimming with activity (as usual) as we gave away our magazines and posters, and sold t-shirts and our famous laminated placemats. Our own Erik Sieben took a handful of t-shirts out to the track and started throwing them into the grandstands. The crowd went crazy, as he darn near started a riot. Alongside our booth was our friend (and writer) Wayne Schooling, and across the way was Rick and Terri from Rick Nay Insurance. There were quite a few other vendors on hand, and everyone seemed to be busy all day.

Down at the other end of the show, the backing and transfer dump competitions went on throughout the day. Names like Maggini, Pounds and Tarascou dominated the competition. Out on the drag strip, truckers cut loose and laid down some rubber. The racing was great all day and, once again, Pat Kyle prevailed in the Super Drag Truck class.

As always, this show is a charity event for kids. This year’s primary beneficiary is the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). Founded by parents of children with type 1 juvenile diabetes, JDRF has always focused on a single goal - accelerating research programs to cure diabetes and its complications. Truckin’ for Kids is proud to be associated with this organization and is excited about raising a lot of money for them this year. In the past 26 years, this event has raised over half a million dollars for various children’s charities! Now that’s a great accomplishment.

By the time the judging was done and the awards were handed out, it had been dark for some time. It was a long day. But boy was it a good one! The folks at Truckin’ for Kids are looking to make this a two-day show next year, so look for even more trucks and even more fun (with a little more time to enjoy it all) in 2007. We look forward to seeing this event grow, and can’t wait to see the day when 500 (or more) trucks show up.

SHOW & SHINE BEAUTY CONTEST
LIGHTS (BOBTAIL): 1st Alex Fimbres; 2nd Joe Gomez; 3rd Darrick Payton.
LIGHTS (COMBO): 1st Hector Santos; 2nd Farino; 3rd Berninger.
LIGHTS (ANTIQUE): 1st Eric Carillo; 2nd “Fast Eddie” Hall.
PROFESSIONAL SHOW TRUCK: 1st Mark McElroy; 2nd Bill Ward; 3rd Dave Cummins.
CONV 3-AXLE (2001-2006): 1st Cory Cloward; 2nd Carl Gillam; 3rd Antonio Reyes.
CONV 3-AXLE (1996-2000): 1st Ken Matuszak; 2nd Bill Ward; 3rd Mark Leekley.
CONV 3-AXLE (1990-1995): 1st Bill Ramsey; 2nd Frank Alves; 3rd Robert Davis.
CONV 3-AXLE (1981-1989): 1st Enrique Vanegas; 2nd Dave Cummins; 3rd Mark Aguire.
CONV 2-AXLE (2001-2006): 1st Alex Fimbres; 2nd Mark Pounds; 3rd Justin Cole.
CONV 2-AXLE (1996-2000): 1st Hector Santos; 2nd Joe Arias; 3rd Glen Roberts.
CONV 2-AXLE (1990-1995): 1st Joe Arias; 2nd Connie Cavers.
CONV 2-AXLE (1981-1989): 1st Andy Smith; 2nd Tim Vance; 3rd Gilbert Gonzales.
CABOVER 2-AXLE (1990-1995): Ryan Pounds.
CABOVER 2-AXLE (1981-1989): 1st Frank Guillen; 2nd Markie Pounds.
CABOVER 2-AXLE (2001-2006): 1st Matt Smith.
CABOVER 2-AXLE (1981-1989): 1st Robert Keffer; 2nd Alfonso Hernandez.
WORKING ANTIQUE: 1st Ron Kelsey; 2nd Jimmy Monugin.
NON-WORKING ANTIQUE: 1st Lupe Casarez; 2nd Ruben Cendejas; 3rd Eric Carrillo.
LOCAL DELIVERY (50K MILES MAX YEARLY): 1st Vaughn Bladen; 2nd Devin Cummins; 3rd Bill Ward.
TRANSIT MIXER: 1st Aaron Hoffman; 2nd Bob Miller; 3rd Rob House.
DUMP TRUCK: 1st Finious Phillips; 2nd John Lazrovich; 3rd Jorge Luna.
DUMP (WITH BOOSTER): 1st Darrick Payton; 2nd Manuel Mendoza.
WRECKER: 1st Ruben Cendejas; 2nd Jimmy Monugin.
SERVICE TRUCK: 1st Mike Fletcher; 2nd Justin Cole; 3rd Tim Cox.
SPECIALTY: 1st Cory Cloward; 2nd Vaughn Bladen; 3rd Mark Leekley.
HOBBY TRUCK: 1st Giovanni Estevanivich; 2nd Connie Cavels.
SMALL FLEET (MIN. 3 TRUCKS ENTERED): 1st Road Transport; 2nd Robert Ford Trucking; 3rd CR&R, Inc.
LARGE FLEET (MIN. 8 TRUCKS ENTERED): 1st Farino Construction Service; 2nd Gardner Trucking; 3rd Sandvik Trucking.
SPECIALTY TRAILER: 1st Cory Cloward; 2nd Justin Moore; 3rd Justin Vandertuig.
FLATBED: 1st Hector Santos; 2nd Scott Ferguson; 3rd George Lines.
HEAVY EQUIPMENT HAULER/LOWBED: 1st Bobby Ipsen; 2nd John Dequartto; 3rd Rudy Perez.
BOTTOM DUMP: 1st Tom Donaldson; 2nd Kevin Booker.
END DUMP: 1st Louie Sotello; 2nd Orestes Peña; 3rd Sergio Molina.
TRANSFER: 1st Frank Alves; 2nd Freddy Ambriz; 3rd Joe Ceffalia.
TANKER: 1st Bob Doyle; 2nd Justin Moore; 3rd Maike Salcido.
CROSS COUNTRY/OTR: 1st Mark McElroy; 2nd Rich Stark; 3rd James Martinez.
DUMP TRUCK & PUP: 1st Mark Tarascou; 2nd Joseph Trees.

BACKING CONTESTS & TRANSFER DUMP
3-AXLE CLOSED BODY: 1st Jharod Vandertuig; 2nd Steve Hettinga; 3rd Pat Beale.
3-AXLE FLATBED: 1st John DeQuatto.
2-AXLE: 1st Keith Pounds; 2nd Mark Pounds; 3rd Ryan Pounds.
DOUBLES: 1st Mike Maggini; 2nd Keith Pounds; 3rd Markie Pounds.
TRUCK & TRLR: 1st Sam Fey; 2nd Mark Tarascou; 3rd Linda Novak.
TRUCK & PUP: 1st Mark Tarascou; 2nd Joey Trees.
TRANSFER DUMP CONTEST: 1st Sean Westover; 2nd Mark Tarascou; 3rd Markie Tarascou.

DRAG RACING
2-AXLE CABOVER: 1st Miguel Martin; 2nd Keith Pounds.
2-AXLE CONV: 1st Dan Alexander; 2nd Joe Arias.
3-AXLE CABOVER: 1st Alfonso Hernandez; 2nd Charles Gren.
3-AXLE CONV: 1st Sal Elizareras; 2nd Miles Campbell.
3-AXLE (ALL OTHERS): 1st Mel Yeast; 2nd Mark Tarascou.
LADIES’ ELIMINATOR: 1st Linda Novak; 2nd Michelle Elizarra.
SUPER DRAG TRUCKS: 1st Pat Kyle.
OUTLAW CLASS: 1st Paulo Hernandez.
PICKUP/SUV (SLICKS): 1st Vic Caliva; 2nd Daniel Grant.
PICKUP/SUV (STREET): 1st Tom Langdon; 2nd John Joines.
PICKUP (DIESEL): 1st Gregory Gerken; 2nd John James.

SPECIALTY TROPHIES
LONGEST TOW: Sonny Routt – from Highland, Maryland.
BEST ENGINE: Chuck Prigge of Sandvik Trucking.
BEST DRESSED CREW: Haldex Racing.
SPONSOR’S CHOICE: (tie) Tom Donaldson & Marc McElroy.
PEOPLE’S CHOICE: Carlos Peña of So-Cal Trucking.
UGLIEST TRUCK: Dan Alexander of HD Equipment.
BEST BURNOUT (PICKUP): Sam Robinson IV.
BEST BURNOUT (BIG RIG): Pat Kyle.
BEST REACTION TIME: Pat Kyle.
QUICKEST PICKUP: Vic Caliva (128 mph).
QUICKEST BIG RIG: Pat Kyle (107 mph).
KING OF THE HILL AWARD: Matt Smith of Farino Construction.
MOST CONES KNOCKED DOWN: Steven Hettinga.
BEST INTERIOR (CAB ONLY): Mike Maggini of Maggini Hay Co.
BEST ROCKWOOD INTERIOR: 1st Ray Valenzuela; 2nd Bob Daigle; 3rd Pat Johnson.
BEST SLEEPER: Bill Sandvik of Sandvik Trucking.
BEST PETERBILT: Edward Bonestroo.
BEST FREIGHTLINER: Mark Leekley of Hawthorne Power.
BEST KENWORTH: Jim Kirkley of Kirkley Trucking.
BEST METAL SHINE: Bill Sandvik of Sandvik Trucking.
MOST PHOTOGENIC TRUCK: Matt Smith of Farino Construction.
BEST ART & GRAPHICS: Bill Sandvik of Sandvik Trucking.
BEST OF SHOW: Mike Maggini of Maggini Hay Co.