10-4 Magazine - For Today's Trucker

AN EAST COAST SPECTACULAR
ARTICLE & PHOTOS BY ANDREW D. FELTENSTEIN

Its 3:00 am, Saturday, September 16th, the morning of the largest single day trucking event in the United States – the 30th Annual U.S Diesel Truckin’ Nationals. Outside Old Bridge Township’s Raceway Park in Englishtown, New Jersey, it’s raining cats and dogs, but the trucks have been lined up down Pension Road since yesterday afternoon. Elizabeth Truck Center is rolling in their “Beast” along with two other stellar creations of equal or greater caliber. With Sunday as the rain date, and some of these custom truck builders not having slept in over 72 hours, the prayers are leaning towards a rain delay and some long deserved Zzzz’s (sleep) until Sunday.

As daybreak approaches the downpours have subsided, but the forecast is still uncertain. Hour by hour, hundreds of truckers and truck enthusiasts call in to find out if this industry’s version of Summer Slam, that draws over 1,500 of the finest diesel trucks, is going down today or tomorrow. The boys at the helm of the northeast’s biggest motorsports attraction stick to their guns and start lining up the diehard truckers who have been awaiting prime spots in the show field.

The trucks have been rolling in steadily since 7:00 am. Truck judging begins sharply at 9:00 am, in a designated area behind the lake. A team of industry professionals, each assigned an area of expertise, carefully inspect and assign points in various categories. Polaroid’s of every truck are taken and attached to detailed judging and information sheets that are later tallied for the awards ceremony that kicks off the night’s Motorsports Spectacular. Drag racing has been underway since opening. There are more than 28 racing classes competing for trophies and cash prizes, with additional classes for exhibition only.

By noon, the clouds disappeared, the ground dried, the sun was shining and everyone had realized it was going to be a gorgeous day as the influx of diesel trucks reached a peak. From the judging station you could see nearly a mile of the greatest assortment and diversity of trucks, lined up row after row after row. From antique to brand new, from solid colors to hyper-chromatic paint schemes, modest to flamboyant, simple to extreme, bobtails, tankers, cabovers, wreckers, car haulers, drilling trucks, pumpers, cranes, refuse, utility, small fleets, large fleets and everything in between, everyone and everything came out to show their stuff. The number of trucks easily topped the thousand-mark already, despite the rain. That also didn’t put a damper on the bountiful tailgating, barbequing and partying going on all day.

Smack in the middle of all this diesel fun and excitement was the manufacturer’s midway and concessions. Truckers came from far and wide to check out the latest in engines, oils, accessories, components and tools, as well as find great deals on chrome, LED lights, train horns, bumpers, grilles and all sorts of other great truck outfitting equipment.

Elizabeth Truck Center, the presenter and key feature of this show, continued to raise the bar on custom truck building with their outrageous custom truck exhibition. Of course, their award-winning “Beast” was there, but this year they finished two equally impressive but radically different builds. One was a brilliant yellow, Seminole variation, rebuilt 1980 Kenworth W900 A-Model, sporting a custom hood with a remote automatic opener, extended front fenders, automated remote suicide doors and a chopped roof on both the cab and sleeper. The interior featured a super phonic stereo system (taking up the entire bunk), custom interior panels and a matching dash. The exterior was fitted with painted matching deck plates and customized rear dual fenders, matching sub-frame filler panels, custom stainless step boxes, custom-cut aluminum wheels, mammoth boltless contour front bumper, custom visor and the list goes on and on. They call this one “Bride of the Beast” and it is very aptly named. She certainly is the beauty that could tame the beast.

On the other end of the spectrum was a hip, decked out, urban hauling vehicle called “G-Unit”. This 2006 Peterbilt 379 day cab came straight from the factory to the ETC facility where they ripped it apart and customized every inch, including custom fiberglass molded speaker enclosures and a unique center console that morphs into molded dash panels. A pop-out central computer controls the stereo, video and navigation system. The rig had an extended custom hood with lighted air scoops and the signature ETC fenders with recessed HID headlights. The back of the truck was decked out with customized double hump fenders integrated into a stealth-looking stainless rear bumper with billet turn and stop light panels, all tied together to a beveled frame extension, for a totally radical look. A chopped roof, stainless deck plates, 10-inch stacks, suicide doors and the most electric paint job ever seen, completed this large car dream.

You would think with two trucks like this, there wouldn’t be much else to see, but that was not true. The level of craftsmanship and cleanliness jumped dramatically this year, overshadowing all other years. One judge was quoted as saying that the level of the best of last year’s show is where this year’s trucks started. With nearly 600 trucks competing for 79 trophies in 27 main “beauty” categories, the competition was extraordinary.

Scott Diller of Lanita Transport and his 2006 KW W900, named “Tequila Sunrise” for its dramatic yellow to red faded paint job, dominated the show with five wins, including Best of Show, Best Custom Chrome and Best Custom Interior. Mike Mullins Heavy Hauling took best sleeper (1995-1999) with his out-of-this-world “Predator” Kenworth W900 and its six-foot tall grille. Mike from Waggy’s Towing took Best Paint and Best Wrecker with his red 2007 Pete adorned with colorful murals. Mystic Transport took Best Fleet. Mike from Sorantino Express won for Best Dump and Best New Bobtail with his pristine Volvo. All of the winners came up on stage and were presented their trophy by and photographed with the lovely Raceway Park Girl, Shayna, which some say was a prize all in itself.

There were so many trucks that could have and should have taken home trophies, but the judging was fair and organized and the winners certainly earned their well-deserved ride down victory road in the Winners’ Parade. Throughout the evening’s Motorsports Spectacular, eight menacing monster trucks and heart-thumping jet cars made a lot of noise, while Tommy Teague’s insane record breaking car jump attempt and the Xtreme Machine, the world’s fastest jet truck, burned up the track and entertained grandstands packed with people well into the night.

This year’s show was dedicated to the memory of Jay Onady, publisher of TBG/Truck Buyers Guide, the event’s sponsor. For next year’s event, Raceway Park has decided to allow trucks to enter and park the day before the show and to allow trailers as well. Like the elves after Christmas, as soon as the event passes it’s time to gear up and start working on next year’s show, which I’m sure will surpass all that preceded it.