VLAD’S VICTORY IN VEGAS

It’s always nice when a plan comes together. But when young owner operator Vladimir Bilik Jr. ordered a new black Peterbilt with an orange frame, most people were skeptical about how good it would look. And, truth is, when Vlad, from Santa Clarita, California, first saw it, he wasn’t too sure either. Knowing in his heart that it would look great when completed, he proceeded to build an impressive truck that combines his love of trucks, hot rods and Harleys, and create a work of simplistic art he calls “Peterod”. Having just won four trophies at the 2001 International Trucking Show in Las Vegas, it seems others now like it too.

At first glance, Vlad’s rig just looks like a super-clean combination. You might not even give it a second glance if it passed you on the road. But at close inspection, you quickly realize that this is one cool ride that is tricked out to the max, but in ways that are subtle and easy to miss. In fact, Vlad purposely made every attempt to keep his truck and trailer as simple looking as possible, by removing some items and keeping exterior accessories to a minimum. Any truck connoisseur would notice this stuff (which we’ll get into later), but they still might miss a lot of other custom features the truck has if they don’t look closely. Before we get into all that, let’s look at how Vlad got involved with trucking.

Vladimir is a first generation American who’s parents fled to the United States in 1969 from Czechoslovakia, shortly after Russia invaded their country. One year later, living in New Jersey, the recently migrated couple gave birth to Vladimir Jr. Fourteen years later, Vlad’s family moved west to California. Reuniting with some European friends he had grown up with, Vlad’s dad got involved with trucking. Over the years, Vlad’s dad had a variety of jobs related to the industry including driving, washing trucks, and even owning his own company.

After graduating from high school, Vlad started washing trucks in his hometown of Santa Clarita. Truck washing proved to be lucrative work. Having his own wash bay at a local trucking company (Points West), Vlad washed their trucks for five years and did very well. Wanting to increase his income, Vlad was planning on buying a truck and putting someone in it, while continuing to wash trucks. But one day, something just “clicked” in his head, giving him the strong urge to get his license and go trucking.

Following his instincts, Vlad immediately got his CDL and began training with another driver at Points West. After only six weeks of training and three trips back East, Vlad thought he knew it all and began driving solo. Six months later he bought a nice but plain Pete 377 and leased on with Points West, where he stayed for six years, racking up over 1.5 million miles. Then, last year, he made another important decision - he got his own authority and formed “In the Wind Trucking”. A few months later, in August of 2000, he finally ordered a new truck and trailer.

When deciding what truck to order and how it was to be equipped, Vlad got a vision. Wanting to combine all of his favorite things (trucks, hot rods and Harleys) into one awesome hybrid, Vlad imagined a whole new style of truck that had that “California Cool” look, Harley Davidson toughness, yet was still functional and practical. Vlad called his creation “Peterod” for obvious reasons.

Vlad’s beautiful 2001 Pete 379 tractor is powered by a 600 Cat engine, linked to an 18-speed transmission, which sends its power to the 24.5 low-profile wheels through a set of 3:56 rears. Ordered from Rush Peterbilt in Albuquerque, the truck has a 280” wheelbase, a car-hauler front axle, and pulls a 2001 stainless steel 48’ Great Dane spread axle reefer. Vlad ordered the truck with no cab lights and then bought nine lights of his own. After getting the truck, he decided that he didn’t want to cut holes in the roof so he returned the lights and never put any on. He added a visor, 8-inch straight pipes, fiberglass WTI full fenders (on both the truck and trailer), and Double JJ headlights and blinker bars (every fender has a blinker bar). He then had all the exterior door handles shaved off (actually, the door skins were completely replaced), he chopped the screens on the air cleaners and painted them black, removed the hood pull, and added a pair of stainless boxes (not wrapped but completely made out of stainless). To help the truck look lower, Vlad even turned the outside mirrors upside-down to bring them down a few inches.

Other exterior details include covering all of the Peterbilt logos with vinyl “Peterod” logos, adding a steel plate under the 5th wheel that is cut into a flame shape and mounted over of a piece of stainless (see photo below), and installing a custom stainless “belly pan” that wraps around and covers the driveline. The trailer features two polished tanks, an orange frame, and a Thermo King “King of the Road” unit. But as good as the outside looks, this truck’s real beauty is inside.

Adorned with wood and stainless, the interior of Vlad’s rig is immaculate. Sporting low-rider Talladega leather seats with no bases, a custom flamed billet aluminum steering wheel, billet aluminum armrests (which are mounted lower to match the seat height), electric windows, and an amazing stainless steel floor throughout the cab and sleeper, this truck is like a rolling Presidential suite. Rockwood made custom hardwood floor mats with the “Peterod” logo engraved on them. Every interior door and most of the ceiling is covered with stainless steel panels. The sleeper also has a 20” flat screen television and a Sony Play Station II to keep Vlad entertained on those long layovers. This truck has, in our opinion, the most unique and awesome interior we’ve ever seen.

Over the last year, Vlad has entered his “Peterod” into several of the big truck shows and done very well. In Dallas he took two 2nd Place trophies; in Louisville he won 1st Place in his class; in San Antonio he got Best of Show and secured a spot in next year’s Shell SuperRigs calendar; in Amarillo he took Best of Show; and most recently, in Las Vegas, he won four classes including Best of Show Combo, Competitor’s Choice, Best Combo 1995-2001, and Best Interior (OEM sleeper). Every time they announced Vlad’s name at the Trophy Dash in Vegas, the crowd rose to their feet and cheered (for reasons he doesn’t even quite know, Vlad was a real show favorite). We figure it has something to do with the fact that he’s a friendly, hard working, good looking, young (and single by the way) man with a fabulous rig, but we guess he hasn’t quite figured that out yet. He’s so likeable that a couple he met on the road a week before the Vegas contest, showed up in work clothes and offered their services. Vlad contributes much of his success in Vegas to the hard work of Cy and Diana, that mysterious couple from Idaho that gave up a few days and a lot of energy to help Vlad get the truck perfect.

When he’s not trucking back and forth between the East and West Coasts or attending a show, Vlad likes to go home and fire up one of his two Harley motorcycles (a 1996 Fat Boy and a 2000 Road Glide) and take a relaxing cruise. Last year, shortly after buying the Road Glide, he took a month long vacation to Europe - and took his new bike with him. Riding alone, he attended two Harley rallies (one in Spain and the other in Hungary) and toured all around the Swiss, Italian and French Alps. It was a trip he’ll never forget and the experience of a lifetime for this young trucker.

Vladimir knows he didn’t build his truck by himself, nor does he prepare it for the shows alone. So he wanted to give credit where credit was due. Dave at Brunner’s Fabrication in Joplin, MO did most of the stainless; Brett, Cory and Jim at Joplin Peterbilt put in the stainless floor, replaced the door skins, and did most of the custom fabrication; Ron Watt of WTI built and installed the stainless belly pan; Jeff at Thundergrafix in Joplin, MO did all of the vinyl graphics and logos; and Todd at Tascosa Chrome Shop in Amarillo, TX had the billet steering wheel made and sold Vlad many of his accessories. Vlad also wanted to thank his parents for their support and encouragement. Last (but not least), he wanted to say “thank you” to his younger brother Erik (AKA Ernie) who has helped him get ready for almost every show. He flew out to Dallas, Louisville and Vegas to help his older brother get ready and win all those trophies. Vlad is very grateful for the sacrifices his brother has made, and can’t wait until Ernie joins his business so they can build him a truck together.

Vlad loves driving but doesn’t want to do it forever. His future plans include a small fleet of show trucks but, for now, he’d just like to do a few more things to his “Peterod” ride. The engine will probably be decked out next, and then he’s pondering adding some graphics to both the truck and trailer. He also has plans to add a kickstand to really bring home the Harley connection between him and his truck. “Drive to live, live to ride!” is not only his slogan but his way of life. It’s all connected. A judge at the show in San Antonio commented how Vlad “looked like his truck” when he stepped out of it. And that is what Vlad had originally set out to accomplish. He wanted to build an extension of himself and his lifestyle, and create a “toy” that he could play with every day (and make a nice living with). It seems he has his cake and gets to eat it too!