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| Hundreds of trucks rolled into Palmdale, California, to participate in the 21st Annual Truckin’ For Kids Show & Drags, held October 27-28 at L.A. County Raceway. With a few new show sponsors, a new children’s charity and a record turnout, this was definitely one of the finest Drags ever.
The event kicked off Friday night with a truck convoy from Vernon Truck Wash in Barstow to the track in Palmdale. Organized by Bill Donahoe, owner of Vernon Truck Wash, half of the $1,500 raised from the event was donated to the California Highway Patrol Widows and Orphans Fund and the other half went to aid those in need in New York. About 35 trucks left the truck wash at 7:30pm and leisurely cruised down Route 66, Hwy. 395 and then Palmdale Road. People lined the streets and cheered as the trucks drove by. Some of the truckers threw candy out their windows for the younger spectators (Halloween was just around the corner). The last truck pulled into the track parking lot at around 10:00pm.
Saturday’s events showcased pickup trucks, SUVs, hot rods and cars drag racing and competing for trophies in the beauty contest. Vic Caliva and his 1950 Ford F1 “Pink Thing” made a strong showing (as usual), winning the People’s Choice award, while Tom Connor took top honors for quickest truck. As the sun set in the evening, the Saturday Nite Lites light show took place on the track. Sponsored by Truck-Lite and The Light House (both new sponsors), many of the Big Rigs lit up their trucks and paraded down the track. Saturday’s fun activities were capped off by a tasty BBQ for all of the participants and volunteers. Thanks go to Richard “Abe” Abraham, Cornelius Allen, Ray and Greg Algorri, John Fuller and Tommy Thompson for doing such a great job. After the BBQ, most of the participants returned to their trucks to do their final preparations for the following day’s activities.
With perfect weather - warm and clear with no wind (or smog) - judging for the Big Rig beauty contest began at 8:00am on Sunday. At 9:00am the “Truck Roadeo” took place on the track. Truckers tested their skills in backing and operating transfer dumps. Some 280 trucks were on hand to show (78 of them to also race) and over 2,500 spectators filled the stands. At noon (or shortly thereafter), the truck drags began. Trucks in several classes did long burnouts and screamed down the track, racing through the gears as fast as possible. One missed shift and you were toast. Although there were only four Super Drag trucks on hand, it was still a great event with lots of hot racing action.
Some of the notable truck entries included Sandvik Trucking’s “row of Petes” featuring at least 16 of their finest trucks (photo 1) and Jerry Jeffries’ bright red 1929 Fageol (photo 3). For those of you who don’t know, the Fageol was the truck that proceeded the first Peterbilts. Juarez Trucking’s white cabover, complete with four unique exhaust pipes on each side, did one incredible burnout, leaving a pile of smoking rubber on the track as the crowd cheered for more (photo 5). Clayton Sullivan’s super-custom Pete and bottom dump took Best of Show, which put a very satisfied smile on Clayton’s sunburned face as he picked up his trophy (photo 4). The funniest truck of the day, which was also awarded the “Ugliest Truck” honors, was Rick Early’s 1978 GMC General which had been hit by a plane (I wish we had taken a photo of this one). The truck was at LAX doing some demolition work, when a passing plane’s engine caught the cab and ripped it to shreds. As usual, the Talkington family dominated the drags, winning every class they entered.
When it was all said and done (at around 5:30pm on Sunday), over 170 trophies were awarded and over $48,000 had been raised. All of the proceeds from this show are being donated to The Children’s Center of Antelope Valley, an organization that aids
physically and sexually abused children. Race Director Frank Pangburn and his wife/helper Dianna wanted to give a special “Thank you” to all of the show’s corporate sponsors, participants and volunteers. Without their support, there would be no show to enjoy every year.
Dates have not been set for next year’s show but were already looking forward to it. Any time we get the chance to hang out with our friends and “extended trucking family” we take it. It was great to see how well so many of our past cover trucks (and some future ones as well) did at the show. Thanks to all who made the 21st Annual Truckin’ For Kids Show & Drags a huge success. Here is a list of all the winners (I hope we didn’t leave anyone out).
SATURDAY BEAUTY FINALS
MINI TRUCK: 1st Donald McDuffee, 2nd Hank Coghill; SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE: 1st Joe Cisneros, 2nd Melissa Majesky; PICK-UP: 1st Devin Cummins, 2nd Roger Hall, 3rd Monty Majesky; DUALLY/CREW CAB: 1st Robert Cooper; EL CAMINO/RANCHERO: 1st Bill Knepp, 2nd Kevin Droz, 3rd John Sapone; CLASSIC CUSTOM TRUCK: 1st Butch Behm, 2nd Richard Trygg, 3rd Vic Caliva; ANTIQUE TRUCK: 1st Bill Donahoe, 2nd Terry Meyers; ALL CARS: 1st Terry Meyers.
SATURDAY DRAG FINALS
TRUCKS/CARS (SLICKS): 1st Leo Glasbiennco, 2nd Bill Knepp; FULL SIZE PICK-UPS/VANS/SUVS: 1st Vic Caliva, 2nd Dan Gearhart; MINI TRUCKS/VANS/SUVS: 1st Melissa Majesky; ALL CARS (STREET TIRES): 1st Fred Wagner.
SATURDAY SPECIALTY TROPHIES
LONGEST RIDE: Nowell Thomas; BEST BURNOUT: Bill Knepp; BEST ART DETAIL: Kevin Droz; QUICKEST TRUCK: Tom Connor; PEOPLES CHOICE: Vic Caliva; BEST OF SHOW: Bill Donahoe.
SUNDAY WORKING TRUCK COMPETITIONS
3-AXLE/40’ CLOSED BODY BACKING: 1st Robert Ghidelli, 2nd Joe Gaitan, 3rd Roger Ghidelli; 3-AXLE/40’ FLATBED BACKING: 1st Mike Smith, 2nd Mark Strickland, 3rd Maurico Villa; 2-AXLE/40’ BACKING: 1st John Murray Jr, 2nd John Murray Sr; DOUBLES BACKING: 1st Mike Maggini, 2nd Joe Arias, 3rd Mark Strickland; TRUCK & TRAILER
BACKING: 1st Jim Bradburn, 2nd Billy Ezernack, 3rd Mike Maggini; TRANSFER DUMP: 1st Richard Burns, 2nd Lester Larry.
SUNDAY BEAUTY FINALS
CONV (95 OR OLDER): 1st Rick Torres, 2nd Mike Humphries, 3rd Elden Easterday; CONV (96 OR NEWER - OVER 25K MI): 1st Chuck Prigge, 2nd Steve & Melissa Woodard, 3rd Chris Lewis; CONV (96 OR NEWER - UNDER 25K MI): 1st Jason George, 2nd Mike & Heather Stein, 3rd Norris Richard; CABOVER (95 OR OLDER): 1st Jim Vanhill (photo 2), 2nd Frank Areias, 3rd John Wright; CABOVER (96 OR NEWER): 1st Jeff West, 2nd Gilbert Gonzales, 3rd Mike Wendell; DUMP TRUCK: 1st David Ramirez (photo 6), 2nd Reggie Thomas, 3rd Fast Eddie; END DUMP: 1st Mike Benson, 2nd Jim Daniels, 3rd Ray Valenzuela; TRANSFER: 1st Richard Newton, 2nd Bruce Campbell, 3rd Frank Barry; BOTTOM DUMP: 1st Clayton Sullivan, 2nd Gustovo Martinez; TANKER: 1st Leo Monteon, 2nd Kenny LaCross, 3rd Ron Hawkins; NON-WORKING ANTIQUE: 1st Jerry Jeffries, 2nd Jim Signor, 3rd Bill Donahoe; WORKING ANTIQUE: 1st David Pinkowsky, 2nd Raymond Algorri, 3rd Mark Strickland; SPECIALTY: 1st Steve & Melissa Woodard, 2nd Tim Ludwig, 3rd Chad Christensen; OTR TRUCK: 1st Rick Torres, 2nd Steve & Melissa Woodard, 3rd Dan McCormick;
LOCAL TRUCK: 1st David Cummins, 2nd Manny Rosales, 3rd Billy Ezernack; FLATBED: 1st Rick Torres, 2nd Chris Lewis, 3rd Mike Maggini; HEAVY EQUIP. HAULER: 1st Bill Pierce, 2nd Scott McCall, 3rd Bobby Ipsen; MIXER: 1st Bob Gomez, 2nd Erik Marsik, 3rd Rob House; LARGE FLEET: 1st Sandvik Trucking, 2nd Western States Wholesale; SMALL FLEET: 1st Unified Western Grocers, 2nd Two B, 3rd GTL.
SUNDAY DRAG FINALS
2-AXLE CABOVER: 1st Scott Talkington, 2nd Ron Bridges; 2-AXLE CONV: 1st Gordon Kelly, 2nd Joe Arias; 3-AXLE CABOVER: 1st John Talkington, 2nd Dwayne Greene; 3-AXLE CONV: 1st Pat Parker,
2nd Bob Daigle; 3-AXLE CATCH ALL: 1st Marshal Holcomb, 2nd Van Boelter; LADIES ELIMINATOR: 1st Judi Hall, 2nd Betty Jo Seaman; SUPER DRAG TRUCK: 1st Wayne Talkington, 2nd Pete Parker.
SUNDAY SPECIALTY TROPHIES
LONGEST TOW: Sidney Martin; BEST BURNOUT: Juarez Trucking; SATURDAY NITE LITES: R. Vaders; BEST INTERIOR: Steve & Melissa Woodard; BEST ART DETAIL: Mike Maggini; BEST LOOKIN CREW: Whittaker Trucking; UGLIEST TRUCK: Rick Early; QUICKEST TRUCK: Wayne Talkington; PEOPLES CHOICE: Mike Humphries; SPONSORS CHOICE: Jerry Whittaker; BEST OF SHOW: Clayton Sullivan.
