Hundreds of trucks and thousands of people
showed up to participate in the 22nd Annual Truckin' For Kids Show & Drags
at Los Angeles County Raceway in Palmdale, California. The event, held on October
5th & 6th, which features drag racing, a truck beauty show and working competitions,
brought in a record amount of people and a record amount of money.
About half of the over $65,000 raised at
this year's event will go directly to The Children's Center of the Antelope
Valley, an organization that helps to fight, prevent and treat child abuse.
It's true when they say that this event is "a good time for a great cause!"
In a letter to Truckin' For Kids, Debbie Grant, Exec. Director for the center,
wrote: "We are honored and proud that Truckin' For Kids has a place in
their hearts for our most vulnerable children. Your generosity directly impacts
the lives of our children."
From Friday afternoon until Sunday morning,
trucks poured in from everywhere. Saturday's events, which highlighted pickups,
vans, SUVs and cars, also included a live action stunt show featuring some of
Hollywood's wildest drivers. The Saturday afternoon drag races were followed
by a barbecued chicken dinner and then the Parade of Lights. Just after sunset,
truckers turned on their lights and paraded down the racetrack in a glow of
bright amber and flashy neon.
Sunday morning came fast for those competing
in the Show & Shine competition. Having scrubbed and rubbed for a few days
straight, many collapsed into their fold-out chairs and sat beneath their trailers
for the rest of the day - that is unless they were drag racing too. The working
truck competitions, featuring backing and transfer dump races, kicked off around
8:00 AM. Around noon, the truck drags began and the smell (and smoke) of burning
rubber filled the air. After the races, everyone waited patiently for the winners
to be announced.
During the awards ceremony something unique
happened on the stage - a wedding engagement! This surprise was planned many
months prior and kept secret from the bride-to-be. Manny Rosales and Judi Hall
met at the truck drags a few years ago and have been dating ever since. Manny
figured this would be a great place to "pop the question" to the love
of his life. Race Director Frank Pangburn added his own antics as he came on-stage
wearing a wig and a dress to add even more fun to the couple's magic moment.
With flowers (and ring) in hand, Judi said "yes" to Manny in front
of a cheering crowd.
This year's Show & Shine featured some of the hottest trucks around, but the top honors (Best of Show) went to Vladimir Bilik. Vlad's black Pete was as sharp as ever, but with a few new goodies. Vlad added, among other things, remote-controlled, automatically opening, suicide doors and tilt hood. It was very cool, and it obviously impressed the judges. These trucks just get wilder every year!
Truckin' For Kids wanted to send out a special thank you to Prizm for providing the toy truck trophies given to all of Saturday's winners. TFK also wanted to clarify that the 3-Axle Conv. drag class was split and the winners were not announced! Scott Williams (W) and Cliff Watkins (RU) please accept our apologies. And finally, 10-4 would like to thank Wayne Schooling for allowing us to "set up shop" in front of his new mobile compliance unit and take advantage of its comforts. We hope to see you all (and more) again at next year's show. Stay tuned to 10-4 for dates and information. Here are all the winners for 2002:
Saturday Show & Shine Winners (Pickup
Trucks & Cars)
Mini Trucks: 1st, 2nd & 3rd - Donald McDuffee Jr.
Sport Utility Vehicle: Toni Beets - Pucknett Ent.
Pick-Ups (1/2, 3/4 & 1 ton): Richard Trygg
Dually/Crew Cab (1 ton+): Al Scibilia - Sandvik Trucking
El Camino/Ranchero: Lynn Ragels - ATCI
Classic/Custom Truck: Richard Trygg
Antique Stock: Jerry Jeffries - Double JJ Enterprises
All Cars: Mike Rankin - MKR Transportation
Saturday Drag Winners (Pickup Trucks
& Cars)
Cars/Trucks (slicks): 1st Ken Estes; RU John Estes
Pickups/SUVs/Vans: 1st John Joines; RU Shane VanSickle.
Mini Pickups/SUVs/Vans: 1st Don McDuffee; RU Don McDuffee Jr.
All Cars (street tires): 1st Tom Andersen; RU Margaret Plumber
Saturday Specialty Trophies (Pickup
Trucks & Cars)
People's Choice: Vic Caliva - Caliva's Truck Wash & Polishing
Longest Ride: Jim Wilkes - Utah!
Best Art Detail: Bob Kopischke
Best of Show: Mike Rankin - MKR Transportation
Quickest Vehicle: Justin Rash
Best Burn-Out in Drags: Scott Talkington
Saturday Night Parade of Lights (Big
Rigs)
Bobtail Class: 1st Michael Dusi; RU Cliff & Peggy Watkins
Combination Class: 1st Rick Vader; RU Mike Humphries
Sunday Show and Shine Winners (Big Rigs)
97-03 Conv (under 25K): Bill Ward - Unified Western Grocers
97-03 Conv (over 25K): Chris Lewis - Lewis Trucking of Jackson
78-96 Conv: Bill Sandvik - Sandvik Trucking
2-Axle Conv: Leo Monteon - Western States Wholesale
97-03 Cabover: Van Boelter - Western States Wholesale
78-96 Cabover: John Wright - John R Wright Trucking
Transit Mixers: Rick Farino - Farino Construction
Dump Truck (2, 3, 4 axles): Bobby Arias - DJ Arias
Local (under 50K per year): Devin Cummins - CumminsTransport.
Tow Truck: Jeremy Gillis - Partners Towing
Working Antiques: John Wright - John R Wright Trucking
Non-Working Antiques: Ed Bonestroo - Vernon Truck Wash
Small Fleet (3-9 trucks in fleet): Tarascou Trucking
Large Fleet (10+ trucks in fleet): Sandvik Trucking
Flatbed: Bill Sandvik - Sandvik Trucking
Heavy Equipment Hauler: Bobby Ipsen - Maggini & Sons
Bottom Dumps: Judi Hall - Roger Hall & Daughter
End Dump: Steven Hettinga - Hettinga Transport
Transfer Dump: Pat Norton - Tarascou Trucking
Tankers (2, 3, 5 axles): Bob Doyle - Golden Bear Marketing
Cross Country/OTR: Bill Sandvik - Sandvik Trucking
Specialty Rig: Tim Ludwig - The Paddy Wagon
Professional Show Truck: Mike Humphreys - Western States
Working Competition/Truck Road-EO (Big
Rigs)
3-Axle Closed Body Backing: Steven Hettinga - Hettinga Trans.
40' Flatbed Backing: Mike Smith - Western States Wholesale
2-Axle Trailer Backing: Tim Ludwig - Paddy Wagon
Doubles Backing: Mike Maggini - Maggini Hay
Truck & Trailer Backing: Jesus Perez - Rads Trucking
Transfer Dump: Rubin Garcia - No Limit Trucking
Sunday Truck Drag Winners (Big Rigs)
2-Axle Cabover: 1st Scott Talkington; RU Mike Martin
2 Axle Conv: 1st Sergio Diaz; RU Joe Arias
3-Axle Cabover: 1st John Talkington; RU Johnny Wright
3-Axle Conv: 1st Scott Williams; RU Cliff Watkins
All other 3-Axles/Catch All: 1st Chris Lewis; RU Marshal Holcomb
Ladies Eliminator: 1st Linda Novak; RU Judi Hall
Super Drag Truck: 1st Wayne Talkington; RU Joe Seaman Jr.
Outlaw Class: 1st Joe Seaman Jr; RU Juarez Trucking
Sunday Specialty Trophies (Big Rigs)
People's Choice: Mike Humphreys - Western States
Longest Tow: Justin Lang - Parkesburn, PA!
Ugliest Truck: Bill Bender and his REALLY UGLY Dump Truck!
Best Lookin' Crew: Unified Western Grocers
Sponsor's Choice: Bob Wilson - Bob Wilson Trucking
Best Peterbilts in Show: Tim Ludwig & Ed Bonestroo
Best Art Detail: Bill Sandvik - Sandvik Trucking
Best Interior: Chuck Prigge - Sandvik Trucking
Best Engine: Elden Easterday - Gary Amoth Trucking
Best Sleeper: Cliff Watkins - CPW Trucking
Quickest Truck: Wayne Talkington - Lucas Oil
Best Burn-Out: Mike Martin - Juarez Trucking
Best of Show: Vladimir Bilik Jr. - In the Wind Trucking
Copyright © 2002 10-4
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