WILD IN WILDWOOD
Story & Photos by Roving Reporter Suzanne Stempinski

It seems Florida has more to offer than a trip to the mouse house. In fact, at 75 Chrome Shop in Wildwood, Florida, there’s nothing Mickey or even mini about their operation. It’s a place where truck dress-up dreams can come true – in more ways than you may have imagined. Picture a 30,000 sq. ft. building with more than 10,000 sq. ft of chrome, stainless, aluminum, lights, wood and other special accessories. Then add a game room that turns grown men (and women) into happy kids. Throw in the opportunity to do your laundry and watch TV after you grab a shower in immaculate tile and glass appointed shower rooms while your oil is being changed and the accessories you had to have are being installed – and you may begin to scratch the surface of this amazing new facility located at the junction of I-75 and the Florida Turnpike – about 55 miles northwest of Orlando.

Oh – did you know about the CB shop and vinyl shop? They’re part of the package, too. According to owner Debbie Farkus, “If you need it, we’ve got it – and if we don’t have it, you don’t need it!” Call their showroom, and if you happen to be on hold while one of their very qualified staff finds the perfect part for you, you’ll listen to country music’s Trace Adkins singing his hit song “Chrome.”

On October 10-12, 75 Chrome Shop presented their Truck Expo, highlighted by a truck beauty competition, live band, vendor booths, car show, raffles and some of the best home-cooked barbecue anyone could wish for. It started with the formal ribbon-cutting ceremony recognizing the chrome shop’s new home, adjacent to their old 1,800 sq. ft. shop which will soon become a restaurant.

Forty gleaming bobtails and combos decked and customized to reflect their owners’ and drivers’ tastes filled the parking lot – with clean-up efforts made while keeping an eye to the skies. Even daily doses of liquid sunshine didn’t keep anyone from putting their best parts forward as on-site polishers and stalwart participants scrubbed from front to back, top and bottom.

There’s a new “fish” truck out there – and it is just plain awesome. Canadian owner-operator Clarence Falk, who debuted the truck in Reno at TruckerFest added more fish murals to the door and hood of this 1998 Peterbilt 379 with a 144" bunk, pulling a 2003 Great Dane stainless dry van. He also had strategically placed cut-outs made in the hood (top and sides) to showcase the gleam of chrome and painted motor, and neon dolphins to light the way at night. Falk, who hauls furniture primarily between Winnipeg and Florida, started his show truck career in 1999. “I drove by Louisville in March of 1998 and stayed for two days. Then I went home and took my totally plain truck and trailer and started working on them. I haven’t stopped working on my trucks since then!” Falk, whose company CBF Trucking has 25 trucks, tries to run at least one trip himself every month – sometimes more. “It keeps me in touch with what’s going on out there and it also shows my drivers that I’m still a driver – not just an office guy.” With that kind of office – who wouldn’t want to be the designated driver?

Plenty of Canadians came out to play in Wildwood. None left any happier than Randy Rebillard. Randy, along with his wife, Jona, had brought their 2002 Pete 379 to their third truck show – they had been winless at the first two. But bringing home a trophy for this truck, called “Tired Iron” wasn’t the primary reason for being there. Meeting new people and connecting with friends was the important thing. Randy and Jona, a registered nurse, have been devoted to each other for 22 years and also love to dress up their truck. For her birthday in August, Jona asked for, and received, a custom fifth wheel cover painted with a mural of an old steam engine – copied from a picture Randy had seen in South Dakota. To celebrate his birthday, Jona surprised Randy with a stainless steel rear tractor bumper – loaded with LED lights – and had it installed in the chrome shop’s installation bay while the couple went to pick up some tire painting pens at the local Wal-Mart! The combination of devotion to each other and hard work must have done the trick, because the Rebillards brought home three trophies – including two first place honors for their interior and paint!

As the rain tapered off, trucks began to make their way back out onto the highway – ready to go back to work hauling essential stuff from one side of North America to the other.

75 CHROME SHOP 2003 TRUCK
EXPO WINNERS

Combo (Under 50,000 mi): 1st Cody Stone Trucking – 2003 Peterbilt 379; 2nd Surcombe Transportation/Gary Ragland – 2003 Freightliner Coronado.
Combo (99 or Newer): 1st Brian Jones – 1999 Kenworth W900L; 2nd Ron Saris – 1999 Kenworth W900L.
Combo (93-98): 1st Clarence Falk – 1998 Peterbilt 379.
Combo (75-83): 1st Billy Baker – 1982 Peterbilt 359; 2nd W.L. Putnam – 1980 Kenworth W900A.
Bobtail (Under 50,000 mi): 1st John Davis – 2004 Peterbilt 379.
Bobtail (99 or Newer): 1st Asbury Trucking – 1999 Kenworth W900L; 2nd Ron & Jan Huey – 2000 International 9400; 3rd Randy & Jona Rebillard – 2002 Peterbilt 379.
Bobtail (93-98): 1st Garza Bros Inc. – 1997 Peterbilt 379; 2nd Mike & Ruth Knezevich – 1998 Peterbilt 379.
Bobtail (84-92): 1st Trees Forever/Tony King – 1986 Peterbilt 359; 2nd Harry Griffin – 1987 Peterbilt 359.
Company Truck Combo: 1st McLane Trucking/Max Haertling – 2003 Kenworth W900L; 2nd Van Eerden Trucking/Jerry Harker – 2003 Peterbilt 379.
Company Truck Bobtail: 1st Mike Auker/TDT Trucking – 1985 Peterbilt 359; 2nd Raven Transport – 2000 Volvo VN770.
Professional Show Truck: 1st Van Kampen Trucking/Marvin & Sue VanKampen – 1999 Kenworth W900L.
Antique: 1st Rick Walker – 1953 Peterbilt 350A; 2nd Bob & Joyce Thrift – 1973 Peterbilt 288TA; 3rd Virgil Hawkins – 1974 Marmon.
First Time Show: 1st Dan & Jim Young – 2000 International Eagle; 2nd NMT/William Kemper – 2002 Peterbilt 379; 3rd G.K. Pope/Rusty Montgomery – 1995 Peterbilt 379.
Dump Truck: 1st Todd Bowser – 2003 Kenworth W900L; 2nd Tyler Bowser – 2003 Kenworth W900L; 3rd Vincent L. Lubrano – 1984 Mack.
Interior (Cab Forward): 1st Trees Forever/Tony King – 1986 Peterbilt 359; 2nd Garza Bros./Victor Garza – 1997 Peterbilt 379; 3rd Ron & Jan Huey – 2000 International 9400.
OEM Sleeper: 1st Randy & Jona Rebillard – 2002 Peterbilt 379; 2nd (tie) Asbury Trucking – 1999 Kenworth W900L and Mike & Ruth Knezevich – 1998 Peterbilt 379; 3rd Western Distributing/Rick Walker – 1953 Peterbilt 350A.
Custom Sleeper: 1st Van Kampen Trucking/Marvin & Sue VanKampen – 1999 Kenworth W900L; 2nd Clarence Falk – 1998 Peterbilt 379.
Graphics Combo: 1st Van Kampen Trucking/Marvin & Sue VanKampen – 1999 Kenworth W900L; 2nd Van Eerden Trucking/Jerry Harker – 2003 Peterbilt 379; 3rd Surcombe Transportation/Gary Ragland – 2004 Freightliner Coronado.
Graphics Bobtail: 1st Trees Forever/Tony King – 1986 Peterbilt 359; 2nd Asbury Trucking – 1999 Kenworth W900L; 3rd Garza Bros./Victor Garza – 1997 Peterbilt 379.
Mural Combo: 1st Western Distributing/Rick Walker – 1953 Peterbilt 350A; 2nd Clarence Falk – 1998 Peterbilt 379; 3rd W.L. Putnam – 1980 Kenworth W900A.
Mural Bobtail: 1st Jona & Randy Rebillard – 2002 Peterbilt 379.
Lights Combo: 1st Clarence Falk – 1998 Peterbilt 379; 2nd (tie) Western Distributing/Rick Walker – 1953 Peterbilt 350A and Brian Jones – 1999 Kenworth W900L; 3rd (tie) Van Kampen Trucking/Marvin & Sue VanKampen – 1999 Kenworth W900L and McLane Trucking/Max Haertling – 1997 Kenworth W900L.
Lights Bobtail: 1st Asbury Trucking – 1999 Kenworth W900L; 2nd Garza Bros./Victor Garza – 1997 Peterbilt 379; 3rd Vincent C. Lubrano – 1987 Mack SuperLiner.
Engine: 1st Trees Forever/Tony King – 1986 Peterbilt 359; 2nd Asbury Trucking – 1999 Kenworth W900L; 3rd Western Distributing/Rick Walker – 1953 Peterbilt 350A.
Best of Show Combo: Clarence Falk – 1998 Peterbilt 379.
Best of Show Bobtail: Asbury Trucking – 1999 Kenworth W900L.
People’s Choice: Clarence Falk – 1998 Peterbilt 379.