10-4 Magazine - For Today's Trucker

BIG RIGS HIT BALTIMORE
Story & Photos by Roving Reporter Suzanne Stempinski

They came, they cleaned, they ate, they cleaned, they moved, they cleaned some more, and then they cleaned up. And that was before the opening of the 32nd Annual North American Trucking Show (NATS) held April 29, 30 and May 1. Visitors and show trucks from across the U.S. and Canada came to the Convention Center in Baltimore to celebrate trucking. This was the first time NATS had been held in Baltimore. In 2005, the show will rotate back to a brand-new Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, alternating between the two cities in the years to come. The citizens and city of Baltimore provided a warm welcome, with balmy days and the chance to sample world-famous Maryland Crab Cakes!

In spite of rapidly rising fuel prices and tough economic times, these trucks, their owners and drivers, put their best faces forward for judges and an appreciative public. Dump trucks and tow trucks, reefers, vans and drop decks, day cabs and supersized sleepers – there was something for everyone.

Before the trucks moved inside the Convention Center hall, participants, their families and friends came together to share stories and a barbecue from the custom-built grill of competitors John & Kay Ray of Eastaboga, AL. With stacks billowing smoke and a surface big enough to cook for 50 at a time, John flipped burgers and dogs for the hungry crowd. John’s truck and trailer (a 1999 Mocha Pearl Peterbilt 379 pulling a 1994 Utility reefer trailer) are also crowd-pleasers, with unique stainless-wrapped top and bottom rails on the trailer, custom light bars and boxes, and an overall clean look that makes folks everywhere sit up and take notice.

Leonard and Charlene Testerman picked up their second Best of Show Combo win in 2004. With their immaculate deep burgundy customized Peterbilt 359 with a Double Eagle sleeper, pulling a Reitnouer stepdeck trailer, they were thrilled to receive top honors – especially since their daughter and son-in-law were able to be present to share their success. “We live less than an hour from here,” explained Leonard. “It’s really nice to do well in your own home town.”

Competitor Robert Harnish also made the event a family affair, bringing his wife and daughter along to lend support. A driver for S&H Express, Harnish had hoped to be able to attend, but didn’t get the green light until the week before the show. He had to deliver his load the night before, and scrambled to get ready. “I’m thrilled just to be here at a Stars & Stripes show,” exclaimed Harnish. “I’ve hardly slept out of excitement at actually being able to bring my truck. This is a dream come true.” Nobody could have been more proud and excited than Harnish as his name was called to receive a trophy, recognizing his effort – except maybe his daughter, Autumn!

One of the highlights of this show came right outside the Convention Center as Truk-Rodz by Jones Performance fired up two of their highly customized tractors and filled the night sky with flames shooting high into the air from their stacks. Truk-Rodz produces replacement hoods for all makes of Class 8 tractors, from OEM to totally customized. Their trucks put on quite a show, choreographed to music being blasted from their mind-blowing stereo system.

This special Stars & Stripes Truck Beauty Contest was sponsored by Peterbilt Motors Co., Chevron DELO, Newport’s RoadStar Magazine, OOIDA, Rockwood Products, Alcoa Wheel Products, Bridgestone/Firestone Tire Co., PPG Industries, Howes Lubricator Products, Valley Chrome Plating, Road Works Manufacturing, Inc., Truk-Rodz by Jones Performance, White Diamond Metal Polish, K&L Chrome Shop and Rig Skirts. Thanks go out to all them for their support. And the winners were:

BOBTAIL (2002 & NEWER): 1st Rick Rollman – 2002 White & Purple Peterbilt 379; 2nd Donald & Susan Pardue – 2002 Blue Peterbilt 379 (Bad to the Bone); 3rd Randy & Jona Rebillard – 2002 Blue Peterbilt 379 (Tired Iron).
BOBTAIL (2001 & OLDER): 1st Ron & Jan Huey – 2000 Metallic Silver International 9400; 2nd Carl & Doris Johnson – 1996 Blue & White Freightliner Classic (Northern Fantasy).

BOBTAIL (DAYCAB): 1st Bob Mitchell/Hillwick Trucking – 2004 Lime Green Peterbilt 379; 2nd Tony Boston/Trapp Enterprises – 2001 Silver Peterbilt 379; 3rd Allen & Judy Surridge – 2001 Silver & Gray Kenworth W900L.
BOBTAIL (COMPANY TRUCK): 1st Fred Mayne/Specified Commodity Carriers – 2004 Rose Kenworth W900L; 2nd Robert Harnish/S&H Express – 1999 Blue Freightliner Classic; 3rd Paul Lane/Granite Transportation – 2003 Maroon International 9400.
COMBO (OWNER/OPERATOR): 1st Leonard & Charlene Testerman – 1995 Burgundy Peterbilt 359 & 2004 Reitnour Stepdeck (Rollin’ Thunder); 2nd Danny Strang – 1996 Blue Peterbilt 377 & 1992 Brenner Tanker (Ragin’ Cajun).
COMBO (COMPANY TRUCK): 1st Max Haertling/Mike McLane – 1997 White & Red Kenworth W900L & 1998 Great Dane Reefer (Mad Max); 2nd John & Kay Ray – 1999 Mocha Pearl Peterbilt 379 & 1994 Utility Reefer.

SPECIALIZED: 1st Jeff Trapp/Trapp Enterprises – 2002 Silver Peterbilt 379 Tri-Axle Dump; 2nd Michael Blittersdorf/Blittersdorf Towing – 1995 Red Peterbilt 379 Tow Truck (Super Slider); 3rd Ronnie Williams – 1999 White & Burgundy Peterbilt 379 Tri-Axle Dump.
INTERIOR (CAB ONLY): 1st (tie) Max Haertling/Mike McLane – 1997 White & Red Kenworth W900L & 1998 Great Dane Reefer (Mad Max) AND John & Kay Ray – 1999 Mocha Pearl Peterbilt 379 & 1994 Utility Reefer; 2nd Randy & Jona Rebillard – 2002 Blue Peterbilt 379 (Tired Iron); 3rd Michael Blittersdorf/Blittersdorf Towing – 1995 Red Peterbilt 379 Tow Truck (Super Slider).
INTERIOR (OEM SLEEPER): 1st Carl & Doris Johnson – 1996 Blue & White Freightliner Classic (Northern Fantasy); 2nd Rick Rollman – 2002 White & Purple Peterbilt 379; 3rd Ron & Jan Huey – 2000 Metallic Silver International 9400.

INTERIOR (AFTERMARKET SLEEPER): 1st Donald & Susan Pardue – 2002 Blue Peterbilt 379 (Bad to the Bone); 2nd Leonard & Charlene Testerman – 1995 Burgundy Peterbilt 359 & 2004 Reitnour Stepdeck (Rollin’ Thunder).
CUSTOM PAINT (BOBTAIL): 1st Rick Rollman – 2002 White & Purple Peterbilt 379; 2nd Carl & Doris Johnson – 1996 Blue & White Freightliner Classic (Northern Fantasy); 3rd Allen & Judy Surridge – 2001 Silver & Gray Kenworth W900L.
CUSTOM PAINT (COMBO): 1st Leonard & Charlene Testerman – 1995 Burgundy Peterbilt 359 & 2004 Reitnour Stepdeck (Rollin’ Thunder); 2nd Danny Strang – 1996 Blue Peterbilt 377 & 1992 Brenner Tanker (Ragin’ Cajun); 3rd Max Haertling/Mike McLane – 1997 White & Red Kenworth W900L & 1998 Great Dane Reefer (Mad Max).
ENGINE: 1st Rick Rollman – 2002 White & Purple Peterbilt 379; 2nd Carl & Doris Johnson – 1996 Blue & White Freightliner Classic (Northern Fantasy); 3rd Ron & Jan Huey – 2000 Metallic Silver International 9400.

LIMITED MILEAGE (BOBTAIL): 1st Sonny Trapp/Trapp Enterprises – 2003 Silver Peterbilt 379; 2nd Ken Farrell/Robert & Karen Mulvhill – 1972 Black Peterbilt 379; 3rd Erick Oehme – 1975 Black & Red Mack F700 Cabover (Phantom 309).
BEST THEME: Carl & Doris Johnson – 1996 Blue & White Freightliner Classic (Northern Fantasy).
BEST OF SHOW (BOBTAIL): Rick Rollman – 2002 White & Purple Peterbilt 379.
BEST OF SHOW (COMBO): Leonard & Charlene Testerman – 1995 Burgundy Peterbilt 359 & 2004 Reitnour Stepdeck (Rollin’ Thunder).
PEOPLE’S CHOICE: Michael Blittersdorf/Blittersdorf Towing – 1995 Red Peterbilt 379 Tow Truck (Super Slider).