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Red & Wheels Report From North American Truck Show
In Boston
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Celebrating 30 years, the North American Truck Show
(NATS), held at the Bayside Expo Center in Boston, MA from May 2-4,
2002 was a rousing success. With more than 600 exhibitors and a Stars
& Stripes Truck Beauty Event, this year’s trade show drew record crowds.
This was the first time the working show truck competition had been
moved indoors here, and judging by the very positive response of competitors
and the public, it will become an annual indoor event.
Sponsored by Newport Communications, NATS and PPG Paints, participants competed for cash and prizes totaling more than $10,000. PPG donated custom-made chairs to each of the competitors. Special gifts for the participants were also provided by Rockwood Products, 75 Chrome Shop, K&L Chrome Shop, America’s Truck Wash & Chrome Shop and Eastern Truck Accessories, as well as Portrayals of Prized Possessions. With only 30 trucks able to pre-register for the show, space was at a premium. First timers received help and tips from old hands and camaraderie was the name of the game. Special first-time awards were given to two competitors whose presence provided a little something extra. Long time competitor Darian Stephens brought his fiancé, Georganne Beck and their new son to lend a hand. Devon Nigel Stephens celebrated his 1 month birthday at the awards ceremony - which was also his due date! Daddy Darian says that Devon will grow up practicing his “wax on, wax off” techniques - and he now has his first award! Kevin Lortie had more bad luck than many competitors could withstand. Looking forward to competing at his very first show with his 1998 Mack, he banged up his bumper a week prior to the event and the replacement bumper was back-ordered. He was on time to deliver his load, allowing time to clean up before the show, but the consignee kept him tied up all day. He finally made it to the convention center and the on-site wash people were gone. So he drove an hour to the truck wash and by the time he got back, the security people wouldn’t let him bring his truck inside for the night. There were torrential downpours and the polisher couldn’t help him either. But even tired and dirty, he was proud to be there. So, his fellow competitors decided he deserved special recognition for his efforts. The People’s Choice Awards were voted on by members of the public who oohed and aahed over all the incredible working show trucks. The competitors and their crews were not permitted to cast ballots. When the votes were tallied, Rhett Butler Trucking’s “Miss Scarlett” and Donnie & Diana Harper’s “Enduring Freedom” were the crowd favorites (see photos). The competition judges had looked the trucks over from top to bottom, inside and out, motors and undercarriages, looking first for cleanliness, then for shine and all the special details that make these trucks stand out from all the rest. There were no easy decisions, and in many cases only one or two points made the difference between first and third. Trucks chasing the elusive Best of Show designation had to compete in a Main Class, Interior and Engine. The cumulative total of their points determined who was awarded top honors. Clarence Falk of CBF Trucking and Darian Stephens proudly accepted the top spots. Come check out the next Stars & Stripes Show Truck Event - it will be in Las Vegas at ITS, June 27-29. And this year the working show trucks will be parked inside the convention center! We look forward to seeing you there! Here are all the other winners.
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