10-4 Magazine - For Today's Trucker

MARCH 2006 TRUCKER TALK
THE BOYZ BEHIND TMT
By Writers and Owner Operators Rod & Kim Grimm

With everything else these days being built, made over or traded, wasn’t it about time they got around to doing big trucks? And Country Music Television (CMT) did it in grand style by giving the show “Trick My Truck” (TMT) a chance to let the truck drivers of America shine! Bryan Martin and his Chrome Shop Mafia (CSM) division of 4 State Trucks in Joplin, MO, along with Ryan “Ryno” Templeton, Rod & Kevin Pickett, CB Grimes, Scott St. Germain, Scott Draeger and Rob Richardson, turned eight everyday work trucks into true head-turners.

We recently had the good fortune of having work done to our truck by some of the guys who worked on the CMT trucks. And while in Joplin, we got to talk to the guys about the experience. Without these guys and the sponsors, there wouldn’t have been all these really cool trucks! This “Mafia” you want to do a “job” on your truck! And they can. All you have to do is get to Joplin, Missouri. But you should call for an appointment first, because the boyz are pretty busy these days.

We want to dedicate this months’ column to Bryan’s father. Larry Martin passed away suddenly on September 24, 2005 before ever getting to see any of the TMT trucks completed. But longtime family friend Gailand Johnston begged to differ, saying, “He got to see them – he’s watching over us now.” Talking with Bryan he told me, “Anything we have now or ever hope to have, we owe to dad; he taught us how to work and how to treat people right.” I wish we’d have known Larry, but we never had the chance to meet him. One thing I’m sure of is that he is very proud. I did get to meet Linda, Larry’s wife (Bryan’s mom), and what a sweetheart she is (everyone calls her mom). In the little bit of time that I got to visit with her, I can understand why.

There have been a lot of stories written about the show and the trucks, but we thought it might be nice to help you get to know the “boyz” behind the show a little better and divulge some “insider” information. All the guys with the Chrome Shop Mafia are the best! Bryan Martin (AKA The Don) is in charge of the whole operation, but he doesn’t do it alone. Some of the behind the scenes helpers that did a lot of work but weren’t on the show included David Burkey, Aaron “Al” Dockery, Joe Overfelt and Brian Swartz. Awesome work done by all – I know this because they’ve worked on our truck.

By now, you all probably know CB Grimes and his attention to detail. He recently put a new grille on our truck and I watched him wipe all the fingerprints off each louver. CB is Bryan’s right-hand man when it comes to building custom trucks – whether they are for the television show or for a customer. And then we have Scrapyard. He didn’t get to do any work on our truck – we didn’t need to do any tearing down – but I did get to chat with him out in his yard. Scrapyard has been an iron cutter for 25 years, working for 4 State Trucks for the last nine. He’s had help over the years, but now he’s his own boss and it’s his yard. While I visited, he was cutting up old fuel tanks. After asking for his permission, I went out back to check out the Junkyard Playground (featured at the beginning of each episode). Pretty cool! Bryan told me that Scrapyard is “the real deal” and after spending some time with him, I believe it.

Scott St. Germain of Baker, LA is the “boss” on the show. His job is to keep everything in line, moving forward, and to make sure that all the parts needed are right and there on time. With the tight time schedule they are working with, there just isn’t time to backtrack and/or do things twice. Scott told me that all these guys are professionals, but even so, “When you get that much testosterone together in a workshop, there’s bound to be some screaming.” But they all worked together and got the huge job of turning eight beater rigs into eight head-turners completed in only 4 1/2 months (and many of the guys still had to perform their “regular” work duties, too). Bryan and Scott have a lot in common – both had successful fathers who passed away at the same age and of the same thing. And they work well together. Scott also helps 4 State Trucks and CSM out at the truck shows. He’s even been known to show up in full “gangster” attire to help promote CSM. Before working for Bryan, Scott had his own trucks.

Everyone I talked to in the shop said what a “nice” guy Ryan “Ryno” Templeton (the awesome painter) is. After chatting with him, I thought the same thing. He told me that he shut his business in Anaheim, CA down for six months to participate in the show. He put up an “Under Construction” sign on his door and moved to Joplin, MO. Before getting involved with this project, he had no idea about the trucking industry. I can’t paint, and he admitted to me that he had to have someone else pull the trucks into the paint bay for him. Hey, when you can paint like he can, someone else can drive the truck. I’m happy to report that he is filling up his newly-constructed space and will probably need more very soon. He did need to brush up on his L.A. driving skills upon getting home. Apparently, the traffic was a little lighter in Joplin. When I asked him if he would do another season he said, “Sure.” You can visit Ryno’s new website at www.blast-of-air.com.

Talking with Rod Pickett, he agreed with all the others, that they would do another season, if they (CMT) ask. It was a lot of work flying from Washington to Missouri to work and then flying back home, but it was worth it. Their custom fabrication shop is in Marysville, WA (just north of Seattle). If you can’t get there, they can make and ship custom parts for you. Rod told me that they (he and his brother Kevin) were currently in the process of chopping the top of a truck. Their website, which features a lot of pictures, can be found at www.pickettcustomtrucks.com.

Rob Richardson of Joplin, MO will soon be opening an audio shop right around the corner from 4 State Trucks. Rob wants to cater to the driver’s needs, with an audio board featuring everything from the affordable (for most drivers) to the really complex. He knows that drivers don’t have days to get this work done and will really try to do installations on a driver’s schedule. Rob got interested in audio while growing up around bands (his dad was in a rock band). After high school, he got a girlfriend and a regular job loading trucks in the caves in Carthage, MO. After the girlfriend thing fell apart, good pay and benefits weren’t so important, so he decided to make a job of the thing he loved most – audio. Before the show, Rob had done the audio work on a couple of 4 State’s show trucks (Mob Sled and Inferno). With 15 years of car stereo experience, this guy can put together a killer sound system for anyone interested. Check out Rob’s new website at www.robsaudio.com.

All the beautiful interiors in the trucks built for the show were done by Scott Draeger, owner of TrukGuts Upholstery in Joplin, MO. Scott has 20 years of street rod ideas that he can use in trucks to make them truly one of a kind. Using high-quality materials and all that experience, you will be happy when he gets done with his work! He made some desperately-needed new vinyl pieces for our truck (Illusion), and what a difference they made! He even learned a new little trick for the bras that go over the front fenders, creating covers that are all molded with no seams – it’s beyond beautiful! Check out the interior they made for Wayne Baker (and others) at www.trukguts.com.

Then I had the pleasure of spending two days with my new friend, Darlene Swift of Taylor Ridge, IL (thanks Dave Carson). She is the only woman to have her truck tricked out on the show. Fearing that the boyz would give her a “girlie” truck covered with pink bunnies and a hot tub, she was pleasantly surprised with how it turned out (black and orange with horse silhouettes outside and a bamboo waterfall inside). While Darlene was driving the loaner truck furnished by Western Star, she stopped at Barloworld Freightliner in Springdale, AR. Adam Arrington questioned her about the “My other truck is being tricked by CMT” graphics on the side so she explained how her truck was getting a complete makeover. She told him that when it was done she knew that 50 miles down the road the oil leaks from her engine would make her new rig a mess (the makeovers are strictly cosmetic – no work is done to the drivetrain). Adam told her that he would see what he could do – maybe Detroit could do an overhaul for her to complete her makeover.

They did better than that! Detroit sent a remanufactured engine, complete with turbo, sensors, air compressor, AC compressor, flywheel housing, a new radiator and chrome valve covers! Even the Detroit logos on the side of the engine had been hand-painted. And Barloworld Freightliner had John “Coop” Cooper install it. This man not only installed the engine but he also took the time and care to clean up and paint the old parts that were being reused. He did an awesome job. The old parts looked as good as the new ones. Darlene REALLY got a makeover, both inside and out! Heck, she practically got a whole new truck.

The show is only a half hour long, but we all know it takes months to do what these guys did to these trucks. All of the guys spent long days and short nights, working together to make this happen, taking time away from their families and loved ones to do this outstanding job. Gailand Johnston pointed out the true heroes of this story – the guy’s wives. Sometimes left at home alone for days or even weeks, they really picked up the slack which allowed these guys to do all the work and make this show happen. Hopefully, CMT will have another season of TMT – and with all the talk I have been hearing about it, I can’t believe that they won’t (even people not involved in trucking are stopping their channel surfing to watch).

I really like the way the guys worked to make the truck perfect for the driver – they had concepts to work with and they really pulled them off. At the beginning of the show, when they “take” the trucks, remember it’s still a little bit Hollywood. To make the show as interesting and fun as possible, some things may have been embellished a little, so don’t get so freaked out about the shape of the trucks. We hope you enjoy the show as much as we do. These guys put so much into this project, and I’m proud to say that it’s a show that doesn’t involve arguing or throwing things.

All roads lead to Louisville this month. This year we’re showing the (new and improved) big truck and taking the model of her to remind us how easy it was last year! And this year, I’ll be left with no time to get a sunburn! Stop by the 4 State Trucks booth and meet all the Chrome Shop Mafia guys – they are all the best at what they do. And be sure to visit the 10-4 Magazine booth as well. They’ll have plenty of free posters and magazines, as well as great pictures and t-shirts for sale. We would like to thank David, CB, Joe, Al and Bryan for all the work they did on our truck. Bryan, you’ve got a great group of people working for you. And the best part is that being on TV hasn’t changed any of them. And Scrapyard, I’d like to thank you most of all for NOT working on our truck!