10-4 Magazine - For Today's Trucker

JULY 2004 WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO...

BORN AGAIN BIG RIG

Story and Photo by Truck Historian/Author Stan Holtzman

(Click on image for larger photo)

This picture, taken at the Texaco Terminal Station off Waterman Avenue in Colton, California, dates back to 1965. The truck originally started out as a 1948 LT Mack, but it was wrecked and re-kitted in 1955 into a Kenworth. Leased to Ringsby Truck Lines of Denver, John Talkington and Gene Zittle ran coast-to-coast with this KW. The rig had a 265 horsepower V-8 Cummins backed by a 5 & 3 speed for trannys. This truck was painted in the typical Ringsby colors, which were orange and black. This unit ran as far east as New York, hauling meat products one way, and then returning with produce. Though Gene Zittle is no longer with us, John Talkington and his son Wayne have become quite famous in the truck drag racing scene with their 1960’s Kenworth drag truck. Known as T-N-T Racing out of Fontana, California, the Talkington’s neat-looking blue racing truck is a real crowd-pleaser whenever there is a major truck show out West, and has won many titles and trophies while competing in various truck racing events across the country. If you’d like to see more pictures or purchase one of my books, visit www.linerigs.com today.