Two Shows in One at GATS Pride & Polish



National contest award winner in working combo
 was Jonathan Eilen, Hampton, MN, with the 2010
Black & Orange Peterbilt 389/2007 Mac Dump.

A record 71 beauties turned up for the Great American Trucking Show’s Pride and Polish contest, staged in the exhibit hall of the Dallas-based show in August. There were many of the show circuit’s favorites. And that was appropriate for this was the last in a five-show national contest to find the top trucks in the country.

At GATS, awards were passed out for the national winners, with prizes and trophies going to Paul Voigt/Night Train Trucking, St Cloud, MN, for Limited Mileage Combination with his 1999 Blue & Black Peterbilt 379/2004 Great Dane Reefer. The combo goes under the name “Disorderly Conduct.” Taking Limited Mileage Bobtail was Randy Stroup/First Class Trucking, Lewisport, KY, with his 1986 Candy Vibrance Peterbilt 359, which won “First In Class.”

The national contest award winner in working combo was Jonathan Eilen, Hampton, MN, with the familiar 2010 Black & Orange Peterbilt 389/2007 Mac Dump called “Iron Afflicted.” And winning the fourth national title for working bobtail was one of the spectacular Sandvick trucks by Bill & Marie Sandvik, Valley Center, CA, with their 2005 Brown & Red Peterbilt 379.

Adding to the excitement of the beauty show was a three-day film shoot by Speed Channel’s American Trucker with its flamboyant presenter Rob Mariani. During the awards ceremony, he presented a special award from the American Trucker show to Sam & Shawn Helt, Pleasant Hill, MO, for the beautifully restored and customized 1965 Jade Green Peterbilt 281 “Helt Up.” Mariani says he’s more than partial to older trucks, and this low-window model 281 was just the truck to catch his attention.

A broad selection of truck makes were represented, including an International Prostar that took third place in the working bobtail class – quite the achievement for a sleek aerodynamic truck. Macks were well represented, from Eric Hardage’s 1963 B-83 to Gerry Kissinger’s ’91 Superliner, which picked up second place in the national contest for working combination. Freightliners also featured in the winners circle, and, of course, Peterbilts and Kenworths were well represented.

The Speed Channel show is set to air October 6 at 7pm Eastern.


The 2011 GATS Pride and Polish Winners

Working Combination: First Show
117 Ronald Smith/Harkness Litter Service, Center, TX; 1999 Purple Peterbilt 379/2011 Trinity
119 Matthew Wright, Lone Oak, TX; 2005 Peterbilt 379/2011 Mac End Dump – “Green Machine”
103 Troy French, Kingston, TX; 2005 Black Peterbilt 379/2011 Mac End Dump – “Gypsy Soul”

Working Combination: 99 and Older
107 Ryan Hooten, Santa Ynez, CA; 1995 Black Cherry Peterbilt 379/1994 Double Hay Hauler
109 Ray Rodriguez/Lil Ray’s Transport, Salinas, CA; 1988 Peterbilt 379/2003 Fontaine Flatbed – “Hardway”
112 Tommy Roach, Robert Lee, TX; 1999 White Peterbilt 379/2005 Wilson Flatbed

Working Combination: 2000-2005
116 David Silva/Bill Hall Jr, San Antonio, TX; 2001Nightmare Blue Peterbilt 379/2010 Wink Innovater – “True Blue”
105 Justin Hall/Bill Hall Jr, San Antonio, TX; 2004 Nightmare Blue Kenworth W900L – “El Patron”
Ray Rodriguez, Jr/Lil Ray’s Transport, Salinas, CA – 2000 Purple Peterbilt 379/2006 Transcraft Flatbed – “El Patron”

Working Combination: 2006 -2007
118 Billy Wheeler, Crown Point, IN; 2007 Garnet Peterbilt 379/2011 Mac End Dump – “Ten Inches”
120 Mr Pizarro/Texas Chrome Shop, Atascosa, TX; 2006 Maroon Peterbilt 379/2006 Wabash
115 Shane Sandhoff, Waco, TX; 2006 White Peterbilt 379/2011 Mac End Dump – “White Trash”

Working Combination: 2008
123 Jonathan Eilen, Hampton, MN; 2010 Black and Orange Peterbilt 389/2007 Mac Dump – “Iron Afflicted”
106 Tommy Larsen/Ryan Hooten, Santa Ynez, CA; 2008 White and Red Peterbilt 388/2012 Western Drop Deck
125 Johnny Villanueva/Adan Alonso, San Antonio, TX – 2008 Silver Peterbilt 386/ 2000 Vantage

Antique Combination
114 Gary Salisbury, Hope, AR; 1979 Green Kenworth W900A/1978 Utility Flatbed – “Ole Nutcracker”

Working Bobtail: First Show
327: Scott Rud, Byron, MN; 2000 Silver Peterbilt 379
312 Skip Avara, Houston, TX; 2012 Red Peterbilt 389 – “Slow Ride”
325: Dustin Pope/David Pope Produce, Greenville, TX ; 2003 Viper Red Kenworth W900L

Working Bobtail: 2000 and Older
322 Napoleone Leiva/Jaime Jimenez, Dallas, TX; 1999 Yellow and Black Freightliner Century
332 Gil’s Trucking/Texas Chrome Shop, Atascosa, TX; 1984 Blue Peterbilt 359 – “Old Blue”
322 Mike Harper, Cleburne, TX – 1985 Orange and Blue Peterbilt 359 – “Ain’t No Feelin’ Like Petermobilin’”

Working Bobtail: 2001-2005
326 Bruce Smith/Tim Ables, Kilgore, TX; 2003 Brown Peterbilt 379 – “Audrie Lynn”
340 Mike Lemley, Mustang, OK; 2000 Red Peterbilt 379 – “Cathouse”
315 Rusty Conn, San Augustine, TX; 2003 Black Peterbilt 379 – “Black Gold Texas Tea”

Working Bobtail: 2006
339 Tuffy Yeary/Yeary Trucking, Weatherford, TX; 2010 Blue & Black Kenworth W900L
324 Michael Manuel, Front Royal, VA – 2006 Black and Copper Peterbilt 379
334 Mike Auker/TD Transport, Umatilla, FL; 2007 Red Peterbilt 379 – “Keepin It Simple”

Antique Bobtail
315 Eric Hardage, Garland, TX; 1963 Black Mack B-83 – “Big Dog”
328 Wade Wardlaw; Woodville, TX; 1975 White and Black Peterbilt 359 – “Wade’s Pride & Joy”
337 Jimmy Wiley/Yeary Trucking Inc., Weatherford, TX; 1986 Blue and Black Kenworth W900B – “Ol #4”

Best Interior: Cab
333 Ray Graves, Anthony, KS; 1982 White Peterbilt 359
123 Jonathan Eilen, Hampton, MN; 2010 Black and Orange Peterbilt 389/2007 Mac Dump – “Iron Afflicted”
317 Michael Holland, Spring, TX; 2007 Red Peterbilt 379 - “Spice of Life”

Best Interior OEM
339 Tuffy Yeary, Weatherford, TX; 2010 Blue & Black Kenworth W900L – “The Untouchable”
107 Ryan Hooten, Santa Ynez, CA; 1995 Black Cherry Peterbilt 379/1994 Custom Double Hay Hauler
105 Justin Hall/Bill Hall Jr, San Antonio, TX; 2004 Nightmare Blue Kenworth W900L – “El Patron”

Best Interior: Limited Miles
715 Johnny Jabez/Texas Chrome Shop, Atascosa, TX; 2003 Orange & Gold Peterbilt 379

Best Engine: Working Truck
123 Jonathan Eilen, Hampton, MN; 2010 Black and Orange Peterbilt 389/2007 Mac Dump – “Iron Afflicted”
333 Ray Graves, Anthony, KS; 1982 White Peterbilt 359
324 Michael Manuel, Front Royal, VA; 2006 Black and Copper Peterbilt 379

Best Engine: Limited Mileage
516 Randy Stroup/First Class Trucking, Lewisport, KY; 1986 Candy Vibrance Peterbilt 359 – “First In Class”

Custom Paint: Combination
123 Jonathan Eilen, Hampton, MN; 2010 Black and Orange Peterbilt 389/2007 Mac Dump – “Iron Afflicted”
109 Ray Rodriguez/Lil Ray’s Transport, Salinas, CA; 1988 Peterbilt 379/2003 Fontaine Flatbed – “Hardway”
105 Justin Hall/Bill Hall Jr, San Antonio, TX; 2004 Nightmare Blue Kenworth W900L – “El Patron”

Best Paint: Limited Mileage Combination
709 Paul Voigt/Night Train Trucking, St Cloud, MN; 1999 Blue and Black Peterbilt 379/2004 Great Dane Reefer – “Disorderly Conduct”

Custom Paint: Bobtail
333 Ray Graves, Anthony, KS; 1982 White Peterbilt 359
326 Bruce Smith/Tim Ables, Kilgore, TX; 2003 Brown Peterbilt 379 – “Audrie Lynn”
331 Angel Sanchez/Texas Chrome Shop, Atascosa, TX; 2003 Grey and Red Peterbilt – “Lobos” and 332 Gil’s Trucking/Texas Chrome Shop, Atascosa, TX; 1984 Blue Peterbilt 359 – “Old Blue

Best Paint Limited Mileage Bobtail blue sound system
515 Bruce Smith/Thomas Ivy, Kilgore, TX; 1986 Blue Peterbilt 359 – “Ivy’s Poison”

Best of Show

Limited Mileage Combination
709 Paul Voigt/Night Train Trucking, St Cloud, MN; 1999 Blue and Black Peterbilt 379/2004 Great Dane Reefer – “Disorderly Conduct”
715 Johnny Jabez/Texas Chrome Shop, Atascosa, TX; 2003 Orange and Gold Peterbilt 379 and 714 Jake Lindamood/Lindamood Demolition, Irving, TX; 2007 Brown Peterbilt 379/2002 CPS Dump – “Pumped Up”
710 Jeff Hardage, Garland, TX; 1986 Black Peterbilt 359/2004 Fontaine RGN – “Aggie’s Pride”

Limited Mileage Bobtail
516 Randy Stroup/First Class Trucking, Lewisport, KY; 1986 Candy Vibrance Peterbilt 359 – “First In Class”
513 Michael Most, Phoenix, AZ; 1998 Corvette Yellow Freightliner Classic – “Legends and Heroes”
511 Sam & Shawn Helt, Pleasant Hill, MO; 1965 Jade Green Peterbilt 281 – “Helt Up”

Working Combination
123 Jonathan Eilen, Hampton, MN; 2010 Black and Orange Peterbilt 389/2007 Mac Dump – “Iron Afflicted

Working Bobtail
326 Bruce Smith/Tim Ables, Kilgore, TX; 2003 Brown Peterbilt 379 – “Audrie Lynn”

Speed Channel’s American Trucker Special Award
511 Sam & Shawn Helt, Pleasant Hill, MO; 1965 Jade Green Peterbilt 281 – “Helt Up”

National .Championship Series

Natinal Champion: Limited Mileage Combination
709 Paul Voigt/Night Train Trucking, St Cloud, MN; 1999 Blue and Black Peterbilt 379/2004 Great Dane Reefer – “Disorderly Conduct”
706 John Silva, Chowchilla, CA; 2000 Red Peterbilt 379/1990 Utility Double Flatbed
707 Vinnie Diorio, Richfield, WI; 2005 Orange Peterbilt 379/2007 Mac Curtainside Van – “Picture Me Rollin’”

National Champion: Limited Mileage Bobtail
516 Randy Stroup/First Class Trucking, Lewisport, KY; 1986 Candy Vibrance Peterbilt 359 – “First In Class”
Scott Diller, Bethel, PA; 1981 Black and Red Kenworth W900A
Isaac Aguilar/Sandvik Trucking, Valley Center, CA; 1992 Burgundy Peterbilt 379

National Champion: Working Combination
123 Jonathan Eilen, Hampton, MN; 2010 Black and Orange Peterbilt 389/2007 Mac Dump – “Iron Afflicted”
101 Jerry Kissinger, Stoughton, WI; 1991 Burnt Orange Mack Superliner/2006 Great Dane – “Thumper”
100 Cory Radkte/Vinnie Diorio, Richfield, WI – 2007 Peterbilt 379/2007 Mac – “Rollin 4 Jake”

National Champion: Working Bobtail
311 Bill and Marie Sandvik, Valley Center, CA; 2005 Brown and Red Peterbilt 379
323 Brent and  Diane Greer, Renfrew, Ontario, Canada; 1996 Copper and Cream Peterbilt 379
310 Ron and Jan Huey/L.B. Trucking, Inc., Greensburg, IN; 2010 Gray Metallic International ProStar