10-4 Magazine August 2023

Truck Show Report: By Frank Strohmyer With the weather forecast looking not so favorable, fingers were crossed and prayers were said, as folks prepared for the 11th Annual Ohio Vintage Truck Reunion. Held on June 24-25, 2023, at Ashland County Fairgrounds in Ashland, OH, there was a 40% chance of rain and thunderstorms predicted for the weekend of the truck show. But thankfully, a June miracle occurred, and it ended up raining everywhere else except at the Ashland County Fairgrounds. And the show went on to have a record-setting year! This year there were over 323 trucks registered, breaking the previous record set in 2017 with 317 trucks. The show also featured over 200 exhibitors, a truck model contest, a dinner cruise, and memorabilia displays. Typically, this show is held over Father’s Day weekend, but they decided to push it back a week, which prompted a lot of different trucks to show up. Also, the previous weekend dates always competed with the Antique Truck Club of America show held in Macungie, Pennsylvania. By changing the dates, more people came from West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. One of the first trucks to catch my eye was a 1974 Dodge Bighorn with a 750 Holmes wrecker body, owned by John Kessler of Richwood, WV. John has a bunch of old Dodge trucks in his collection, and all are in great condition. He enjoys talking to people about these trucks and hearing the stories from the guys that used to drive them. Brody and Danielle Glover of Mansfield, OH brought a gray 1988 Mack R686 ST. He and his father stretched the frame, so it had a nice wheelbase, polished tanks and wheels, and was looking great. Next, I saw a blue and silver 1986 Freightliner FLC owned by a young man named Kyle Piscione of Burbank, OH. I started talking to Kyle’s mom and she gave me the basic history of the truck, which was a glider kit when it was new. Kyle really wanted to buy it, even though he had only been driving for a short while. Since purchasing the truck, he has been making modifications to it while working it every day. Kyle has a great attitude, and we wish him well with this old truck. He used to show cattle when he was younger, so a cow tag is painted on each side of the hood with the number 86 painted on it. Brandon Smith of Mt. Vernon, OH came to the show in his grandson’s 1971 Ford Highboy Custom 250 4x4. With his grandson being only eight years old now, when he turns 16, he will have a very cool truck to drive. Brandon has been trucking since 1976 and has been 32 10-4 Magazine / August 2023 A JUNE MIRACLE