10-4 Magazine November 2021

While we were busy cooking on Saturday, the trucks star ted rolling in. By the end of the day, over half the lot was full and most of the vendors were setup and ready to go. Around dusk, the TFK crew presented Frank and Dianna with a super-cool neon sign of the Truckin’ For Kids logo, along with a beautiful custom cake (one of the cakes we offered as desser t after our dinner). Once it got dark, the light show began, and what a sight it was. After the 2020 show cancellation, it was awesome to finally see TFK back in action and all those amazing rigs lighting up the lot. And to document and share the event, our very own John Testa, with help from Julia Hull, livestreamed the entire evening to Facebook and our YouTube channel for all to see. With absolutely perfect California weather (clear blue skies and temps in the low 80s), the show got off to a great star t on Sunday morning. Registration was open until noon, and by then the location was full, with almost 300 trucks on the lot. There was a time when the carloads of spectators, waiting to get in, were lined up for a mile in each direction to enter the speedway parking lot. At one point, the parking lot was full, so they had to wait for a car to leave before they could let another one in. What a great show of suppor t for this awesome charity event! Walking around or, in my case, riding around in the golf car t due to my broken foot and the boot I was wearing, there were some awesome rigs on the lot. Along with many of the usual suspects at TFK like the Maggini crew, Alber t Guzman, Vince Jenkins, Ron Ver Steeg, Miro Dragich, Lil Ray’s group, Stan Alles and others, Central Valley Transpor t had a lineup of six bright red trucks, all looking good, with the flagship being Colton Pounds’ stellar Peterbilt, covered with flames and pinstripes. Other folks that were lookin’ good were George DeFrancesco (DDT) and a por tion of his fleet (including his green and black Peterbilt that was featured on our June 2016 cover), John Lagomarsino and his lineup of sharp heavy haulers, Bobby Vaz and his clean cream and orange Peterbilts, and our friend and past cover trucker Rolando Nava (Rollin’ R) and his large collection of super-nice reefer rigs, including several head-turning aero trucks. Not to be outdone by anyone, Double E out of Fresno, CA had several nice tanker trucks, Kelvin Monzon of Monzon & Sons in Los Angeles, CA (another past cover trucker) had a bunch of blue, black and silver construction-related and heavy haul trucks, along with an amazing silver and blue 1967 Mustang Fastback that matched his fleet, and Arrowhead water, which always brings out some great rides. Also looking good was our past cover trucker (May 2020) Jose Ruben Vargas and his bright red Pete 386 and black cur tain van, Rob House, who still has the same red and blue 2005 Peterbilt 357 mixer truck we featured on our cover back in April 2006, only now it is all black, and Jerry Salinas, who’s maroon 2-axle 1963 Peterbilt 281 (that was featured on our February 2013 cover) is always on-point and looking perfect. 10-4 Magazine / November 2021 21 At noon the drag races began. With plenty of street pickups, hot rod diesel pickups, racing trucks, hopped-up big rigs and custom Super Drag trucks, the racing was hot and heavy. The grandstands were full, as all the trucks did their burnouts and made their passes. With the final race happening just before 4:00 PM, between a custom white Pete race truck from Hernandez Diesel Garage and a red A-Model Kenwor th with yellow flames from V-Bros. Racing, the crowd was on their feet. In a tight race, Oscar Velasquez in the red KW narrowly beat Arnold Hernandez in the white Pete for the Super Drag title. Once the racing ended, it was time for the awards – and it was one of the only times I can remember them star ting on schedule. Some of the big winners included Shawn McClintic of Arrowhead (several awards), Central Valley Transpor t (Best Large Fleet and many other individual awards), Ron Beer (Best Sleeper), Stan Alles (Best Peterbilt), George DeFrancesco (Best Metal Shine) and Ray Rodriquez (Best Engine and People’s Choice). Our “Sponsor’s Choice” award went to Kameran Lowe-Ash and his slammed and sterile battleship gray Peterbilt 389 and black-sided Utility van. This thing was making a huge statement, but in a very subtle and understated way. The big “Best of Show” trophy went to C.G. Soza of Soza Trucking out of Atwater, CA. His stunning bright red and blue W900L Kenwor th and matching car hauler trailer, which was parked right next to our booth, also won the Best Interior award.