10-4 Magazine October 2024

Trucker Talk: By John & Kim Jaikes After coming back to Waupun from the Green Bay Truck Show in 1988, five friends were sitting in a diner and, while discussing the truck show, they put their minds together and the Waupun Truckers Jamboree was born (now known as the Waupun Truck-N-Show). Those five friends were Ron Vande Zande, Don Schultz, Steve Wendt, John Williamson, and Alton Asmus. Star ting out small, the registration was done on the back of a hay wagon, and they gave out plaques to the winners. From its humble beginnings, the show grew to bring in 300-350 trucks every year, with some years growing to 500+ trucks. This year, over 600 trucks rolled into Waupun to celebrate a great show and to be par t of something very special after the event producers announced that this would be the last one. Many had attended this event for years, and others made the final show their first one, wanting to experience it before it was gone. The show would never have been possible without all the sponsors and volunteers who made it happen every year for 35 years. The generous donations from sponsors and the volunteers who became family were all dedicated to the success of the show. It was an event that the city wholehear tedly suppor ted, and the townspeople looked forward to every year. So much of the money raised over the years helped people who were local in the community. In the early years they gave to the Mac fund, sponsoring families in the surrounding area, and helping them with medical bills. Since then, $5,000 has been donated to the Waupun Humane Society, $385,000 to Special Olympics, with a lot of help to that charity coming from John and Julie Drake, REACH in Waupun, a local charity that works with the school to help families with financial stress and so much more, has received over $57,000, and since 2003 over $687,000 has been given to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Over the years, the show has helped grant 50 wishes to deserving kids. This year Brian and Shonda Pete from Mineral Point, WI had the honor of being the last Parade Marshalls. The shir ts, with a picture of their truck and the “Last Ride Through Waupun” text, were in big demand, and sold out by early Saturday morning. After the show, they made more shir ts available by order only. Brian and Shonda are celebrating 20 years in business as Pete Transpor t. With hard work, dedication, and taking care of the people who work for them, they have grown their business over the years. Bringing their first truck in 2015, they became big suppor ters of the show. Congratulations to Brian and Shonda for being such a beautiful par t of the “Last Ride Through Waupun!” There were many friendships made in Waupun, and sometimes it would be the only time friends would be able to see each other during the year. It became a trucking family reunion. I can remember being parked on the street with friends like Harvey and Karen Zander displaying Icy Blu. Karen had an “icy” touch when she set that truck up for a show, and even more so, when Harvey put together Icy Blu ll. This year, we got to talk to Harvey from the show and got to share a few memories, even though he was not able to attend. His favorite memory was in 2007 when he got to be the Parade Marshall. Everyone knew Streaker and his combo with horses painted on the sides, along with one of Brian Dreher’s first show trucks – a pink Freightliner called “Sho Enf Pink” – which was a classic beauty! That truck and trailer would turn heads, and all the drivers who got to drive it said they loved it! Darian Stephens was well-known for his amazing Freightliner Classic XL called Keystone JR. Trev Timblin, Vinnie Diorio, and Quad Graphics have also been big suppor ters and par ticipants at the show over the years, along with Homer’s Towing out of Milwaukee, which has sponsored a band for many years, as well as brought out their big wreckers to display in their booth. Big Rig Chrome Shop in Osh Kosh were also a huge suppor ter over the years, and always gave shir ts to all the competitors. Going through the 2024 program brought back memories of shows and happenings from years ago. 1996 was the first year the Lights of the Night Convoy joined the famous day parade through town. The show star ted a Rolling Memorial in 2003, with names of people from the Waupun community, as well as the trucking community, who had passed, printed on boards, and strapped to a flatbed. As the years went by, more names were added to these boards, including three of the show’s founding members – Ron Vande Zande, Steve Wendt and Alton Asmus. We would like to thank everyone this year for getting the last name placed on the Driver’s Board – our friend Mike Horan. 68 10-4 Magazine / October 2024 OUR LAST RIDE!