Walcott Truckers Jamboree Breaks Records; 2006 Event Dates Set

The 26th annual Walcott Truckers Jamboree, held July 14-15, featured 175 exhibits; a Super Truck Beauty Contest with 70 trucks competing, many trucks new to this competition

; an antique truck display with over 200 vehicles; Iowa pork chop cookout; Trucker’s Best Friend Pet Contest; Trucker Olympics; Carnival Games complete with Ferris wheel; two live bands; Colgate Country Showdown music competition; and more.
The Walcott Truckers Jamboree began in 1979 featuring a few exhibits, live music, food and a small display of antique trucks. That first Jamboree only attracted a few hundred drivers, a far cry from the 30,000 it attracts today. Even though the size of the Jamboree has changed over the years, you can bet that its focus hasn’t. Celebrating America’s Truckers is definitely what the Jamboree is all about. It is Iowa 80’s way of thanking drivers for all of their hard work and dedication in hauling America’s freight.
The 27th annual Walcott Truckers Jamboree is scheduled for Thursday and Friday July 13 & 14, 2006.
The 2005 Super Truck Beauty Contest at Walcott were:
2006-2003 Bobtail Conventional
3rd: Mike Panek, Batavia, Ill., gray 2003 Kenworth W900L
2nd: Matt Baenziger, Kingston, Ill., viper red 2005 Peterbilt 379
1st: Jeremy Heiderscheit, Peosta, Ill., brown/blue 2003 Peterbilt 379
2002-1996 Bobtail Conventional
3rd: Butch Garrard, Fairmont, Ill., hunter green 1999 Western Star “Easy Money”
2nd: Russ & Debbie Brown, Moore, Okla., black & orange 1999 Freightliner Classic XL
1st: Ryan Avenarius, Dubuque, Iowa, gray 2001 Freightliner Classic XL “Significant Other”
1995-1989 Bobtail Conventional
2nd: Randy Huddleston, Willow Hill, Ill., champaign 1995 Freightliner FLD 132 “Just Awesome"
1st: Ron Brubaker, Sigourney, Iowa, yellow 1993 Peterbilt 379 “One of a Kind”
1988-1981 Bobtail Conventional
3rd: Jerry Hockaday, Moline, Ill., green & white 1986 Peterbilt 359
2nd: Darrel Madden, New London, Mo., blue 1986 Mack Superliner “SuperDog”
1st: Gary Vaughn, Johnston, Iowa, yellow 1981 Kenworth W900A
1980 & Older Bobtail Conventional
2nd: Tim Miller, Oelwein, Iowa, green 1969 Peterbilt 359 “Pete’s Dragon”
1st: Mike Stoneman, Payette, Idaho, Brown 1951 GMC 970
2006-2001 Combination
3rd: Shawn Swanson, Prophetstown, Ill., white/purple 2002 Kenworth W900B
2nd: Billy Carter, Victor, Iowa, white 2003 Kenworth W900L
1st: Kirk Rolling, LeMars, Iowa, candy apple red 2003 Peterbilt 379 “Ragg Doll”
2000-1992 Combination
3rd: Neal Dykman, Butler, Mo., blue 2000 Peterbilt 379
2nd: Carl Johnson, Carlisle, Pa., blue/white 1996 Freightliner Classic “Northern Fantasy”
1st: Tom & Kim Turner, Cynthiana, Ky., teekwood & beige 1995 Peterbilt 379
1991 & older Combination
3rd: Lavern Cross, Middlebury, Ind., teal & purple 1982 Kenworth W900A “Plain & Fancy”
2nd: Dave Friend, Rossville, Ind., red 1980 Peterbilt Ext. Hood
1st: Mickey Gwillim, Waverly, Ill., white/lime green 1986 Peterbilt 359 Ext. Hood
Custom Paint - Graphics (Bobtail)
3rd: Andy Zary, Saskatoon, Sask., Canada, purple 1959 Mack B61
2nd: Randy Huddleston, Willow Hill, Ill., champaign 1995 Freightliner FLD 132 “Just Awesome”
1st: Jeff Hamilton, Florissant, Mo., orange/red/gold 2001 Kenworth W900L “Zig’s Pig”
Custom Paint - Graphics (TT Combo)
3rd: Tom & Kim Turner, Cynthiana, Ky., teekwood & beige 1995 Peterbilt 379
2nd: Les Sullivan, Springfield, Ill., white & ultra violet 2003 Western Star
1st: Mickey Gwillim, Waverly, Ill., white/lime green 1986 Peterbilt 359 Ext. Hood
Custom Paint - Murals (Bobtail)
3rd: Pat Eilen, Hampton, Minn., silver & blue 2003 Peterbilt 379 “Nitro Bucket”
2nd: Mike Stoneman, Payette, Idaho, brown 1951 GMC 970.
1st: Gailand Johnston, Lamar, Mo., copper & silver 2003 Kenworth W900L “Inferno”
Custom Paint - Murals (TT Combo)
3rd: Carl Johnson, Carlisle, Pa., blue/white 1996 Freightliner Classic “Northern Fantasy”
2nd: Mike Schwersenske, Westfield, Wisc., yellow 2002 Kenworth W900L
1st: Ron Baird, Thornton, Ind., green 2000 Peterbilt 379 “Hoffman’s Hot Rod”
Polish & Detail
(Judges said this category was tough this year. It came down to finding a smudge to separate 1st, 2nd & 3rd.)
3rd: Mickey Gwillim, Waverly, Ill., white/lime green 1986 Peterbilt 359 Ext. Hood
2nd: Pat Eilen, Hampton, Minn., silver & blue 2003 Peterbilt 379 “Nitro Bucket”
1st: Shawn Swanson, Prophetstown, Ill., white/purple 2002 Kenworth W900B
Interior - OEM Sleeper
3rd: Glen Page, Camden, Mich., red & black 2001 Peterbilt 379 “Precious”
2nd: Gailand Johnston, Lamar, Mo., copper & silver 2003 Kenworth W900L “Inferno”
1st: Ryan Avenarius, Dubuque, Iowa., gray 2001 Freightliner Classic XL “Significant Other”
Interior - OEM Conversion Sleeper
3rd: Mike Stoneman, Payette, Idaho., brown 1951 GMC 970
2nd: Ron Baird, Thornton, Ind., green 2000 Peterbilt 379 “Hoffman’s Hot Rod”
1st: Russ & Debbie Brown, Moore, Okla., black & orange 1999 Freightliner Classic XL
Interior - Custom Sleeper
3rd: Ed Borger, Moulton, Iowa, red 2005 Peterbilt
2nd: Andy Zary, Saskatoon, Sask., Canada, purple 1959 Mack B61
1st: Tom & Kim Turner, Cynthiana, Ky., teekwood & beige 1995 Peterbilt 379
Lights at Night - Bobtail
3rd: Ernie Vole, Vernon Hills, Ill., red & black 1971 Peterbilt 359 “The Godfather”
2nd: Butch Garrard, Fairmont, Ill., hunter green 1999 Western Star “Easy Money”
1st: Pat Eilen, Hampton, Minn., silver & blue 2003 Peterbilt 379 “Nitro Bucket”
Lights at Night - Combination
3rd: Mickey Gwillim, Waverly, Ill., white/lime green 1986 Peterbilt 359 Ext. Hood
2nd: Tom & Kim Turner, Cynthiana, Ky., teekwood & beige 1995 Peterbilt 379
1st: Ron Baird, Thornton, Ind., green 2000 Peterbilt 379 “Hoffman’s Hot Rod”
Best Overall Theme
WINNER: Ron Baird, Thornton, Ind., green 2000 Peterbilt 379 “Hoffman’s Hot Rod”
Show Class
WINNER: Gailand Johnston, Lamar, Mo., copper & silver 2003 Kenworth W900L “Inferno”
Specialty Class
2nd: Rick Ingram, Lincolnshire, Ill., blue 2003 Peterbilt 330 salt truck “Mr. January”
1st: Pat Eilen, Hampton, Minn., silver & blue 2003 Peterbilt 379 dump truck “Nitro Bucket”
Trucker’s Choice
WINNER: Andy Zary, Saskatoon, Sask., Canada, purple 1959 Mack B61