TruckerFest, which has become a sizzling part of Hot August Nights these past few years, returned to Reno, Nev., last weekend, blending right in with the hot rods and hot rides.

Sporting bright LEDs that gave the casinos some visual competition, dozens of tractor-trailers and bobtails cruised downtown late Friday and Saturday nights, passing under the famous arch on Virginia Street. Thousands of visitors lined the streets cheering as truckers blasted their horns and showed off their personalized rigs.
In the daylight hours, TruckerFest activities took place at the Alamo Petro in nearby Sparks, including continous musical entertainment by Joey Holiday, exhibit booths, games for the kids, three dozen rigs on display and free steak dinners for CDL holders.
Judging for the Stars & Stripes Truck Beauty Contest resulted in prizes, trophies and bragging rights to the winners, awarded Saturday afternoon at the Silver Legacy Casino.
Winners included:

WORKING COMBO - BEST OF SHOW –
Tom & Kim Turner/Cynthiana, Ky. – 1995 Teak & Beige Peterbilt 379/2003 Transcraft Step Deck – “El Dorado”

WORKING COMBO – 1999 & NEWER
1st – Dale Johnson/DNR Transport/Hemingway, S.C. – 2006 Red Peterbilt 379/2006 Fontaine Flatbed – “Finger Lickin’ Good”
2nd – Cary Bess/W. Jordan, Utah – 2005 White & Yellow Kenworth W900L/2005 Utility Reefer – “Pure Punishment”
3rd – Shane Franklin/Newland & Family Trucking/Grayland, Wash. – 2003 White & Blue Peterbilt 379/2006 Wilson Curtain Van
4th – Rick Eggleston/Central Point, Ore. – 2001 Orange & White Peterbilt 379/1999 Curtain Van
5th – Rod & Kim Grimm/Vinton, Iowa – 1999 Blue & Black Kenworth W900L/2001 Utility Reefer – “Illusion”

WORKING COMBO – 1998 & OLDER
1st – Tom & Kim Turner/Cynthiana, Ky. – 1995 Teak & Beige Peterbilt 379/2003 Transcraft Step Deck – “El Dorado”
2nd – Keith Pounds/Central Valley Transport/Bakersfield, Calif. – 1987 Purple Freightliner Cabover/1998 Utility Double Flatbed – “Bootlegger”
3rd – Ernie Newland/Newland & Family Trucking/Grayland, Wash. – 1998 Green Western Star/2006 Rinker Curtain Van
4th – Gary Berrington/Wellington, Nev. – 1982 White & Red Peterbilt 359/2006 Landoll Flatbed – “Leo’s ’82”
5th – Bruce Gieg/T&D Trucking/Medford, Ore. – 1998 Yellow Peterbilt 379/2003 Western Curtain Van

WORKING BOBTAIL
BEST OF SHOW – Randy & Jona Rebillard/Gimli, Manitoba – 2002 Dark Blue Peterbilt 379 – “Tired Iron”
2nd – Jeremy Smith/Ed Davis/Canby, Ore. – 1994 Lime Green Peterbilt 379
3rd – Ray Elvis/DNR Transport/Hemingway, S.C. – 2006 Black Sapphire Peterbilt 379
4th – Alan Thran/Mauck Trucking/Ft. Bridger Wyo. – 2007 Grape Kenworth W900L
5th – Bill & Joyce Rucker/JE Williams Trucking/Billings, Mont. – 2006 White Peterbilt 379 – “Angels in the Air”

LIMITED MILEAGE - COMBO
BEST OF SHOW – Clint Dicks/TDT Trucking/Lake City, Fla. – 2000 White & Orange Peterbilt 379/2006 Mac Flatbed – “Freshly Squeezed”
2nd – George Van Dyke/Tangent, Ore. – 1977 Green Peterbilt Cabover/1962 Utility Flatbed

LIMITED MILEAGE - BOBTAIL
BEST OF SHOW – Jimmy Kirkley/Arvin, Calif. – 2000 Viper Red Kenworth W900L – “Big Red”
2nd – Mark Pounds/Central Valley Transport/Bakersfield, Calif. – 2001 Purple Freightliner Classic XL
3rd – Gary Berrington/Wellington, Nev. – 1987 Rose Peterbilt 359 – “Wine & Roses”

ANTIQUE COMBO
1st – Frank Merrill/Pacific NW Truck Museum/Silverton, Ore. – 1978 Yellow KW W923/1978 Peerless Log Trailer – “Nifty Fifty”

ANTIQUE BOBTAIL
1st – Kathy Olsen/Dustbusters/Sparks, Nev. – 1964 Yellow Peterbilt Dump Truck
2nd – Jason Williams/Latimer Trucking/Lebanon, Ore. – 1973 Blue Kenworth 900LA
3rd – Brad Van Dyke/Tangent, Ore. – 1970 Blue Peterbilt 359

LIGHTS – COMBO
1st – Tom & Kim Turner/Cynthiana, Ky. – 1995 Teak & Beige Peterbilt 379/2003 Transcraft Step Deck – “El Dorado”
2nd – Clint Dicks/TDT Trucking/Lake City, Fla. – 2000 White & Orange Peterbilt 379/2006 Mac Flatbed – “Freshly Squeezed”
3rd – Dale Johnson/DNR Transport/Hemingway, S.C. – 2006 Red Peterbilt 379/2006 Fontaine Flatbed – “Finger Lickin’ Good”

LIGHTS – BOBTAIL
1st – Mark Pounds/Central Valley Transport/Bakersfield, Calif. – 2001 Purple Freightliner Classic XL
2nd – Ray Elvis/DNR Transport/Hemingway, S.C. – 2006 Black Sapphire Peterbilt 379
3rd – Jimmy Kirkley/Arvin, Calif. – 2000 Viper Red Kenworth W900L – “Big Red”

BEST OVERALL PAINT
Clint Dicks/TDT Trucking/Lake City, Fla. – 2000 White & Orange Peterbilt 379/2006 Mac Flatbed – “Freshly Squeezed”

BEST GRAPHICS
Mark Pounds/Central Valley Transport/Bakersfield, Calif. – 2001 Purple Freightliner Classic XL

BEST MURAL
Randy & Jona Rebillard/Gimli, Manitoba – 2002 Dark Blue Peterbilt 379 – “Tired Iron”

BEST THEME
Cary Bess/W. Jordan, UT – 2005 White & Yellow Kenworth W900L/2005 Utility Reefer – “Pure Punishment”

MOST HEAD-TURNING USE OF CHROME AND STAINLESS ON A WORKING CLASS TRUCK
Tom & Kim Turner/Cynthiana, KY – 1995 Teak & Beige Peterbilt 379/2003 Transcraft Step Deck – “El Dorado”

LARGEST FLEET
Newland & Family Trucking – 4 Trucks

The Stars & Stripes competition was sponsored by Peterbilt Motors Co., Chevron DELO, Newport’s RoadStar Magazine, Silver Legacy Resort, International Truck and Engine Corp., OOIDA, Rockwood Products, Alcoa Wheel Products, Firestone Tire Co., PPG Industries, Freightliner, Howes Lubricator Products, Valley Chrome Plating, ArvinMeritor, Volvo, Road Works Manufacturing Inc., The Holland Group, Truk-Rodz by Jones Performance, Rig Skirts, ExpressTrucking.com, American Trucker Magazine, Panelite and Midnight Trucking Radio.