Sept. 28 – Truckers took over the main street of St. Ignace, MI, Sept. 18-20 for the third annual Richard Crane Memorial Truck Show, and raised more than $10,000 for charity in the process.

“Plum Classy,” a 1988 Peterbilt owned and operated by Neal and Barbara Holsomback, took Best of Show Combination in the show, a Truck-Lite Trophy National Championship event sanctioned by the National Assn. of Show Trucks. Darian Stephens’ “Keystone J.R.,” a 1995 Freightliner Classic XL, took Best of Show Bobtail.
Stephens’ bobtail and Steve Bertossi’s 1984 Peterbilt gravel train with 11 axles received Mayor’s Choice awards. The “Legend Award” honoring Richard Crane was awarded to “American Pride,” a 1996 W900L Kenworth owned by Ron Golding, Geo. H. Golding Inc.
Three truckers – Marvin VanKampen, Stephens and Golding – locked horns in a head-to-head competition for best bobtail. Each put up $1,000 to compete. The $3,000 purse was earmarked to be turned over to the Mackinac Straits Hospital and Health Care facility for the purchase of a handicapped-accessible van.
With the opening of the awards presentations, three $1,000 checks were handed to the hospital representative. But before she could sit down, truckers began stepping forward with additional contributions. Most show winners also directed their cash prizes to the charity.
In all, the truckers contributed $10,520 to the hospital van fund.
In case someone missed the point that St. Ignace really likes truckers, the mayor presented a key to his city to NAST President Bob Guy.
Regional flavor was evident in many eye-popping, multiaxle Michigan truck trains that joined the total 65 rigs in the show. The main street was closed to traffic and the trucks were parked right down the middle, along the city’s lakefront.
With its sweeping harbor vistas, spectacular Parade of Lights across the five-mile Mackinac Bridge and beautiful entries, the St. Ignace show is a one-of-a-kind event.