OOIDA members were among the top winners at the 24^th Annual Iowa 80 Truckers Jamboree Super Truck Beauty Contest. Top honors, the Truckers' Choice Award, went to "Tanker Dave" Marcotte, Momence, IL. Truckers' Choice is chosen by all the competitors' votes, not by the judges. Dave's biggest rival in the competition was his father, Paul Marcotte, who won first in the 1978 and Older Class.

Dave's combination, "Liquid Chicken," is a 1992 Pete and a 1978 Heil Tanker. In addition to winning his class and overall honors, Dave took 2^nd for OEM Sleeper Interior, 3^rd for Polish and Detail and, for the second year in a row, 1^st for Lights at Night-Combo.

Rod and Kim Grimm, along with their dog Lizzie, Vinton, IA, are 13-year veterans of the show circuit. Last year, Kim was honored at the Stars and Stripes competition at Mid-America in Louisville, receiving Dave Sweetman's "Pick of the Litter" award for doing the most to help fellow competitors with good advice and helpful tips. Results at Walcott prove that she knows what she's talking about.

They decided to show their 1999 Kenworth, "Illusion," as a combination for the first time. The tractor has more than 1 million miles. The Grimms won 1^st in class for 2004-1999 Combination, and 2^nd for Custom Paint/Graphics-Combination

This is only the second year that Mike and Ruth Knezevich, Astor, FL, have been showing "Desert Breeze," their 1998 Peterbilt. Accompanied by Skipper, their 2-year-old Bichon, they travel from Florida to California and back.

"We're always on the desert, it seems, and the truck runs like the breeze, so that's how we named it," said Ruth. "I'm part Indian, so we decided to go with an Indian (Native American) theme."

Mike mentioned that "all the artifacts in the sleeper are authentic, from reservations in Arizona. The carpet was specially made to our measurements so the design would have a mirror image centered in front of both seats."

They say they show because they get to spend time with good friends, and make new ones. Their attention to detail paid off with a 3^rd in Custom Paint/Graphics-Bobtail, a 2^nd in class, 2000-1994 Bobtail, and 1^st for OEM Conversion Sleeper.

Harvey and Karen Zander are on their second prize-winning, working show truck. "Icy Blu II" is a 2003 International, carrying on the St. Louis Park, MN, couple's love of their home state. Although Icy Blu II is still a work in process, Harvey and Karen managed a 2^nd in Class, 2004-2001 Bobtail, and two 1^st places: for Custom Paint/Mural-Bobtail, and for Polish and Detail.

Chris Lewis, Jackson, MO, had a choice to make last year. He normally turns his trucks on a three- to four-year cycle, but his 1999 Peterbilt 379, with 553,000 miles, has a Cummins Signature 600, an engine that is no longer available. He decided to keep the truck, and since it was paid for, he got financing to redo this already successful show truck. It took seven weeks to disassemble the Pete, stretch the frame 38 inches, blast, repaint and reassemble the truck, giving it a "New Identity."

Chris, who started trucking when he was just 18 years old, had a lifelong dream to own show trucks. He started showing in 1999 and keeps improving his truck a little at a time. His successes at Walcott included three 2^nd place trophies, for Custom Paint-Bobtail, for Lights at Night-Bobtail and for Polish and Detail. The last one was due in no small measure to the efforts of his two sons, Logan, 6, and Levi, 14. Chris also took home 1^st in class, 2000-1994 Conventional Bobtail, edging out Mike and Ruth.

Here's the list of winners:

2004-2001 Bobtail Conventional

1^st - RyanAvenarius, Dubuque, IA; 2001 Freightliner, Significant Other

2^nd - Harvey Zander, St. Louis Park, MN; 2003 International, Icy Blu II

3^rd - Chris Hammen, Searcy, AR; 2003 Kenworth W900L

2000-1994 Bobtail Conventional

1^st - Chris Lewis, Jackson, MO; 1999 Peterbilt 379, New Identity

2^nd - Mike Knezevich, Astor, FL; 1998 Peterbilt, Desert Breeze

3^rd - Neal Dykman, Butler, MO; 2000 Peterbilt

1993-1987 Bobtail Conventional

1^st - Tim Stevenson, North Mankato, MN; 1987 Peterbilt 379

1986-1979 Bobtail Conventional

1^st - Lavern Cross, Middlebury, IN; 1982 Kenworth W900A

2^nd - Darrel Madden, Newhonden, MO; 1986 Mack Superliner, SuperDog

3^rd - Louis Szarneczky, South Holland, IL; 1980 Kenworth W900A

1986-1979 Bobtail Conventional - Show Only

1^st - Larry Winkler, Grandview, IN; 1985 Peterbilt, Barnyard Beast

1978 & Older Bobtail Conventional

1^st - Paul Marcotte, Momence, IL; 1978 Peterbilt

2^nd - Tim Miller, Oelwein, IA; 1969 Peterbilt, Pete's Dragon

2004-1999 Combination

1^st - Rod & Kim Grimm, Vinton, IA; 1999 Kenworth W900L, Illusion

2^nd - Shawn Swanson, Prophetstown, IL; 2002 KW W900B

3^rd - Doug Perkins, LeCenter, MN; 2000 Peterbilt 379

1998-1990 Combination

1^st - Dave Marcotte, Momence, IL; 1992 Peterbilt, Liquid Chicken

2^nd - Randy Huddleston, Willow Hill, IL; 1995 Freightliner Classic XL

3^rd - Troy Huddleston, Willow Hill, IL; 1991 Freightliner FLD120

1989 & older Combination

1^st - Billy Baker, St. Catherine's, Ontario, Canada; 1982 Peterbilt 359

Custom Paint - Graphics (Bobtail)

1^st - Larry Winkler, Grandview, IN; 1985 Peterbilt, Barnyard Beast

2^nd - Chris Lewis, Jackson, MO; 1999 Peterbilt 379, New Identity

3^rd - Mike Knezevich, Astor, FL; 1998 Peterbilt, Desert Breeze

Custom Paint - Murals (Bobtail)

1^st - Harvey Zander, St. Louis Park, MN; 2003 International, Icy Blu II

2^nd - Carl Johnson, Carlisle, PA; 1996 Freightliner, Icy Blu I

3^rd - Tim Miller, Oelwein, IA; 1969 Peterbilt, Pete's Dragon

Custom Paint - Graphics (TT Combo)

1^st - Randy Huddleston, Willow Hill, IL; 1995 Freightliner Classic XL

2^nd - Rod & Kim Grimm, Vinton, IA; 1999 Kenworth W900L, Illusion

3^rd - Dave Marcotte, Momence, IL; 1992 Peterbilt, Liquid Chicken

Custom Paint - Murals (TT Combo)

1^st - Dale Ison, Hillsboro, OH; 2000 Kenworth T2000, Dragonmaster

Polish & Detail

1^st - Harvey Zander, St. Louis Park, MN; 2003 International, Icy Blu II

2^nd - Chris Lewis, Jackson, MO; 1999 Peterbilt 379, New Identity

3^rd - Dave Marcotte, Momence, IL; 1992 Peterbilt & 1978 Heil Tanker, Liquid Chicken

Interior - OEM Sleeper

1^st - Doug Barton, Dubuque, IL; 1999 International 9300, Bug's Large Ride

2^nd - Dave Marcotte, Momence, IL; 1992 Peterbilt 379, Liquid Chicken

3^rd - Ryan Avenarius, Dubuque, IA; 2001 Freightliner Classic XL, Significant Other

Interior - OEM Conversion Sleeper

1^st - Mike Knezevich, Astor, FL; 1998 Peterbilt 379, Desert Breeze

2^nd - Carl Johnson, Carlisle, PA; 1996 Freightliner Classic XL, Icy Blu I

3^rd - Bill & Joyce Rucker, Billings, MT; 2003 Kenworth T600

Lights at Night - Bobtail

1^st - Ryan Avenarius, Dubuque, IA; 2001 Freightliner Classic XL, Significant Other

2^nd - Chris Lewis, Jackson, MO; 1999 Peterbilt 379, New Identity

3^rd - Kary Winebrenner, Grand Junction, IA; 2000 Peterbilt 379

Lights at Night - Combination

1^st - Dave Marcotte, Momence, IL; 1992 Peterbilt 379 & 1978 Heil Tanker, Liquid Chicken

2^nd - Darrell Long, Cedar Rapids, IA; 2002 Peterbilt 379

3^rd - Shawn Swanson, Prophetstown, IL; 2002 Kenworth W900B

Best Overall Theme

WINNER - Ryan Avenarius, Dubuque, IA; 2001 Freightliner Classic XL, Significant Other

Show Class

WINNER - Dale Ison, Hillsboro, OH; 2000 Kenworth T2000, Dragonmaster

Specialty Class

WINNER - Ernie Vole, Vernon Hills, IL; 1999 Peterbilt 378 Wrecker, Showtime

Trucker's Choice

WINNER - Dave Marcotte, Momence, IL; 1992 Peterbilt & 1978 Heil Tanker, Liquid Chicken

--by Paul Abelson, technical editor

Paul Abelson can be reached at truckwriter@netscape.net.