Truck Show Latino
2007 Winners

Construction Trucks and Latino Flair Mix Well at Southern California Show

While the third annual Truck Show Latino, combined with the Construction Truck & Equipment Expo in Pomona, Calif., hummed with crowds of truckers and festive Mariachi music, 36 gorgeous big rigs were on display. They were contestants in the final Stars & Stripes Truck Beauty Show of the year.

Hector Santos was polishing his striking blue and white 1999 Peterbilt 379 at the show in the Fairplex on Friday when a Stars & Stripes contest organizer stopped to ask if he was back to reclaim his title.

Santos, 31, a Riverside, Calif. owner-operator, won big time at last year's Truck Show Latino, taking the Stars & Stripes trophy for Best of Show. His appearance this year, he said, was a last-minute decision. He wasn’t optimistic about his chances of a repeat performance..

"I don't think so," he said. "There's a lot of nice trucks here this year." He’d delivered a load of baled hay just hours prior to the judging.

But when the judges' paperwork was tallied, Santos and his Peterbilt were at the top of the heap again, with back-to-back Best of Show honors.

A record number of participants entered in this year’s Stars & Stripes event, which keeps growing each year. Competitors included trucks owned and shown by locals, many of them Latino truckers, as well as equipment owned by Southern California trucking and construction companies. This means more local participation than other Stars & Stripes events get, and a very diverse group of trucks to judge.

There was a definite “West Coast look” to the designs given the competing trucks, probably because of the Latino influence. There was great attention to details and classic trim pieces applied in interesting ways. Noticeable items included: spinner wheels; brass and glass headlamps off a classic era coupe; moldings taken from 1950s cars, and classic-look wire wheels.

With a name that sort of speaks for itself, “Pimpin’ Ain’t Easy”, owned by veteran truck show participants Maggini Trucking, garnered the top Limited Mileage trophy. A vibrant yellow and green flamed 1998 Peterbilt 379 day cab was minus the usual set of stainless lined doubles that they use to haul hay during the week. Mike Maggini took Best of Show Limited Mileage Bobtail, and Best Engine for his efforts.

And yet another hay and produce hauling rig took top honors for Central Valley Transport of Bakersfield, Calif. The Pounds family brought two of their rigs, both sporting custom-built double flatbeds, and painted to match their flashy mauve purple flamed-out tractors. Both trucks were detailed for the show by the teenage sons. Their 2001 Freightliner Classic conventional rose to the top and took home the crystal Best of Show Working Combo award. Both boys had won trophies in the Stars & Stripes beauty shows earlier this year.

Local trucking companies that sent trucks to the competition included American Wrecking of South El Monte, Bridgestone/Firestone of Ontario and Sandvik Trucking of Escondido.

2007 Stars & Stripes Truck Beauty Event Winners:

Best of Show Working Bobtail: Hector Santos 1999 Blue & White Peterbilt 379	Best of Show Working Combo: Colton Pounds, Central Valley Transport 2001 Purple Freightliner Classic with custom double flatbed trailers

California Dump Truck Owners Association's Top Combination Truck & Trailer:
American Wrecking Inc., 2006 White Peterbilt and 2007 End Dump 

Roadworks' Best Head-Turning Use of Chrome & Stainless Award:
Juan Antonio Sanchez, 1995 Black & Purple Peterbilt

Jones Performance Best Theme Award:
Melvin Maggini, Maggini Hay Co., 1962 Yellow w/Green Flames Peterbilt "The Godfather"

Working Bobtail 1999 & Older:
1st Hector Santos, 1999 Blue & White Peterbilt 379
2nd George Garcia, Garcia Trucking, 1988 Red Peterbilt 378
3rd Rudy Tule, Blandino Trucking, 1994 Purple Peterbilt
4th (Tie) Kris Gaare, 1998 Blue Peterbilt 379
4th (Tie) Enrique Vanegas, EVR Trucking, 1988 Black Peterbilt
5th Rolondo Nava Trucking, 1988 Red & White Kenworth T600

Working Bobtail 2000 & Newer:
1st Curtis Christians, 2005 Black and Red Peterbilt 379
2nd (Tie) Carl Gillam, Liberty Linehaul West, Inc, 2008 Burgundy Kenworth W900L
2nd (Tie) Jeff Botelho, Botelho Bros Trucking, 2007 Blue Flamed Peterbilt 379
3rd Alex Fimbres III, 2005 Teal Green Peterbilt 379, "Never Satisfied"

Specialized Bobtail:
1st Rick Hall, Riddler Trucking, 2006 Lime Green Peterbilt 379 Super Dump, "The Riddler"
2nd Tina Blankenship, 1996 Midnight Blue Kenworth T800 Dump Truck, "Girl Power" 
3rd Fast Eddie Hall, 1975 Purple Peterbilt 359 Dump Truck

First Show Bobtail:
1st Juan Antonio Sanchez, SAMASA Trucking 1995 Black & Purple Peterbilt
2nd Cesar Soto, Sandvik Trucking, 1994 Burgandy Peterbilt 379
3rd Fernando Perez, T-J Style built, 1997 Metallic Green Peterbilt

Working Combo:
1st (Tie) Markie Pounds, Central Valley Transport, 1987 Cabover Purple Flamed Freightliner with custom double flatbed trailers
1st (Tie) Colton Pounds, Central Valley Transport, 2001 Purple Freightliner Classic with custom double flatbed trailers
2nd Kirk Hurst, Bridgestone Firestone, 2005 Black Kenworth T800 with 2005 53 ft Great Dane Van
3rd Dave Mentz, Bridgestone Firestone, 2005 Black Kenworth T800 with 2007 48 ft Great Dane Van

Interior-Cab Only:
1st George Garcia, Garcia Trucking, 1988 Red Peterbilt 378
2nd Enrique Vanegas, EVR Trucking, 1988 Black Peterbilt
3rd Tina Blankenship, 1996 Midnight Blue Kenworth T800 Dump Truck, "Girl Power"

Interior-OEM Sleeper
1st Hector Santos, 1999 Blue & White Peterbilt 379
2nd Curtis Christians, 2005 Black and Red Peterbilt 379
3rd Marcos Cervantes, Sandvik Trucking, 2003 Blue & Silver Peterbilt 379

Engine:
1st Jeff Botelho, Botelho Bros Trucking, 2007 Blue Flamed Peterbilt 379
2nd Hector Santos, 1999 Blue & White Peterbilt 379
3rd Juan Antonio Sanchez, SAMASA Trucking, 1995 Black & Purple Peterbilt

Bobtail Paint, Graphics or Mural
1st Curtis Christians, 2005 Black and Red Peterbilt 379
2nd Jeff Botelho, Botelho Bros Trucking, 2007 Blue Flamed Peterbilt 379
3rd Donald Arias Jr, 1987 Pearl Blue Flamed Peterbilt 359

Combo Paint, Graphics or Mural
1st Markie Pounds, Central Valley Transport, 1987 Cabover Purple Flamed Freightliner with custom double flatbed trailers
2nd Kirk Hurst, Bridgestone Firestone, 2005 Black Kenworth T800 with 2005 53 ft Great Dane Van
3rd Colton Pounds, Central Valley Transport, 2001 Purple Freightliner Classic with custom double flatbed trailers

Best of Show Limited Mileage, Bobtail:
Mike Maggini, Maggini Trucking, 1998 Yellow w/ Green flames Peterbilt 379, "Pimpin' Ain't Easy"
2nd Bill Sandvik, Sandvik Trucking, 1998 Blue & White Muralled Peterbilt 379           
3rd Chuck Prigge, Sandvik Trucking, 1996 White w/Purple Flames Peterbilt, "Kaotic"
4th A&L Truck Supply, Juan Gonzales, 1957 Red Peterbilt 350"           
5th Melvin Maggini, Maggini Hay Co., 1962 Yellow w/Green Flames Peterbilt, "Pimpin' Ain't Easy"  

Limited Mileage, Best Interior:
Bill Sandvik, Sandvik Trucking, 1998 Blue & White Muraled Peterbilt 379

Limited Mileage, Best Engine:
Mike Maggini, Maggini Trucking, 1998 Yellow w/ Green Flames Peterbilt 379, “Pimpin' Ain't Easy”

Limited Mileage, Best Paint:
Melvin Maggini, Maggini Hay Co., 1962 Yellow w/Green Flames Peterbilt, "The Godfather"