CLASSICS AND LEGENDS
This year the ATHS rolled into Reno, the
Grand Sierra Resort to be precise. Rebecca
Dye light-heartedly quipped, “I don’t think
they realise what’s coming” when she
informed me that the resort had boasted
about previously holding a few car shows
and such.
With an estimated 10,000 people expected
through the show over the course of three
days and over half the resort’s car parks full
of historic trucks, the place had been abuzz
since the day I got there. And I arrived two
days before the event.
Trucks started rolling in from as far afield
as Canada, Michigan and the US west coast
to register. To use a geographically applicable
synonym, I was as happy as a tornado in a
trailer park watching all the classics pulling in.
Alongside the familiar runway-length
bonnets of a legendary Pete and the pitched
hood of a classic Kenny, there was the
infamous Hayes, a few stunning Sterlings,
some gorgeous GMCs and a couple of
legendary Dodge Bighorns.
The show itself ran from Friday through
until Sunday and featured more than just a
bunch of fellow truck nuts showing off their
pride and joy.In addition, informative and interesting
presentations took place inside the resort
over the three days. As a person who is easily
distracted by shiny objects, holding my
attention with an hour-and-a-half long slide
show is not an easy job, so full credit to Paul
Cox for accomplishing this.
Paul was one of the guest speakers and
enthralled many with the story of his 1979
Kenworth Aerodyne restoration. I came
away from that presentation with
a burning desire to get into restoration
myself. Therefore, Paul is now off my
wife’s Christmas card list!
There was also a queue for both the ‘50
Years of Caterpillar Engines’ and an equally
long line for the ‘History of Cummins’
presentation.
For those ‘BJ and the Bear’ fans, Greg
Evigan was there for signings and a few
celebrities from the American transport
scene were also doing meet and greets.
The ATHS also had daily tours organised
for those that wanted to see a bit more
of Reno.
Personally, with so many stunning trucks
parked among three huge parking lots, there
was more than enough to keep me within
the Grand Sierra’s grounds.The legendary ‘Bad Bitch’,
Denny Edwards home-built
Peterbilt was a standout. Don’t
ask what model it is as it’s a
debate for the ages. Denny
calls it a 49, with 70 cab. The
bonnet is home-built so he
could add an extra 25 inches
Euaine Waters had always
wanted to build himself a
custom truck. It may have
taken him six years of work,
but he finally finished, and the
end result is simply awesome!
It was good to see a familiar-
looking shape so far from
home. Nick Einarson’s
stunning looking 1994 FLB
Freightliner was another star
oftheshow
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