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Truck show draws a crowd

by CYNTHIA MAGNUS/cmagnus@cdapress.com
| August 5, 2014 9:00 PM

POST FALLS - More than 700 visitors attended the second Inland Northwest Truck Show, for classic truck enthusiasts and commercial drivers at the Greyhound Park and Event Center in Post Falls during the weekend.

About 100 vintage and contemporary trucks were on display for the "Show and Shine" competition, and 34 trucking industry vendors filled the event center.

"Our goal was to have a show that draws commercial interests and collector interests together to celebrate trucks," said co-founder Monte Swenson, who displayed several vintage trucks including a 1932 Ford.

The three-day family-friendly event drew visitors from Montana, Oregon, Washington and Idaho, and featured an indoor area with games and truck-related prizes for children as well as hand-made crafts by regional artists.

It also served as trade-show space for industry-related vendors such as Husky International, LKQ Heavy Truck and Trans-System, Inc., which convened to exhibit and sell equipment. Several commercial driver training programs were on hand for prospective students seeking information about the profession.

The country and rock band Mark Duboise and Crossroads came from Missoula to provide outdoor music for the event.

Some vendors, such as the American Truck Historical Society, promoted the history and culture of trucking.

Woodwork artist Lloyd Johnson came from Princeton with a collection of handcrafted miniature 18-wheelers, and also accepted custom orders.

The People's Choice Awards, held Sunday, were given to owners of classic trucks in eight categories. Area winners included Jeffrey Groat, of Coeur d'Alene, for Best Working Class Truck, for showing a 1981 Peterbilt 359.

Competitors in the "truck rodeo" tested their skills each day by driving a 2001 Freightliner and trailer through a tight configuration of parking cones.

Larry Fogg of Post Falls won Saturday with a time of 2 minutes and 18 seconds, the closest to the target time of 2:17, for a $140 prize. Michael Dickinson won Sunday's $100 prize by hitting the 1:51 target time exactly.

Rick Gewecke, a Rathdrum-based truck owner-operator won the "grudge match" competition - part of it blindfolded, but with a partner riding shotgun and navigating - on Sunday in his 2001 Kenworth. The prize was bragging rights.

The event was not without its weather-related casualties: Saturday night's winds wreaked about $9,000 in damage to vehicles, tents and parking lot equipment.

"We'll be back here next year," said co-founder Bob Larson. "We'll add a cookout and outdoor movie for after the show."