The Lone Star Nationals

We saw this bright red '52 Ford F-1 pickup as it rolled into the Texas Motor Speedway and headed straight for it. It was built by Hot Rods by JSK of Cumby, TX, for Rhonda Young of Sulphur Springs, TX--and yes, it was another CCT Top Ten Trucks pick, as well as our Dec. '05 cover truck.

Have you ever heard of a hot rod hauler in the form of a 305/350-powered '41 GMC that hails from Harker Heights, TX? We have now, and Noel Webster is the proud caretaker.

When Kenneth Wright of Heath, TX, built his silver '72 Chevy Fleetside shortbed, he did it right, with a '96 Corvette LT1 and 4L60E powering the pristine pickup.

We first met Mike Yoder, owner and builder of a fantastic '35 Ford pickup, at the Goodguys Colorado Springs show. Mike, a Hutchinson, KS resident, earned a CCT Top Ten Trucks pick in Colorado. His truck won a Boyd Coddington Pro's Pick at the Lonestar Nationals.

There were plenty of '60s-era Chevy pickups parading around the Lonestar racetrack infield. One of which was an award-winning blue '70 Chevy owned by Steve Green and John Jones of Tomball, TX.

Powering the Johnsons' '57 Chevy panel delivery isn't TNT; it has the venerable 350/350 combo between the framerails. The Johnsons reside in Barys, TX.

Seconds before we shot this photo, Rodney Payne accepted a CCT Top Ten Trucks award for his awesome '35 Ford pickup. (He's behind the tailgate.) Alexander, AR, is where Rodney and his dad built the LT1/4L60E-powered beauty. We featured the Ford a while back.

At the 2004 SEMA show, we first saw Jim Bayne's 350/700-R4-powered '37 Ford Wild Rod Factory pickup. Jim lives in Crandall, TX. His truck was featured recently in our sister publication, Truckin'.

Hobbyist Joe Brown of Lafayette, LA, owns a '37 Ford Wild Rod Factory truck that's way cool. He won a Ford in a Ford award, which is sponsored by Ford, for his supercharged 4.6L Ford modular engine and five-speed-backed hot rod hauler. He also earned a CCT Top Ten Trucks selection. We'll disclose more later.

One of the outstanding elements at the Lonestar Nationals each year is the swap-meet area. We talked to several show participants who had purchased solid late-'60s Chevy trucks. The orange two-door Rambler wagon is undergoing close scrutiny from a prospect. Do you think the seller of these three babies unloaded them to happy new owners?

Throughout the three-day show, the Optima Batteries display was charged with electricity, attracting spectators and potential customers throughout the entire event.

During the entire show there were a multitude of spectators and some most tasty pickups in the Trick Truck Corral. See what you missed? Come out next year to the Lonestar Nats and say howdy!