As with last year, the venue for the show 'n' shine was the Fremont Street Experience -- a four-block section of downtown Las Vegas where vehicle traffic is prohibited and foot traffic encouraged among the restaurants, casinos, and shops. There were oh-my-goodness body mods highlighted with high-dollar paint schemes, and custom classic and neo-custom cruising pickups blended well under the glitzy neon lights and Vegas nights. Many of the trucks displayed were of recent vintage, so we shot a few of the finest to mix with the classic customs on parade and display.
Producing an event in a place that's known for lavish productions, Truckin's promotional team knew they needed to provide top-notch entertainment. Hiring the rock band Tijuana Dogs was a stroke of genius. The band delivered various genres of rock standards that had show participants dancing in their truck beds while spectators crowded the stage. Always popular at current model truck shows, the outdoor concert was preceded by a bikini contest. By all accounts, this year's cruise and Truckin' Nationals was a huge success. Over 300 people participated in the State 2 State Cruise with 145 trucks competing in the Truckin' Nationals' show 'n' shine. Show vendors saw more potential customer traffic due to being centrally located at the show's hub. Primedia employee Joe Perez, an advertising manager, commented on how awesome the band was and how much better organized this year's event was over last. Show participant Ron Segal, who earned the Second Place prize for his '56 Chevy Panel Delivery commented, "Anytime you can come away with a trophy from a show of this caliber, you've got to be a happy guy."
You know we'll be sure to provide you advance notice of the third annual affair. Perhaps next year you'll cruise to the show in your hot-rod hauler. Maybe you can pluck one of the awards for your prized pickup such as Mr. Segal did at this year's contest. Lady Luck and Mother Nature should be on our side once again. CCT
From the sky bridge of the Lady Luck Hotel, the hosting inn for the event, the Vendor Village led to the hub of the Freemont Street Experience, where the show trucks shimmered under the neon. |
Displayed show trucks looked cool by day. |
Powering the Bow Tie Panel is a righteous 383ci Chevy small-block. When the owner starts up the engine, the geardrive makes this mill sound supercharged. |
Freemont Street was especially crowded at night by pristine pavement-scraping pickups and pedestrians. |
In the Custom Classic Truck category, builder and owner Jason Hill of Lubbock, Texas, took home top honors for his bodacious blue-and-graphic-hued '78 Chevy Suburban. |
Jason owns Hill's Hot Rods in Lubbock, Texas. How cool is the mill that powers his 'Burb? |
Proving beauty isn't merely skin deep, the '78 Suburban had an awesome leather-trimmed cockpit. |
Also in the Suburban's interior is a sonically sweet stereo and audiovisual system that rivals many audiophiles' home systems. |
One of the title sponsors, Chevy Trucks, showed off a racy red Chevy SSR pickup in the Vendor Village area. |
Displaying a rainbow of paint hues, the DuPont Performance Coatings booth was a hit with vintage and neo-custom truck hobbyists throughout the show. |
The talented rock band Tijuana Dogs entertained the crowd with a multitude of different genres of rock music, from pop and punk to heavy metal. |
For a small fee, it was rumored that Yoda was teaching folks how to beat the odds at the gaming tables. |
At night, the awning over Freemont Street entertained pedestrians and showgoers with an hourly light show that changed to various genres of music. |
We know this isn't a custom classic hauler, but we had to include it since it looked so luminescent lifted to the heavens under a crowning Vegas night's neon skyline. |