Nothing Gets Done Without Duct Tape

Earlier in the week, I commented on how much needed to be done 24 hours before MATS opened. It got done, of course, and the displays scattered across more than 1 million square feet of exhibit space glittered and gleamed.


Among all the displays indoors and out were six special rigs competing for the National Association of Show Trucks-Truck-Lite Trophy as top show truck of the year. Each rig came away as the top winner at NAST shows last year, and converged on Louisville for a showdown. The trucks were judged on Wednesday - when the sun shone for most of the day - and the winners announced on Thursday, when it rained most of the day.

The winner of the Trophy for 2007 was Truett Novosad, of Caldwell, TX, whose 2001 Peterilt carries a blue-and-white theme and is named "High Cotton." Coming in second was Rick Hitchcock and his wife, Jennifer, with a 2005 Peterbilt from Webberville, MI . Third went to Gerald Kissinger of Stoughton, WI, with his 1991 Mack and Great Dane reefer.


Sad to say, my friend and ace gearjammer Rufus Sideswipe didn't enter any of the beauty shows this year. He meant to, but when he arrived at Louisville and saw all the astounding competition, he lost heart. Too bad, because with the new layer of aluminum tape on his old Cornbinder, he would have dominated the Temporary Fix category.


So Rufus spent his time looking at International's new, boldly designed Lonestar. It's been a long time since Rufus has had a truck payment, but this beauty is tempting him. Given his love of duct tape as a truck decorating accessory, he was especially smitten when, getting up close to one of the newly unveiled models, he noticed some applied to one of the fuel tank caps. I left him negotiating with the sales people - he wants that model and he wants it now.