My first assignment when I took the helm of CLASSIC TRUCKS just a year ago was to cover the Goodguys Lone Star Nationals in Fort Worth, Texas. I welcomed the task, not just because I love the great state of Texas, but because I was going to be amidst some of the best trucks in the nation vying for the coveted Truck of the Year awards (Early and Late editions) presented at the show. As it turned out, the corral of trucks, new and old, was astounding, and the show was a great way to get my feet wet.
Here we are a year later, and the Lone Star event was upon us once again. I was all set to go, but unlike the year prior, I was not to cover the Truck of the Year competition. To the dismay of some--and the pleasure of others outside of Texas--the awarding procedure changed for 2005. The new format, which affected other "of the year"-type awards, allows for the judging to be spread out across the country, ultimately giving those who were previously not geologically able to compete a chance to, well, compete. So, instead of all the finalists being chosen and awarded at Fort Worth, just one finalist for Truck of the Year: Late was selected, as the Early winner had already been selected and announced online the Friday of the event. The actual winner of the Late category was chosen at a later date and announced online, as well. Both winners will have been invited to attend the Scottsdale event held in November, where we will have wrapped up our 2005 Top Ten program. (Note that everything is worded in past tense because by the time you read this, all will be said and done!) Make sense? Hopefully, as we need to get on with the show.
While I initially expected a smaller turnout of trucks due to the new awarding format, I was pleasantly surprised to see an overwhelming amount of classic pickups on hand at the 13th Lone Star Nats. Whether or not that was because of the lack of knowledge of the new rules, or that people just didn't care, it didn't matter--I was once again among a strong showing of trucks of all shapes, sizes, colors, and orientations. Things were looking good from the start, and as fate would have it, that continued on through the weekend.
CLASSIC TRUCKS completed its fourth of five Top Ten selections for the year, and while there was a bit of competition from another magazine, there was no compromising when it came to choosing the coolest trucks on hand. On top of that, the Dallas-Fort Worth area was spared any real terrible aftereffects from Hurricane Rita, so attendees and participants all enjoyed a full weekend of great weather. Texas Motor Speedway was definitely the place to be the first weekend of October, that's for sure.
Pending our selection of Top Ten venues for 2006, chances are good that I will celebrate my second anniversary as editor of CLASSIC TRUCKS next year in the great state of Texas!