FERGUS, Ont. – The weather may have been a little temperamental, but organizers still considered the 16th annual Fergus Truck Show a success.

“It was an awesome weekend,” claims Sherry Clarke, the administrator of the show.

“The rain didn’t hurt us too bad on Saturday. I think the heat on Sunday certainly kept a few people away. Even guys that are on the road that say they haul in Nevada say they never had the heat hit them the way it hit them Sunday.”

There were 430 trucks registered with the show and shine and Clarke figured approximately 40,000 people attended.

The show had more exhibitors this year with 112 in the trade show portion.

“I am thrilled with the numbers we got. There are a lot of people hurting from the economy, fuel prices and stuff, and I know definitely, this resulted in the show being down (in numbers) a bit. Last year we had 479 and this year we had 437,” explains Clarke. “Not a big change.”

Andrew Telfour, a driver for Schaus in Elmwood, referred to this year’s show as “excellent.” Other than enjoying the beer, he said the display of trucks and the pulls were “really good.”

In the show and shine, Steve and Mary Toole of Droh Inc. won the people’s choice for best truck of the show with a 1998 Excel Freightliner.

The same truck also cleaned up for best ’97 to ’98 working truck, best mural and best displayed truck area.

David Hall, owner of 25-truck, Cambridge, Ont.-based Droh, says the reaction to his drivers winning was not one of surprise.

“The team that runs that truck (the Tooles) keep it looking like that at all times,” he says

“If you happen to see it on the road it looks the same as it did at the truck show. They do all the work on it themselves,” explains the proud fleet owner.

Other winners included:

Dennis Bradbury won best owner/operator’s working truck;

Brent Kurtz of Brian Kurtz Trucking won best working conventional without sleeper;

Ray Leslie of Lain TSPT won best working cabover;

Dennis Brubacher of Klass Act Transportation won best 2001 or newer company truck;

Steven Lowie of Heritage won best pre 2001 company working truck;

Ken McCartney of JTS won best 2001 or newer working truck;

Fred Carte Remple of Jate Int. Trans. won best ’99 to ’00 working truck;

Alexander Howes Jr. of Cavalier Trans. won best ’93 to ’96 working truck;

Paul Lance of 1st Line Logistics won best ’82 to ’92 working truck

Wade Singler of Star Van won best pre 1982 working truck;

Mike Duffy of Mike Duffy’s Trucking won best restored non-working truck;

Mike Duffy’s Trucking won best paint;

Brian Kurtz won best fleet(minimum three and maximum five displayed together);

Clickner won best fleet (six plus displayed together);

Gordon Currie of Kurtz won best tractor-trailer – reefer;

Paul Lance of 1st Line Logistics won best tractor-trailer – van;

Rob Atkinson won best tractor-trailer – livestock;

Ray Weber of BJ Bear Grain Co. won best tractor-trailer – feed;

J. Hummer of J Hummer Transfer won best tractor-trailer – float, flat or curtain side;

Doug Wilson of Stotesbury Transfer won best tractor-trailer – tanker;

Gerry Jessup of FedEx won best tractor-trailer – trains;

Moe Loigner of Clickner won best tractor-trailer – dump;

Scott McPherson of C McPherson won best 2000 or newer dump truck;

Rod Sugrue of R. Sugrue Trucking won best pre 2000 dump truck;

TE Systems won best straight truck;

Mike Kaczur of Ken’s Towing won best heavy tow truck with 18″ or larger rubber;

Dale Wilson of Ken’s Towing won best light working specialized truck;

Phil Heard of PHTS Logistics won best highway mini;

Jeff Batler of Jate Int. Trans. won best ’97 or newer pick-up;

Bob Sanderson won custom pick-up;

Paul Kennete of Keith Hall and Son won best pre ’97 pick-up;

Gerald Broham won best restored pick-up

Mike Duffy won best light show – single;

Clickner won best light show – fleet;

Transit/Cherron won best exhibitor. n