Wheel Jam Truck Show marks 20 years

Posted

HURON — Sometimes something monumental begins with a simple “What about…?” questions between friends. That’s what led to the Wheel Jam Truck Show, which, under the leadership of Scot Marone and his company, 18-Wheel Promotions, is marking its 20th year this weekend.

“Yeah, its been 20 years, which is kind of amazing,” Marone said earlier this week as he crossed a few more items off his ‘to-do’ list for this year’s event. “I think that next to the Backstreet Cruisers’ car show, and the fair of course, we are the longest running event at the fairgrounds.”

And it began with a conversation at a birthday party.

“I remember that I ran into (State Fair Manager) Peggy Besch, she was Woolridge then, the executive director of the Chamber at the time,” Marone recalled. “She mentioned that she and Mary Pearson, the mayor at the time and some other people were brainstorming ideas to increase use of the fairgrounds.”

Wheel Jam was in its infancy as a car, motorcycle and pickup show. There were car races over the weekend, but they were looking for more.

“Have you thought of adding semi trucks?” Marone asked. It turned out to be a good idea and the group enlisted Marone to work on the idea. “That first year I think we had 14 or 15 trucks,” Marone said. “It was a start, though.”


Trophies such as these will be handed out at Sunday’s Wheel Jam Truck Show award ceremony.

This year’s Wheel Jam Truck Show is expected to see between 150 and 200 semi tractors and trailers to the S.D. State Fairgrounds for the four-day event. Marone said that the trucks and their operators look forward to coming back to Wheel Jam.

“We are a working-class truck show,” he emphasized. “Most of these trucks are in service 100,00 miles or more each year. These folks are working on the nation’s highways every day.”

Marone said operators may spend $10,000 in getting ready for the show - cleaning, painting if needed and polishing their vehicles. Combine that with the time off from work, the truckers have made a real investment in the event.

“It’s sort of like a reunion for them,” he said. “They like getting together. It’s a great place to network in the business as well.”

Something new and different this year is having Andy’s Drone Service flying overhead recording video and taking photos for the weekend, which will be available for purchase.

“The biggest new thing is the free Tony Justice concert on Friday night,” Marone said. “We’re very excited to bring him to this year’s Wheel Jam.”

Justice is a working truck driver who Marone says is the hottest trucker-music artist now, has a series of albums, such as “Stars, Stripes and White Lines,” “Brothers of the Highway” and his latest “18 Gears to Life.” Paul Marhoefer opens for Justice, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

“He is the top trucker artist since Jerry Reed and CW McCall,” Marone said.


Truck driver and singer Tony Justice will be featured at a free Wheel Jam Truck Show Friday night on the S.D. State Fairgrounds.

After the concert, trucks and truckers will participate in the Country Rockin’ Lights show.

At the heart of Wheel Jam, however, is the competitions that take place throughout the weekend.

Trucks are registered as they arrive, and are placed in one of seven classes for judging, which takes place on Sunday.

There are nine sets of criteria that the judges will use when examining the trucks, mostly centered on appearance, cleanliness, the condition of the truck and how much it shines.

Throughout the weekend as well, Marone has many of what is a long list of vendors wander through the array of trucks, and, at the end of the week, hand out an award to whichever truck appeals to them the most. “It could be anything,” Marone said. “They may like the color, or it may be similar to a truck they drove when they were younger.

“It’s entirely up to them.”

On Saturday, the Wheel Jam parade travels down Dakota Ave., showing off the variety of trucks at the show. After they return to the fairgrounds, the trucks get ready for the Dynamic Brake competition, where it pays to be the loudest…literally.

“The competition takes place on Nevada Ave.,” Marone said. “Trucks proceed from the north end of the street about a quarter mile, then activate their dynamic brake - often referred to as a ‘jake brake’ - as they pass beneath a decibel meter.

Saturday closes with supper for those involved in the truck show, with awards going to the “Show-n-Shine” winners, prior to the judged Light and Interior competition taking place.

The weekend wraps up Sunday with the judging competition, followed by the awards ceremony. In addition to the judges choices, Marone and his family will present the Ricky Marone Memorial Award. “Ricky was a big part of this show and its growth before his passing,” Scot said.

Then when all the truckers have left, Scot Marone will take a big breath, relax for a brief period and begin planning next year’s event.