The Spectacle of the American Wrecker Pageant

By GEORGE L. NITTI By this time next week we will know the outcomes of the American Wrecker Pageant, one of the key events happening at the American Towman Exposition in Baltimore Nov. 15-17. Featuring trucks from eight different classes, towers and the general public will bear witness to the most magnificent trucks in the industry. This year, the 25th anniversary of the Expo, you can expect a great showing at roughly 50 or more trucks vying for top prizes. A winning truck is  "A truck that is clean, that has all of the proper safety equipment and meets all of the specs," said Brendan Dooley, editor of American Towman and one of the pageant judges. Of course great graphics are not overlooked, "but more importantly it is how the graphics fit in with the overall theme of the truck," said Dooley. Winners are chosen by a dual voting process that involves judges' ratings and attendee votes (by electronic ballot on the show floor, one per company). Last year, Swift Towing and Recovery of Flushing Meadows, N.Y., won in the Light Duty pre-2011 class category. Taking a former NYPD truck that was in abominable shape at 70,000 miles, they redid the interior with suede and gave the exterior a makeover incorporating chrome features and artistically rendered vinyl with illustrations of a few of the great symbols of our American heritage like the American Bald Eagle, the Twin Towers, the Statue of Liberty, the NYC skyline, the New York Yankees, and the globe at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, a symbol of a better future brought to us from two World Fairs. You can expect such inspiration and dedication by other truck owners who will be present at the winner's ceremony on Sunday during the International Feast, such as some of last year's winners including Morton's Towing and Recovery, Jet's Towing, Horton's Wrecker Service and Green's Garage. The American Wrecker Pageant, sponsored by Dual-Tech, is a spectacular display with world-class wreckers competing for silver trophies. Be part of a great piece of Americana and cast your vote for best wrecker. We'll see you there! Brag @ TIW! Should your truck be featured here? Send a few pics and your contact information to the editor at bdooley@towman.com. You might even be selected to go in print, too, in American Towman magazine!