Continental tires comprise the finishing touches to “Class Act,” a 1995 Peterbilt tractor brought up to professional display status by a class of high schoolers to compete in the annual Paul K. Young Memorial Truck Beauty Show, commonly known as the PKY, at the March 25-27 Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Ky.
The rig was restored from scrap condition by 35 students – some of whom aren’t old enough to drive a car, let alone quality for a CDL – at the Clarion County Career Center in Shippenville, Penn. under the direction of instructor Don Doverspike.
“The last thing needed to make this truck complete was a new set of truck tires,” Doverspike reports. “The existing tires on the vehicle were too worn to pass Pennsylvania state inspection, much less compete at PKY. There was no way we could take it to the show until Continental stepped in.”
Doverspike and the students had been looking for donations toward new tires, but the economic conditions of late 2009 were making it difficult to raise the required funds. Then their local tire dealer, Good Tire Service, notified Continental sales manager Chuck Datsko. The company then sent the students a brand new set of HSR2 (Heavy Steer Regional) and HDR1 (Heavy Drive Regional) tires for the tractor and completed their show entry.
“Chuck and Continental really came through and helped the students put the final touches on the truck that they had worked so diligently to restore over the last year. The new tires look and run great,” Doverspike observes.
“The new Continentals are the perfect complement to this beautiful truck, and the students have also learned that hard work brings its rewards,” he continues. “Now we are waiting to see what the judges think of our efforts, but I know these students will remember this competition for the lessons they have learned and the benefits provided by Continental.”
Beginning in 2007, Doverspike had the idea to use the talents of his budding truck repair professionals to create a working showpiece. The career center’s diesel technology program consists of students ranging in age from 15 to 18 who complete a three-year course in preventative maintenance, disassembly and reassembly of engine and drive components, brake repair and diagnostics, engine electrical diagnostics, basic electrical diagnostics, air conditioning and basic welding and cutting skills.
Doverspike and the class began working on restoring a Peterbilt tractor that was donated from scrap. But to add motivation, Doverspike allowed the students to take the completed show truck to Louisville to compete at the PKY event in 2008. By 2010, with the help of several local sponsors, Doverspike and his class of students had restored another Peterbilt, which they named “Class Act.”
The need for tires prompted the contact with Good Tire Service and ultimately Continental’s Datsko, who traveled to the class during the week prior to the trucking show and taught a one-day seminar to ensure that the young scholars received a full learning experience about truck tires.
In addition, Continental has provided the diesel technology program with the American Trucking Association Technology and Maintenance Council’s Radial Tire and Disc Wheel Service Manual to keep in the classroom as an aid for mounting tires.
“We think the Clarion County students and their excitement about their future careers in diesel technology and trucking are the real ‘class act’ here,” says Clif Armstrong, director of marketing for commercial vehicle tires. “We can’t wait to see how their truck stacks up in this prestigious competition.”
For more information, visit www.ccccntr.org and www.continental-truck.com.
