Another year has gone by, and it's time for us to spread out all the pictures and see which ones are going to make it into the 50 Readers' Rides extravaganza. For this year, we had to step it up a notch and find a better way to pick them in the safest way possible. Last year's dart-throwing competition was a good idea, but Delana developed a slight case of dart elbow and was placed on the disabled list for the year. So, this year, the beautiful Robin Palacio was called upon to do the honors of using our foolproof method of choosing who made it this year. Since we don't want any injuries, we have chosen to use sticky hands, the kind that you stretch back and let fly. So, onto the fun, and see who had Robin lay the smack down on them.
The If Batman Had a Bronco Award
Who: Dennis Springer
Where: Lindenhurst, NY
What: '95 Ford Bronco
Suspension: (Front) Rancho 4-inch lift kit / airbags / (Rear) six Rancho adjustable shock absorbers / Rancho 9000 adjustable shocks
Engine: 5.8L V-8 / K&N filtercharger / J&B headers / Borla Dual Exhaust
Wheels/tires: 15x10-inch black chrome Ultra wheels / 35x14.50 Mickey Thompson Baja HPs
Interior: A partition installed to separate the front from the rear
Audio/video: Two Sony Xplod head units / eight Sony Xplod speakers / one Sony Xplod 1,000-watt amp / two KEC 9-inch color TVs
Body Mods: Airbrushed blue and purple cape down each side / limo tinted windows / color-matched billet grille, roll pan, Lund wiper cowl, Bushwacker fender flares, Lund moon-light visor and GTS light covers / neon in the wheelwells, undercarriage, and two neon Batman symbols inside rear side windows
We Say: If Batman had a Bronco, this is really what it would look like. But, seriously, unplug or you might end up in Arkham Asylum like Edward Nygma.
The If the A-Team Drove a Dakota Award
Who: Henry Goncalues
Where: Midway Park, NC
What: '99 Dodge Dakota
Suspension: Stock / Street Scene traction bars
Engine: Stock / Super Truck exhaust
Wheels/tires: (Front) 15x7-inch / (Rear) 15x8-inch American Racing wheels
Interior: Nu-Image dash gauges / Extreme FX floor pedals / roll bar / 10-pound N2O bottle
Audio/video: TV monitor / DVD player / Kenwood CD player / three 10-inch MTX subwoofers / three Sony amps
Body Mods: Billet speed grilles / Six Pack Scoops / custom roll pan / aluminum gas cap door / Street Scene side-view mirrors and wing
We Say: Now that we have made it to the We Say part, we thought we would have something to say. Well, we were wrong. We are still in shock!
The Best Graphics Created By a Shade Tree Award
Who: Brad Warren
Where: Parkton, NC
What: '67 Chevy C10 Pickup
Suspension: (Front) 2 1/2-inch drop spindles / Firestone air springs / front disc brake conversion / (Rear) reversed four-link / Firestone air springs / custom bridge for airbags / Viair compressors / SMC Valves
Engine: 350 painted and polished motor / Turbo 400 transmission / Summit 20-gallon polished fuel cell
Wheels/tires: 20x8-inch Center Line Rapid Tomahawks
Interior: '00 GMC Yukon tan leather seats / custom center console / billet flame steering wheel
Audio/video: Sony CD head unit / two 6x9-inch speakers
Body Mods: Shaved door handles, antenna, gas door, cowl, tailgate handle, taillights, driprails, and dash / molded front end / custom-made roll pan with 60-inch LED and grille
We Say: The C10 is the staple classic truck, and Brad is off to a good start.
The Mr. Clean Award
Who: Juan Garza
Where: Grand Prairie, TX
What: '99-'02 Chevy (owner forgot to tell us)
Suspension: Belltech 3/4-inch static drop / Ride Control air lift kit / Toxic shocks
Engine: K&N filtercharger and intake system / Hypertech programmer / Flowmaster exhaust / Optima RedTop battery
Wheels/tires: 22-inch Moto Metal / 265/35R22 Wanli
Interior: Trenz center dash kit / Nu-Image Diamond Series white-face gauges
Audio/video: Alpine 9853 CD head unit / one Kicker Amp for mids / Planet Audio mids / two Pioneer 6x10-inch mids / one Auto Tek amp for subs / two JL Audio subs
Body Mods: Classic billet grille / Tahoe grille shell / tailgate handle relocator / '03 Chevy taillights / Fibernetics tonneau bedcover / billet antenna / Cadillac door handles
We Say: Juan is building a cool truck. And with further modifications, you could find this truck as a feature.
The "I Don't Want To Be Homesick" Award
Who: Robert Proffit
Where: Anywhere the Navy sends him, USA
What: '02 GMC Sierra
Suspension: 2-inch drop shackles
Engine: 4.8L V-8 with mild upgrades, which he forgot to tell us about / K&N filtercharger / Tornado intake device / Flowmaster 3-1/2-inch exhaust
Wheels/tires: Stocks / BFGoodrich All-Terrain KO 265/70R16
Interior: Nu-Image blue-flamed gauges, light control panel, A/C control panel / blue-flamed headliner and door panels / color-matched dash and trim pieces
Audio/video: Sony CD/MP3 head unit / 8-inch powered Bazooka tube
Body Mods: Exterior molding and trim pieces have been removed / Putco Punch grille / projector headlights / Luverne side nerf bars / billet GMC third brake light cover / CheckMate flush-mount tonneau cover / Line-X sprayed bed and tonneau cover
We Say: Our guess is that when Robert leaves his post, he doesn't want to feel to far away from his ship, so he designed his truck with the characteristics of a boat.
The You Forgot To Tell Us Anything, So We Made It Up About Your Truck Award
Who: David Fairchild
Where: Burkburnett, TX
What: '84 Chevy Short Wide
Suspension: (Front) heated the coil springs until desired height / (Rear) piled sand bags in the bed to level it out
Engine: DOHC 1.6L Honda V-Tech with N20
Wheels/tires: 10s, but he keeps 'em clean
Interior: Dash, steering wheel, and rearview mirror (that's what we can see through the window)
Audio/video: 22-inch plasma TV strapped to the dash with a Bose system with surround sound
Body Mods: Rattle-can satin black paint
We Say: David looks like he's building a cool truck, but he forgot to include a tech sheet. So this is what happens when you let us assume what your ride might have.
The Retina-Burning Ultra White Truck Award
Who: Richard Aranda
Where: Floresville, TX
What: '67 Chevy pickup
Suspension: 39-year-old coil and leaf springs
Engine: 350 V-8, bored 0.030 over / Competition Cams 268 Cam / Hedman headers / Holley 600-cfm carb / Turbo 350 tranny with a TCI Trans Cat kit
Wheels/tires: 15x10-inch Center Line Scorpions / BFGoodrich 275/60R15 rubber
Interior: Original everything
Audio/video: Humming and hand puppets
Body Mods: Replaced front fenders / cowl-induction hood / repainted Summit White
We Say: That is some serious white paint. How do you even drive in the daylight?