Photo by Brian Carless
Patrons at Truck Fest Part II in Priory, St Ann, last Sunday are enthralled by fireworks from this truck.

Brian Carless, Gleaner Writer

TRUCKS FROM all over the island lined up at Truck Fest Part II in Priory, St Ann, last Sunday, competing for bragging rights. Who would drive away with the biggest title in the local trucking industry, 'Best Truck of the Year', was anyone's guess.

However, before the day ended, Garfield Bonner with his rig 'The Gargamel' emerged the winner of Truck Fest 2008.

Diesel fuel

Throughout the day, the smell of diesel fuel filled the air as the large, pimped vehicles kept their engines running constantly. One particular truck that I looked at had two fuel tanks with a combined capacity of 1,136 litres, which works out to 300 gallons!

More than 50 trucks vied for awards in a number of categories: best interior, engine, horn, sound system, lighting, and best accessorised. One of the challenging events involved a 20-foot container attached to a trailer head. The trailer with its heavy appendage had to reverse through a course marked by cones. The time limit was 90 seconds and the winning time was 17.08 seconds!

More than entertainment

The well-supported event offered more than just entertainment, there were booths selling a variety of truck-related services, parts and accessories. If it had anything to do with trucks it was there. The truck belonging to Donovan Jaddoo of Real Power Diesel bagged awards for best interior, best engine and best lighting. He, however, only managed to finish in second place again for the second year running.

Performances by a number of popular artistes, including Noddy Virtue, Jodi-Ann Pantry, Shane O, Professor Nuts, Busy Signal, One Third, Chris Martin, D'Angel, Wayne Marshall, Bling Dawg and D Major rounded off the day's event.

Denied access

The crowd was hyped to fever pitch for the final act. The man everybody wanted to see was David Brooks, aka Mavado. However, members of the Mavado entourage were denied access backstage which resulted in Mavado refusing to perform. He immediately left the venue.

Master of ceremonies Andrew 'Huffy' Nelson tried his best to reassure the patrons that the backstage issue would work out, but as soon as he left the stage missiles were hurled on the stage, which resulted in the show's untimely end.