PPG Industries’ Automotive Refinish business has released the 2014 appearance schedule of its show truck, a 75-foot 2007 Coronado Freightliner tractor-trailer rig decked out in a vibrant paint scheme that incorporates the colors, special effects and graphics of PPG products.
The truck will begin its cross-country tour in March with veteran PPG driver Chad Hook at the wheel. He will guide the truck to 18 major events including car, truck and hot rod shows sponsored by the National Street Rod Association (NSRA), the Goodguys Rod & Custom Association and other automotive enthusiast groups.
Hook has been with PPG for 30 years in several capacities and has driven the show truck since 1999, covering 30,000 to 35,000 miles annually. Prior to this assignment, he was a member of the PPG Pace Car Team, transporting vehicles from race to race. He has been driving trucks for more than 42 years and accumulated more than two million miles before he stopped counting about 10 years ago.
“I enjoy driving and I enjoy cars, so this is a great job for me,” said Hook. “I get to meet a lot of people along the way, and it’s always good to see the PPG reps at each of the shows; we’re all like one big family.”
Despite the fickleness of weather and a sometimes tight schedule, Hook has never missed a show or arrived late. He will usually get to a city the day before an event just to be sure everything can be set up in time. PPG representatives will greet him and help prep the trailer for public display. On occasion, Hook will pilot the truck to a PPG Platinum Distributor’s location for a special event.
Hook’s first stop in 2014 will be March 7-9 in Scottsdale, Ariz., for the Goodguys Spring Nationals. From there, he will take the truck to 12 other states before returning to Arizona for the season-ending Southwest Nationals in November.
Truck and car fans are invited to visit the show truck wherever it appears to learn more about PPG products and the painting techniques used to create its finishes. The complete tour schedule follows:
• Scottsdale, Ariz., 3/7-3/9, Goodguys 5th Spring Nationals
• Fort Worth, Texas, 3/14-3/16, Goodguys 4th Spring Lone Star Nationals
• Del Mar, Calif., 4/4-4/6, Goodguys 14th Del Mar Nationals
• Oklahoma City, Okla., 4/11-4/13, NSRA Southwest Street Rod Nationals
• Kissimmee/Orlando, Fla., 4/25-4/27, Goodguys 1st All American Nationals
• Knoxville, Tenn., 5/2-5/4, NSRA Street Rod Nationals South
• Nashville, Tenn., 5/16-5/18, Goodguys 9th Nashville Nationals
• Loveland, Colo., 6/6-6/8, Goodguys 17th Colorado Nationals
• Saint Paul, Minn., 6/21-6/22, Back to the 50s
• Pueblo, Colo., 6/27-6/29, NSRA Rocky Mountain Street Rod Nationals
• Des Moines, Iowa, 7/4-7/6, Goodguys 23rd Heartland Nationals
• Columbus, Ohio, 7/11-7/13, Goodguys 17th PPG Nationals
• Puyallup, Wash., 7/25-7/27, Goodguys 27th Pacific Northwest Nationals
• Spokane, Wash., 8/15-8/17, Goodguys 13th Great Northwest Nationals
• Englishtown, N.J., 9/13, US Diesel Truckin’ Nationals
• Fort Worth, Texas, 10/3-10/5, Goodguys 22nd Lone Star Nationals
• Biloxi, Miss., 10/10-10/12, Cruisin’ the Coast
• Scottsdale, Ariz., 11/14-11/16, Goodguys 17th Southwest Nationals
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