Continental Helps Students Make 'Class' Entry at MATS

“Class Act,” a 1995 Peterbilt tractor entered in the Mid-America Trucking Show’s annual Paul K. Young Memorial Truck Beauty Show competition, is rolling on Continental truck tires.

The tiremaker notes that “Class Act” is not the typical entry found at the PKY Beauty Show, where entries are usually provided by working professionals and custom truck shops. This entry was restored from scrap condition by 35 high school students from the Clarion County Career Center in Shippenville, Pa.

Beginning in 2007, the Clarion County Career Center’s Diesel Technology Program’s instructor Don Doverspike had the idea to use the talents of his budding truck repair professionals to create a working show truck. The Diesel Technology Program consists of high school students, ages 15-18, who complete a three-year program 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.

In 2007, Doverspike and the students 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.” But they ran into a snag in their plan to take it to MATS.

“The last thing needed to make this truck complete was a new set of truck tires,” Doverspike said. “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 truck tire replacement sales manager Chuck Datsko. Continental quickly stepped in and sent the students a brand new set of HSR2 and HDR1 tires for the tractor and completed their show entry.

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 their classroom and aid in mounting the tires. Datsko also traveled to the class the week prior to MATS and taught a one-day seminar, so that the students would receive a full learning experience about truck tires.

“This has been great. The new Continentals are the perfect complement to this beautiful truck, and the students have also learned that hard work brings its rewards. 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,” Doverspike said.

The PKY Beauty Show takes place in Lot “J” on the west side of the MATS complex, with a total of 100 entries for 2010.

Ascot Supply Corporation, based in Newnan, Georgia, has selected Mark Paquette for the newly created position of vice president. In this position, Ascot Supply said Paquette will oversee the growth of the company's products, corporate profitability, manage marketing and advertising and assume many other responsibilities.

He will work under the direction of current President David Kessler and officially begin his new role on June 3. Paquette joined the tire and automotive industry in the early 1980s at his father's tire shop, and his contributions to Mohawk Rubber Sales were instrumental in the company's growth and eventual sale to Myers Tire Supply in 2021, according to Ascot Supply. Paquette eventually was given a promotion to the role of director of operations at Myers Tire Supply.