April 2005

OK here it is, late as usual, but this time I have a GOOD excuse. I've been busy working on my own truck which has been nice. But I'll rant about that some other time..although it does tie into this months topic.

Recently, like it seems to happen now and then here in Winnipeg, old feuds and rivalries have been brought back into light. I'm not saying I've had no part in it, because I have, and I'm sure some people are going to disagree with what I say here as well.
Over the last few weeks, I've been working away on my truck with Shane, at his shop, and I've learned a lot of things, not necessarily all about building trucks.
I've learned that it's not only the club scene here that has its feuds, but it's the shops as well.

There seems to be a common trend of shops in this city to bash one and others work as a main business tactic. I know I have said things about shops in the past, and I will always have a strong opinion on safety. Unsafe installs don't just put the vehicles owner at risk; they jeopardize the reputation of all minitruckers. When somebody's install falls apart while they are cruising down portage, what do you think passers by will say? Those that don't know any better and just see a piled up truck on chrome wheels will say “see, I knew those trucks are not safe” and it ruins it for everyone.

In Calgary last year, there was talk of having knowledgeable minitruckers and fabricators involved in the inspection of questionable vehicles that are called in for safety. It seemed a little far fetched at the time, but after hearing stories that some of these “professional installs” around Winnipeg have been inspected and certified kind of sends a chill down my spine. If a shop can proudly say that their shoddy work is safe because they have an official seal of approval from a government agency, then we have a bigger issue on our hands. Continued on the next page...