CALIFORNIA TRUCK INVASION

THE EPIC FOLLOW-UP

The Epic Follow-up

BORN FROM A love of burnouts and street trucks of all shapes and sizes, the California Truck Invasion (CTI) answered the call for a venue where truck owners could show off their builds and have a little fun in the process. Originally titled Sunday Funday, this show created a safe place for truck lovers to flaunt their rides at a time when customized late-model trucks were showing off at parking lot meets and drawing negative attention, including from the law. With the show a success and setting social media on fire, Saul Rubio and Fabian De La Torre moved forward to make the show even bigger in 2016, changing the name to California Truck Invasion and relocating the event to its new home at the National Orange Show Events Center in San Bernardino, California. More than a thousand vehicles turned out for the show, and to make use of the speedway and burnout pits.

This year, CTI returned on April 1 to pull in around 1,500 registered trucks and 8,500 spectators, all looking forward to checking out the sea of trucks that filled the grounds. Before the lots even opened, vehicles lined the streets surrounding the events center, backing up intersections all around as registered trucks, spectators and vendors eagerly awaited opening. Once the show started, trucks lined the center from all sides, boxing each other in with their numbers and hardly allowing a clear shot to the speedway between them.

In addition to checking out some sick builds, spectators also enjoyed browsing vendor booths and indulging in the food and live music present at the event. Perhaps the highlight of last

year’s show, the burnout pits and their lack of restrictions allowed for some crazy action and only a few mishaps. This year, however, the rules seemed to be even more open to interpretation on the speedway, with vehicles left to their own devices and burning rubber the main intent. Although this was an unforeseen issue exacerbated by a few overeager drivers, it quickly led to multiple vehicles on the speedway and perpetrators ignoring the staff who were asking them to exit the area. Nobody was hurt, however, and with the show promoters looking forward to a second run this upcoming Labor Day weekend, the crew is eager to build upon the experience to create a safer speedway that offers the same amount of opportunity for action.

The next CTI, running Sept. 2-3, will host different attractions each day along with staple vendors selling their merchandise. With a limit of 1,000 trucks for the late-summer event, the show is still projected to draw in well over 10,000 spectators from those who’ve been a part of the event from the start to newcomers looking to enjoy everything the show has to offer. For more info, be sure to check out CTI’S official Instagram page, @californiatruckinvasion.

THE SPEEDWAY WAS PACKED WITH SPECTATORS AND TRUCKS AS DRIVERS SENT UP SMOKE VIA BURNOUTS AND DONUTS.

WAS INJURED. IT CLOSE, NOBODY DRIVERS CUT THOUGH SOME FROM OPEN CABS TO RAISED ARMS AND EXTENDED LEGS, DRIVERS PUSHED THEIR LIMITS IN THE BURNOUT PITS. WITH SMOKE SIGNALS SENT UP FROM THE PITS TO THE TRACK, THE SMELL OF BURNT RUBBER WAFTED AS FAR AS...

WITH A LACK OF RULES THIS TIME AROUND, SOME GOT CARRIED AWAY AND MADE USE OF THE ENTIRE TRACK.

THE EVENTS CENTER WAS FILLED TO THE BRIM WITH TRUCKS AS PARTICIPANTS SEARCHED FOR SPACE TO SET UP.