ARLINGTON – Chad Gaskins was the star of the show.
A photograph of Gaskins, framed in brown leather, leaned against the right-front wheel well of his deep blue lowrider truck.
His customized Toyota truck attracted a crowd Saturday at the Sittin’ Pretti Car and Truck Club’s 13th annual custom vehicle show in Arlington.
People gazed at the wispy, rolling ghost flames around its exterior; the matching, immaculate interior; and its gleaming shine, the kind only possible after hours and hours of buffing.
Gaskins, who lived in Everett, never lived to finish building his dream truck. He died in a motorcycle accident in April 2005 at the age of 24.
His friends and family finished his truck for him.
“He’s up there grinning from ear to ear at this point,” his mother, Sherrie Neatherlin of Snohomish, said.
Gaskins always wanted his truck featured in a magazine. He and his best friend worked on it tirelessly for five years before he died.
The day of his funeral, his family and friends vowed to fulfill his dream.
A local body shop owner dedicated thousands of dollars worth of free labor, assisted by Neatherlin’s husband, Tom Neatherlin. A painter added the flames for free. Several others helped, too.
Two messages were added to the tailgate: “In loving memory of my son, Chad Gaskins,” and “We made your dreams come true.”
The truck has brought comfort to those who knew Gaskins.
“For me, it’s really coming to an end,” said Tom Neatherlin, Gaskins’ stepfather. “I can’t put it into words.”
The truck won the Arlington car show’s Best of Show award. It also won first place for its class and for having the best paint job.
It will be featured in a four-page spread in an upcoming issue of Mini-Truckin’ magazine.
Dreams do come true.
Reporter Scott Pesznecker: 425-339-3436 or spesznecker@heraldnet.com.
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