Motor Madness drew vehicles and spectators to the Liberty YMCA parking lot on June 24 for its third annual community showcase.
For many participants at Motor Madness, the vehicles on display were more than machines. They represented personal stories, service and shared passion.
Edward Crumley, Box Elder, was among those who shared a vehicle in the event. Crumley drives his 1972 M813 five-ton military truck to 10 to 25 car shows a year, using it as an educational tool to teach kids about the military and the vehicle’s history and purpose.
The truck, which has 17,900 original miles, was used in the military until about 1986 when it was decommissioned, Crumley said. It was later repurposed for civilian fire service, with red paint added to the doors to distinguish it from strictly military use. Crumley purchased the vehicle about three years ago from storage, where it had been sitting since the mid- to late-1990s.
The truck still had its original tires and rims at the time of purchase, however those are now stored in Crumley’s shop. He said he replaced them for more off-road and heavy-use capability. Today, the vehicle is primarily used for car shows, where Crumley enjoys teaching children about its military function and allowing them to experience it firsthand by sitting in the driver’s seat or climbing into the back.
“It’s the excitement in their eyes,” Crumley said. “They know what an Army guy is. They’ll say, ‘He’s an Army guy, Mommy.’ They realize this is what Army guys drive and they get excited and they want to know more about it.”
The truck also attracts the attention of military veterans, which sparks up engaging conversation and shared stories.
“They’ll follow me down the road, so I stop, and they say ‘I know that truck,’” Crumley said. “‘I used to work on that truck. I used to drive that truck. That was my truck in Vietnam.’” He said many share stories from their service, adding that the experience can be therapeutic for some.
In severe winter conditions, Crumley noted, the vehicle could still be used. He previously owned a similar truck while stationed in Alaska for search and rescue work and hopes it can be used in similar efforts in the future.
Jason Olivencia, an Air Force Airman stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base, showcased his Hot Wheels-inspired Mustang GT, Ruby, named for its signature coloring.
Ruby is finished in Ford’s Redfire Pearl Metallic, a deep factory red from the early S197 Mustang years that was only offered for a limited time before Ford transitioned to a different shade. Olivencia said the car has gone through three iterations and carried a Hot Wheels livery twice, one of which was later damaged by road conditions. The Hot Wheels flame graphics were applied by Rapid City Signs, while Olivencia completed the striping and numbering himself. The detailing took about nine hours, he said.
The 2005 Mustang GT is a tribute build inspired by NASCAR driver Joey Logano’s Hot Wheels race car collaboration from 2018.
The car is set up for autocross, meaning the rear seats, stereo, and speakers have been removed. And of course, Olivencia made some engine modifications.
“Being Hot Wheels it has to be loud, so it’s obnoxiously loud, but very fun to drive,” Olivencia said.
While the car is often shown at events, Olivencia also uses Ruby for a charitable mission. For the past four years, he has helped deliver donated Hot Wheels cars to children at Monument Health. For the past two years, he has also brought a Christmas tree decorated with Hot Wheels toys and gifts for Christmas Day.
“So the car is a visual, but there is also a mission behind it,” he said.
Olivencia said the Hot Wheels build came naturally, combining his role as a father with his passion as a Hot Wheels and car collector.
He currently owns more than 5,000 Mustang models across all scales and says he is working toward building one of the largest Mustang collections. Including other model vehicles, his collection totals roughly 11,000 cars.
“But bringing the car out, seeing the kids, even the bigger kids that grew up with Hot Wheels, it’s just an experience,” Olivencia said. “I wanted to share that passion as a collector, but also a car enthusiast.”
Olivencia said anyone who sees Ruby around Box Elder or the Black Hills should feel free to honk and he usually has Hot Wheels on hand.
View a photo gallery from Motor Madness:
