Hello, and welcome to another jam-packed edition of The Hot Seat. In case you missed last month's story, each month we take a person that has been a vital part, a mentor, or made some significant impact in the scene, and expose him or her and make them blush for your reading enjoyment.
So sit back, light a match, do a courtesy flush, and enjoy this month's installment.
* If you have an idea for someone you want to see in The Hot Seat, email hotwheelbabie@aol.com with your suggestions, questions, or comments, and maybe your favorite person will be our next victim!
This month, we bring you Jeff King from AcrophobiA, ECBN, and the late Tailgate Magazine; if you don't know him yet, you're about to know it all!
The Basics
Full Names: Jeffrey Raymond King
Ages: 24
Place of Births: Wilkes-Barre
Current Residence: Pennsylvania
Daily Driver: Crew Cab Chevy 2500 Duramax
Who are you?: I'm Jeff the "Bug Man" or Jeff the "Greenskeeper" depending on the time of day. I love living two lives! Oh yeah, also full time minitrucker who throws East Coast Bowling Nationals.
Q: What is in your Toilet Tower/Lavatory Library? Be honest, not the obvious ones like Mini Truckin', we want to know about the US Weekly, the Better Homes & Gardens and the Luscious Large Woman mags.
A: Pest Control Technologies, Pest Management Professionals, Superintendent, Golf Course Management, Yachting, and Adam & Eve Quarterly Catalog.
Q: Tell us one thing people either don't know about you or would be very surprised to hear?
A: I grew up having a fear of clowns. I always cried at the circus when approached by a clown and just wanted out. Still to this day clowns freak me out!
Q: What is your favorite show of all time and why?
A: East Coast Nationals because the old guys from SubCulture really knew how to throw a good show. A laid back family oriented atmosphere with the party at the hotels after the show. People came from up and down the East Coast to ECN because it was a central meeting place between the deep south and far North Eastern states. It's a shame it's gone, and it will always be sadly missed by this guy!
Q: What got you into the scene?
A: My brother Bob did at the ripe age of 12. He got involved with a local club called Kiddie Rydes back and built a Ford Ranger. This Ranger was sitting pretty on some 15-inch wire wheels! Anyways, I was young and built a lowrider bike and joined Kiddie Rydes too. I had my bike about two years before some scum jacked it from me. After that I decided to start building my first truck at the age of 14 and that's where the fish tank tailgate Mazda came into play and the rest is history.
Q: What is your personal opinion on the current state of the scene with us losing so many shows lately? Why do you think that is?
A: This is a great question! We are losing shows because of our own actions. I don't think people have much respect anymore. Loss of self-control? Hell, I watch videos of people destroying things. Maybe it's funny? The end result is not. There are ways of having indestructible humor. It's definitely repairable but its going to take the help from everyone involved in the minitruckin' scene. Maybe more guidance from the veterans? If we see someone being disrespectful, or trashing a hotel, speak up! Everyone points the fingers at the locals that attend these shows and a lot of times it's us. The "destroy" motto has got to change and we need to teach the younger generation to "enjoy, not destroy" the scene!
Q: Tell us the inspiration behind East Coast Bowling Nationals? Why do you think it is quickly becoming a must attend show for the North East?
A: The Bowling Nats started back in 2000 between three clubs. Positive Image, Kaotic Kustoms, and Childhood Fantasies. We would take turns having cruise nights in our hometowns. Daniel Lee (founder of Drop `N Drag) decided that we should all get together and go bowling one night and we could have a tournament between the three clubs. The winner would host the next tournament the following year. Childhood Fantasies, which was my club, ended up bringing home the trophy, in fact Daniel still owes me the 1st trophy! We brought it here to Wilkes-Barre to a bowling alley with more lanes and saw the potential for growth. We won the next two years and decided we should just keep the event here. Here in the Northeast, winter keeps us away from what we love to do. Having this event brings everyone together for a weekend of fun without worrying about detailing your truck in the cold. Everyone kicks back, drinks a lot of beer, and some even bowl a little. A lot of people think its just a bowling event, but any club is welcome even if you don't have lanes. A lot of people don't even bowl, they just come to get together and hang out.
Q: Is it true you are an actual descendant of a Wookie?
A: Well, the government really doesn't like me discussing this but since I trust everyone reading this, yes. It is said somewhere down the family history, my Grandmother once conceived with a Wookie. It seems the genes are strong and I'm an example of it skipping generations down to me.
Q: We heard there was actually a sighting of you "driving" your minitruck last year. We figured this must be just a rumor since we have only seen it on a trailer?
A: Yes, I do drive my truck from time to time. Living in Pennsylvania it's hard to drive to shows with the rough winters we get and unfortunately our roads are horrible. Neither the State nor the Towns do much to fix them and trying to keep a nice truck is just hard when the roads are this bad. I love driving my truck! I just need smooth roads, new wheels are expensive.
Q: Tell us what is so "magical" about Carlisle All Truck Nationals since you felt you needed to kick our hotel room door in on Saturday night. What was all the urgency and fuss about?
A: OK, I was hammered drunk and ready to make my first baby! Well, I didn't know I was going to make the baby, it just kind of happened and it's awesome! I just wanted to let you all know it was my last time trying; it was getting to be a full-time job trying to make babies!
Q: We hear that even when it is -10 degrees outside, you still won't turn on the heat in your house. You live in Pennsylvania, it must get really cold, does your Wookie coat keep you that warm?
A: It's definitely my Wookie wallet keeping the heat at 65 degrees. I could be rolling in a Bentley for what our heat bills are for the Hotel King. Never move north! Every month I get a heat bill I look forward to the BOHICA, short for bend over hear it comes again!
Q: What is the best way to get "stripper glitter" out of a minitruck?
A: Wow, where did this question come from? I have never actually thought of or experienced this before I swear! I am guessing maybe $1.50 in quarters in the vacuum cleaner at the closest car wash and possibly some masking tape wrapped around your hand? I think this would work great! I'm going to have to try this sometime.
Q: Can you tell us all about the infamous "Pink Sock" incident?
A: Let's just say this: 13 flyers passed around a hotel to everyone that had "Do Not Disturb" signs on their doors, and then caught on camera. $500.00 later to stay out of jail in Virginia; priceless...
Q: As a long time staff member of Tailgate Magazine, can you tell us how the infamous Harvey's "bags" pic got through their editing department?
A: After having my own reader poll regarding the page this was published and 10 out of 10 didn't notice the hilarious mistake. To the naked eye you really wouldn't pick up on it. I don't think most readers would be looking at Harvey's package but you never know? He does attract a lot of man love wherever his is. It was a picture taken as a joke as Downtime Matt was trying to mack the chick sitting down in the picture. I totally forgot to take the pictures out of the batch I sent in for publishing. I take responsibility for the error but I was always told not to edit the material I submit. Oh well, it was a classic! Here's the pic with the "mistake" blacked out.
Q. Finally, the plugs...anything you want mentioned?
A: My mother and father for the support and dealing with me traveling everywhere at such a young age. My brother for introducing me to the coolest sport! My lovely wife and her family for all the support! Drop 'Em Wear? for taking me in like family throughout the years! Chris Voorhest for helping me build a badass truck and Kim for letting him go for weeks in the garage! John Gilbert for bringing me into the Tailgate family and Gil Luna Jr. for working with me for years! And last but not least, AcrophobiA for being my family!