Gene would load cantaloupes at Azhderian's shed in Los Banos Ca during the season. My family owned a grain, seed and trucking company that bordered on the east side. When i saw "El Turbo" there loading I would slip through the fence and Gene would let me sit in his seat and 'play trucks'. One time he said "ive gotta go weigh next door, you want to go for a ride"? It was so cool, he took me around the block to my parents scale and weighed. My Dad laughed and didnt charge him the 3 bucks for 'bringing me home'! What a prince of a man Gene was, I will never forget the love for 'truckin' he and many others instilled in me! That was 1971, I was 7yrs old. Today at 60, lm in Idaho driving a chip truck and have never lost my one and true love! RIP Gene, and thanks again for the memories!
@@MrReeseTrue El Turbo was iconic with myself and my friends. We would be down at the Reed & Bell drive in having a Coke and order of fries when Gene would pull up to the stop light at the corner of 6th and Hwy 152 and we'd all yell "El Turbo" and listen to him go through the gears, it was magical! See him on I-5 and every one in the car hollered "El Turbo", and then I would tell everyone (again), about riding around the block! 🤗👍
I met Gene in 1978 at the 76 truckstop in Sacramento ca. El Turbo was a sight to behold. We spent the evening together and he told me all about the truck. I was 23 years old on one of my first Coast to Coast runs. After that it’s been all Peterbilt Hoods in front of to this day. Rest in Paradise Gene.
I used to run up and down Hwy. 99 with "El Turbo", (Gene) in the 70's and 80's. I was running out of Merced. The "Hitman" said that! Those were the days!
