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Name: Bill JenksBusiness: International's Denver Used Truck Center
Location: Denver, Colorado
Wife: Marlene Wade -- We celebrated our 10th anniversary last October.
Kids: Shaye Wade is my stepdaughter.
Watch Bill ride at the 2009 AQHA Bayer Select
How long have you and your wife been racing?
Marlene grew up with horses, and has run barrels most of her life. I grew up with horses, too. Dad raised quarter horses, and trained some rope horses. I showed and went to rodeos my whole childhood, up to high school. I have a varied background with horses. Showing, rodeo, ranching—even some English riding, and a little dressage and jumping. I first got involved with barrel racing about 11 years ago. I started going to barrel races with Marlene.It wasn't too long and I told her I wasn't a good spectator, so if I was going to go to these races with her, I was going to need to get a barrel horse. After all, it looked pretty simple. I soon found out just what a challenge it is! One of the things I like most about barrel racing is there are always improvements to be made.
Where all do you compete and how many hours are you able to devote to it?
We mainly go to barrel races in Colorado, although we've gone to some of the bigger races, mostly in Oklahoma. In the winter time, I try to rideone or two horses four or five times a week. In the summer time, I'll try to keep two or three horses going.
Where are you originally from?
I was born and raised in New Mexico. We moved to Colorado when I was in high school.
What is your favorite barrel race to date?
I think one of my favorites was the first year I qualified to go to the AQHA World Show in the amateur barrels. That was in 2007. The BBR Finals in Oklahoma City is always a lot of fun, too.
What is your dream barrel race to attend (qualify for, etc.)?
I'd like to have a horse running well enough to do well at some of the bigger futurities, and then go to the BFA at Oklahoma City.
Who do you look up to in racing?
There are so many! Judy Myllymaki has sure helped me a bunch. Janet Stover, Sherry Cervi, the list goes on and on. There many, many fine horsemen to study.
Tell us about your horses and where they are in their training?
Tell us about your horses and where they are in their training?
My big brown horse, Spud, is turned out for the winter. I'm putting all the timeI can on my 4-year-old gelding, Austin. He's out of our Sir Austen Duncan mare, and by a son of Fishers Dash. I have some high hopes for him. Right behind him is a 3-year-old out of the same mare and by Brigance, a sonof Beduino. Marlene has a new 4-year-old son of Bully Bullion she's going to be working with. This weather we've had this fall has made it a little harder to put in all the time I want to with them.
Tell us about your business?
I work for Navistar, Inc., the manufacturer of International Trucks. I work for the used truck division, at our Denver Used Truck Center. We deal with remarketing the used trucks that are traded in to International by fleets when the buy new trucks. We also sell the lease returns and repossessed trucks for Navistar Finance.
What all do you sell and for how long have you been doing it?
I sell medium and heavy duty trucks- basically, anything from a Ryder type rentaltruck on up. About 35 to 40 percent of our business is medium duty trucks sold tolocal businesses. Then of course we have the semi-tractors, both for local hauling and over the road long haul trucking.
What is the best truck for hauling horses?
The short answer is "that depends"! It depends on the size trailer you pull, the distance you haul,the frequency you haul, whether you are mainly in the flatlands, or are you in the mountains much? I've been involved in trucking for over 30 years and logged over a million miles in big trucks. That, combined with all the miles I've hauled horses and other livestock, gives me a good knowledge base to work from when someone comes to me and wants a truck to haul their horses with.
Do you only sell one brand or many brands - new or used?
I only sell used trucks, and I sell all makes!
What is your funniest memory of selling a truck?
One of the funniest things happened to a guy I work with. A man came in and wanted aparticular truck. Jim took him for a test drive, but the man asked Jim to do all the driving. The man decided to buy the truck. They wrote it up, did all the title paperwork, and the man paid for the truck. Jim gave him the keys so he could leave. He got the truck out the gate, but just barely. He finally got it over to the side of the road, and came walking back. He asked Jim to drive the truck back to our lot. The man said he needed to go get a friend to come drive his truck home for him!
Do your buyers come from all over the states?
I have customers all over the United States that buy from me.
Thanks Bill~!
