Custom 1995 Toyota Tacoma

This is one of those happy, feel-good stories that we all love to hear. Heather Elsken is a rarity in our world, a woman who knows her trucks and who has owned several very cool ones. Her current ride, a '95 Toyota Tacoma that has been revamped twice and has already been featured in both July and Dec. '01 issues of Sport Truck, crossed our path once again, looking better than ever. Of course, we had to get its new paintjob, interior, and wheels on film, and once you read the story behind her mad dash to the photo shoot, you'll understand how great the folks in this sport truly are. Here's an abbreviated version what she had to say:

"I almost didn't make my photo shoot. Mike arranged the shoot for 5 p.m. at the hotel, after my truck was judged at Showfest. My boyfriend Joey and I left the show at 3:30 p.m. to head for our hotel and clean up the truck. There was plenty of time to get back, clean up, and meet Mike for the shoot. I followed Joey in his '61 Impala down the bumpy, downtown road to the hotel, and when we got there, he said we had a problem. He pointed out the missing marker light from my truck's valance.

"So, off we went in the Impala, searching for my missing light. We found it on the side of the road at the railroad tracks, but someone had already run over it. The lens was broken and parts were missing. I knew I needed a new light, so we frantically searched all over town for a truck like mine to borrow a light from. We were circling the local mall when in drives a really nice, custom truck like mine. I walked up to the truck with my broken light in hand and proceeded to ask these complete strangers if I could borrow their light, while telling them I had a photo shoot in 15 minutes. The guy in the truck looked at me and said OK, but he pointed to the woman in the truck and said I'd have to ask her.

"I looked at her and her custom truck with its nice wheels, roll pan, and slick paint, and could tell that she babied it. I spilled my story and said, 'Please, please, let me borrow your light.' She said, 'Got a screwdriver?'

"We traded lights and cell phone numbers, and off we went to meet Mike. We got to the photo location at exactly 5 p.m. and Mike got cracking, taking the photos just as the sky opened up and poured rain, thunder, and lightning on us. I made it. He finished the photo shoot just as the weather got really bad. I returned the light to Nikki, the owner of that nice Tacoma from Louisiana. She showed me her truck and talked of how much she loved it. I thanked her, and she said she'd be on the lookout for this feature. So, let me say it again. Nikki, thank you, and you have an awesome truck!"

Don't it just make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside?