Ralph Feller of Caldwell, Idaho, once stated he had never seen a truck with too big an engine or too much brakes. He had his own fleet of potato and cattle-hauling trucks. He started out with F-600 and F-800 series Fords, with tag axles and fifth-wheel hitch, pulling 38- and 40-foot-long semi trailers.

Yer lookin’ at a feller with no tennis shoes, a ’76 GMC pickup, an outhouse and a learning permit for a cellphone. But, lest you lump me into that group of stodgy ol’ dinosaurs who cling to the days of Garth Brooks, pygmy Angus and real spare tires, let me assure you I have stepped boldly into the modern world of manly footwear.