Some grandparents pass down family heirlooms or trust hinds, but not Wayne Myers. He plans to leave his grandson, Brady, an heirloom of a different sort: his famed hot tub truck.

Seven years ago, a rusted-out 1989 Chevy S-10 caught Myers' eye in his hometown of Port Elgin, Ontario, Canada. The truck was on its way to a wrecking yard. Myers, all avid car restorer and co-owner of a local auto parts center, got all idea.

"I go to car shows all the time and see kids who aren't allowed to touch anything--their fathers just tug them at around by the hand. I wanted to develop a car that kids could climb on, mess around with and enjoy."

So Myers decided to install a hot tub directly into the bed of the truck, a perfect playground for his grandson.

To begin the restoration, Myers sought out several body shops, parts dealers and hot rod specialists to help him create this one-of-a-kind automotive spectacle. Using a barter system, some companies offered to donate parts or services in return for signage on the vehicle.

Another Ontario company, Quinte Bumper and Fender in Trenton, helped assemble the hot tub. The body shop completely welded the joints of the truck bed together to make it leak-proof, and then cut holes in the wheel wells for the jets.

Myers' first foray into creating the hot tub found him using a dishwasher pump to heat and circulate the water. "Believe it or not, it works," he says with a laugh. But two years ago, Pools Plus, a company based in nearby Owen Sound, donated Tigerflex pipes and a circulation pump. Using a 2.8-liter marine block engine and radiator to heat the water, the Tigerflex hose circulates the water through the engine and then pumps it hack, underneath the chassis, to the hot tub jets.

Calling the track a constant work in progress Myers continues to add morn bells and whistles. Most recently, he installed a Sony Playstation, DVD player and computer on the dashboard. Everything is user-friendly and kid approved, he says.

"I bring Brady and his friends to all the shows with me," Myers says. "They get to take a dip, play in the truck and be the center of attention for the day. The crowds absolutely love it. All day long, it's a stream people coming to see the 'hot tub truck.'"

He has procured many local awards for the vehicle, including First Place at the Freelton 2003 Car Show this past summer. More than 600 vehicles entered this show, it was a huge win for us," Myers says.

He also serves as a special guest at dozens parades and shows, including the annual Pumpkinfest and Santa Claus parades in Ontario. "There's nothing like driving rough a parade while soaking in the hot tub," he says.

COPYRIGHT 2003 Hanley-Wood, Inc.
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