The eastern perimeter of Ukiah High’s student parking lots is known for its trucks. From off-roaders to pavement princesses, each rig has its unique personality. Today a few of our news staff were able to interview 12th graders Kaylie Foster and Braden Rodrigue, a well-known couple who both drive well-known trucks they refer to as Judy and Copper.
Foster told us she became a member of the truck community because she raises goats requiring a vehicle capable of hauling animals and their feed. She started driving a midnight blue 1993 GMC truck and it has been an essential tool since. Foster has installed new rims and a new dashboard on her GMC and intends to lift it for higher clearance.
One unique thing about Foster’s GMC is the assortment of traffic cones she keeps in the bed. From pink, to camo, to classic emergency orange, Foster’s cones have become an iconic symbol of Ukiah High’s truck culture.
When asked what she loves so much about his truck, Foster said, “Probably the fact I haven’t seen one like her.” She explained the phenomenon of all the trucks parking together and the community the practice builds: “it’s like the hangout spot for all my friends.”
Foster named her truck “Judy” because her mother called it “Big-Booty Judy” when it had a campershell on it. After that, Foster said “The name sort of stuck.”
Rodrigue grew up with a family of mechanics and car enthusiasts and was excited to get his hands on a truck when it was his time. He has worked hard to bring a classic back to life, a 1980 GMC Sierra Grande. Rodrigue has worked on the truck extensively and hopes to one day install a new speaker system, redo the interior, and get beefier tires.
Rodrigue named his truck “Copper” after the vehicle’s vintage metal.
Catalina Cowen is a freshman in the Ukiah High school journalism class. She loves baking and hanging out with friends. She joined journalism because she likes writing about things that happen in the town around her. Catalina was born in Ukiah, California which is a big reason why she wanted to write about the city she is from. She looks forward to writing for the Ukiah High School Journalism class in her future years in High school.
