BERKEY’S 1950 CHEVY GRABS ‘RWYB’ CHAMPIONSHIP 

The team of Eric ‘Todd’ Berkey and Ron Cuttrell has proven to be a winning combination in the USA-EAST ‘Run What Ya Brung’ Series in 2009.  Berkey, from Rockwood in Somerset County and Cuttrell from Mount Pleasant in Westmoreland County produced an awesome pulling machine with their bright yellow 1950 Chevrolet.  This is the first USA-EAST championship for the combo.  The RWYB class permits big block gasoline trucks to run against their turbo-charged counterparts using diesel for fuel.  The class is kept competitive by adjusting the actual scale weights for the various types of trucks.

Powered by a 600+ cubic inch GM engine, Berkey’s 1950 Chevy was a winner at five events this season on the way the crown.   The truck took the opening event of the season at the NE Ohio Championships at the Geauga County Fairgrounds in Burton, Ohio in early June and then had to settle for some second and third place finishes as a pair of very formidible diesel trucks stepped to the plate.  By the time August rolled around it was time for the big yellow Chevy to perform.  A win at the Clearfield County Fair was followed by a runner-up finish at the Columbiana County Fair in Lisbon, Ohio the next night.  But after Lisbon, Berkey and Team reeled off a string of three straight wins – New Castle, Meadville and Canfield to complete their astonishing assent to the top of the modified 4x4 pulling world.

Cuttrell and Berkey get their trophy at Meadville

from the Street, Track and Trail sponsor!!

Berkey has moved steadily upward in the pulling sport and has always been willing to try something different.  His street licensed Chevy was always at or near the top from 2004 to 2006, but was constantly plagued by perceived rules problems.  Berkey was the first to actually shorten the bed of the truck in order to lessen the distance between his rear axle and the point of hook.  This innovation worked so well that the rule makers had to make a special rule in order to eliminate this process.