A Peterbilt devotee who has six of the classic North American trucks and his own personal Pete museum, has been judged the make's No. 1 SuperFan.

Californian trucker Rick McClerkin's reward? He's been given the Peterbilt Model 567 Heritage tractor unit that was the one-millionth truck built by the PACCAR brand.

The 61-year-old McClerkin was judged the winner of the Peterbilt SuperFan contest to mark the make's production milestone – beating 1500 other entrants to the title….and the truck.

He reckons he took his first ride in a Peterbilt at the age of five – and has been smitten with the make ever since.

The owner-operator has two Petes in his trucking business, four other collector trucks….plus seven more built by Fageol Motors, the company Peterbilt acquired in 1938. His museum dedicated to the brand includes over 50,000 drawings, diagrams and brochures of the trucks – which he shares with other enthusiasts and restorers.

McClerkin reckons: "I've been empowered by that red oval all my life."

He even dreamt-up and hosted a 75th birthday party and truck show for the make in 2014 – attended by 350 Peterbilts and 5000 visitors.

Needless to say the first truck he drove, at the age of 17, was a Peterbilt, which he drove offroad, hauling gravel for logging roads.

The Model 567 Heritage "SuperFan" tractor has an all-PACCAR drivetrain including an MX-13 engine, an AMT and a 40,000 lb rear axle. It has custom chrome finishes and came with free oil changes up to 1.6 million kilometres.

"I'm going to keep it shining," McClerkin promises.

Peterbilt GM Kyle Quinn says that the truckmaker was "blown away by the response and each of the amazing stories that each of you shared with us. For many of you, Peterbilt is truly a way of life."

McClerkin says he's now thinking of starting a Peterbilt club.