Premier Party Engine

Truly a hot party spot.
Old firetruck equipped with bar, hot tub, grills
Sara Faiwell Daily Herald Staff Writer

Don't expect to see this big red engine pulling up to put out any fires. The only water
here is found in the four-person Jacuzzi on board. Add that to the TV, stereo system
and beer kegs, and it's clear to see this isn't your typical fire truck. In fact, it's more of a
party machine than any type of rescue vehicle.

Starting in May, the Premiere Party Engine will hit the streets of the suburbs, hoping to
provide a different way to have a good time - aboard an old Chicago fire truck. For
the past month, a Des Plaines auto mechanic's shop has become a dream garage for
Skokie firefighter Chris Gantz. He's the mastermind behind the renovation and has
crammed everything he can think of onto the truck. That includes a margarita and
daiquiri bar, an Atari video game system with 60 games, two propane grills, a wine
cooler and a hot dog roller. Sounds exhausting, right? Tell that to Dennis Goralski,
who runs Denny G's Automotive, which has taken on the project. "This is something
you just don't do every day," said Goralski, a former 20-year veteran mechanic with
the city of Chicago. "I think this is a great idea." The trickiest part, he says, is wiring all
the electronics and figuring out the plumbing for the hot tub. Gantz bought the truck
at a city of Chicago auction last fall. It's a 1987 E-One, used for the past 15 years as the
training rig for all firefighters in the city.

The idea to soup it up came after the success of another business he runs, Big Red
Fire Truck Fun. This one takes trucks throughout the suburbs for kids' birthday parties
and community events. It's been so successful, Gantz said he wanted to take it up
another notch and give adults some fun. "There is really nothing that can attract more
people than a giant red fire engine," he said. Part of the authenticity of the children's
birthday parties, and now the party truck, is that actual firefighters and police officers
drive the vehicles and lead the parties in their spare time. They're from all over the
suburbs and get just as much of a kick out of it as the people who rent them. "I love
the idea of the adult truck, especially," said Bill Smaha, a Deerfield community service
officer and a Northfield firefighter. "It's like a limo, but a fire engine instead." For two
years, Smaha has worked at the parades, events and birthday parties. "Adults seem to
get a thrill out of the truck just as much as the kids," he said. "I think it would be great
to be in the hot tub, drinking beer and watching sports." The party truck is already
booked for some special events, including for a few hours of tailgating before a Jimmy
Buffett concert later this summer. It's rented out for $375 the first hour and $150 each
additional hour. Food and alcohol are not included. "No matter how old you are,
people like firetrucks," said Gantz. "Mom and Dad want to sit in the front seat just as
much as the kids do."

sfaiwell@@dailyherald.com

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