_edited.jpg)
LAS VEGAS — In what critics are calling either an inspirational triumph or a terrifying glimpse into the limits of modern machinery, “Happy Gary” Peterson has advanced to the semifinals of the 2026 CAT ConExpo Games. Sporting a pair of foam Hulk hands meant for a child and a smile that could disarm even the crankiest site foreman, Gary has once again bulldozed expectations—sometimes literally.
“When I saw him using those foam hands to operate the controls, I thought, ‘This is it. This is how it all ends,’” said fellow competitor Rick “Iron Arm” Jenkins, who was overheard Googling “career change ideas” during Gary’s freestyle backhoe performance. “But damn it, he made it work. He made it terrifying, but he made it work.”
Gary’s improbable journey through the competition has become the talk of the heavy equipment world. With no hands, one eye, and a cognitive condition that makes him think every button is a horn, Gary has mastered an unconventional style of operation that even his fiercest detractors admit is mesmerizing. “He doesn’t just drive the excavator,” said Carl Simmons, his coach and self-proclaimed ‘safety shield.’ “He becomes one with it. It’s like watching a Picasso painting come to life—if Picasso had only one color and it was chaos.”
Round One Highlights
Gary’s performance in the first round of the Global Operator Challenge left audiences both awestruck and slightly nauseous. In the precision trenching event, Gary used his foam Hulk hands to maneuver the bucket with a level of finesse that one spectator described as “like watching a toddler assemble IKEA furniture but somehow succeeding.” Despite several near-misses with boundary markers, Gary completed the trench in record time, though the judges later clarified it wasn’t part of the course.
“I don’t think he even knew where the trench was supposed to go,” said an event official who requested anonymity. “But you have to respect the man’s commitment to chaos. The Hulk hands? Iconic. The one-eyed depth perception? Questionable. The results? Unforgettable.”
The Freestyle Event: A Green Fury
2026 CAT Operating Challenge Semifinals- Proving Foam Hulk Hands Are More Than Just a Fashion Statement. Gary truly shone during the freestyle round, where competitors are encouraged to showcase their creativity and skill. While most operators performed polished tricks, Gary opted for a dramatic routine he called “The Excavator Smash,” in which he slammed the bucket repeatedly into a pile of scrap metal while growling, “Gary make number 1 in the cab!” The audience roared in approval, though it’s unclear if they were laughing with him or nervously hoping it would end soon.
At one point, Gary veered dangerously close to the spectator area, prompting officials to activate the emergency stop system, which he promptly disabled using his Hulk hands and a healthy dose of willpower. “It was like watching the Hulk operate an excavator if the Hulk had no clue what he was doing,” said one fan. “I loved every second of it.”
CAT Operating Challenge Semifinals - Controversy Brews
Not everyone is thrilled about Gary’s success. Critics argue that his inclusion in the competition undermines the event’s credibility and could pose serious safety risks. “This isn’t a feel-good story,” said Sandra Milligan, a safety consultant and vocal critic of Gary’s participation. “It’s a lawsuit waiting to happen. He’s operating heavy machinery with foam hands and one eye! How is this allowed?”
Others, however, see Gary as a symbol of perseverance and the power of human spirit. “Gary is what this industry needs,” said Janice Wilcox, spokesperson for the Global Operator Challenge. “He’s showing us that the only barriers in life are the ones we don’t accidentally knock over with an excavator.”
Looking Ahead
With the semifinals just weeks away, Gary is doubling down on his training regimen. According to his coach, this involves lifting 5-gallon buckets with his Hulk hands, practicing blindfolded (to simulate “losing” his one good eye), and attempting to dig trenches while listening to Eye of the Tiger on loop. “It’s all about mental focus and physical adaptability,” said Simmons. “And also making sure the Hulk hands don’t catch fire again.”
For Gary, the goal is simple: win the Games and prove that anything is possible, even if you’re operating machinery with children’s toys strapped to your wrists. “People say I can’t do it,” Gary said during a recent press conference, using his foam hands to crush a water bottle for emphasis. “But I say, who needs hands when you’ve got heart? And Hulk smash power.”
The Legacy of Happy Gary
Whether he wins the Global Operator Challenge or gets disqualified for accidentally trenching through an active sewer main, Happy Gary has already become a folk hero in the heavy equipment world—or perhaps a cautionary tale for future generations. Fans worldwide are sharing videos of his unorthodox performances, where his Hulk hands appear to defy physics, logic, and every safety manual ever written.
Gary’s unofficial motto, “Hulk hands, full heart, no safety standards,” has inspired legions of admirers and at least one cease-and-desist letter from OSHA. As the semifinals approach, Gary’s strategy appears to involve equal parts raw determination, reckless abandon, and possibly a voodoo curse against competing excavators.
His latest training video, where he attempts to pick up an entire porta-potty with the bucket while shouting, “Gary fix now!” has garnered millions of views and one small town evacuation order. Experts argue Gary isn’t just rewriting the rulebook; he’s lighting it on fire with a blowtorch he shouldn’t legally have access to.
And honestly, isn’t that what we all expect from ConExpo 2026? A spectacle so outrageous it forces us to question not just our industry, but our very existence.
Comments