Who doesn’t love the mountains? I love the mountains and enjoy seeing them whenever possible but taking pictures of trucks at a show held in the mountains, that is even better! Nestled between the Great Smoky and Blue Ridge Mountains is the Smoky Mountain Event Center in Waynesville, NC. On Friday, September 25, and Saturday, September 26, it was the stage for the inaugural Semi-Crazy Truck Show. Talk about a place with a view! The location was perfect and the view beyond the show grounds was spectacular.
I found out about the show from David Meadows who, along with Eric Smith, Courtney Smith, and Michael Freeman, organized this show. They had been talking back in August about all the shows canceling, including a show they all attended, the WNC Truck Club Show, which was to be held in Cherokee, NC. After asking a few others for their opinion, it was decided to put their own show on and, six short weeks later, they were standing on the grounds watching it come together. This was a non-judged event with all of the proceeds going to the Haywood County Schools Needy Children’s Fund, which provides for children within the school system, including a weekend backpack program and long-term funding of food support over the Holidays and school breaks.
When I arrived on Friday, Mother Nature was having a fit, forcing everyone to deal with rain, but that didn’t stop registrants from coming in to park their trucks. Not being a judged event, this show could better be described as a family gathering. Although this was my first time to this part of North Carolina, familiar and welcoming faces made this a great show to attend. Chris Coon and Barry Marlowe had a tent set up with some delicious BBQ. The food was “bought” with a donation, and all the proceeds went to the Needy Children’s Fund. Trucks were being washed right up until sunset that evening, and then everyone turned their lights on at dusk, lighting up the entire area where the trucks were parked.
Saturday’s weather was still dreary, but it improved as the day went on. There was a 50/50 raffle that was won by Brandon Smith, who generously donated it all back to the fund. The donations for the door prizes were pretty amazing and included t-shirts, Hogebuilt quarter fenders, a RoadWorks wash bucket kit, a set of exhaust pipes, truck lights, and a case of Zephyr 40 polish from DTP Chrome Shop. Also, up for grabs were Marlowe Grading hats and t-shirts from the SC Special Olympics Convoy. By the end of the show, which exceeded the anticipated number of trucks with a total of 83, some $2,624 was raised, with all the proceeds going to the previously mentioned Needy Children’s Fund.
Special thanks from the show’s coordinators to Steven and Amanda Marlowe, Lewis Cantrell of Diesel Truck Parts, Inc. (also known as DTP Chrome Shop in Spartanburg, SC) for setting up at the event and donating prizes, Jesse James and Charity Meadows for donating the use of their mobile wash equipment with donations going to the fund, Chris Caldwell at the Smoky Mountain Event Center for renting the facility as well as working with the show to move all the parking from the field to up top by the event center building because of the rain, and to everyone who attended, putting faith in a first-time show that was planned in about six weeks.
It was great to meet up with friends including David and Tiffany Meadows, Scott and Francina Mitchum with their 1980 A-model, Ben and Mandy Cadle with their 1982 Freightliner FLA, Kenny Wilson with his 1980 Freightliner FLC, JT Mercier with his 2005 W900, Rusty Moss with his 2000 Peterbilt 379, Nick Black with his red 1985 Peterbilt 359, and others including Tim Cooley and Brad Osteen. I was even able to catch the cutest picture of Nick Black’s young grandsons, Gannon and Rhett, in their cool little mini semi-truck!
It is always great to be able to meet new people, too, including Jennifer Valentine of NA Black Trucking with her purple 1996 Peterbilt 379, Nicholas Black (along with driver Kyle Wilson) and their chestnut 1986 Peterbilt 359, and Tyler Peters out of Austell, GA, who was in attendance with his 1987 Ford LTL 9000. Tyler’s truck is very nice, but it wasn’t as fascinating in comparison to his daughter, Patience.
Those who know me, know my addiction for big trucks, but it is so cool to see kids with the same giddiness about trucks that I have. Patience is a truck nut, and her smile over the trucks was contagious. Little does she know the impact her enthusiasm had on me, which renewed my inspiration for continuing to do articles and take photos, especially for the future generations in trucking.
Special thanks to David Meadows, along with the rest of the Southeast boys I know, who sent me invites to the show. By far my favorite truck shows to attend are the charity events that bring so much positive to our beloved industry.
If you attended the show and want a copy of this issue, visit DTP Chrome Shop in Spartanburg, SC (they are now distributors of 10-4 Magazine). I look forward to having fun in the mountains again next year! Watch their Facebook page “Semi-Crazy Truck Show” for the announcement of the dates for their 2021 show. As always, to all the drivers out there doing the deal, truck safe.