When I was asked to attend the Trucker's Jamboree this year, I would be lying if I said I didn't jump at the opportunity. For many over-the-road drivers, the Iowa-80 Truckstop, where it is held every year, has most likely served as a memorable stop-off at one time or another. Roughly 15 years ago when I had just started out in this industry, I frequented this location many times for food, fuel and rest...not to mention a quick poke into the chrome shop each time as well! Not having been back to this truckstop for almost 14 years, it was like a rush to my senses when I was able to get back onto the grounds where I set some of the gears in motion that would eventually lead me to where I am today. In attending this mainly outdoor show venue though, I was able to get back to even deeper roots that were set in the ground of this industry long before I was ever even alive.
From the get-go I knew this would be an exciting show. Perhaps it was a sign when we had a storm cell roll through on setup day that brought down torrential rain and gale-force winds, which I am definitely not accustomed to seeing back home in California! While waiting it out in the antique truck museum, it flipped over a table in our booth and 
knocked the tent back about three feet, even with two 55-gallon water drums as anchors. When the show opened the next day, it was evident that the menacing clouds left behind in the wake of that storm cell were not going to keep anyone away from what is now one of my favorite shows!
I was able to get my fill of chrome and custom paint like most shows, with trucks lined up from far and wide for the Super Truck beauty contest. As much as I enjoy seeing all of the work that goes into custom beauty trucks, I enjoyed even more at this show the turnout of antique trucks that people brought out and put on display. Although I may not have 
even been thought of in terms of creation at the time, I love learning about the older trucks and appreciate how things have progressed by visually seeing what trucks used to be like. It also doesn't hurt that the Iowa-80 has also almost doubled the size of their antique truck museum over the past 
year since the last Jamboree and boasts almost 100 beautiful vintage trucks. What I would give to try driving one of those old chain-driven trucks from the 1920's!
I enjoyed making new connections at this show with fellow truck drivers from all over as well. It was nice to have such a large show at a place where trucks are used to going through like the Iowa-80 Truckstop. As trucks passed through during the three day show, I was able to meet a lot of people that were headed to all four corners of the country and we're glad to have made it through to see the show. Of course there were top-notch concerts and fireworks to be had all evening each night, but it is the interaction face-to-face with drivers just like myself that make shows like The Walcott Trucker Jamboree so memorable for me. I hope to be able to attend again and until next time, thank you to the wonderful show staff and everyone who helped put together this fun and well organized show and networking event!