Sunday, July 26, 2009
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Terry Cunningham of Enon Valley, Pa. participates in the Rock Crawl for the Truck and Jeep Fest at Canfield Fairgrounds, Saturday July 25, 2009.
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Gabriel Boggs, 2, of Shinnston, W. Va., stands on his srtoller to get a better look at the Rock Crawl for the Truck and Jeep Fest at Canfield Fairgrounds, Saturday July 25, 2009.
Aptly named trucks, Jeeps take over the fairgrounds
By SEAN BARRON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
CANFIELD — Bigfoot, Bounty Hunter and Big Dawg.
These are not nicknames given to a trio of siblings by somebody with a flair for alliteration.
Instead, the names belong to three of five monster trucks that were a major attraction at the third annual Truck and Jeep Fest. The souped-up trucks, along with TailGator and 4 Wheel Parts Monster Truck, took part in two drag-racing competitions Saturday during the two-day event at the Canfield Fairgrounds.
The fest, sponsored by 4 Wheel Parts and 4 Wheel Drive Hardware in Canfield, continues from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. today.
The huge touring trucks kicked up plenty of noise and dust — as well as a packed grandstand — as they went toe to toe in side-by-side drag racing and “freestyle” competitions. The crowd of more than 1,000 was entertained by a variety of stunts put on by the drivers. Those included two trucks at a time being catapulted several feet in the air after clearing several dirt mounds and old cars.
It was the first such event for Connie Bott of Vienna, who came with her husband, Ray, and 5-year-old son, Nick.
All three enjoyed what they saw, though Ray Bott has had some experience with the enormous vehicles, he explained.
“I saw the monster trucks at the Chevy [now Covelli] Centre, and this was a good opportunity to see them outside,” he said as the family took a break from looking at several Jeep models on display near the grandstand.
In addition to liking the show, Connie Bott wanted to meet some of the monster-truck drivers, she added.
The elder Bott said he wanted to take his son for a ride on a large monster truck, but Nick got cold feet.
Nevertheless, the event featured plenty of activities for youngsters, such as Family Fun Zone, where they had opportunities to play. A bean-bag toss and tug-of-war were among the games children could choose.
For those who didn’t mind a few bumps along their way, there was the Rock Crawl Challenge, where participants had to drive their vehicles from one end to the other while racking up the fewest points.
One of about 12 drivers who signed up for the challenge was Tom Campbell of Springfield, who’s taken part in such competitions for about eight years.
The idea behind the event is to stay between orange cones on either side of a large rock pile and to keep the vehicle moving. Striking a cone or stopping for more than five seconds adds to a driver’s score, noted Campbell, who owns Campbell Motorsports in Springfield.
“The object is to get the lowest points,” he noted. “The low score wins, just like in golf.”
Campbell stood next to his “specially made rock buggy,” in which he competes nationally in rock climbs. So far, Campbell continued, he’s been in roughly 60 events and competes about six times a year.
Many people seemed content walking through several tents under which were numerous accessories, as well as merchandise at factory-direct prices. Items ranged from license-plate holders to suspension kits, and included cargo liners, light mounts, shock absorbers, quarter panels and winches.
Other patrons enjoyed browsing through one tent that featured, among other things, T-shirts with four-wheel-drive logos, jackets, caps and model cars being sold by brothers Ethan and Cody Richards of Bath, N.H.
The brothers work for Green Mountain Monogram based in Wells River, Vt., and sell merchandise at various jamboree, truck, lowrider, car and other related shows throughout the country, they explained. By year’s end, they will have participated in about 50 shows, estimated Cody Richards, a manager of Green Mountain Monogram.
Ethan Richards said business was steady Saturday, but this year’s sales are down a bit, largely because of the poor economy. The Truck and Jeep Fest marks Richards’ first time to the fairgrounds, he added.
TODAY’S EVENTS
Sergeant Smash monster-truck rides, starting at 9 a.m.
Miss Truck and Jeep Fest contest, 2 p.m.
Monster truck freestyle and Thunder Drags, 3 p.m.
Pre-judged Show-n-Shine competition awards ceremony, 3:15 p.m.
Rock Crawl Challenge continues today.
Vendors and top manufacturers will be on hand throughout the festival.
Source: Event organizers