Stormy weather last Saturday cut into attendance at the 2013 Fergus Truck Show, but organizers feel the event was a success despite the rain.
“I would say it was successful. For the people that were there, they seemed to enjoy themselves,” said Ginny Fleming, one of the directors of the organizing committee.
“They didn’t leave. Once the rain stopped they went back out on the show grounds.”
Estimates of attendance and proceeds were not available by press deadline, but Fleming said, “I know it’s down because of the weather.”
Truck and tractor pulls scheduled to begin at 3pm Saturday were delayed several hours, “but they did go, and of course they ran a bit late,” said Fleming, noting the pulls, scheduled to end at 6pm, wrapped up instead at around 9pm.
Saturday night’s scheduled concert by country music star Jason McCoy was cancelled when the singer’s manager decided it was “Just too dangerous to go up on stage,” Fleming said, adding, “There was lightning and thunder and a lot of rain.”
The Truckers Olympics, a new feature at this year’s show, proved popular, with 10 teams competing and raising funds for Special Olympics. Fleming said the organizers, Challenger Motor Freight, were pleased with the inaugural event.
“They think it went over pretty well and they’re already planning for next year.”
Sunny skies the following day helped the show finish on a high note.
“Sunday was beautiful – an absolutely gorgeous day. There were a lot of people at the demolition derby. We had quite a few visitors on Sunday,” Fleming noted.
Entries for the show and shine were down by about 30 from last year, but still around 240 trucks were on display. Fleming attributed the drop partly to the fact several fleet owners were unable to send vehicles due to work commitments.
“All the old timers were there. The people that have been coming for years, they were back,” said Fleming.
J.J. Verweij Transport was awarded the Best of Show prize by judges, while the People’s Choice award went to Thomas Mooney, of Contract Express. Full results from the 2013 Show and Shine can be found at www.fergustruckshow.com.
