When you bring your F-100 to the Supernationals, it better be clean. Every contestant attending was busy wiping down and polishing their pride and joy.
Click here for more pics and coverage!Every year, we look forward to attending Pat Ford's F-100 Supernationals and Family Reunion in festive Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, snuggled in the picturesque Smokey Mountains. The Ford F-100 Supernationals is the largest gathering of early-model Blue Oval F1 and F-100s on the planet; it has evolved into a happening. The Ford F-100 Supernationals is not just about displaying a rainbow of colorful trucks from stock, custom, and pro street; it's also about the people that built them.
Hoods up! As we strolled through the endless rows admiring every pristine show-quality truck, we noticed many hoods were opened in their F-100 traditional manner: forward.
Many lifelong friendships have developed while turnin' wrenches and bustin' knuckles underneath the hood of these Effies. These self-built creations are not of the microwave variety; an award-winning F-100 may take years to achieve flawless show quality. The reunion has taken on an international flavor, with contestants and spectators from all over the world. This year's registered truck count was a record-breaking 912 Effies.
Like many custom trucks, this rare canary-yellow '47 F-1 was a family affair. It was built by retired police officer Jim Sult and son Tim Amos while wife Nancy provided moral support for the family, who is from Boones Mill, Virginia. The truck has been shown for the past 13 years and has won more than 280 trophies. This family must have one heck of a trophy case at home. | 
This beautiful bright-red '52 belongs to Benny & Carol Green from Odessa, Florida. | 
Mini-Effies, available in both pickup and delivery scaled-down versions, were popular all weekend. They are ideal for show transportation, and it sure beats walkin'. |
Show participants started arriving on Tuesday prior to the show as they claimed that premier spot for the show. The 24th F-100 Supernationals and Family Reunion officially opened at 8 a.m. on Thursday for registration. The National Anthem was sung by John Ross at 10 a.m. Special guest and Grand Marshall Dennis Gage, the host of My Classic Car, was introduced to the crowd. During the Parade of the Stars, Gauge rode on back of Mathew & Bonnie Blake's '25 Ford flatbed displaying his best parade wave as the thousands of cheering spectators in lawn chairs lined both sides of the boulevard. Two foreign Classic Ford Truck Club visitors, Wagner Ona and Alberto Castillo Induvallas, traveled all the way from Aauita, Equador. Not only does the F-100 Supernationals attract participants and spectators from all over the world, it also attracts major vendors and manufactures displaying their latest products and services for the Ford folks. During the three-day event, many of the manufacturers took time to conduct informative hands-on-seminars, familiarizing the enthusiasts with their products, application, and installation techniques followed by Q&A sessions.
This massive F-100 Supernational event drew thousands of spectators through the turnstiles, all of them experiencing the colorful sights and sounds as they strolled through the endless rows of the largest collection of early Fords. Pigeon Forge rolls out the red carpet and its Southern hospitality for all to enjoy. This vacationers paradise features hundreds of amusement attractions, restaurants, antique, souvenir shops, country music venues, and the most go-kart tracks, including multi-level tracks. Each year, there is an annual F-100 Supernational go-kart race held on Thursday night at one of the many tracks in Pigeon Forge. The feature and overall winners are acknowledged and awarded trophies at the show's awards banquet on Saturday night.
Jim and Judy Crowder from East Alton, Illinois, hold the pink slip to this gorgeous '54 panel. As your eyes scanned this masterpiece both inside and out, you walked away amazed. | 
Brian Ramstack from Colgate, Wisconsin, shared his silver '56 F-100 he and his dad build in their garage; The project took eight-years to complete. This labor of love has more moving features than a Swiss Army knife. Ramstack's creation had everyone mesmerized all weekend. | 
Just finished, Buddy Callahan from Rossville, Georgia, displayed his chopped, yellow and purple '56 F-100 for the first time at the Supernationals. |
One of the shows highlights is the Parade Of Stars through Pigeon Forge. The Pigeon Forge Police close off the Interstate, which cuts right through the center of Pigeon Forge. Some 600 F1s and F-100s thunder down the interstate with police escort. As the parade precession was prestaging, the dark, gloomy heavens opened with intermittent rain drops. The parade rolled out at precisely 5 p.m. led by two illuminated police scooters, which were followed by the designated Master Of Ceremonies '25 Ford flatbed transporting Grand Marshal Dennis Gage from My Classic Car.
Following the Parade Of Stars, the procession was filed back into their show spots where they were reparked. The F-100 Oscars Night begins a 7 p.m. in the Grand Hotel Convention Center. This is not your usual "Congratulations, here's your trophy, see you next year" awards banquet. This Hollywood-style production is complete with a big stage, lights, glitter, fame, and celebrities.
Pat Ford shared the MC duties along with his close friend Dale Holland, the distinguished voice of the F-100 Supernationals. Holland amused show-goers throughout the show with his unique Dale-isms vocabulary and southern cliches over the shows P.A. system. His reveille was prompt at 6 a.m. every morning; no one needed a wake-up call.
The first portion of the evening is the random raffle, which is hosted by big Doug Wimberly of the Tri-State Truckers club. Door prizes donated from vendors and manufactures are given to lucky ticket holders, and hundreds of awards and Oscars are given out to the responsible, winning participants. One of the memorable moments during the awards ceremony is when Pat Ford showed his love and affection by inviting all of the young children in the audience to come up on stage and receive a sucker. These kids are the future Ford F-100 Supernational participants. Pat Ford makes the Ford F-100 Supernationals a true family affair.
Next Year's Special 25th Anniversary F-100 Ford Family Reunion is scheduled for May 15, 16, and 17. For more information, contact: Pat Ford Productions, Dept. TR, 1920 Council Ave., Statesville, NC 28625, Pat or Jane Ford, (704) 872-7327, www.f100supernationals.com.