As you read this, the Truckin' staff is just returning from our annual Truckin' Nationals in Las Vegas and the State 2 State cruise that precedes the event. Although it rained the morning of the show, by 11:30 the clouds blew away, the sun came out bright and shining, truck owners were busy drying off their prized rides, and vendors were putting the final touches on their booths. The show lasted until midnight on Saturday (it was billed as a Midnight Madness event), and the wee hours of the morning saw show exhibitors packing up their wares and show-truck owners driving away with trophies tucked safely away in leather-clad back seats and under gleaming tonneaus.
As Truckin' editors, our job is to cover these events and cruises with cameras by our side, snapping the colorful and well-outfitted road warriors, and notepads ready to record that latest modification to a reader's ride. After the fact, we return home, compare notes and photography, and put together a snappy article on the show to share with our legions of Truckin' readers. However, our show-going experience goes way beyond these obvious functions. The fact is, all of the Truckin' editors see these shows - especially those shows sponsored by Truckin' magazine - as much more than just job-related functions. Down to the last editor, each of us truly enjoys covering these events, not just because it's what we do, but because of who we are.
Several of the Truckin' editors drove their own trucks as part of the State 2 State Cruise, and two of us had vehicles prominently displayed at the Truckin' Nationals show area - namely Dan Ward's flashy and flamed S-10 that appeared on the inset photo of last month's issue, and my own Truckin's SUV Project Sequoia, which appears on the next cover of Truckin's SUV (Aug. '04). So in our own way, we're not on the outside looking in, but rather in and out looking around (or something to that effect).
During the Las Vegas Truckin' Nationals, the editors stomped around in the early morning rain, cruised the show during the sunnier moments, yelled and hooted (and photographed) during the bikini contest, and snapped photos of the lucky winners at midnight during the awards presentations. All through the day, we walked, talked, and thought of all things truck-related, as well as mingled with our fellow truck enthusiasts who were doing the same things. We were not separated as editors, truck owners, and show-goers, but rather came together as a large camaraderie of truck-lovers. What could be better?
The Truckin' editors have a real passion for trucks, all things truck-related, and genuinely love to work these shows. I believe this commitment and enthusiasm for the hobby really comes through in the pages of Truckin' and indeed makes it the World's Leading Truck Publication.