When it comes to brand-specific truck shows on the East Coast, one that comes to mind is the Southeastern Truck Nationals held in Lebanon, Tennessee, early July each year. This show is open to all GM trucks and SUVs and, as their website says, “No cars and definitely no Fords.” Just a little jab at the “other” guys keeps the camaraderie fun.
Presented by US Mags, this year’s event was the 13th annual show. It was held at the Wilson County Fairgrounds on July 7-8. The event not only had a huge show field, but it also had a big swap meet area as well as a big camping compound packed with tons of RVs. As far as the show field is concerned, it wrapped all over the fairgrounds with the 1,690 registered vehicles. The showgrounds are so big that the show staff offered golf cart rentals to keep down the foot pain some of us older showgoers would experience with a show this size.
There was everything from old, antique, GM trucks to brand new modified trucks scattered around the show. Of course, a ton of C10s from all generations filled every available spot they could. Walking around the venue, you could get tons of ideas for your project due to how many variations of the trucks that were there. Added this year to the venue was a big, heavily air-conditioned building where some of the top trucks were set up for the weekend. This, along with a few other air-conditioned buildings throughout the grounds, allowed showgoers to escape the humid Tennessee summer air for a moment before continuing the rest of the day.
A big part of the show was the massive vendor area that had names like LMC, Raceline Billets, Brian’s Motorsports, Drop Em Wear, Slosh Tubs, and Twin States Rod Shop just to name a few. You could pick up some vendor merch or even grab a set of wheels to take home. There were also a few raffles, including one for a full crate engine.
With a show this large, of course the next year’s event has been slated. It will be July 12-13, 2024, at the Wilson County Fairgrounds again. To keep up with the show details, keep an eye on www.gmtruckshow.com and on the @southeasterntrucknats Instagram page or the Southeastern Truck Nationals page on Facebook. As large as this show is and as many feature trucks we were able to shoot, this will be a show we won’t miss again—neither should you.
Photos by Brandon Burrell
When it comes to iconic automotive events across the country, the Hot Rod Power Tour is probably one of the largest and most well-known. This year’s event marked the 29th annual event and worked its way throughout the Southeast US.
But before we get into this year’s event, let’s go back to where it all started. Back in late 1994, the editors of Hot Rod magazine wanted to draw attention to several of its events known as the Hot Rod Power Festival Series. They decided that instead of flying to all the various cities where the events were happening, why not drive their hot rods and custom vehicles from city to city?
Being this was before the internet was what it is today, they advertised this trip in the magazines and had no clue if it would be a flop or a massive event. Much to their surprise, on the kickoff date of May 13, 1995, the first leg of the trip left from the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles and had 200 vehicles while supporters stood on the streets cheering them on. Moving to the second annual event in 1996, the traffic jam was so large that it was covered as a news event locally as it left the Petersen Automotive Museum again. The goal for the Power Tour was to give enthusiasts a chance to drive their show vehicles and not just have them sit at a car show.
Fast forward to this year’s event, which started at the Atlanta Motor Speedway on June 12, 2023, for its 29th annual event, the turnout was the largest it has ever been with more than 6,000 participants. While last year’s tour was covered by Street Trucks staff members, this was my first time even doing the trip. This tour has always been on my bucket list, but it was either too far away for me to make it, it fell the same dates as other plans, or I couldn’t get off work that long and make the trip, so I had never been able to do it—until this year.
I had planned to drive one of my vehicles, but when I found out a group of local friends were making the Long Haul trip, which hits all five locations along the route for the week-long event, it made more sense for me to hop in and play passenger princess so I could take photos and video for you guys throughout the week instead of holding a steering wheel for the 1,400-mile trip. Don’t worry, there were no iced lattes or cake pops involved, but plenty of energy drinks and gas station junk food were consumed throughout the week.
After the first day checking in and waiting in long lines to get into the racetrack and check out the vendors and tons of custom vehicles, there was some cool “run what you brung” autocross passes. All that was needed was a helmet and a valid driver’s license. There was also plenty of drag races by normal participants down pit row as well, through the event staff closely monitored the passes.
Once back to the hotel, it was like a typical car show hotel with folding chairs, adult beverages, and plenty of car talk. The crazy part is that it wasn’t just one or two hotels, but it was every hotel anywhere near the show venue. Back up to early the next morning, the event promotors had lined out a backroad route that, for the most part, kept vehicles off the interstates and running through small town USA where, just like the very first year back in 1995, crowds stood along intersections and in front of businesses, waving and cheering as the rides passed by. With this many vehicles, it was hours of cool vehicles driving through.
Every day of the event was more backroads and small towns. This gave the trip a little more of a close-knit feeling than it would on a big highway. Every gas station had plenty of cool rides filling up and people grabbing snacks. One of the coolest parts to me was all the kids standing in the crowds taking photos and waving. To see the next generation of gearheads’ eyes lighting up when something cool rolled by is what keeps us pushing to bring you (and the next age group of readers) the best magazine we can to keep this hobby of ours going.
The second day of the event was a drive from Atlanta to Columbia, South Carolina, which was held at the South Carolina State Fairgrounds. This location also had plenty of vendors, bands, and events throughout the day.
The third day, we left Columbia and went to Rockingham Speedway in Rockingham, North Carolina, where the lines to get in were even longer. We opted to pull off to the side of the road near the entrance and watch the ever-growing lines of hot rods and cool trucks roll in before we pulled inside.
Wednesday morning, we were up bright and early again to head to the zMAX Dragway in Concord, North Carolina. Here they were letting participants run down the official drag strip, which, if you came with a group of people, let you safely race a buddy and see who got to take home bragging rights.
Thursday morning, we left Concord and headed up the mountain to the Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. This was probably one of the most scenic routes of the week as it went through several small mountain towns, some with just one red light. After a week of perfect weather and zero issues, one of our crew lost his brakes but managed to safely get stopped at a gas station where a quick bleed of the front brakes and topping off the brake fluid got us back on the road. Random people at the gas station asked if they could help or if they could loan us tools. To me, that level of camaraderie is what this event was all about. Strangers from all over the country that were there for the same reason we were stopped to help.
Once we were to the final stop of the week, a quick pass through the venue and it was time for the trip back home. Throughout the week, there were stations to get your pass stamped at each venue so on the last day, you could get the Long-Haul plaque and certificate that you made the weeklong journey. That was a bucket-llist checkmark for sure!
If you ever have a chance to make one of these events, even if it’s just for one or two of the stops they make, do it! Even with this under my belt, I would do it again in a heartbeat.
Thanks to Wheel City Motors for letting us take its Berger-built Chevy phototype truck on the Power Tour. This was a Hot Rod magazine test truck at the 2003 Power Tour, and we were able to bring it back 20 years later.
As has been the case for the past 33 years, Carlisle Truck Nationals were once again held at the Carlisle Fairgrounds in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Often touted as the largest truck show in the nation, Carlisle has always been a favorite of the Diesel World staff. Carlisle Events, the organization that hosts the show, has been around since 1974, so it knows a thing or two about putting on a great time for large crowds! And, as owners of the venue itself, Carlisle Events has the unique advantage of being able to set up the property for the best overall experience.
You want monster trucks? You want insane freestyle motocross stunts? You want CORN DOGS? Come on, bruh, you know they had corn dogs! Swap meet, tons of trucks for sale, and everything from body-dropped door-draggers to sky-high 4x4s, and even full-on race trucks were on the showgrounds. From original field-fresh patina to beautiful new paint jobs, every style of custom and classic truck was well represented.
And truck owners had more than one way to participate at the event. If show trophies weren’t your thing, you could partake in showground cruising, the burnout contest, nighttime dragging/spark show, Low Truck Limbo, High Truck Competition, or or any of the other great challenges.
One of the raddest parts of the show was the S-10 Corral, where the 40th anniversary of the GM S-series trucks was celebrated in grand style, and there were plenty of amazing examples of America’s favorite mini-truck—and that didn’t even include the Syclone/Typhoon area!
With so much to see and do at the Carlisle Truck Nationals, it really should be on your bucket list of truck shows to attend.
