36th Annual Daytona Turkey Run Classic Truck Event - Turkeys, Trucks, And Four Days Of Fun

From the April, 2010 issue of Custom Classic Trucks

By Joe Greeves

36Th Annual Daytona Turkey Run Classic Truck Event Event Seating

It's hard to find a show with more to offer than the legendary Turkey Run in Daytona Beach, Florida. This long-running show gets bigger and better every year, simply because there is so much to enjoy. Once you attend, you always come back for at least a dozen different reasons. The collection of vehicles alone is enough to attract enthusiasts from around the country; around the world for that matter. This year 4,810 custom rides were assembled in the infield of the Daytona International Speedway, with more than 60,000 spectators trying hard to see all of the rolling works of art during the four-day weekend. The huge gathering of vehicles alone would have been enough to ensure this show makes it on your "Can't Miss" list but that was only the beginning.

Regulars at this event know it is one of the few that combine a tremendous number of show vehicles with an equally large number of vendors selling virtually everything automotive. All 3,000 vendor spaces are routinely filled by the first day, with regulars having kept their same spot for years. Working on a project truck back home? You can find whatever you need to complete the job at the Turkey Run. From inexpensive nuts and bolts to monster motors, tools, and trailers, they were there. And if your better half does not share the joy of transporting that new set of Mickey Thompsons back to your truck, parts-hauling golf carts would help to keep harmony in the household. But there's more.

The third element of the show, the famous Car Corral, fills quickly. With 1,500 vehicles on display, the potential buyer has one of the largest selections of custom vehicles anywhere. Something was sure to match your tastes and budget. Sellers are just as fortunate since thousands of avid enthusiasts visit the event for the sole purpose of updating the family fun truck.

Impressed yet? There's more. The congenial group of spectators never seemed in a hurry, the crowds were always manageable, and smiles were everywhere. The dozens of food vendors offered everything from polish sausage and pizza to funnel cakes and ice cream, all guaranteed to keep your tank from running on empty. Listen to old-time rock 'n' roll along with music trivia throughout the day as you make your way around the track.

Wander over to the DJ booth in the afternoon and listened for your number. Thousands of dollars worth of door prizes went home with new owners. Maryann Kennedy from Ormond Beach, Florida, is happy to say she was one of those. Each year the host club, the Daytona Beach Street Rods, draws the name of the annual giveaway car winner. Proceeds from their raffle allow the club to continue their 30-plus-year tradition of supporting local charities. Maryann was glad she contributed to the cause since her winning ticket meant she drove home in a beautifully restored '65 Chevy Nova, complete with a 283ci V-8 and automatic transmission. We know Maryann already has "The Run" listed on her 2010 calendar.

If you'd like to see an awesome collection of some of the finest vehicles in the country and enjoy the camaraderie of seeing old friends made in years past, do what Maryann and about 60,000 other people did this year; add the largest car show and swap meet in Florida, and certainly one of the biggest in the Southeast, to this year's calendar. Not only will it be an event to remember, we'll be there looking to photograph your truck for the magazine. That's something that will make us both happy! The dates are Thanksgiving weekend, 2010. Get more information by checking the website at www.turkeyrun.com.