The 19th Annual Slamfest Event

The old saying about practice makes perfect is a little misleading since you might neverachieve real perfection. It is true, however, that the more you do something, the better you get at it. Whether it’s honing a cylinder head, pounding dents out of a fender, or putting on a car show, experience is the key. The more you have of it, the better the finished product will turn out. The MiniMadness crew, headquartered in Brandon, Florida, has gained a lot of experience over the years with the longest running, club-sponsored car and truck show in Florida. Slamfest is now in its 19th year and still drawing crowds to this cool fall get-together. The first week of October means warm weather and sunny days in central Florida. Chamber of commerce temps brought out more than 650 vehicles and a couple of thousand spectators, intent on enjoying the weekend with friends.

The biggest change this year was the new location, now held at the Alachua County Fairgrounds in Gainesville. Easy to get to and well laid out, the Fairgrounds became part of the fun, but it was just the beginning. The crowds enjoyed the cool collection of vehicles, drive-through judging expedited the awards classification, and vendors had loads of stuff for you and your truck. Lots of fun went on in the party-oriented, college town of Gainesville on Saturday night. Sunday morning activities (starting a little late to allow heads to clear) began with the famous Slamfest club games. A tradition at the event, the games are always an hour’s worth of wacky fun for spectators and participants. The afternoon Miss Slamfest competition brought out a dozen Florida beauties, intent on entertaining the crowd and looking for their share of the $1,000 prize. Big prize giveaways preceded the awards ceremony where more than 100 winners took home laser-cut, powdercoated steel trophies as mementoes of the event.

Joe Cowert’s dazzling 1957 Chevy 3100 captured Best of Show. Stored in a Mississippi barn for 25 years, the truck was given a complete makeover that included 2004 Silverado powertrain, airbag suspension hidden under the linear-actuated bed floor, and dozens of custom touches inside and out. Joe’s truck is a former CCT feature truck, (July ’09) and gets better every time we see it. If you’d like to enjoy a great collection of cars and trucks assembled in convenient central Florida, put the 2011 Slamfest on your event calendar now. Find out more at www.Minimadness.com CCT