s I’m doing my very best to reinvigorate myself after a long holiday weekend (which I’d like to directly thank each and every fallen soldier for), I’m looking at my foreseeable future calendar of events, and there are two that stand out as two must-attends for every one of you who’s able to do so! And I’m not being paid or even coerced to say so—these two shows, both happening consecutive weekends this September, are ones that I’m actually looking forward to attending … and if you know me, after 30-plus years of covering shows, it takes a lot to impress let alone attract me to an event!

Falling on the weekend after Labor Day, the second annual Triple Crown of Rodding (September 6-7) is returning to Nashville Superspeedway—and as the official media company for the Triple Crown of Rodding, so is the entire In The Garage Media editorial team. Last year’s inaugural event proved that Tennessee is, indeed, the place to be once again … not only to be in the running for the Truck of the Year/Top 30/Elite 10 awards (not to mention a host of celebrity picks), or to win a brand-new Chevy Silverado (an Alloway-upgraded one at that), an LS3 engine, or a huge 50-50 drawing (with proceeds going to the Gary Sinise Foundation), or the fact that some of the top builders and past/current truck builds will be there. Honestly, it’s the vibe, one reminiscent of national events years ago—good people, good vehicles, and good times, period. Oh, and there’s a really, really good sushi joint right next to the host hotel!

Immediately after getting back from Nashville, I got a day or so to do laundry before it’s off to the Fairplex in Pomona, California, for the second annual Grand National Truck Show (GNTS)—the dates for which were just announced earlier this month (September 14-15). While it’s slated as a Saturday-Sunday show, judging for the World’s Most Beautiful Truck (WMBT) takes place on Wednesday, so myself and a panel of fellow truck/hot rod enthusiasts will be scrutinizing the best in not only classic trucks, as the GNTS is open to “everything with a bed,” but minis, 4x4s, and even El Caminos/Rancheros, one of which will take home the 2024 WMBT honors along with a check for $12,500. Kind of anxious to see what the contention has to offer this year. And as there was in 2023, the perimeter of Building 4 (the main and only indoor part of the show) will be surrounded by local talent (the GNTS Drive-In feature, similar to GNRS’s Grandaddy Drive-In) and tons of exhibitors.

In the meantime, however, I’m also really looking forward to attending my first C10 SLO Down this coming July. The thought of escaping the IE heat and heading up the coast to spend a few days at Avila Beach (staying in a hotel that offers FREE pie every evening, no less!) surrounded by tons of cool classic trucks and even cooler people—I’m ashamed I didn’t make it last year! And of course the only thing that would keep me from heading straight from the SEMA Show to Glendale, Arizona, in November for Dino’s Git-Down to end my 2024 event season would be another dreaded bought with that nasty C-word (does that even still exist?!). (Unfortunately, there will be no 25th Brothers Show N Shine this year; otherwise that would’ve been first on my summer list.)

The days of being on the road every other weekend during the summer months is definitely a thing of the past—thankfully … as I’ve got a pair of trucks that need my attention if they’re ever going to make it to an event themselves!