PEOPLE AND PLACES GET OUTSIDE
The more you tow
Tow show returns to Hampton Beach While tow trucks and equipment may be the visual highlight of the New Hampshire Towing Association’s trade show, the people operating that equipment are the real stars of the event — as they are every time a car needs a lift. “The sad part of the whole thing is that towers are not always very popular with people. Usually, you’re not in a positive frame of mind in a situation where you need a tow truck,” Rene Fortin, president of the NHTA, said. “We’re trying to show the public that … the tower is a very valuable part of maintaining traffic everywhere in the country.” The New Hampshire Towing Association will be hosting its 45th Annual Trade Show on Saturday, May 20, and Sunday, May 21, at Hampton Beach State Park. Organized by Mike and Melissa Guilbeault, the event brings together towers from all over New England and some from Canada every year. In addition to food, raffles and entertainment, the Tow Show will have displays of equipment that is used on a daily basis for things like road clearance. This is the main event hosted regularly by the NHTA and it is intended to help educate community members about towing and traffic safety in a casual and fun manner. Towers constantly rely on the cooperation of the motoring public, whether that be standing back or doing certain things in the case of an accident. Towers are also relying on oncoming drivers to steer clear as they do their job on the side
of the road. Fortin said the number of towers hit, injured or killed on the job is far too high across the country. “We’re concerned about our safety, their safety and also getting the job done,” Fortin said. The festivities and educational opportunities begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday with a parade of trucks along the coast on Ocean Boulevard. Competitions, shows and displays from vendors will last until about 4 p.m. On Saturday night, the “Light up the Night” show will take place, in which somewhere between 40 and 70 trucks will simultaneously turn on their lights. The show will continue through the day on Sunday, with new activities and displays from vendors. One popular event in the Tow Show is the rodeo, which tests driving skills. The rodeo will happen on Saturday and visitors will have the opportunity to compete while maneuvering around various obstacles in their trucks. Participants seek to complete the rodeo in the shortest amount of time but in a safe manner. “The rodeo is a big draw for the people driving because they get to test their skills and compete against their peers,” Fortin said. Fortin said there will also be a beauty contest of sorts for the trucks at the show. In this contest, trucks will all be judged on their cleanliness, the amount of equipment they have on board and other rules and standards they must abide by.
Courtesy photos.
An additional activity offered at the Tow Show this year will be a car race for children. On Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., kids will be able to participate in a slot car race, which will serve to encourage family participation at the event. The New Hampshire state police department will be involved; one of its cruisers, as well as their K-9 unit, will be on display. Additionally, a seatbelt simulator display will be available, in which attendees of the event can opt to try having an accident without actually having an accident. Throughout the show, attendees can
view the newest pieces of equipment from various vendors and can enter to win different raffle prizes. Lastly, this year’s event will have a special section dedicated to the “Move Over” Campaign, which is aimed at maintaining traffic safety and protecting towers and emergency workers on the sides of the road or highway. “There’s a lot of responsibility and there’s a lot of weight being put on the tower’s shoulders,” Fortin said. “Towers just work their hearts out on the job and that’s what we want folks on the outside to see.” — Rebecca Walker
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