“I have planned hundreds of events, but I have never tackled a motorcycle and car show.” Watching the crowds of people walk past st our booth over the weekend, you’d have never guessed that those were the words that came out of the eventt coordinator’s mouth the first time I talked ed to her. Kimberly recently took over er the position of Live Events Manager anager at Townsquare Media and d and Townsquare Media recently tly took over the Rod and Custom ustom Show that has been held for over 30 years in the Quad d Cities. Townsquare Media a currently owns 18 radio stations tations in Iowa and many of you probably obably have one of their stations on your our radio dial right now. The 32nd annual Rod and d Custom Show kicked off our “show and swap meet” season and boy, did it kick off with a bang! Always being held the third weekend in January, the show has seen its ups and downs attendance wise. Some years we have been wrapped in blankets to stay warm because it was so cold, others we have trudged through inches of snow just to get to the booth on time. The weekend of January 23rd-25th proved to be a combination of weather from years past with almost 50 degrees one day and 3 inches of snow the next morning-but the weather had no effect on the record number who attended. Friday was Military Appreciation Day, with any current or former military members granted free entry. It was fun to chat with veterans old and young and hear tales of how “this ride reminds me of high school days… days of time long passed” and the stories of shenanigans, first dates and wonderful memories on two wheels. On Saturday the lovely ladies from the Dwyer and Michaels Classic Car Calendar (including Miss Brittany Lee who graced our January cover) spent hours signing autographs,
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a few cast members from Monster Mayhem spent time doing the same, Jim from Hetz Pinstriping did a H live demonstration demonstratio throwing great lines down on a beautiful blue Road Glide beaut and the boys from fro Convict Customz put on a show playing playin with the airbags on their newest custom custo motorcycle there on display. There was so much going on Saturday, Saturda I know I missed half of it! And An despite the snow on Sunday, Sunday there were still people coming through the door to chase away those winter blues by surrounding themselves su with like li minded folks and killer custom vehicles. There was a great turnout of not g only a variety of awesome v cars from fro the early 1900’s to a 2015 Corvette Z06, but a great C showing of custom motorcycles and scooters. It was great to walk around and gawk at all the cool rides throughout the 60,000 square foot exhibition center. There was also a wide variety of vendors selling merchandise of all things road worthy (and some off road items too) to chocolate covered strawberries and candied pecans. Back at the booth, we handed out a record number of magazines both new and past issues, shot some fun pictures of future bikers on the Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa bike and had a chance to introduce many new readers to our publication. It was great to meet so many of you faithful Thunder Roads Magazine fans and hear your feedback as well! Never forget, we are YOUR magazine… without amazing bikers to write about all we are is another ad rag mag- AND that will NEVER be the case! The weekend couldn’t be classified as anything less than a huge success all around and I highly recommend that you don’t miss the show next year!! ~Pinky
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