Nothing creates fear in a show promoter's heart more quickly than bad weather. All the careful promotion, months of planning, and big financial expenditures can be wiped out by a single, heavy rainstorm. Thanks to its legendary reputation, threats of rain did not slow the huge numbers of vehicles pouring into this year's Slam Session. Although the weatherman predicted poor weather for both Saturday and Sunday, in fact the weather was delightful with mild temperatures throughout the weekend and only a brief Sunday morning shower to cool things off.
Part of the reason for the huge attendance is that Slam Session, now in its thirteenth year, has become a must-attend event for thousands of truckers in the Carolinas. Every year, the event's party reputation draws drivers from hundreds of miles away because Animated Attractions, celebrating its fifteenth anniversary as a club, knows its target audience and gives them what they want. From Friday's welcome to the closing ceremonies late Sunday, everything about the event is geared toward great automotive entertainment. Returning spectators know that this show is a guaranteed good time. Word of mouth lures new arrivals, and when they leave, they understand why everyone automatically makes plans to attend this get-together the following year.
The Pitt County Fairgrounds in Greenville, North Carolina, has been the location of the show for several years. Plenty of indoor and outdoor display space makes it a favorite. This year, the dozens of rows of customs filled up quickly, and the club had to use overflow parking. The huge collection of more than 800 vehicles meant the crowd spent a pleasant Saturday afternoon investigating some of the East Coast's finest rides. Club members were busy judging throughout the weekend, choosing the winners in 120 car, truck, lowrider, and motorcycle classes.