The State Fairgrounds in Tampa were overtaken by hordes of wild maniacs and thousands of eye-popping vehicles at the Mini Madness SlamFest 2000! Although no actual problems arose during the weekend of the 9th annual event, dont let a lack of trouble translate to any lack of fun. For many people this is one of the most anticipated shows of the year. A few of the reasons this is the place to be are the hospitality of the Mini Madness host club, the enthusiasm of all the people attending, and the huge number of newly debuting trucks fresh out-of-the-box.
After months of waiting and planning, this years SlamFest proved to be bigger and better than all the previous extravaganzas, and was sponsored by some heavy hitters like BFGoodrich Tires, Giovanna Wheels, N2Audio, Street Heat, Wheel Tec, Car Tricks, and H&R. This show has become the show for all vehicles east of the Rockies to make their debut. There were so many new vehicles on display with insane mods and freshly laid paint jobs that you had to be careful not to get light-headed from the paint fumes. Everywhere you looked there was a truck crazier than the last one! It was a complete overload of the senses.
Things got rollin when the most dedicated truck fans started lining up their vehicles on Friday, and then were greeted by the hard-working and smiling Mini Madness club members. The club continued its hard work through the night, making sure everything would flow smoothly for show participants, exhibitors, and the throng of spectators when the big moment arrived. When that time finally came on Saturday morning, the club members (who had never gone to bed) were still holding up well. As the floodgates opened, a sea of bitchin paint, giant hoops, and ground-hugging chassis moved through the gates and found its way into the show area. The spaces filled up quickly, and before noon the show was boomin.
Overheard more than a few times around the sweetest rides was This is the first time my truck has been on the road since I tore it down. The remainder of Saturday was spent soaking up the display vehicles, catching up with old friends, and making a few new ones.
The bright sun of Sunday morning may have been a bit tougher on those individuals who had stayed out a little too late, or spent the night laying spark trails down the highway and sweating the cops on their tail (you know who you are). The sleep-deprived Mini Madness guys and gals were beginning to show some fatigue, but they didnt let it prevent the final day from living up to everyones expectations. The final day is when it really all happensthe Club Games, the Burnout Contest, the Bikini Contest, and most important, the Trophy Ceremony.
In the end everything went exactly as planned, and the varied events and amazing vehicles kept the crowd well entertained. As the sun set to the west, everyone was packing up and heading home to hibernate for the winter and tear into their trucks for next year. As for the real heroesthe Mini Madness Club members who make the whole thing possiblethey were last seen mumbling something about a bed, a pillow, and not to wake them until spring.