leath213
+1y
Edited: 12/3/2009 1:26:58 AM by leath213
I wrote this a while back, after a trip we made to Seattle Wa. I figured I would post it here, you might find it interesting, you might think I am an asshole, but i thought I would share it.
Stunned in Seattle
Working for a Minitruckin video company entitles you to a couple of perks in this scene that not everyone gets to experience. You get the chance to devote your entire day to capturing the essence of a show, and its attendees, and to really put a show under a microscope to examine it at another level. Chris, Amanda, and I have toured many different shows, from shows in the West, to many across the South. We have gotten a chance to be introduced to many different show promoters and get an inside look at the inner workings of what it takes to put on a Minitruckin’ show. During the weekend of August 22, 2009 we had the pleasure of flying up to a little town called Arlington Washington, which is about 45 minutes north of Seattle to attend the 16th annual Sittin Pretti Summer Slam. We started our morning missing our flight, which delayed our arrival by a cool 5 hours. Nevertheless, a member of the Sittin Pretti car club was waiting at the Seattle airport to deliver us to the small town of Arlington. The show is held at a small airport in the city, and staffed by club members and their spouses. From the beginning of our day in the cool 75 degree weather, we were bombarded by staff members concerned with providing us with a pleasurable experience. I have never been treated to that level of hospitality in my life. Now I know what you’re saying… “You work for a video company…Sure promoters are going to kiss your ass, they are trying to promote a show.” That might be true, but that is not the point of this article. What we experienced far exceeds the media/show promoter relationship. We went to a relatively small show. One that contained about 180 vehicles….90% of which were minis! Minitrucks at a minitruckin show?? I know it is beginning to be somewhat of an anomaly. I am no prude by any means, and welcome the spectrum of minis, fullsizes and SUV’s, but the sight of a well constructed minitruck is something that has always caught my eye. And here it was, all laid out (excuse the pun) for me. A sea of minis clean and simple, on a cool day in August, against a backdrop of the mountains of the Northwest. Ok, ok…I know what you are saying…. “So what’s the point?” Well, the inspiration for this article is something that I noticed at the end of the show. Awards began and I noticed something unique….The entire show grounds gathered around the stage, laughing and yelling, giving a well deserved round of applause to the winners. There were no complaints about judging, and no music blaring from show vehicles as awards were presented. The entire show gathered and hung out.... no problems, no worries. When awards ended, attendees slowly exited the show in a single file manner…. No burnouts were performed, no donuts were cut, no train horns were sounded. Everyone said their goodbyes, made plans for the evening, and left the grounds in the way that they had begun that day….clean. I stayed at the grounds to shoot a feature after the show, and walked around the open, empty field only to notice a lack of trash. “No cigarette butts?, No empty Bud Lites??” Now that I think about it, I don’t remember seeing a single person drink beer? Could it be that people can congregate for a Minitruckin show without dedicating the entire day to getting wasted and destroying property? Has this group in the Northwest proved that all of the lessons that we learned in Kindergarten are actually useful in daily interaction? I talked to Shawn after the show, and informed him of my findings. His response to my observation was one of simplicity. “We don’t get a whole lot of opportunity for shows with the cold winters and rain here. Our guys know that one small incident could ruin this show for good. We don’t have the biggest scene, and don’t claim to have the craziest shows in the nation. We don’t take advantage of what we have, show goers and staff alike.
This simple statement has stuck with me throughout the weeks after the show. I am not against having a good time, I am the first to say that I like to throw a couple back and relax, but I feel that I have a sense of respect for this culture and what it represents. I am not trying to sound holier than thou by any means, I just hope that you can take this article for what its worth, which I realize to some, it might not mean much. Hopefully we can learn a lesson from those to our north….a lack of respect will be the downfall of the shows that we live for. I know that preaching to people is not what sparks change, but I hope it planted a seed in the back of your head. Sooner or later shows will begin disappearing left and right, and all we will do is sit back and watch, and wonder what went wrong. One thing is for sure though, the guys in Arlington Washington will continue to throw one hell of a show, and continue to promote what I believe to be the true definition of Minitruckin.