The Relaxed Atmosphere All Star Event was held this past year over Labor Day weekend, in Millington TN, in the middle of gas shortages that were due to Hurricane Katrina. So, driving 14 hours one way towards the wrecked Southern coastal line sounded like a blast!

Pudge & I went on down to Maryland on Friday at some god awful hour in the morning, met up with Bobby & Ashley, hopped in the dually and were on our way. 14 hours later, I woke up and we were there - that’s how I roll.

I know that my articles this month are all starting off this way, but arriving at the hotel parking lot, we found the RA party in full swing. RA pulled members from the East coast to the West coast and everywhere in between for their VIP show. That being said, you really could see how minitrucking is like family - everybody just chillin’, shootin’ the shit, and catchin’ up on what antics had gone down and was to go down this weekend. Slapfest was back in full swing (with baby powder), and by the end of the night most faces resembled the tryouts for mime school. Also, not to be outdone, the future generation of minitrucks was represented well by Hunter - brass knuckles and all!

Saturday morning, we headed over to the show around noon, and were impressed by the highest quality rides that the South had ever seen. Ninety-five percent of the vehicles at the show could easily be cover features in any magazine...and most had been. It was a photographers dream to see all of these rides assembled in one location, and a nightmare not to have a whole week to spend time shooting every vehicle. So, we took our time and picked out some of our favorites. In the mean time, we also took in the dunk tank, volleyball competition, minitruck style Jeopardy, and the drinking!

Saturday night, before we headed in to Memphis to grab some grub and see the local sites, we took a dip in the pool to cool off. This is where you’ll see the infamous pics of Pecker...in bikini briefs...in the pool. The only thing I can say is you had to be there!

In Memphis, walking around the open-air bars and pubs we got a chance to just relax and take it all in. One of our crew members even got to experience the local tranny scene up close and very personally.

We cruised on back to Millington, and went to the former Wal-Mart for the night’s dragging activities. Most shows that you go to consist of trucks scattering from the parking lot as the local po-po pulls in. The difference with the All Star Event was that the cops were always around, but in a good way; they were checking out the mods, supervising the dragging, the Mayor even came over to the show. All of it was a pleasant turn of events for a town to welcome a show in instead of pushing it out.

Sunday was an early morning - off to shoot some features at the field. At the end of the day, the club award was presented to the club representative that was best able to inhale a sickening amount of root beer float ingredients and run around the baseball field fastest. Awards were over and another great show had come to an end. Another 14 hour trip and we were home again. To check out all of the great RA rides that were present, check out their site at www.relaxed-atmosphere.com.