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2009 Spring Fling - Custom Truck Show
The Largest Car and Truck Show in Northwest Florida Is Now In Its 13th Year
From the July, 2009 issue of 8-Lug
Author: Joe Greeves
Photography: Joe Greeves
Shannon Chapa's '08 Ford F-250... Shannon Chapa's '08 Ford F-250 had a radical airbag suspension, complete with side-to-side moves, as well as high and low. If you live anywhere near the Florida Panhandle, you know Panama City has been on the short list of spring break good times for decades. Catering to the crowd of spring breakers who visit annually, hotels and clubs work hard to make sure their short vacation is a memorable one. White, sandy beaches, warm Gulf waters, and nightlife that roars until the sun comes up is already the perfect combination, made even better when there is an exciting weekend car and truck show to enjoy. That's the formula that's been making Spring Fling successful for the last dozen years, and its 13th anniversary show was one of the best ever. Truckers from throughout the southeast converge on this event, attracting more than 950 vehicles and an estimated 7,000 spectators to the '09 show. Frank Brown Park, with its acres of manicured grass, is a spacious location, able to handle a huge number of visitors. Vital Signs Car & Truck Club members expedited all the administrative details, using their huge white tent for drive-thru judging. Whenever you were ready, you were able to drive over, get judged, and get on with the party. With seven lanes, there was never any delay. Truckers enjoyed meeting old friends and admiring all the new changes to the huge gathering of vehicles on display. Throughout the weekend, live music entertained the crowd thanks to Spring Fling's Battle of the Bands, with new groups taking the stage hourly and providing nonstop entertainment. Take a late afternoon break from cool custom trucks with a quick swim in the Gulf, then get ready to join your friends for some wild Panamaniac nightlife. Loaded with lots of extras,... Loaded with lots of extras, James Hines' F-350 sported Lambo doors, lethal chariot wheel hubs, and enough air horns mounted under the front bumper to let everyone know when he's in town. Sunday activities started slowly, out of respect for the hard-partying truckers from the night before. But it didn't take long for the combination of live music, the wild T-Rex burnout exhibition from the Shocker Energy Drink team, and the ultimate spectator event-the Bikini contest-to get everyone's attention. Almost two dozen of the hottest gals in the Southeast competed for the big cash prize, with the top three sharing $1,500. The Sunday afternoon charity auction, where Vital Signs raises money for area charities, has become a Spring Fling tradition. It's a great way to add some cool accessories to your truck while donating to a worthy cause. This year, the sale raised more than $2,500 for local charities, just a small portion of the more than $100,000 donated to the community over the last 13 years. Completing the Sunday festivities was the Awards Ceremony with the club presenting more than 150 trophies to deserving owners. Club President Doug Augustine, Treasurer Scott Refice, and Webmaster Brian Infinger, along with the other 15 members of Vital Signs, would like to thank the following event sponsors for their help in making the show possible: LMC Trucks, Sommer Sounds, Sleep Inn, Air Zenith, Off the Wall, Coca-Cola, CF Signs and Stamps, Thorbecke Brothers, and Nautilus Realty. Don't miss out on next year's fun. Put March 13 & 14, 2010 on your calendar now.  T.J. Oglesby displayed his...  T.J. Oglesby displayed his lifted '05 F-150. |  This F-250 Super Duty was...  This F-250 Super Duty was billed as a Police Interceptor and had "Not another word" on its nameplate. Sounds serious to us . . .! |  Yeah, we know it's not a diesel,...  Yeah, we know it's not a diesel, but Andrew Schoen's lifted Hummer was easily the tallest truck at the show, loaded with custom options and a wild stereo. |  Jack Link's big rig helped...  Jack Link's big rig helped advertise the product by always drawing a crowd. |  Raul Chapa's '07 F-350 crew...  Raul Chapa's '07 F-350 crew cab sported 24-inch rims, 6-inch Kenworth side pipes, and a 37-inch flat screen TV in the rear, with the mids, highs, and subs, all controlled from the tailgate. |  The spacious extended cab...  The spacious extended cab on this lifted F-250 4x4 easily accommodated the large stereo enclosure in the rear. |  The big rig works for a living,...  The big rig works for a living, towing Rob's custom show truck. |  Hidden among all the custom...  Hidden among all the custom vehicles were the serious working diesels that pull heavily laden manufacturers' display trailers. |  Drive-thru judging got the...  Drive-thru judging got the job done quickly. |  More than 950 vehicles and...  More than 950 vehicles and 7,000 spectators enjoyed this year's Spring Fling. |  The Battle of the Bands provided...  The Battle of the Bands provided nonstop live music throughout the weekend. |  The Sommer Sound girls drew...  The Sommer Sound girls drew attention to the Double Points IASCA stereo competition, sponsored by Sommer Sound Car Audio, giving the window-rattlers in the crowd an opportunity to flex their audio muscles. |  The Chapa family has a collection...  The Chapa family has a collection of heavy-duty lifted trucks, but they brought this tiny toy along, just in case someone needed a dinghy! |  Lots of vendors were on hand,...  Lots of vendors were on hand, selling all the latest for your truck. |  Photographing all the pretty...  Photographing all the pretty girls was part of the fun. |  |  |  Rob Schipmann's '08 Silverado...  Rob Schipmann's '08 Silverado 3500 HD is equipped with a 6.1L turbo, 22-inch wheels, and a Fabtech front and rear suspension with a 6-inch lift. |
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