Frank Brown Park was the site...
Frank Brown Park was the site of this year’s annual Spring Fling celebration. More than 650 vehicles showed up for the party.
Drivers from throughout Florida, along with hundreds more from neighboring states, joined up in the Panhandle to enjoy one of the best season-opening shows of the year. The Vital Signs crew invited all their close friends to the annual get-together in Panama City, and the weekend was a blast. Everything was well thought out, beginning with Frank Brown Park, which afforded grassy display space for the more than 650 vehicles at the show.
Conveniences like drive-thru judging under the huge, white tent got the administrative details out of the way quickly—and the Chamber of Commerce weather throughout the weekend only added to the fun. Of course, everyone’s first priority on Saturday was checking out the cool collection of rides during the day.
Attendees cooled off with a late afternoon dip in the warm waters of the Gulf then enjoyed some of the legendary Panamaniac entertainment options when the sun went down. The nightclub scene saw lots of truckers partying till dawn.
Lots of eight-lug trucks came...
Lots of eight-lug trucks came to play, like this pair of lifted, black and white, heavy-duty trucks.
Sunday’s activities started around noon with an Easter egg hunt for the tiny truckers in the crowd, followed by Vital Signs crazy club games and the traditional charity auction. Sponsors provided the swag while truckers provided the cash. Dozens of donated items were auctioned off to an enthusiastic crowd, with the proceeds this year going to defray the medical expenses of an infant from a local family. Over the last decade, the crew from Vital Signs has donated more than $100,000 to children-oriented charities.
Once the charitable pursuits were complete, the spectator favorite was next. The Miss Spring Fling competition saw 20 of the area’s most beautiful ladies vying for a share of the $1,500 prize money. Pert and pretty Memory took home the top prize. The award ceremony presented permanent reminders of the weekend fun to more than 150 talented drivers, with Florida United capturing the coveted Club Participation award. Great events get even better with supportive sponsors, so an enthusiastic thanks goes out to Sommer Sound Systems, SS Customs, Sleep Inn, Mainstay Suites, and Coca-Cola.
Check out www.springflingcarshow.com for details on the 2012 event and become part of a Florida Spring Break tradition.
Emerald Coast Customs made...
Emerald Coast Customs made its lifted GMC 3500 part of a booth display.
Matt Webb’s ’09 GMC Sierra...
Matt Webb’s ’09 GMC Sierra extended cab boasts 30 inches of lift and runs 54-inch Michelin tires.
Russell Yates’s shaved ’00...
Russell Yates’s shaved ’00 Chevy 3500 looks ominous with its flat-black paintjob.
This slammed Chevy dualie...
This slammed Chevy dualie is from Hi & Low Customs.
The seven-lane drive-thru...
The seven-lane drive-thru judging tent meant fast service and no waiting.
Bikini contest winner Memory...
Bikini contest winner Memory adds some visual excitement to J.C. Hines’ F-350, Transformer.
Part of the amazing collection...
Part of the amazing collection from SS Customs in Fort Walton Beach includes this trio of heavy haulers: a ’10 Ford F-350 with six American Force 24-inch rims, an ’09 GMC Sierra extended cab with 30 inches of lift, and a ’00 Ford F-650 with a six-door Excursion conversion.
Max Lyons, son of our Cover...
Max Lyons, son of our Cover Quest winner, Tony Lyons, owns this ’05 F-250 Super Duty with 10.5 inches of lift, aggressive Nitto Mud Grapplers, and huge, 8-inch stacks in the rear.
Spring Fling’s Drag Competition...
Spring Fling’s Drag Competition had a whole new meaning. Naturally, the newest members of the clubs were required to participate!