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Three days cooped up inside a huge building with the industry can lead to more than just a few business deals. Here’s what really goes on at Louisville. Don't miss the caption contest!
In a way, Louisville is like an annual industry only truck camper rally where old friends gather, do some business, and have some fun. Speaking of fun, don’t miss another instant caption contest at the end of this story. I’m going to be in big trouble.
The industry will never learn. We are always putting the industry folks together for a group shot, but that’s not what we’re really after. You see, in the seconds leading to the group picture, I’m already taking picture, after picture, after picture. Somewhere in those images will be a shot that truly captures the moment. Of course I’m behind the camera saying things like, “Come on folks, look like you like each other” and “You guys look like a bunch of money collectors. Gee wiz, smile will ya?” Anything for a photo.
Here Doug Bakker, Rieco-Titan’s Product Manager, and Bob McCarthy, President of Rieco-Titan, pose with Angela for their official Louisville 2011 group shot. Bob is probably asking if I’m taking pictures and Angela is straightening her fleece knowing full well that I am. Hey, I pull these shenanigans at camper rallies and RV shows too so you may be next.
Sometimes I don’t even need to bring the trouble because it’s already there. Look close at this picture and you’ll see Adventurer Manufacturing’s trouble maker in chief Greg Tucknies giving fellow team member Norm Bruso the old bunny ears.
Meetings like this are common at Louisville. The competitive element between manufacturers seems to evaporate leaving an industry community that faces many of the same opportunities and challenges. They share stories, talk about their families, and even trade ideas about vendors, materials, and shipping.
The above photo was taken after I found these guys sitting around talking life, politics, and trading a bad joke or two. Left to right you see Bob McCarthy, President of Rieco-Titan, Rex Willett, Vice President of Northstar Campers, Jay Taylor, General Manager for Torklift International, Candice Boutilier, Marketing Director for Torklift International, and Keith Donkin, General Manager for Northern Lite. What a crew.
It’s official. The old Northern Lite geese got cooked. Good bye our fine feathered friends. Time to be snow birds and fly south for retirement.
Out with the old birds, in with the new. For 2012, Northern Lite is introducing a new flock of geese. This time the geese are fully rendered in 3D and feature Northern Lite’s exclusive “Advance Billing” technology to lead the way to truck camping adventure.
LivinLite had an aluminum podium which I took a second or two to reflect on at the show. Scott Tuttle, President of LivinLite, claims his 100% aluminum podium has no wood and will never rot. You can even hose it down after the show. Now that’s a podium I can stand behind!
Here are some familiar faces, and some new faces. On the left is long time Trailer Life contributor Jeff Johnston and his business partner Jose “Joe” Moniz of Rollin’ On TV. On the right is Lance Camper’s marketing team Norm Jacobson and Mark Hovanec. Jeff and Joe produced a series of videos this year on Lance Campers which can be found here: http://www.lancecamper.com/video.php
We kept running into PJ and Richard Buerger of Princess Craft Campers and Trailers all over Louisville this year. PJ and Richard have had a very good year with truck campers and maintain one of the most impressive truck camper selections you’ll find anywhere in the world. If you’re ever near Pflugerville, Texas, stop by and say hello.
Remember when I told you that I’m taking pictures as we herd the industry cats together for their group shots? Well, look what we got here. This is a classic Louisville moment with the Palomino RV team. I would do another caption contest, but I’m probably in enough trouble as it is.
Torklift International had product in almost every truck camper booth at the show. In this photograph you see Jay Taylor, General Manager for Torklift International, Candice Boutilier, Marketing Director for Torklift Internatioanl, and Rory Willett, President of Northstar Campers.
If you look closely you can also see a GlowStep, GlowGuide, and a few other Torklift products. If you look even closer you can see Torklift’s all new 2012 SuperCan Everest Magnum waste removal system complete with springloaded lid and ankle guards. Just kidding. Darn Louisville trash cans are always creeping into my pictures.
Could there be a clue in blue about somewhere we went after the show? Maybe there’s an oval circling the name of a place we headed to for an exclusive private four hour tour of a building even bigger than the Kentucky Expo Center. Oh yes my friends, we went to...
I’ll probably be sleeping on the sofa for a month for publishing this picture, but it’s so worth it. Angela is sitting in the Northern Lite 10-2 RR dry bath as we’re doing some pick-up photographs for a future First Look review. When I turned the camera towards Angela, she did this. I guess she really likes Northern Lite. Or maybe the electrician at Northern Lite left an open wire on the seat. Zap!
Should we do an instant caption contest? Absolutely! Send your caption for this picture to
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. Just be nice or Angela will cancel your free subscription. She has the power.
The winner of the Louisville 2011 caption contest, as chosen by our cat Harley, will win a free 2012 Truck Camper Magazine Calendar. We’ll publish the captions and announce the winner on Friday.
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