There are additional stories to go along with this page. They are all being re-vamped. So, if you remember reading something here before, you probably did ... and it'll be back. Lots to re-work and having to do it in pieces! ~ Editor

Read about more in the Events Forum.

Southern Stovebolters
2011

The Texas Connection provided us with a good story. This is what it means to be "married to your truck!"

USA Day 2005 ~ A day to enjoy "Yank Tanks" in New Zealand

A Gathering of Bolters It's that time of year

Plenty around! Check for details

A GABFest ... wazzat?

Stovebolters have been gathering on their own at a steady pace over the last decade. It all started with Montana Andy hosting a gathering in 2000. The "Texas Connection" shashayed soon afterward - a small group but your typical friendly Texans! We rallied Bolters at the ATHS National Show in Baltimore in May, 2006. That same year, the Southerners decided to try a Gathering of Bolters! The British Columbia (Canada) Bolters have been meeting monthly for years now.

And ... every year in September, a large gathering of Bolters stream into middle of the country ... Kansas City, Missouri ... for THE Stovebolt event of the year -- The Annual Stovebolt Reunion!

Remember, Stovebolt is not a "club" ... yet, these Stovebolt Gatherings just came naturally! Kinda like that "branding" thing so many companied work at !

How a GABFest works

We target good shows to piggy back on. We found the best ones are shows that aren't so big or well-established that they would not be interested in our group gathering. The small to medium-sized shows seem to work well, as those shows appreciate our help in bringing in trucks that might not otherwise attend. Then, we identify a Stovebolt Coordinator for each particular GABFest. All a coordinator needs to do is make contact with the show staff to secure a parking area for the Bolters (hanging the Stovebolt flag), act as a show ombudsman for attending Bolters, make sure we get some photos of the event (especially a group shot), and hand out door prizes.

Some of the GABFests that have been around for a while have added food, t-shirts, and sometimes they last a few days longer than the show!

This works because it happens at the grass roots! Members of the Stovebolt.com online community will need to determine, and coordinate, their own events. Here's a blow-by-blow from Alvin "AChipmunk" Parris, when he and David "Lucille" Wolfe were wondering about getting one started in South Carolina area back in 2008!

Are you game for a GABFest?

If you have a show you think would make a good venue for a GABFest and you are willing to coordinate Bolter attendance, let us know! Being a GAthering of Bolters Coordinator isn't as hard as you think. The beauty is that you don't have to set up an event (that's done by whoever sets up the show we're attending / supporting / freeloading off o f...). All you have to do is

• Call the show coordinator to introduce yourself
• Explain what we are doing
• Ask for a reserved parking area for the Bolters
• You should be able to answer questions about the area and tell folks where the parking area is (in the Events Forum).
• Lastly, on show day, you get to hold an informal meeting to hand out door prizes (that we send you!)
• Take a group picture.
• Encourage folks to follow-up in our "You Shoulda Been There" forum, so we can use that as a jumping off point for the following year.

That's it!!! So easy, even John can do it!!

So remember, whenever two or more 'Bolters are gathered... GABFest !!!!

Working on projects during Homecoming 2011		Stovebolt Reunion, Kansas City 2011
You'll find WAY more in the Events forum, and the "Ya Shoulda Been There" forum

2012 Major Stovebolt Events & GABFests

          Check the Events Forum (linked) for details on each event.

Remember to check the Events forum. See what's going on in the old truck arena in your neck of the woods!