Third Annual Grand National Show Beats COVID-19
The largest classic Ford truck pickup event in the US, the Grand National F-100 Show went on despite the COVID-19 pandemic. The dates were postponed to Aug. 13-15, but the third annual show went on, featuring the ultimate cruise through the Great Smoky Mountains, from Gatlinburg to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
The show was held at the LeConte Center, the main showgrounds both indoors and out, and numbers were up again this year—350 vehicles preregistered and more than 500 total registered, with 5,000 spectators attending the show. It included one of the largest F-100 swap meets in the country!
This year, due to the quality of trucks in attendance, Truck of the Year awards were expanded to a total of three across eight categories. Steven Bolte’s ’55 won the ’53-’56 F-100 Truck of the Year. Metal Brothers was awarded Truck of the Year for its ’56 F-100 build. Ross Nichols of Jack’s Speed Shop was presented the final trophy for his ’69 F-100.
Joe Carpenter, show promoter and owner of Classic Promotions, would like to thank his main sponsor Dennis Carpenter Ford Reproductions, Jacky Jones Ford for the awards, and Ramsey Hotel for being the host hotel and providing rooms for staff, as well as providing advertising on the parkway.
Mark your calendars for May 13-15, 2021. Don’t miss the largest F-100 show in the country! Now let’s check out the pics!