The 2013 8th Annual Redneck Rumble Is Bigger And Better Than Ever

In the gargantuan sea of shows that dot this great nation Rod Authority has been able to lay its eyes on some of the most incredible automobile creations coast to coast. Many of these events showcase the best of the best – pristine hot rods, custom works of art, and muscle car originals that have had every inch smoothed and polished with the greatest amount of detail. The customizations that are done to some of these rides are from the most incredibly creative minds in the business.

Amongst thousands of shows there are millions of cars on display of every style, taste and passion for everyone who loves this hobby. However, there is one show that seems to stand out. One that takes pride in the fact that it isn’t just another run of the mill car show. This show isn’t for the faint of heart or those who don’t have an appreciation for the dirty, grungy side of hot rodding. Sure when you get to the Redneck Rumble you will see a handful of beautifully detailed old school customs, but a majority of the several thousand cars are loud, gnarly old vehicles that have been resurrected and brought back to life to have the chance to enjoy a drink of gasoline again.

When we rumbled through the gates of the Wilson Country Fairgrounds in Lebanon, Tennessee it had just stopped raining after an all-night deluge thanks to the unpredictable character of Mother Nature. The clouds were still heavy, the ground was drenched and we weren’t sure how many people or cars would show up. After all, how many times have you gotten to the show after a big rain only to find out that half the cars were gone or covered up? Well as we have already mentioned, this ain’t your daddy’s car show.

The cars here were lined up a quarter mile out to the road to get in the gate and once inside you were searching for a place to park throughout the vast fairground. A few years ago when Rod Authority covered this show we mentioned to you there were just over 2000 cars. Well this year the fairgrounds were packed going back almost a mile lined in rows and with our best guess we are thinking they are busting at the seams and breaking that record. 

There are those spectators who show up never seeing this kind of ‘redneck’ spectacle before and don’t quite get it. Some wondering if maybe they should have stopped by the doctor’s office to get caught up on their tetanus shots before hand, but for the rest of us that have a complete love for anything radical and crazy, this is definitely a stop off from what some people would consider the norm.

The festivities started on Friday night with people rolling up in anything from tear drop campers, old converted tour buses and tents (along with their old hot rods of course) to find a good spot and begin the party that rolls through Saturday. This is the kind of place where if you can’t find a good time to be had there’s a good chance you took a wrong turn. The people here are some of the coolest hot rodders the South could breed, although don’t expect the traditional southern bell here. These are mostly all just down home redneck workin’ folk who don’t mind getting a little dirty, drinkin’ a bit of that good whiskey and enjoying the merriment.

This show is much more than just hot rods at the Redneck Rumble, here you will find one of the largest swap meets in the south as well. If there is any part you might be missing or have been searching every junk yard for, there’s a good chance you will find it here. But, don’t expect to just take a quick walk through and let that be the end of it. It will take you several hours to sift through all these rows of junker’s paradise. Most of the time you will end up buying armfuls of anything from that old beer sign that will look good hanging in your shop to a cool hood ornament that doesn’t even fit your car but you just had to have it.

There is so much stuff in the swap meet area that you will wish you had a shopping cart to carry it all. Speaking of shopping carts the kids down here have become pretty smart on how to put a little money in their pockets as well. You will see some with custom wagons being pulled behind their bikes with signs saying, “Haul Parts $2”. There was even one driving a gas powered shopping cart. I guess they have figured out that us adults get burnt out and don’t want to carry our junk around with us and who better to capitalize on it than a bunch of high spirited kids with lots of energy.

One of the areas we always like to be sure we check out is under the pavilion where most of the custom bikes park and show off their rad customs. These bikes aren’t your average off the showroom iron horses; no these are usually highly modified bobbers, choppers or even trikes. The owners take great pride in bringing their own personality into their creations. Some may have heavy metal flake paint while others are plain old flat black. And if you remember the long stretched rake from the choppers of the 70’s, there were a few of those rumbling around as well.

 Whatever your taste may be the Redneck Rumble is one of those shows where you are bound to find something that will hit your fancy. Some people come out to cruise around the grounds just to have some fun, while others come out later in the afternoon to witness one of Americas favorite past times; the demolition derby. Who out there can say they don’t love the hard pounding destruction of metal? We’re sure every one of us has entertained the thought of having the chance to just smash some stuff up. Unfortunately, this year Mother Nature threw a big wrench in the plans with all the rain from the night before. The water had flooded the arena and consequently officials had to cancel it.

By the end of the day “Scooter” and his gang from Both Barrels Promotions had provided another incredible spectacle for car enthusiasts to enjoy. We were able to meet a handful of hot rodders who come out to this show every year because it is different from anything else you could find. Redneck Rumble is the sort of show that if you were to mention its name anywhere within the Midwest people will have at least heard of it and most have anticipations of attending either for the first time or again year after year.

If you haven’t had a chance to get over to Lebanon, Tennessee for the Redneck Rumble your senses will be overloaded by rides like old Gene Winfield cars, rusted heeps brought back to life and great people who get together every year just to have a good ole time.

So if you have ever thought to yourself, “Self, I’m getting bored and want to see some strange and unusual contraptions and meet a few very cool people,” then you probably need to jump in your car next September and head just east of Nashville to a little town called Lebanon, Tennessee. Just be sure you leave your Izod polo and Calvin Kleins at home. This is more of your shop working clothes type of place. But, no matter how you are dressed or how you get here one thing’s for sure, you’ll leave here with a new point of view of hot rodding and you definitely won’t be able to say you didn’t have a good time.

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