By Rob Fortier – Images by the Author
After a successful four-year stint in Downtown Chandler, Arizona, the 5th Annual Reunion (Car and) Truck Show graduated to nearby Mesa and kicked off its college-era run at Sloan Park in the shadows of the Cubs Spring Training facility … and boy, was it a great one!
Presented by LMC Truck, U.S. Mags, United Pacific, and Classic Performance Products, the newly expanded Reunion Show (which is now open to ’80s-earlier non trucks) went off without a hitch—matter of fact, despite being in the middle of one of the worst heat waves the West has seen, the temps were relatively mild on Saturday, March 28th thanks to a nice, daylong cloud cover! But the party really started the night before, just as it has since day one!
Friday Night Lights, the Reunion’s Pre Party sponsored by yours truly as well as United Pacific, found itself in Downtown Mesa behind The Post at a quaint yet perfect little spot called the Neon Garden, which the pics oughta clearly explain! The venue was filled with vehicles and good spirits (both in human and libation nature) till the joint kicked everyone out promptly at 9 p.m.—and from the looks of it, we’ll be doing it all over again next year!
Bright and early the following morning, well before the sun awoke, the trucks—and cars—lined up completely around Sloan Park and the entire Cubs facilities, down Rio Salado Parkway and Dobson Road, clear to the 202 Loop … with Reunion co-founder Ronnie Wetch in his golf cart stalking the entrants looking for “preferred parking” recipients, including the coveted Top Truck lot. I had a chance to “ride dirty” with Ronnie during one of his hot laps in an attempt to get some social-worthy content, but ended up holding on dearly for my life (no Ron, I did not die!).
By 8 a.m., Tom McGill, our tireless sub sales magician, and I had the CTP/ITGM booth set up as the crowds had already poured in well before that and the Reunion Show was officially in full GO mode. The new venue proved to suit the event to a tee—everyone from the vendors to the participants and spectators—as well as media dorks like me who stayed walking distance away at the adjacent hotels—were all hyped with the layout and how the show ultimately played out.
Thanks again to Ronnie, his better half, Autumn, Sam Castronova, and everyone who lent a hand and/or supported the 2026 Reunion! We can’t wait to do it all over again in 2027 … rain or shine or heatwave from hell, we’ll be there! For more info on this year’s show, visit reuniontruckshow.com.
