I’m not sure why, but every year during the Fergus Truck Show the skies open up and southern Ontario gets dumped on. Rain and more rain was the scene yet again for this year’s edition of the show. I felt sorry for the hundreds of show’n’shine participants. Most had spent hours washing and waxing their rigs only to have Ma Nature ruin their hard work.

As the rain teemed down and people flocked for cover, I asked myself what the big guy upstairs had against this show? Year-in, year-out, it’s always the same.

Finally it occurred to me, it wasn’t Mother Nature taking her frustrations out on our industry, nor was it some sort of truckers’ curse cast upon us from one of the other modes of transportation. I believe it was…wait for it, wait for it, wait a little longer. Bam, it’s Elvis!

Yes, that’s correct, Elvis. He’s not working at a 7-Eleven in northern Michigan or a car wash in southern Florida. He’s actually looking down from above and Fergus just happens to be a shade too close to another small town called Collingwood.

As it turns out, every year Collingwood holds one of the largest Elvis impersonator events in North America during the same weekend! Although I’m sure Elvis is impressed that 30-odd years after his death, thousands of people gather to watch dozens of people impersonate his gyrating hips and deep rich voice, he’s just not too impressed with the talent. I’m sure he’s in tight with Mother Nature (figures) and she’s just as upset as he is.

I say call Vegas and bring in some ringers. Not that I’m criticizing (I’m sure these people practice long and hard at what they do) it’s just that Fergus is getting the raw undeserving end of the deal and it’s not fair.

I know the feeling I get after I have just wheeled my car through the local car wash and it rains. Can you imagine what those O/Os feel like after they have detailed their rigs for hours by hand? Terrible stuff.

Anyway, for all of you who did participate in the show’n’shine, thank-you. Even if you didn’t pick up any of the awards, there were many people (me included) who appreciated the effort you went through in making the event a success.

As for next year, I say move the Elvis weekend back a week. Fergus may get better weather and I’ll have more time to work on my act!

-Rob Wilkins is the publisher of Truck News and can be reached at 416-510-5123.