Event Coverage Symco Shakedown #4 Aug 10-11, 2012 - Same old show, different year.

If you haven't read about Symco in OSR or CKD or haven't heard from a buddy how much fun it is, I don't know what to tell you other than you just need to experience it to understand.

We have one of the greatest venues for a show in the country. Symco, WI. This is a show like no other. Miss Symco Pinup contest, Minibike Drags, Burlesque show, hundreds of period correct hot rods and customs, RUNNING Fairbanks/Morris industrial engines the size of a small house, our own tavern built from a 1896 town hall, huge hot rod swap meet, dozens of commercial vendors selling vintage garb and hot rod goodies, camping on site with showers, TONS AND TONS of cool old stuff to see in dozens of vintage buildings, and not to mention over 20 HOT LIVE BANDS!!! If you don't go home exhausted and with a smile the size of a Texas....well, it WILL happen so we don't need to go there.

New for 2012:
Expanded vendor areas on the main grounds.
Camping in the lower river sites are limited to strictly show vehicle traffic and vintage campers or tent only. No non-criteria vehicles on the main show grounds, period! Shower cost is included in all camp and swap space prices.
More buildings and more stuff to see on the grounds! You won't believe what has been accomplished since last year!!!
Thursday night kickoff party for pre-registered participants in the Unionville Saloon with Music from The Tinstars - one of the Netherland's best rockabilly bands!!
Expanded food options. Great BBQ and more!!
Our give-a-way engine is a performance built Y-Block Ford!!!
Vintage Motorcycle display sponsored by the Knuckle Shuffle
Vintage Bicycle Display and Vendors (email me if you would like to be considered for our bicycle swap meet area) Don't forget to bring your vintage bikes!!!
and much much more!

Don't forget we will have barbers on hand during the show shall your pomp need some prep. Shelly or Chuck will give you that look you need! Gals, that includes you too. Cha Cha will provide you with whatever you need to spruce up for the pinup contest!

We also have numerous pinstripers including Calico, Brushboy, Straight Pipe and more. Contact your favorite artist to schedule some brush time during the show!

We will again broadcast the show LIVE via your FM radio so tune in when your hot rod gets close to Symco to hear announcements and music from our very own Rockabilly DJ Jay Crapser!

Music will again be on THREE stages. The main stage will see HillBilly Casino, The Krank Daddies, and more! Word is that the Muddy Udders will be back again this year as well as our favorite Iowa surf rock band the One Night Standards! Oh yeah, don't forget to check out The Tinstars all the way from the Netherlands!!!! Watch the Entertainment page on the website as we continue to firm up our musical talent. We should see around 20+ acts again this year to complete the best rockabilly lineup you'll catch in Wisconsin in 2012!

Thanks to Phillip Henzig from the Cathouse Drifters for writing and recording our new theme song!!! You can hear it by going to the main page of our website. www.symcoshakedown.com. If you are interested in purchasing a copy, please email me for Phil's contact info.

Miss Symco contest is FULL. Yes, we have 30 gals signed up already!! Contact BoPeep at misssymco.com to get on a alternate list shall someone not be able to make it.

Commercial spaces on the grounds are limited as are powered swap spaces. There is a $5 discount on admission, up to two per site, for wristbands purchased with swap or camp sites. This expires June 1 so hurry and get pre-registered! I have attached the registration form in PDF format shall you wish to sign up today! Otherwise go to the website and there are links to pay via PayPal or Credit Card. You can always track me down as a show as well!

Did you pick up your latest two editions of Old Skool Rodz? If not, better check the news stands to find the Symco mention on page 10 of Issue #51 and Chadly Johnson's awesome article of the 2011 show on pages 58-59 of Issue #52. Not to mention my pickup was spotted in a photo in the latest edition of Hot Rod Deluxe.

Lastly, don't forget to sign up to volunteer!! This show is successful solely because of the AWESOME group of people behind the scenes. 99% of the people you see in staff shirts during the weekend are unpaid volunteers. All the gate workers, grounds crew, parking crew, merch sales, and anyone else helping run the show all give a few hours of their time to make the show better for you. Please remember to thank them or better yet, join the crew!! For a three hour shift, you get free admission to the show and a special volunteer only t-shirt! Not to mention an invite to our FREE volunteer party in Oct. We can't do it without you!!

 

Ill be there, the Vagabonds rule! One of the best shows going!

 

I'm registered and counting down the days. I've been to 2 Symco Shakedowns and haven't seen all of the grounds, now I hear there is even more to look at. With around 20 bands on 3 stages I don't know if I'll ever catch up.
Some picts of last year, there were many nice cars I thought these were outstanding examples.

 

I will be there........
won't you?

 

Registered today.

 

I cannot wait!!! that is the deadline for my car to be finished

 

You know we will be there!!!
If I had to choose one show per year, this IS THE ONE!!!!

 

For those of you who knew the owner of the Symco grounds, he passed away. Larry Werth was a great guy and will be greatly missed.

Funeral is Tuesday, a lot of us will be attending. If you can show your support, please bring your hot rod. There is a viewing Monday evening, I will be there as well.


Larry Lee Werth, age 69, of Manawa, died on Wednesday, May 23, 2012, at Riverside Medical Center in Waupaca. He was born on October 18, 1942, in Waupaca County, son of Harold "Dick" and Leona (Schmidt) Werth. On June 15, 1968, he was united in marriage to Diane Kasten in Cedarburg. Larry served his country with the U.S. Army from 1963-1964. After high school, Larry worked for Smiley Miller, then at FWD in Clintonville, Faulks Bros. and also Murphy Concrete. He enjoyed spending time with his children, grandchildren, and his many friends. Collecting, restoring antique machinery provided him with precious years developing the Union Thresheree and the hope to hand down joy of old men and their toys. One of Larry's greatest joys was appearing on the History Channel show "American Pickers". He was a member of St. Mark Lutheran Church in Symco.

Survivors include his wife Diane; children: Jerrod (Jolene), Heather (Paul) Timm, Warren; grandchildren: Dylan, Dawson, Kassidy and Karson; mother Leona Werth; siblings: James (Joyce) Werth, Darlene Maleug and her friend Bryan, Betty (Lynn) Jepson, Bruce (Mary) Werth. He is further survived by special friends Clyde, Harold, Kenny, and Terry and his partner in crime and benefactor Blake Johnston, nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his father Harold "Dick" Werth.

The funeral service for Larry will be held on Tuesday, May 29, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Symco with Rev. Jeffrey Smiles officiating. Burial will be in Union Cemetery in Symco. A visitation for Larry will be held on Monday, May 28, 2012 from 4-8 at the Cline-Hanson-Dahlke Funeral Home in Manawa and on Tuesday at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service.

A special thank you to the Riverside Medical Center ICU nurses and staff, and also Dr. Bauer for their care and concern of Larry.

 

RIP Larry.

Symco would not even be on the map if not for you. 1000's of people every year are thankful for the moments and memories your property has provided us.

It is a true blessing to spend a portion of our lives in Symco, so we all thank you.

 

That is a bummer about the big guy. Glad he hooked up such a rad place. Got pre reg, now agota save for a week vacation in wis. Im so stoked.Bought my old 54 back from shaune, he did some killer work to it, might bring it instead.

 

Hey all, If your going Pre reg if you can. And we are still looking for volunteers on Saturday. Can't wait to see all of you and have a blast. Remember to bring your dancing and drinking shoes. Oh and if this heat wave keeps up some good shades! Rock On! TheFish!!

 

Sounds like a great show.

 

you know we will be there have not missed a year yet

 

less than 4 weeks away!

 

As far as I am concerned, this is the best event I have ever been to.

By far.

The kids really enjoyed the old-fashioned "Merry-Go-Round Of Death" located west of the saloon. It's just scary enough to keep them hooked for HOURS and HOURS.

The sawmill by the river (with all the old chainsaws hanging from the roof) is really cool...

I've got to get my RWL tires flipped before the event though!

 

looks like the symco shakedown site is down... any one know if there is electricity for camping?

 

This is the third year for me and the little lady. If you have not gone to the show before make sure you go this year. It is one of, if not the best show. See ya all there.
Stude Dude Bill

 

This will be my first year, can't wait...

 

Electricity for camping? I cant confirm this 100%, but I would say you better bring a generator. Camping appears to be in a mowed field, not a campground with all sorts of fancy hookups.

 

The website is back up. Says that there are limited sites with electricity near the river.

 

Electricity camping is first come, first serve. If you want to try to get a site, you must preregister and come no sooner than 4pm on Thursday.

My service provider switched something the other day and it kicked my site offline for about a day, sorry about that.

To nip the rumor in the bud that the show is canceled due to Larry's death, BULLSHIT!!!
My mother passed this Monday as well and if you think that is still enough for the show to cancel, you are WRONG!!! It will be bigger and stronger than ever. I have no joke a hundred preregistrations more than last year and I had to expand our commercial vendor area because we have a ton of new vendors. We added more food this year and it will be the best Symco to date. The amount of calls and emails I am getting is overwhelming and trust me, it will be a good show.

Now who wants to make the wager it will rain for the fourth year in a row??

 

Sorry to hear about your mother Cliffy.

Gonna be one kick ass weekend! Rain won't stop it either.

 

i cant wait

 

If it does not rain Im out! Im so sick of waiting im leavin four days early just to annoy these Vagabond folks. Cant wait to kropdust u pricks.

 

Rain didn't stop us at the Meltdown Drags, and it won't stop us from being at Symco either... looking forward to volunteering at Symco!

 

I am getting ready to paint David's bike for the vintage bike display. He is 11 and pretty excited!

 

You guys planning on camping? I will be. Also looks like it will be the first year bringing my 53 chevy, as long as my shifter arrives in the next few days.

 

Cliff,
Sorry to hear about your Mom. Hope your doing good.
Keep up the good work you and others do for Symco to keep it going.
See you at Symco
Choff
Oshkosh
29 Dodge Coupe
P.S. Keeping the car and have chopped it 3" and bought a 331 Chrysler hemi.

 

I saw Voodoo's 31 at Ink and Iron a few years back, that car is bad ass. Its on the cover of Street Rodder this month too. awesome

 

I'm betting it will rain since it has every year prior!!!!!!!!!!

Looking forward to one of the bestest yet!!!!!!!