Each summer, Chicago’s Marauders Motor Club throws the Barnyard Boogie – “A Motor and Music event to raise money and awareness for the fight against Juvenile Diabetes.” It’s a day of octane-fueled fun, filled with pre-1975 rides, live rockabilly music, vendors, food, camping, a bonfire, and more. Held in Monee, Illinois (where I spent a large part of my youth), the whole event has been taking place on a property known to many as “The Barnyard Boogie Grounds.” To me, it’s my Uncle Larry’s House, as the Marauders Motor Club is run by my cousin, Loren. For a time in the mid-1990s, he and I spent many nights jamming in that Barn as part of a short-lived band called Epileptic Caesar. Now, our kids dance in front of it during the Barnyard Boogie, though it’s been said that this is the last year it will be held at Uncle Larry’s place, as it may move for 2014. With Monee over 100 miles from Rock Father HQ, getting there means a road trip, and this year it’s been fueled by my friends at Contigo.
Did you know that Illinois is one of the top three driving destinations in the United States? It’s true, and data shows that no state is more traveled than Illinois, Arizona, and Florida. Why? Because we live here. Because it rocks!
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Getting us ready for our Summer Family Road Trips, Contigo got us hooked up with their AUTOSPOUT® Sheffield Water Bottle, another AUTOSPOUT® Kids Striker (we have 3 now), the AUTOSEAL® West Loop Travel Mug, an AUTOSEAL® Grace Water Bottle, and another AUTOSEAL® Randolph Travel Mug (now my wife and I don’t have to fight over who gets it). These are all important tools in our travel arsenal, as they’re all Spill-Free. We got the cooler loaded for the road and a day in the Barnyard.
I can never peg what the real draw is for us at The Barnyard Boogie… the great cars and live events, or getting to spend a day with friends and family, many of whom we don’t get to see very often. I tend to lean toward the latter, but the kids certainly dig the rides.
And you can never go wrong with a big red Fire Truck…
More music and rides…
Breaking out the Contigo AUTOSPOUT® Sheffield Water Bottle (which I’ve noted in the past is the best bottle I’ve ever owned – keeping beverages cold for up to 20 hours), even the little ones want in on the action, even though we brought their own.
Summer 2013 has seen us hit the road with our vehicle making tracks across Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan. Are you taking any trips this summer? If so, where will you go?
If you’re curious where the 2014 Barnyard Boogie will take place and how you can get involved, “like” their new page on Facebook, or visit http://www.maraudersmotorclub.com
For more rock delivered daily, including the latest in great music, cool toys, and fun for the whole family – “like” The Rock Father on Facebook.
