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Anyone that knowsanything about the show scene knows that each year, the NOPI Nationals right outside of Atlanta, Georgia keep getting bigger and bigger. This year was definitely not an exception. With nearly 7,000 rides in attendance, NOPI Nationals 2002 set new records not only in vehicles entered, but spectators through the gate. My weekend started by arrived Thursday to meet up with my buddies from Georgia who were trying to get their rides put back together for the show. Thursday afternoon, most of them were still in many pieces and/or still being painted. What a way to kill yourself the last few nights before a show! I stuck around and tried to help however I could, which mostly consisted of holding a door or hood while someone tightened down the bolts. Hey, at least I did something! Friday night basically rolled into Saturday morning, and no one was able to get any sleep. After turning the last screws and wiping the last bit of water off the rides, we loaded up and went straight to the place we were meeting, and then headed over to the show. Upon arriving at 5am Saturday morning, the roll-in line was already larger than anyone could imagine. If I had to take a guestimate, I would say around 3,000 rides were in front of us waiting to get in already. After a long wait, we finally made it into the Atlanta International Raceway park and met up with the rest of the crew, who were already at the pavilions parked and wiping down their rides. Right away I noticed that NOPI had to use even more of the park this year to pack the rides in, as everything from imports to 4x4's were on-hand. I grabbed my camera and began that pain-staking task of walking around the park, trying to at least see as much as I could and take pics of what I could as well. This show is so large that it should be a weeklong event, but it's still amazing that this much can be packed into one weekend and still manages to go over smoothly. NOPI breaks up the parking by class, so it was rather easy to determine where I wanted to be taking photos. I walked through aisle after aisle of infield parking, and then headed over to vendor alley to check out the vendors and their hot rides.
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I quickly realized that every major vendor was in attendance at NOPI 2002. No matter which product you were interested in you could find it here. Everything from wheels to body kits to stereo equipment were scattered among the vendors alley and the masses were enjoying every minute of it. After taking a look at the thousands of products on display, I quickly went back to work and started snapping photos again. NOPI is also well known for all of the events going on within the show the weekend of. One can always count on a great hydraulics contest, as some of the hottest hoppers and dancers compete for the cash give-a-way and prizes. NOPI also hosts a great burn out contest and awesome bikini contest as well. The crowd was definitely pleased by these events throughout the weekend.After a long, hot day of taking photos of cars and trucks from the likes of Negative Camber, Relaxed Atmosphere and Gravity Concepts, we left the showground and had a nice relaxing dinner with our friends from Florida as well as Brandon and Christine Burrell and friend Terence. By this time everyone was tired so back to Howard's crib we went to get some much-needed sleep. Sunday morning we woke up bright and early and headed back over to the Speedway and started day two of NOPI Nationals. Upon arriving, I again grabbed my camera and set back off into the fields. Sunday proved to be more laid back, which allowed me to talk and hangout a little more. I ran into Wes Frisbee and Russell and Brandy Gulow and of course the whole Negative Camber - Georgia crew. After walking mile after mile, snapping photos and saying hello to old friends as well as new friends, the awards ceremony began and I finally got to chill with my friends from Xtreme Lowz for a while. NOPI needs no sugar coating or big words. The show is huge, the crowds are massive and the weekend is a good time. Word has it that NOPI is attempting to make the truck guys feel more welcomed to this event, as it has become known mostly for the import crowd. NOPI isn't an import show. NOPI is an automotive spectacular, with every type of vehicle imaginable on-hand. Name another show that has almost 7,000 vehicles in two days. That alone speaks for itself. By: Bobby Stewart
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