Baraboo features trucks big and small

Wisconsin’s “Circus City” hosted dozens of trucks of all sizes. When the Southern Wisconsin Chapter of the American Truck Historical Society held its annual Baraboo Truck Show June 3-4.

Baraboo, Wis. is the birthplace of the Ringling Bros. Circus and there was a Mack Bulldog truck at the show from the city’s Circus Museum. Even that hefty hauler was dwarfed by some of the big rigs attending, including a special promotional truck that is supposedly the largest big rig in the world.

Chapter president Tim Blum said the June show has been held at the Baraboo Fairgrounds the last two years. The ATHS chapter teams with the Friends of the Grandstand for a Saturday truck and tractor pull. Other activities include Friday night movies and prize giveaways.

The show featured Gene Olson’s bull-nose Kenworth, a couple of real show trucks and the Reo Mobile Media (www.reomobilemedia.com) semi-tractor that has a video screen built into its side so movies can be shown at night.

Blum couldn’t say why a lot of the trucks on display came from owners who live in Baraboo, but he pointed out that people like the show because there’s no judging. “How can you judge semi-trucks?” Blum asked. Some of them have six-figure restorations, but they’re all so unique and different that you can’t pick one over another.”

The show included small and large pickups, an early IH Scout SUV, milk trucks, military vehicles, tow trucks, semi tractor-trailers, dump trucks and many more types. Every well-known truck maker seemed to be represented.