Conroe, Texas, is the place to be the last weekend of February each year if you like trucks. The Lone Star Expo and Montgomery County Fairgrounds are packed with show vehicles for one of the first significant events of the year — Lone Star Throwdown (LST). Located just north of Houston and a few hours away from other large metropolitan areas, LST pulls some of the best trucks and cars from not only the region but across the country as well. The weather can be a little unpredictable at that time of year, and 2022 was no exception, but that didn’t stop participants and spectators from filling the grounds.

Capped at 2,000 show vehicles, LST is a hot ticket no matter the weather, with online registration often selling out within days of going on sale. As show weekend approached, the forecast called for highs in the 40s, clouds, and rain. Still, there was never a doubt that they would come. LST is almost like a family reunion, and the organizers do a terrific job of cultivating that feeling. Clubs can park together, put up tents, cook, and bring their own refreshments. There are also plenty of food vendors for spectators or those who want to sample the local flavors.

It's great to see the aftermarket embracing new vehicles. This Ford Maverick's treatment was as spot-on as it gets!

Though traditionally a truck show, you never know what you’ll see at LST, it is open to all vehicle types. You might see $100,000 decked-out lifted 4x4s, lowered classic cars and trucks, minitrucks, motorcycles, and even side-by-sides. Cruising the fairgrounds is encouraged, allowing people to hear the vehicles, not just see them sitting static. Spectators need to be on their toes as lowered trucks scrape along the ground, while bumpers of lifted trucks can be at head height. Stereos are still a big part of the hobby, and it’s not uncommon to hear them turned up to eleven through high-dollar systems.

Despite the cold and wet conditions on Friday and Saturday, it didn’t damper the participants' or spectators’ attitudes. Fire pits, propane heaters, and indoor vendor areas were popular spots as everyone fought to stay warm, but they kept coming in the gate throughout the day. With a steady rain all day Saturday, no one would blame people for leaving early, but they just made the most of it. The line for the Mayhem monster truck stayed long, even though you were guaranteed to get muddy if you rode it. People just threw on a raincoat and laughed their way through the ride.

The weather left quite a bit to be desired, but you could either complain about the mud, or go play in it. When you have a monster Ford at the ready, well...the choice is obvious.

Sunday was a much better day. The roads were dry, and the sun came out at mid-day, allowing everyone to enjoy the incredible paint jobs on so many of the vehicles. It is impressive to see the time and effort put into the intricate paint schemes on these trucks; you could look at some of them for hours and not catch all the details.

The event ended at 3:00 with the awards ceremony featuring Top100, Top 10 minitrucks, specialty awards for interior, paint, club participation, etc. LST adds a nice touch honoring respected individuals of the truck community who have passed on with highly coveted awards given in their name. It is a sweet gesture to keep their name alive to the hobby they gave so passionately towards. The final award is the Best in Show, which went to the 1959 Apache of Terry Kirven from College Station, Texas. Remember the last weekend in February for next year’s Lone Star Throwdown.