Antique truck show will feature Campbell 66 Express

The American Truck Historical Society’s National Convention in Springfield, Mo., not only will feature cruises and speech on Route 66, but a speaker about the town’s long-closed Campbell 66 Express trucking firm, according to news release from the society and its website.

The convention, scheduled for May 29-31 at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds, will include speaker J. Bruce Crim talking about “Campbell 66 Express — 60 Years on Route 66 with ‘Humpin’ to Please'” from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday.

Crim was an employee at Campbell about 30 years until it closed in 1986, and he owns a large collection of its memorabilia.

Dave Faust, an employee there in the late 1970s, also owns an excellent collection he posted online, as does Jim Steele. And Rich Henry at Henry’s Rabbit Ranch in Staunton, Ill., keeps a few Campbell 66 trailers on his property.

Because Campbell 66 Express’ headquarters was in Springfield, I suspect Crim’s presentation will attract a lot of interest. It’s good a few folks are keeping memories — including its trademark camel — of this unique trucking firm alive.

Tommy Pike, president of the Route 66 Association of Missouri, will talk about “Missouri 66” from 10:15 to 11:15 a.m. on those days.

The convention also will conduct a cruise of Route 66 from Springfield to Joplin, Mo., that includes tours of the Peterbilt truck facility, sellers and parts suppliers. It also will host an all-day “Mother Load to Mother Road Truck Cruise” on June 1 that goes on Route 66 from Springfield through Kansas and into Oklahoma.

Jerome Comcowich also will speak about “C.W. McCall’s “Convoy’, ‘Old Home Bread’ Commercials & Their Creator Bill Fries” from 9 to 10 a.m. those days. A history of Peterbilt trucks will be from 1 to 2 p.m.

You may register for the event online here.

(A 1960s image of a Campbell 66 Express truck by Allen via Flickr)