Mary Elliott, an 89-year-old from McDonough, Georgia, added a special touch to this year’s Shell Rotella SuperRigs event. After catching the event’s buzz on local news Friday morning, Elliott decided to attend Friday night’s festivities at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. The annual event brought the community from Hampton and McDonough together to enjoy an impressive truck light show, live music, fireworks, and a display of remarkable rigs.
Drawn by the Beauty of Truck Designs
SuperRigs, a yearly celebration of hardworking truckers and their dazzling rigs, showcases competitions in categories such as Best Chrome, Best Lights, and Best of Show. Attendees are treated to more than just aesthetic appeal, with over $25,000 in cash and prizes awarded. Winners also have the chance to be featured in the Shell Rotella SuperRigs Calendar, complete with creative settings from Atlanta.
For Elliott, it was the artful paint designs on the trucks that first captured her attention.
“I saw that paint and it was done so beautifully on all of these trucks,” she shared with enthusiasm.
Elliott, who worked for an automotive paint company for 25 years before retiring in 1999, was enthralled by the craftsmanship on display.
Surprised by a Sense of Community
While Elliott came for the trucks, what surprised and delighted her most was the opportunity to connect with truck drivers at the event.
“I didn’t know I would get to meet drivers,” she said. “It has been a wonderful evening.”
Although the event had been plagued by poor weather earlier, including a nearby tornado that touched down east of the Speedway, Elliott’s adventurous spirit wasn’t dampened. Instead, she embraced the experience wholeheartedly.
An Adventurer at Heart
Elliott’s love of exploration is deeply ingrained in her life. She has visited 25 countries and 47 U.S. states, recently returning from a trip to Greece and Turkey. Her travels have been a mix of personal adventures and mission work with the Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief and Builders for Christ.
When Shell Rotella staff learned of Elliott’s presence, they made her visit extra special. They provided her with a golf cart to easily move around and explore the nearly 50 trucks on display.
“Everybody is so welcoming,” Elliott remarked, adding, “It just seems like you are in a family reunion.”
A Night to Remember
For Elliott, the Shell Rotella SuperRigs event was far more than a showcase of trucks; it was an evening filled with artistry, adventure, and connection. Events like these highlight the vibrant community within the trucking industry, a family bound by hard work, passion, and camaraderie.
Source: The Trucker
Image Source: (Bruce Guthrie/The Trucker.com) Mary Elliott, 89, of McDonough, Ga., saw news coverage of this weekend’s Shell Rotella SuperRigs and decided to attend the event Friday night.
