Besides the two-lane drag track, the venue offers a number of events open to everyone. Some highlights are the dash for cash. This is where participants run through a mud bog course naked. The winner gets a bucket of cash at the end. There is a mud bog too. After the dash for cash, there is usually a parade around the campground. Rally goers ride their motorcycles, golf carts, or other all-terrain vehicles while wearing costumes or nothing at all. If I recall correctly, the parade might occur multiple times during the weekend. In the evenings, there are usually two bands scheduled to play at the main stage. Directly in front of the main stage is a concrete dance area. Viewers often park their golf carts and motorcycles in the grass on the edge of the concrete area. This allows people to sit on their bikes to watch the bands. Adjacent to the outdoor stage is a large covered area with another stage, bar, dancing area, and picnic tables. On that stage, there is a DJ, comedian, or other shows. There is a zip line extending from the stage along one side of the covered area. Yep, a zip line. There is an 8-foot soft penis to land on at the end of the zip line. One year, there were a few mattresses under the zip line for folks that fall off before reaching the end of the line. Apparently, one year, someone fell off and broke a leg and thus the mattresses were added.
Events officially start on Thursday nights with a themed party. The latest I recall was a 50’s-style band with slicked-back hair and 50’s attire. This band had a large double bass which sounded awesome. Most people in attendance on Thursday night get costumed up in themed attire; couples are in character-matching costumes, short skirts, lingerie, and things your eyes won’t believe. Adult party and no cameras allowed. Thursday night is known as the “perv review”. The perv review consists of various beauty and best-of-class-type contests. Not for the faint of heart! Brad and I get a kick out of watching people watch people. Watching humans consume alcohol at these themed events is a fun experience.
On Saturday, there is a king and queen contest on an elevated stripper stage. The king and queen contests are separate. Participants volunteer from the crowd. Once the MC introduces who is on stage, the DJ will play a song. The contestants will dance provocatively until the song ends. Then the MC will use a noise meter to eliminate contestants. The loudest cheers from the crowd determine which contestant remains on stage to dance to the next song until the winner is declared. The winner gets a bucket of money that contains donations from the crowd. I think last year it was around $800 for the queen and maybe $400 for the king. There is something to see for everyone!
The highlight for me in 2024 at Conesville was the tornado warning. I can never remember the difference between a tornado watch and a warning. A watch is when conditions are favorable for a tornado, so people should be prepared. A tornado warning is when a tornado is imminent, and people should take action, like take shelter now. I was in my hammock when the sky suddenly darkened. The wind began to whip my rain tarp away from the trees, and rain started pouring down. There was some thunder and lightning too. My cell phone broadcasted an alert declaring a tornado warning and residents should seek shelter. I felt the trees swaying and pulling my hammock with them. I felt that my hammock was about to be converted into a hang glider against my will. I have déjà vu from two years earlier when I was in my hammock at this exact same campsite, and a tornado warning happened. Here I am again dealing with the same unexpected weather! The intensity of the storm lasted several minutes. It passed just as abruptly as it came. I posted a short video on Instagram showing my hammock blowing in the wind. Brad’s son, Andrew, saw my video and immediately called Brad. Brad was inside his rock star bus. Andrew said the man is going to die in the storm or get struck by lightning, let him inside the RV!
Note that the pictures are my photos from earlier years at the rally and not all from 2024. My short videos from those two tornados are posted at the links below.
