VINTAGE VIBES

By BRIAN WALKER

Staff Writer

POST FALLS — Wayne Groover is getting used to turning heads on the road.

Pulling a 15-foot 1961 Cadet trailer behind a 1962 Chevy truck will do that.

"It's a unique feeling getting a lot of attention from people," he said.

Groover and his wife, Laura, are among those participating in this weekend's third annual Fuddy Duddy Cruisers Vintage Trailer Rally at River of Life Friends Church in Post Falls. Roughly 70 trailers will be open for viewing for free from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today.

"We like the old way of doing things," Laura said with a smile. "They had the best ideas back then."

Wayne, 65, said like many vintage trailer enthusiasts, the couple savors the simple life.

"We're just country people, not really high tech," he said. "We raise a lot of our own food. We think back and realize how simple it used to be to work on our own vehicle and not have to spend an arm and leg hiring someone to do it."

Wayne said he became hooked on vintage trailers — and the classic camaraderie that comes with them at rallies — two years ago at the first show in Post Falls.

"We just brought over our truck the first year for people to look at, but we looked at the trailers and decided to look for one for us to restore," the Rathdrum area resident said.

And restore he did.

Wayne gutted the Cadet and installed oak cabinets, an Eastern red cedar table and bed. The outside color of choice was cream with brown trim.

"I got the Eastern red cedar from a Florida trucking buddy," he said. "It only grows in the Southeast. You don't see much of it up here."

Laura, 71, said she wanted the country lodge feel.

"Everybody has their own ideas when it comes to decorating," she said.

Meeting others, considered by many to be another blast from the past, is a huge part of the vintage trailer hobby, Wayne said.

"You meet a lot of good people and share ideas with them," he said, adding that he and Laura plan on attending two or three rallies per year in the Northwest. "It's also nice to be complimented on what you've done with your trailer."

Attendees also enjoy music from the ’50s and ’60s, watch old-time movies and enjoy popcorn.

Last year a 1947 converted Greyhound bus was a crowd favorite.

"Word is out, and we are hoping to show people what the Post Falls area has to offer," said event organizer Linda Shinn. "We have even gotten calls from people from California and Oregon."

The Groovers used to ride Harleys before settling in on their latest adventure.

"It's a niche, and we've got the bug," Wayne said.

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Staff writer Holly Fredericks contributed to this report.