Hard Times Hit Mardi Gras

Alabama Mobile Mardi Gras organizers are scrambling to find 80 vehicles to pull floats after a Mobile dealership pulled out.
by Associated Press
Published: Wed, December 31, 2008 - 1:27 pm CST Last Updated: Wed, December 31, 2008 - 2:24 pm CST
MOBILE, Ala. (AP) - Mardi Gras organizers are scrambling to find
80 vehicles to pull floats after a Mobile dealership decided not to
provide its white full-sized trucks because of hard economic times.
Parades are scheduled to begin in downtown Mobile on Feb. 6. Fat
Tuesday is Feb. 24. Only 25 are needed per night in the beginning,
but as many as 80 trucks a day are required by Joe Cain Day on Feb.
22, according to Sonny Davis, president of the Mobile Mardis Gras
Parading and Non-Parading Association. Floats were pulled by mules
in the early days.
National Guard jeeps pulled them at one point, but stopped amid
the increasing number of parades launched each year. McConnell
Automotive started providing trucks about 20 years ago.
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BamaBob
BamaBob Says:
Wed, Dec 31, 2008 at 7:36 pm

Of course, after Fred makes millions and millions from his moonpie, he should be able to spring for a few trucks.

BamaBob
BamaBob Says:
Wed, Dec 31, 2008 at 7:34 pm

Sounds like it is time to ask Bush for a bailout…...

kay Says:
Wed, Dec 31, 2008 at 7:27 pm

I agree with the others! Lets make this Mardi Gras one to remember and bring back the Mules! I’m sure the children would love it!

prettypoison Says:
Wed, Dec 31, 2008 at 3:36 pm

How many city Mayors does it take to screw in a mega-watt moon pie?

Answer: None. He paid 9,000 dollars for someone else to do it!

Alabama Patriot Says:
Wed, Dec 31, 2008 at 3:30 pm

Mobile probably has enough money in their discretionary funds to rent these trucks. Why don’t the city council members step up and spend their money on this?

jello biafra
jello biafra Says:
Wed, Dec 31, 2008 at 2:49 pm

I would love to pull a float with my truck.

butterflykisser101 Says:
Wed, Dec 31, 2008 at 2:44 pm

I think that is Tameron Honda.

BamaBob
BamaBob Says:
Wed, Dec 31, 2008 at 2:20 pm

What is that dealership off I-10 at the Malbis exit?  There must be 10 acres of trucks sitting on that lot.  Put a few miles on some of them and then sell them for a discount!

laha45 Says:
Wed, Dec 31, 2008 at 2:13 pm

I agree bring back the mules!!

Surf Says:
Wed, Dec 31, 2008 at 2:08 pm

I’m sure there are plenty of dealerships in the local area that would be more than willing to gain that type of “free” advertising. Maybe reach into the panhandle, plenty of truck dealers over there. Heck, the organizations have plenty of pickups within there own ranks, let em use their own trucks. That’s what we all do that ride on Joe Cain day. We use our own trucks.  No dealer has ever furnished trucks for that parade.

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