CEG Slates $5,000 Backhoe Rodeo for Upcoming Expo

Fri November 29, 2002
Agricultural Equipment Guide

Things are moving quickly with Construction Equipment Guide’s (CEG) Philadelphia Construction Expo IV, which will once again prove to be the “Greatest Show on Dirt.”

On March 11 and 12, 2003, CEG Productions, the trade show division of CEG, will present its fourth construction trade show at the Fort Washington Expo Center, just 15 miles north of Philadelphia.

The show will feature more than 70,000 sq. ft. of indoor exhibit area, plus an expanded static outdoor area.

And here’s some news hot off the presses: The latest addition to the Expo is a backhoe rodeo with prize money totaling $5,000. And for all you operators out there who want to begin practicing for the event, here are the five competitions that you’ll have to master if you want be called the champion:

• The Pipe Drop -- The operator must lift two cylinders, one at a time, using a tooth on the bucket and placing each over a metal post. Time will stop when both cylinders are in place and the bucket is returned to the start position.

• Backhoe Bowling -- The operator will start with the backhoe bucket resting on the ground at a full stop right. The operator then moves the boom left, picks up a ring with a tooth, lifts and swings to knock down the pins. Then the operator must return the chain and tooth to the start position and boom to the start position.

• Backhoe Basketball -- The operator starts with the toothed bucket on the ground in a designated square. Then the operator must pick up balls off of traffic cones and drop them into a bucket placed near the cones.

• Egg in the Nest -- The operator starts in the center position, moves the bucket to the right, picks up the egg from the sand pile, then move the bucket to the left where he or she deposits the egg in the tire with the straw “nest.”

• The Backhoe Sand Trap -- The operator picks up a golf ball from the sand trap with a special tooth on the bucket, swings the boom and drops the ball into a coffee can.

With three hugely successful shows in 1998, 2000 and 2001 under its belt, the 2003 edition will prove to be bigger and better than ever. The Expo Center is expected to house more than 150 booths. There, regardless of what your contracting firm specializes in, you’ll be able to check out all the latest equipment by every manufacturer in the industry. What’s more, guests can speak face to face with all the major distributors that serve the northeast corridor.

CEG’s 1998 Expo was the largest construction equipment trade show ever held in the Mid-Atlantic states at that time. Approximately 6,000 guests visited 150 exhibitors, despite terrible weather that almost flooded the place out. What’s more, approximately $26 million of equipment was on display and many exhibitors reported excellent sales and rental activity immediately following the Expo.

The 2000 Construction Expo featured an appearance by the Swedish Bikini Team, which most exhibitors and visitors reported as having dramatically brightened the Expo Center.

The 2001 show provided an intimate atmosphere that allowed attendees and exhibitors plenty of opportunities to talk one-on-one to find solutions to their equipment needs.

All the latest makes and models of equipment were showcased, including Blaw-Knox, Caterpillar, Case, Hamm, Hitachi, John Deere, JCB, Kawasaki, Kubota, New Holland, Vermeer, Volvo and Wirtgen.

Philadelphia Eagle and Hall of Famer Chuck Bednarik attracted a crowd as he signed autographs in the Construction Equipment Guide booth He also shared stories of his days as a star player for the home team.

Numerous prizes and giveaways highlighted the two-day event in 2001. One lucky winner, Mike Ciaccio of B&M Landscaping, went home with more than $250 from the Creative Financial Group.

If getting the scoop on hundreds of millions of dollars worth of cutting-edge equipment that will help you do your job more productively and efficiently interests you, then you’ll want to start making plans now to attend. And if you’re a manufacturer or distributor on the East Coast, you won’t want to miss out on the chance to strut your stuff to thousands of potential customers.

For more information on exhibiting or attending, call Sheila Kirby, CEG’s show coordinator, at 800/523-2200. Check out upcoming issues of CEG for more details.

This story also appears on Construction Equipment Guide.