Lowdown Roundup | BBQ and Bags Round Two

Cruising up to its second year, the Lowdown Roundup brought the heat to Des Moines, Iowa, last June, bringing a new flavor of custom rides that the locals had not seen before. The roundup’s previous year fell in the middle of a pandemic and suffered from some unfavorable weather, so you could see the staff was anxious to put in the work to make it an incredible show. Starting off Friday with an already promising turnout, glow off, and afterparty at the hotel, I knew fairly quickly that their hard work was paying off—and the forecast called for killer rides and good times all weekend.

As I roamed the show grounds, I loved the location: Waterworks Park just a short drive from downtown. The park itself is huge and gives the event plenty of room to stretch its legs and prepare for an eventful weekend. Walking distance away is a beautiful lake, and a smooth blacktop drive wraps around the event. So, you can imagine the cruising was on point all weekend.

Nip Tuk was set up in style showing off a couple of fresh-out-of-the-shop projects, and a lineup of vendors to kept show-goers entertained with some light shopping. When your stomach started growling, Smokey D’s BBQ came to the rescue with big, tasty hotdogs. My personal favorite from a food truck called Hot Off the Press was a double-decker bacon grilled cheese. Yeah … it was definitely amazing.

The awesome variety of vehicles in attendance gave us a healthy mix of slammed, lifted, fast, and loud. The mini-trucker game was definitely strong, bringing out a few heavy hitters that kept the crowd occupied for hours. Some tuner, classic, and modern muscle presented themselves well, all while playing nice with a couple of dancing bed trucks.

Classic and modern trucks mingled in the crowd, and I loved the mixture. A hammered Jeep “Thing” may have been the talk of the show alongside a Ford Ranger on nitrogen shooting up all four wheels from the ground. My biggest takeaway though, was the camaraderie easily seen across the show field. Folks with slammed tuners, mini-trucks, hot rods, and all the above hung out enjoying the warm weather and cool conversations.

I don’t exactly road trip to Iowa too often, but Lowdown Roundup definitely gives me the reason to make that trip. Seeing what last year brought and soaking in all the festivities from year two, I cannot wait to see what the Lowdown crew has in store for 2023. The staff truly made me feel at home and treated everyone like family. They’re already putting plans together for their next event as I write this article, so you better believe the drive and dedication is there for another amazing event. So, take your time and soak in the printed coverage. Imagine all of the fun times and cool rides—and be sure to check it out next year for round three!