Battle in Bama (BiB) presented by Ultimate Audio Fabrication is one of the premier automotive events on the Gulf of Mexico, taking place the first weekend in May each year at the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile, Alabama. With one of the most picturesque backdrops in the nation for a car show, promoter Craig Rowley and his wife Rosalyn struck gold with the location, and participants responded. Capped at 1,300 vehicles, 2023 was yet another registration sellout for the Rowleys and crew. We made the trip down from the Edelbrock Group’s Olive Branch, Mississippi, headquarters to take a look!
As more shows seem to be narrowing their focus to particular vehicle makes, models, or years, BiB is one of the most open shows you can attend. If it has an engine (or motor), chances are you’ll see a modified version of it at BiB. From lifted trucks to lowered trucks, low-buck rat rods to High-dollar professional builds, high-horsepower Pro Street vehicles to original Model Ts, ATVs to COEs — there was even a jet-ski motorcycle and a motorized recliner complete with machine guns mounted on the sides! And that doesn’t even consider the battleship, submarine, planes, and tanks on the grounds. Trust us when we say you can see it all on the bay in Mobile!
Family Atmosphere
Even though the show has traditionally leaned toward pickup trucks, Rowley makes it a point to allow just about any mode of transportation. Recognizing that clubs are a huge part of car/truck culture, Rowley also makes a point to accommodate clubs/groups who want to park and hang out together. Clubs that grew out of the mini-trucking craze of the ’90s, such as Relaxed Atmosphere, Negative Camber, Acrophobia, and Severed Ties (to name a few), always seem to have a significant presence at BiB. But even if you are not affiliated with a club, if you park near one and need something, chances are they will help you in any way they can.
If you have a little hot rodder in the family, BiB is a terrific place to nurture their burgeoning love for the automobile. It is a cacophony of sights, sounds, and smells that will delight their senses. Food vendors have everything from egg rolls to sno-cones, and there are always plenty of merchandise vendors with t-shirts, memorabilia, and even die-cast cars. This year they even met cast lookalikes from Smokey and the Bandit!
BiB 2023
BiB 2023 was a mixed bag as far as Mother Nature was concerned. The only disadvantage to holding an auto show on the Gulf Coast is the sometimes unpredictable weather; this year was no different. It wasn’t a washout, but scattered showers and storms traded places with the sun throughout Friday and Saturday. Despite the occasional rain, the temperatures couldn’t have been better.
If Friday were a prize fight, Mother Nature won on a split decision. Rains soaked the grounds early, and showers kept the sandy clay mix of the show field quite soggy yet navigable. The sun appeared and dried things up slightly until the Friday night BiB welcome party. Known as “Tacos on a Battleship,” the party wasn’t actually on the battleship this year as restoration of the deck where it occurs typically meant moving the festivities inside the pavilion. This proved to be a blessing in disguise as a big storm deluged the grounds just as the doors opened. Unfortunately, we were caught in the windy mess holding onto our tent as others were flipped over despite being weighted down. Luckily, we didn’t hear of any damage to vehicles.
As it rained into the night, a few spectators and show cars had to be towed from the soggy field. The staff asked everyone to enter an hour later on Saturday to allow them time to assess the condition of the park. A few areas were cordoned off to keep participants out of extremely wet areas as the sun and rain continued their dance. However, based on the number of cars entering the gates, the iffy weather didn’t dampen anyone’s spirits. Showgoers went on about their business as participants traded sunglasses for drying towels several times throughout the day.
The clouds subsided late Saturday afternoon in time to make a perfect night to keep the party rolling at the Spanish Fort Container Park for a drive-in movie featuring (you guessed it) Smokey and the Bandit. Even the “cast” and vehicles from the film made the trip across the bay. Everyone had a terrific time meandering among the cars while watching the movie.
For all the volatility of Friday and Saturday at BiB, Sunday was picture-perfect, though a bit toastier. The sun quickly dried the grounds, allowing us to get photos of cars in front of the battleship. For those who left early to return home, they missed the best day.
BiB 2024
We have it on good authority that Battle in Bama will return to the same spot in 2024. If you haven’t attended this event, put it on your calendar for the first weekend in May. It is definitely a show that affords something for everyone. It is quickly becoming one of the must-attend events in the region and the country.
Be sure to visit our Lifestyle page for more great coverage from other events, and keep your eyes peeled for the next one!
