A Yearly Gathering to Keep the Memory of Ryne Cooper Alive

The Useless Truck Meet, a vibrant and community-focused event, made its return to Lafayette, Indiana, on Aug. 17 at the Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds. Despite its lighthearted name, the event is far from “useless” as it draws together truck enthusiasts, vendors, and fans of custom, lifted, and performance trucks for a day packed with entertainment and automotive action in loving memory of Ryne Cooper.

Event host Jason Hines offered this message about the meet: “To some a truck meet is just a time to hang out with friends, look at some trucks, and see who wins ‘best of show.’ At the Useless Truck Meet, there is far more meaning behind everything.”

This isn’t a show with awards. Instead, this event brings people together and shows who Ryne Cooper (useless6.7) truly was. At this event, organizers keep it fair, no matter what you bring. If you want to bring the second-gen farm truck or your fully built truck, you can bring it. It follows Ryne’s outlook: Everyone is equal no matter the truck or what is done to it. That’s why awards and trophies are not given.

“We want this event to be an event to show off your build no matter what stage it’s in,” Jason says. “The UTM is for every single build slow, fast, big, or tall.”

Ryne passed away Dec. 31, 2022, but his legacy still lives today.

“With his roots deep into the trucks, we knew we had to honor him in any way possible, so the Useless Truck Meet was created,” Jason says.

First Year Success

The first event, held on April 8, 2023, brought trucks from all over the United States to show their support for Coop. As the community came together to show organizers support for their first event, they knew it was something bigger than a truck meet. With the help of every attendee, on April 8, they were not only able to continue this event into 2024, but also to donate to a local family who recently had a loss of their own.

Fast forward to August 17, 2024, and the second event was nothing less then the original in 2023. The support a year and half later was still overwhelming. With increased venue space, they had the ability to now bring in local vendors along with returning vendors to make the best indoor space possible.

“With all the love and support showed at the second event from everyone involved, from vendors to silver lot, we are able to grow and support those in need all while being surrounded by like-minded and wholesome people in the industry,” Jason says. “The Useless Truck Meet is an event to make friends, build relationships, bridge that gap from social medias friends, and most importantly come together and show who Ryne cooper truly was.

An Event Ryne Would be Proud of

The Useless Truck Meet is quickly becoming one of the go-to events for truck lovers in the Midwest. The gathering offers a spacious and accessible venue for truck owners and spectators alike to enjoy an array of unique, customized trucks. The event welcomes a variety of vehicles—from impressively lifted diesel rigs to performance-tuned street trucks—reflecting the wide spectrum of creativity and passion in the truck scene.

The atmosphere is one of community, where attendees can mingle with like-minded individuals, swap stories about their trucks, and admire the craftsmanship and effort that goes into building these machines. Whether you are a casual fan of lifted trucks or deeply involved in the customization process, the Useless Truck Meet is the place to be.

At the heart of the meet is the exhibition area, where truck owners proudly display their vehicles. It’s a great opportunity for attendees to get up close and personal with some of the most unique trucks in the region, ranging from lifted monsters to meticulously lowered street builds.

The event also features a chassis dyno trailer, provided by M&M Repair, which was a central attraction for those interested in seeing real-time power runs and performance testing. The dyno gave truck owners a chance to test the horsepower and torque of their rigs, adding an exciting, competitive edge to the event.

Additionally, the Useless Truck Meet had vendors and food trucks on site, offering a range of merchandise, truck accessories, and food options to keep everyone fueled throughout the day. These vendors served not only as a place to grab some truck gear but also as networking hubs for those involved in the truck modification industry.

What Makes It Special?

This event is special to us not only because of our friendship with the Cooper family, but it’s an awesome event where there are no expectations besides having a good ole time and making memories that last a lifetime. We appreciate everyone at Ali and Jason for having us out this year, we can’t wait for next!