The National BBQ Cup - Cumming, GA - Pics and report

[Uncle Buds BBQ]

Last weekend was the National BBQ Cup in Cumming, GA. I judged this one last year (the first year of the event) and immediately realized that I should have competed!

First, it's an awesome site at the fairgrounds. Mostly flat and asphalt with permanent power and water for each team.

Second the organizer, Randall Bowman and his side kick John Hale are cooks and cooker manufacturers so they know how to treat the teams.

Third, what a name! Who wouldn't want to be able to say they won the THE NATIONAL BBQ CUP! Plus, being late in the year it drew big name teams from all over. And the awards custom carved by Brian Ruth and created my Pirate 50...wow.

So Noah (Nauti-Que) and I teamed up to compete. My plan was to try and take pics of each team and that plan went out the window so following are pics of many teams.

There are lots of pics so it may take me away. You'll know I'm done posting when you see the steam tractor that excitingly toured the event site late Sat. evening.

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/001.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/002.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/003.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/004.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/005.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/006.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/007.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/008.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/009.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/010.JPG

...

[Uncle Buds BBQ]

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/011.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/012.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/013.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/014.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/015.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/016.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/017.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/018.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/019.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/020.JPG
...

[Uncle Buds BBQ]

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/021.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/022.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/023.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/024.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/025.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/026.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/027.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/028.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/029.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/030.JPG
...

[Uncle Buds BBQ]

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/031.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/032.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/033.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/034.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/035.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/036.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/037.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/038.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/039.JPG


First place Pork gets to cart this bad boy home!
http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/040.JPG
...

[Uncle Buds BBQ]

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/041.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/042.JPG

All the way from Massachusetts!
http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/043.JPG


Cooks meeting
http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/044.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/045.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/046.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/047.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/048.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/049.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/050.JPG
...

[Uncle Buds BBQ]

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/051.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/052.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/053.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/054.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/055.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/056.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/057.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/058.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/059.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/060.JPG
...

[Uncle Buds BBQ]

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/061.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/062.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/063.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/064.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/065.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/066.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/067.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/068.JPG


Congrats to a fellow Brethren, MATTG, for taking 1st place overall in backyard AND vending too!
http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/069.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/070.JPG
...

[Uncle Buds BBQ]

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/071.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/073.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/074.JPG

Time for awards!!!!!
http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/075.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/076.JPG

Our reps., the Reids, Braziers, and Polands.
http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/077.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/078.JPG

Our hosts, Randall and John.
http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/079.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/080.JPG
...

[Uncle Buds BBQ]

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/081.JPG

Earlier this year we lost Sam and Diane Grogan of the "Jus Fer Fun" team. Their kids cooked in the contest in honor of them. Bubba Latimer introduced them and presented with a memorial award.
http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/082.JPG

Then they presented the Sam and Diane award to the Bonds, who are long time judges, for their effort and contributions to our BBQ hobby. It was very touching.
http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/083.JPG



http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/084.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/085.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/086.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/087.JPG

1st place chicken. Unfortunately they handed out most of the other awards behind a pillar so I missed getting their pic.
http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/088.JPG

Holy Smokes takes RGC.
http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/089.JPG

http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/090.JPG
...

[Uncle Buds BBQ]

Grand Champ....Munchin Hogs @ the Hilton
http://unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/091.JPG

http://www.unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/092.JPG

http://www.unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/093.JPG

http://www.unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/094.JPG

http://www.unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/095.JPG

http://www.unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/096.JPG

http://www.unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/097.JPG


...

[Uncle Buds BBQ]

So...the day is done. We are relaxing by the fire...when a train whistle goes off...

http://www.unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/109.JPG


...but it's not a train...it's a steam tractor from around the turn of the century.

http://www.unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/098.JPG

http://www.unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/100.JPG

http://www.unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/101.JPG

The fairground has an entire barn full of steam tractors and we were lucky enough to be there when they pulled one out.

http://www.unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/102.JPG

http://www.unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/103.JPG

http://www.unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/104.JPG

http://www.unclebudsbbq.com/Cumming/107.JPG


Till next time...

[Coz]

Excellent report !

[MattG]

Thanks Dave. We had great time. Also thank you very much for the loan of the stoker. Pots will be back but I do not think that we would ever vend again unless so changes were made. Sill great comp.

[Uncle Buds BBQ]

Also thank you very much for the loan of the stoker.
No problem. Anything for a "brother in smoke".

[Rub]

Love the pics of Sam and Diane's girls. Very nice.

[Gerrit_Boys]

Great pics man!

[nmayeux]

Damn fun contest, and can't wait to do it again!

[Douglass J Reid]

Once again a Outstanding Job! Have Great Holidays and we will see you on the BBQ Trail in 2013!

[Smokin' Gnome BBQ]

again thanks for the pics, I love them!

[holysmokes]

Great write up. Thanks for the pics

[bruno994]

As always, thanks for the pics. Great job.

[westcafe]

What a great time had by all! Great to meet you Dave! What a great venue and thanks for sharing it with all the great pictures :)

[Uncle Buds BBQ]

What a great time had by all! Great to meet you Dave! What a great venue and thanks for sharing it with all the great pictures :)
Nice to meet you too! I hope that long drive you had back to Massachusetts was uneventful. Hope to see you next year at "the Cup".

[westcafe]

Loooonnnnnggggg trip back but it was uneventful. You definitely will see us back again next year. We were hoping to do hawgin' on Lanier the week before the Cup but looks like they changed the date for next year.