They've got a long way to go and a short time to get there

By Elizabeth Melville - The Times-Herald

A group of bootleggers is attempting to transport a truckload of beer from Texarkana to Atlanta in one day's time without interference from the law.

Sound familiar?

The scenario was the premise for "Smokey and The Bandit," and although the movie was a work of fiction, a group of fans -- including Coweta's Tyler Hambrick -- is attempting to make the plot a reality -- minus the bootlegging -- for the Speed Channel's "American Trucker" television show.

Hambrick built a replica of the full-sized truck trailer from the movie that is complete with a vinyl wrap of the corner-to-corner paint job depicting a wild west stagecoach robbery. The truck embarked for Texas from Atlanta Friday morning as a part of filming for the documentary, as "American Trucker's" Vice President of Production Dennis Zerull calls it.

"We're going to make the run to see if it can be done," said Zerull.

In the movie, Burt Reynolds' character drove his Trans-Am as a "blocker" car for the rig carrying the beer. Friday morning, Hambrick's rig left Coweta County escorted by a Year One "Bandit" Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am.

There were cameras installed in the rig and the car to capture every minute of the excitement -- and a camera crew accompanied the convoy in an SUV to capture external shots of the journey.

The rig is being driven by Wayne Alderson of Kansas City, Mo. Alderson is a friend of Hambrick's and fellow "Bandit" enthusiast. The two met on a "Bandit Run." The first run was organized in 2007 -- with Hambrick's help -- and the event featured 50 or 60 hard-core fans driving vintage Trans-Ams from Texarkana to Atlanta to recreate the movie's plot line -- at a more leisurely pace -- and making stops along the way to show off their cars and visit with other fans.

Alderson has driven Hambrick's rig on a number of occasions and counts himself "the luckiest guy in the world" to be a part of "Bandit" history for the Speed Channel.

Alderson will be accompanied by the host of "American Trucker," Robb Mariani, who will be riding shotgun. The two have calculated the speed they must maintain in order to meet their deadline -- a speed they won't disclose -- and they hope they don't land themselves in jail.

"We have a long way to go and a short time to get there," said Mariani, as the theme from the movie goes.

Participation in the show and this attempt at "Bandit" history was the next logical step for Hambrick.

The first time he saw "Smokey and The Bandit," he was hooked.

"It grabbed me -- I loved it," said Hambrick, who was wooed by the "fast cars."

His love for the movie prompted him to begin making and selling models of the "Bandit" Trans-Am.

The Bandit Runs were started in 2007. He then began making and selling models of the Snowman's truck complete with the wild west mural. He's always been surprised by the number of "Bandit" fans around the country and the amount of interest people have in his work.

Hambrick, a big supporter of the Wounded Warrior Project, which helps injured veterans readjust to life as civilians, agreed to let the television show use his rig for this stunt if they'd pay all the expenses of the trip and make a donation to Wounded Warrior. Hambrick said they agreed and made a very generous donation.

Last year in Nashville, Hambrick had the privilege of meeting privately with family members of the late actor and country musician Jerry Reed, who was also a big supporter of veterans projects. Reed played truck driver Cledus "Snowman" Snow in the film and its two sequels. Hambrick met with Reed's widow, Priscilla -- or "Prissy" -- and his daughter, Lottie, at the event.

The truck's doors feature graphics honoring Reed's career in film and music, where he delivered such hit songs as "Amos Moses," "When You're Hot, You're Hot," "East Bound and Down" and "The Bird."

Prissy "fell to her knees crying" when she saw the memorial because she was moved that "someone was keeping his memory alive" following his death in September 2008, according to Hambrick.

"That was something I'll never forget," said Hambrick.

The family stayed with the rig for many hours before they left. The rig now has signatures from Burt Reynolds and Reed's family.

Hambrick said he's personally spoken with Reed's daughter this week, who was "appreciative" of what Hambrick and "American Trucker" are attempting. According to Hambrick, she plans to call the show's host and personally thank him.

To find out whether Alderson and Mariani made it to Texas and back in their race against the clock, watch the "Bandit" episode of "American Trucker," which is expected to air on the Speed Channel in February. Check your local listings for more information.