Classic Thunder rolls out of Riverside

By Mary Zielinski
Based at the eastern edge of Riverside is an “elite fleet” that is the ultimate in luxury transportation.
Owned and operated by Bruce Tracy, Classic Thunder Limousine Company offers everything from executive buses and stretch limousines to a rocking chair fitted Clampett car. Of the latter, which derives its name from the famous vehicle of the Beverly Hillbillies, Tracy said, “When I first saw it, I knew I had to have it.”

We believe that every client should be made a promise and then provided the dream

An open air novelty, the Clampett car is part of a lineup that includes two rare red stretch limousines, one of exactly five in the entire country, the Midwest’s largest 28 and 30 passenger SUV limousines, party buses, coaches and H2 Hummers. But what really makes the difference for the ten-year old company is its emphasis on customer satisfaction.
“We believe that every client should be made a promise and then provided the dream,” says Tracy.
That translates into providing appropriate transportation and professional, courteous and discreet service which applies to the largest wedding or executive party to the smallest anniversary event.
Making dreams come true, even for just a night, is something Tracy, raised on a farm in Aledo, Illinois, learned first hand after his family “lost everything” in the 1983 farm crisis. And he means everything, for Tracey found himself at age 23 virtually homeless, “broke and cold.” As he put it, though, he and the family “Knew how to work,” and bit by bit “I bought it all back, the land, the house.”
Then ten years ago, he started Classic Thunder Limousines, based in Alexis, Illinois, aimed at serving the eastern half of Iowa and the northern half of Illinois and beyond. The beyond includes Iowa all the way down to Keokuk and up to the Minnesota border.
Slightly more than a year ago, he decided to expand into Riverside, judging that with the Riverside Casino and Golf Resort, as well as the nearness of Iowa City, there would be a demand for luxury transportation services. After all, he provided transportation for Jay Leno, the Casino’s first opening act. But Leno did not want a limousine, just a Lincoln, “And he’s the kind of guy that rides up front with you, not in the back.”
Tracy spent the last year extensively remodeling, repairing and refurbishing the former Hahn buildings (Riverside Pallets) and last week Classic Thunder officially opened for business, well in time to roll put for Trek Fest XXV. Classic Thunder will be the “transporter” for the special guests: Chekov (Walter Koenig), Uhuruh (Nicelle Nicols) and Sulu (George Taeki), among others.
Even more, Tracy will provide the limousines for the guests for the sneak preview of the new Star Trek movie in Iowa City May 6. The invitation only event was arranged by Paramount Studios in cooperation with the Riverside Area Community Club (RACC).
Another factor in having a Riverside location is that Scott Riggan, a Riverside resident, has been a limousine driver for Classic Thunder for three years. Riggan, who has ten years experience with the luxury cars, “is a real asset for our company,” said Tracy. Riggan was the driver of the classy red limousine that brought Santa Claus to the Riverside Elementary School in December.
Tracy noted that the Riverside location “has offices, a receptionist area and conference rooms for group planning meetings. It also has a large storage area and a shop,” and lots of parking space.
“We also can provide specialty vehicles (other than the Clampett car), party buses, executive limo buses, even motorcycles.”
He added, “We can stretch your imagination to the limits.”
The other employee at the Riverside site is Nick Marty who Tracy called a “computer genius” that handles the company’s website, among other things.
At present, Classic Thunder has six drivers who handle transportation for everything from weddings (a big part of the business) to music events, proms and college graduations.
The Riverside site is 3095 Industrial Park (just off Highway 22) and the Illinois one is 2196 30th Avenue, Alexis, Illinois. Telephone is 877-582-5625 and he website is classicthunderlimos.com