The ATM: Ames Tailgate Machine

Check out the The ATM: Ames Tailgate Machine owned by Aaron Nelson. Here's his story:

I started to attend Iowa State Cyclones games in Ames, Iowa starting in 2007.  The first year was just going up with some buddies just to sit in the parking lot and tailgate.  In 2008, I attended my first ISU game and I was hooked after that.  In 2009, I became a season ticket holder and went to every game.  Everything was great until one game day, after an ISU win against Baylor, someone borrowed with the intent of not returning our cooler that was in the back of my buddy’s truck.  On the way home, I decided that I would look to find vehicle that would stop this from happening.  I looked at buses, RV’s, and box trucks that would be able to be locked with all of our gear inside.  Then I saw someone driving around with a used ambulance and that is when I knew I found what I was looking for.  After a few years of saving (and a lot of jokes from my buddies saying that I was never going to pull the trigger on buying an ambulance), I finally had enough to pursue my idea. 

After doing some searching over 9 Mid-West states, I was able to find this gem sitting in Tripp, SD.   On February 29th, 2013, the Ames Tailgate Machine (or ATM for short) was purchased and it has been fun ever since.  The ATM is a 1992 E350 Ambulance that was still in service the day that I purchased it. Once purchased, there were a few mechanical updates that had to be made. For the 2012 season, I added ISU stickers from Skin-It to get me through the year as I also had a purchase the necessary equipment to make any tailgate fun.  It is now equipped with a 32” LED TV, mobile satellite, four 7” marine speakers mounted to the back doors (thanks to Ford and Garland in Des Moines), stereo receiver, two 25 ft tall flag poles, portable grill, 10x10 ft tent, Coors Light LED sign, and the best part, a stretcher with an IV pole to hang the Cy-V from (this is a bad full of adult beverage goodness that I call Cy-Juice).  I also have a rotating food menu so that we are not eating the same thing twice in a given football year.  The favorite food day so far is when we make the ATM sandwich.  The ATM sandwich is a fried tenderloin, topped with smoked pork, topped with smoked ham, queso cheese, and BBQ sauce with a side of bacon wrapped tator-tots. 

2012 was a great first season for the ATM but the 2013 with be even better.  Over the summer, I had purchased an ISU designed wrap to cover up the old blue and gray stripes from its past with cardinal and gold colors.  I have replaced the cheaper Skin-It stickers with the new vinyl wrap. I have installed astro-turf carpet in the back of the ambulance.  I have a few other ideas in mind (new interior, bigger tv, etcc.) but those will have to be looked at next off season.  On any given game day, there will be anywhere from 3 to 30 people attending a tailgate so if you are in Ames on game day, stop by and visit us in the Vet Med parking lot and you might just get a custom ATM koozie.  You can also like the Ames Tailgate Machine on facebook (https://www.facebook.com/AmesTailgateMachine) to view past tailgating photos and know more about future events. 

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