The California Rental Association’s third annual “Rental Rally” was held in San Diego recently and exhibitors reported solid buying activity. With attendance slightly above the previous two rallies and the rental economy on the upswing, rental company owners surveyed on the show floor by RER reported an increased interest in buying this year over previous years.

The rally was held at the Town & Country Resort and Convention Center in San Diego, Calif., site of the first Rental Rally in 2002. Last year’s rally was held at the Las Vegas Convention Center and CRA executive director Chuck Maltese told RER the CRA board was still in the process of determining whether to hold next year’s rally in San Diego or Las Vegas.

CRA presented its James Gartland Award – named for the late founder of RER Magazine – to Russ Meek of Whittier, Calif.-based Economy Rentals. Meek, a three-time CRA president has been active on the CRA board and has contributed to a number of CRA committees. RER editor Michael Roth presented the award. CRA also presented its Bud Loeber Friendship Award, named after CRA’s former field coordinator, to manufacturers rep Doug Strom of Strom Equipment Sales, La Mirada, Calif.