‘American Pickers’ is returning to Florida. This Bradenton resident has been featured on the show

Travis Palmer quickly dispelled online rumors that the History Channel’s “American Pickers” is scripted in any way, shape or form.

“Nothing was scripted,” the Bradenton resident said. “They said they’d be back in 10 minutes and we’ll just go and that’s what they did. Everything they did and all the offers made were while the cameras were rolling.”

Palmer spent the bulk of his life as a roadie, touring with the likes of Johnny Cash, George Jones, B.B. King and even magician David Copperfield. He’s collected a wealth of memorabilia over his years.

To Palmer, the wealth is not in dollars, but in memories.

The one exception when cameras stopped rolling was when Palmer offered one of his custom-made Bowie-style knives for $150. “American Pickers” co-star Mike Wolfe said to stop the cameras and told Palmer he’d easily pay $600. Palmer is seen throughout the episode, which originally aired in 2015, offering low prices for his goods and then Wolfe offering him more.

Typically, the show struggles to get collectors to sell their belongings, but there’s a reason why Palmer was ready to let it go.

“My mother and father had just died and my wife was going through liver disease,” Palmer said, his seemingly constant smile fading for the first time. “She was in the other room while they were filming, too sick to get out of bed and it’s the only room they didn’t go into. Basically all your stuff don’t mean crap no more.

“Happiness is the ones you care about. All of a sudden your world changes and money don’t mean nothing.”

Palmer’s smile returned as he conjured up a quick one-liner, “Maybe I should do a book on the lifestyles of the famous and poor.”

Their daughter lives in Bradenton and Palmer promised his wife that if she got through the liver disease battle, he would move her from Louisiana, where the episode aired, to Bradenton.

“I got a picture of her on the beach with her arms spread wide open and that was the most beautiful thing in the world,” Palmer said. “That alone was worth getting rid of everything. Earthly things are not as important as your loved ones.”

Palmer gave away a lot of his things before they moved and brought only what would fit into a small trailer. His wife continues to battle liver disease and again, Palmer lost his smile, saying, “She has some rough days. It comes and goes.”

It was a rough transition to Florida, but it didn’t take long for Palmer to find the Thunder Road Classics car club and Brian Jorgenson, the club’s president. Palmer is now the vice president and the pair knew upon meeting they were kindred spirits.

“And as it turned out we found out we’re related,” Jorgenson said.

Even if they weren’t related, they’d still be family, they were quick to point out. The “American Pickers” stars are true freelance road warriors when it comes to picking, but it is co-star Danielle Colby who has a knack for finding people such as Palmer.

“It was Danielle that contacted me and how she found out about me, I don’t have a clue,” Palmer said. “I hung up on her the first time. She said it was Danielle from ‘American Pickers’ and I said, ‘Yeah, right,’ and hung up. I thought it was a bill collector, but she called me right back and said, ‘No, I’m serious.’ ”

“American Pickers” officials are known to find some unique, bigger-than-life personalities. Palmer is no exception in recalling what it was like to meet them.

“I’m sure they were glad to meet me,” Palmer said. “They were super cool and down to earth. It was a neat experience.”

Palmer considers himself a lucky man for finding Thunder Road, where “Everyone is welcome, leave politics at the door and come on in and talk about old cars and make fun of each other,” he said. “Laughter and prayer. There is no better cure for any problem.”

The club does a variety of charitable events and sometimes its members goof around and do videos on Facebook. Palmer said they received a surprise visit from someone from the U.S. Marine Corps training center at Camp LeJeune in North Carolina.

“He told us at the end of the day after going through hell, the marines would watch our crazy videos and laugh their (butts) off,” he said. “That made us feel good, doing something good and it was cooler than heck that he came down here to thank us. ‘Bout cried like a baby when he said we made their day after going through hell all day.”

The stories don’t end for someone like Palmer, who understands that it’s about the journey and not the destination.

“The destination is up to God and sometimes he’s kind of funny,” Palmer said. “But now I got a little granddaughter that made my world. I’m so wrapped around her finger she doesn’t even know it yet at 9 months. We sit and make crazy faces and her mom gets so mad at me because I’m teaching her everything you shouldn’t teach a kid. But that’s just what grandpa’s do.”

Palmer displays some of his collectibles at Thunder Road. He said he likes it, but that his buddy Jorgenson steals some of it.

“He stole one of my old bikes,” Palmer said,” to which Jorgenson replied, “You can ride it anytime, but don’t forget to put air in the tires.”

A life well lived and still worth living. Palmer and Jorgenson said everyone is welcome to share a little piece of it with a visit to Thunder Road Classics, 2311 Suite A, Whitfield Industrial Way.

Visit thunderroadclassics.com or call Palmer about his custom-made knives and other items at 318-602-9907.

“American Pickers” is returning to Florida this winter and is looking for the best picking locations in the state, according to a release from the show’s producer.

If you have a collection that contains unique and interesting items, call 855-653-7878 or email AmericanPickers@cineflix.com.

This story was originally published January 23, 2018 at 4:09 PM with the headline "‘American Pickers’ is returning to Florida. This Bradenton resident has been featured on the show."