That led to the creation of the National Severe Storms Laboratory which after its first few years relocated to the heart of Tornado Alley, here in Norman. Other federal agencies involved in weather research and forecasting followed. Today some of the offices are housed in trailers. Keli Tarp is a meteorologist, [sic] called them tornado bait.

Stough explained that the tradition began with a conversation between two Spot regulars: Jerry Wood, a noted musician, and Wes Race, famed for his poetry and other counter-cultural efforts. Race confirmed the tale in a telephone interview.

"I was riding around the southwest side with Jerry and I mentioned that, for whatever reason, tornadoes always seem to hit mobile homes," Race said. "Jerry said 'Well, they're tornado bait.'"

The exchange not only inspired Race to pen a poem —"Mobile homes huddled on the outskirts of town / Their radios turned on wishing they were underground" — but also to suggest the first Tornado Bait Party. The party became an annual tradition that packed the tiny Spot with hundreds of revelers.

"This industry has always had a problem with image," laments Charlotte Gattis, executive director of the Georgia Manufactured Housing Association, who finally gave up calling radio disc jockeys to complain about their "tornado bait" jokes because it became an all-consuming task.