Hundreds of car enthusiasts flocked to Camp Jordan Arena, Saturday, for the 1st Annual “Cars for Kids” car show held by the East Ridge Optimist Club.
John Tilley, Vice President of the East Ridge Optimists, said more than 100 owners registered their cars for this first-of-its-kind effort by the three-year-old organization.
“I think Curts (Baker) and James (Citty) came up with the initial idea to have a car show to raise money,” Tilley said. “The proceeds will go to support our efforts to help the community and in particular children in the community.”
Optimist Club officials said their organization has helped children this year by putting on its “Fishing Rodeo” at Dickert’s Pond, providing scholarships for deaf children and providing funding for uniforms and equipment to kids whose families can’t afford to put them in recreational football leagues.
Prizes, in the form of a “People’s Choice Award,” were given to the following: Jay Cotton, Best in Show; John W. Fields, second; Keith Dempsey, third. Dairl Stuphin won for the best motorcycle. Roy “Boy” Eldridge won the top spot in the Rat Rod Division. Jimmy Davis won for the best Drag Car and Orange Grove took home a prize for its Kaleidoscope Van.
People milled around the arena taking in vintage cars that have been restored, and the classic lines of more contemporary automobiles, in particular Corvettes.
Gary Martin with the River City Corvette Club said more than 25 of his members brought cars to the event. His organization is planning a car show in the Arena for Aug. 1.
Mike Scott brought up a ’54 Plymouth from Chatsworth, Ga., that he acquired a couple months ago. He got the car from someone in Sweetwater, Tenn., he said. He brought the car up from Chatsworth on a trailer, but he said the old flat-head 6-cylinder runs good.
“It was an old police car, we believe maybe was once used by the Georgia State Patrol,” Scott said. “As you can see, there are no inside door handles in the back.”
Scott found some old shackles at this year’s Bug-a-Palooza show that he has attached to the back seat floor board. Up front he’s go a vintage radio similar to one’s used by law enforcement back in the day. In the trunk is a crate with some Mason Jars in it, similar to ones bootleggers filled up with moonshine distilled out in the woods away from the prying eyes of “revenuers.”
