• Photo

Robert Cahill/Car Nuts Car Club member Jim Stamper from the Cleghorn Valley community will be on hand with his 1964 Plymouth Fury Convertible for the club’s seventh annual car show at the Chilhowie Recreation Park on Saturday, July 5.

Sphere IT

Save This Page

Reader Reaction

digg it

A show by and for ‘Car Nuts’

By ROBERT CAHILL/Correspondent

On Saturday, July 5, area residents can expect to hear engines roar, see paint-jobs shining and chrome gleaming as the Car Nuts Car Club rolls into town with its seventh annual car show. The event will take place in Chilhowie at the Chilhowie Recreation Park just off Exit 35 of Interstate 81.
Cars of every type from antique to modern and original to street-rods will be on hand. According to club member Jim Stamper of Smyth County’s Cleghorn Valley community, the club expects more than 100 entrants, possibly quite a few more. “We have had entries come from eastern Virginia, Maryland, Tennessee and North Carolina,” Stamper said. “We usually get a pretty good crowd. Registration starts at 8 a.m. and runs until noon. The entry fee is $20 the day of the show or $15 to pre-register. Other than that it’s a free show, we don’t charge any admittance fee to come and look. They start handing out awards at 3 p.m.”
“We have a lot of things going on that day. You can get some good food at the Car Nuts Café. We have kids’ games and activities all day. We also have free Swap Meet spaces (must be auto-related articles) if you have parts or need parts and things,” Stamper said. “We also have a free Car Corral if you have a car you’d like to sell (a two-car limit) and then there lots of door prizes being given away.” The Grand Door Prize goes to one show entrant and is a Craftsman Roll-Around Tool Box.
This year major sponsors for the show include Direct Dodge of Bristol (Bill Greever of Chilhowie owner), The Bank of Marion, McDonalds of Chilhowie, KVAT (Food City), Turkey Pen Auto, A-1 Auto of Greenville, Tenn., Innovative Computer Technologies, Sun Trust, Lifeline Medical, Marion Automotive, The Apple Festival and Slemp-Brant Insurance.
“The majority of the money we raise goes to local charities, Stamper said. “In the past we have given money to four local food-banks, to Habitat for Humanity, Santa’s Elves, the March of Dimes and a lot more.”
Think you might be interested in joining the Car Nuts? According to Stamper, they will be glad to have you.
“You don’t have to have an old car you’re restoring or anything. All you have to do is be interested in cars. We would be happy to have you as a member. A fellow asked me the other day what you had to do to join and I told him to just give me $20,” Stamper laughed. “Actually you can talk to any member, give them your basic information and such and our dues are $20 a year. Besides the charity work, we try to take three or four cruises a year with as many members as can go along.”
In addition to the show on July 5, a dance will take place in the park on Friday night, July 4, starting at 7 p.m. The local band Travelers Revision will be playing.
Interested in entering a car or becoming a club member or both? Contact any member or call Mike at 276-646-3752 or Will at 276-646-8621.