VW Show, NE AR Volksfolks 3rd Annual

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3rd Annual NEAVF VW Show

- By Bill C.

Saturday, December 14, 2002 – Craighead Forest Park – A day when things started, “not so good” that ended with “it doesn’t get any better,” tagged as “Billz 2^nd Blessing.”

For whatever reason, I couldn’t put a caravan together for the trip to Jonesboro. My wife, Connie, was still suffering the lingering pains of back surgery, also spraining her bad knee on an uneven sidewalk in Eureka Springs when we broke down during the parade (bad fuel). Fate feeds on fate.

So, I prepared for a solitary voyage to the “land of VW shows.” After loading up, I quietly hooked up Lightning at dawn; kissed my sleeping wife goodbye; and headed west. Carrying my hot coffee in a spill-proof stainless steel mug, I didn’t have to worry about slopping it on my fresh shirt.

Ahhh… finally westbound on I-240 with the windows open, thinking it would be a great day for pictures… with my digital camera … which was sitting nice and safe … at HOME! Time for a U-turn and a 10-mile drive back. Connie never stirred. Willy was “On the road again.” What would a show story be without the “Misfortunes of Bill?”

“Hey, this coffee is good and hot. But that leak proof lid has expanded and is on the verge of leaking. Arrghh! Coffee now running down my chin, dripping in my lap, no more fresh shirt.

Other than a wrong turn down a narrow road with no turn-arounds, then an illegal u-turn in a T-intersection which only slightly bent my super-dooper tow bar rock shield. Oh well; I can re-engineer when I get home. The show is within view.

The show site is a beautiful spot right on the edge of a lake, with a large pavilion and separate parking area for non-show vehicles; yet nice and compact. There were burgers and dogs grilling on charcoal; donuts and coffee in the pavilion in case you missed breakfast, or even if you didn’t; and a good mix of background music.

NEAVF’s new trophies deserved a big WOW, this year. Don Smith put his artistic touch to glass and “bead blasted” beverage mugs into some real beauties. Different ribbons attached to the handles noted the year, category and place. For the Best Of Show, it was a gorgeous glass vase. This all made for a very sparkly display; and I was like a bug to a zapper.

Time to go to work. Months previous, I had agreed to help judge. So I hurried myself, between handshakes and greetings, with cleaning old Lightning behind his gears … I mean ... ears, before it was time to get out the scoring sheets.

For the record, I do not judge my own car and always try to not judge a competitor in my own class. “Krylon Don” filled in for those occasions when necessary.

There were lots of prize giveaways. Everybody won at least one door prize. Besides the 50-50, NEAVF even raffled off an official 3-way traffic light. I so wanted it for our front porch. But in the interest of my marriage, I didn’t win. I also gave freedom to a few bills on a microwave raffle and a turbo vacuum. In losing it all, I feel better knowing the proceeds went to good charities.

Being very thorough, it took the small judging teams about 3 hours to score all the VWs. I would have sworn the number of contestants was double that of the officially stated 39.

Any names you recognize?

1^st Place Results

Class 3 - Beetle Split & Oval – Stock: 1^st, Dave O., 1965 Bug	Class 4 - Beetle 1958-1967 – Custom: 1^st, Doug G., 1965 Bug
Class 7 - Beetle 1968 & after – Stock: 1^st, Bill Phemister, 1972 Super Btl	Class 8 - Beetle 1968 & after – Custom 1^st, Bill C., 1973 Super Beetle
Class 9 – Beetle Convertible ’68 & Later – Stock 1^st, Allen P.d, 1979	Class 10 – Beetle Convertible ’68 & Later – Custom 1^st, Betty G., 1971
Class 11 – Ghia All years – Stock 1^st, Larry J.	Class 15 – Thing All years – Stock 1^st, Jack & Lola W., 1974 Thing
Class 17 – Bus ’67 & earlier – Stock 1^st, Johnny S., 1966 Bus	Class 19 – Bus ’68 & later – Stock 1^st, Dan & Sandy B., 1978 Westfalia
Class 21 – Type 3 & 4 all years – Stock 1^st, Jeffery D., 1973 Square Back	Class 23 – Water Cooled all Types, Non-NB – Stock 1^st, Mary F., 1984 Rabbit
Class 26 – New Beetle ’98-’00 – Custom 1^st, Tina W., 1998 New Beetle	Class 27 – New Beetle ’01-04 – Stock 1^st, Helen S., 2001
Class 30 – Baja’s 1^st, Joe W., 1966 Bug Truck	Class 31 – Under Construction 1^st, Jeff & Ashley W., 1971 Super Beetle
Class 32 – Daily Driver 1^st, Mitch F., 1974 Super Beetle	Class 33 – Competition 1^st, Melvin F., 1961 Dragster

Specialty Trophies:

Presidents Choice – Doug G. (65 Bug)

Longest Distance – Joe W., Opelika, AL

Best Paint – Doug G. (65 Bug)

Best Display – Bill C. (73 Super)

Best Interior – Bill C.

Best Engine – Tony & Ceila G.

Best of Show – Bill C.

For photos

Lined up near the beautiful lake

Some of the great hand etched trophies with the Best of Show in the middle

Kids love Don's "Sponge Bob, Square Pants NuBee"

Best of Show

Class 8 - Beetle 1968 & after – Custom
1^st, Bill C., 1973 Super Beetle

Class 11 – Ghia All years – Stock
1^st, Larry J.

Class 15 – Thing All years – Stock
1^st, Jack & Lola W., 1974 Thing

Class 17 – Bus ’67 & earlier – Stock
1^st, Johnny S., 1966 Bus

Class 19 – Bus ’68 & later – Stock
1^st, Dan & Sandy B., 1978 Westfalia

Class 21 – Type 3 & 4 all years – Stock
1^st, Jeffery D., 1973 Square Back

Class 26 – New Beetle ’98-’00 – Custom
1^st, Tina W., 1998 New Beetle

Class 27 – New Beetle ’01-04 – Stock
1^st, Helen S., 2001

Class 30 – Baja’s
1^st, Joe W., 1966 Bug Truck

Class 31 – Under Construction
1^st, Jeff & Ashley W., 1971 Super Beetle

Class 32 – Daily Driver
1^st, Mitch F., 1974 Super Beetle

Class 33 – Competition
1^st, Melvin F., 1961 Dragster

Class 8 - Beetle 1968 & after – Custom 1st, Bill C., 1973 Super Beetle

Class 11 – Ghia All years – Stock 1st, Larry J.

Class 15 – Thing All years – Stock 1st, Jack & Lola W., 1974 Thing

Class 17 – Bus ’67 & earlier – Stock 1st, Johnny S., 1966 Bus

Class 19 – Bus ’68 & later – Stock 1st, Dan & Sandy B., 1978 Westfalia

Class 21 – Type 3 & 4 all years – Stock 1st, Jeffery D., 1973 Square Back

Class 26 – New Beetle ’98-’00 – Custom 1st, Tina W., 1998 New Beetle

Class 27 – New Beetle ’01-04 – Stock 1st, Helen S., 2001

Class 30 – Baja’s 1st, Joe W., 1966 Bug Truck

Class 31 – Under Construction 1st, Jeff & Ashley W., 1971 Super Beetle

Class 32 – Daily Driver 1st, Mitch F., 1974 Super Beetle

Class 33 – Competition 1st, Melvin F., 1961 Dragster