Bug-A-Paluza time
VW owners show their love for the Bug this weekend
Woodstock hippies, British military officers, the German working class, Lindsay Lohan and vintage car fans have all been enchanted by the VW Beetle.
Chattanooga’s Zen Hendricks once owned 20 Beetles, all tucked into his sprawling backyard in various stages of restoration. Unfortunately, he was driving a Chevy truck when he broke down on the interstate near Macon, Ga. No one stopped to help him for eight hours until his wife drove out to rescue him with spare parts.
“When I break down in a VW Bug, at least 20 people stop to help, and they all have tales to tell about how much they love the Bug,” Hendricks says. “A guy who owns a Bug stopped, and when he found out I needed to replace the fan belt, offered to give me one he had in his trunk. A Bug is not a normal car. It’s easy to love, easy to work on.”
Hendricks will be among the 350 or so VW enthusiasts showing their love for the Bug at this weekend’s Bug-A- Paluza. Owners can compete in one of 40 classes covering air- and water-cooled, vintage and modern VWs. Hendrick says 200 VW owners had registered by the first of the week to display their cars, and he was expecting another 150.
The California pin stripers of Von Hot Rod, world famous for their ability to hand-draw intricate beautiful designs on any part of the car, will be there to decorate “anything from hot rods to high heels,” Hendricks says. “If you want something quick and easy, most people ask them to do a design on a smartphone cover.”
There will be games for kids, giveaways, refreshments and a swap meet. Camping is available in the RV lot with water and electrical hookups for $ 5 for the entire weekend.
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Chattanooga will get all the money raised by ticket sales.
The last fleet of VW Beetles was produced in 2003 in Mexico. But there are plenty of collectors interested in buying the Bugs that exist.
“It’s a car that just looks so different, it naturally makes people smile,” Hendricks says. “When you drive one, every single person who drives by you waves at you.”