Rednecks rumble at car show

A new kind of car show made its debut in Wilson County Saturday at the James E. Ward Agriculture Center as the first ever "Redneck Rumble" came to Lebanon.
The show got its name from the type of cars and motorcycles that are exhibited as well as the noise often involved with these vehicles.
"A lot of the cars are what most people would call 'finished' and they get comments like 'how redneck does that look,'" Rumble organizer Tom Williams said. "And the rumble is for the exhaust."
Williams noted that this was just one of the differences that sets the rumble apart from other car shows. This contest does not divide its contestants into classes as is typical with most shows.
"That makes us different," he said. "And most of our entries are driven."
Flyers were sent out to various locals in the hopes of getting the word out in regards to the show. This approach seemed to work well as there were over 100 entrants that made their way to Lebanon from around the state.
"I saw a flyer about it and I decided to come down," Jerry Demps of Sparta said. Demps brought in his custom built 1923 Ford hot rod to enter into the show.
"I built it myself from the ground up," he said. "It took me two years to build because I had it completed, but I didn't like it so I took the whole thing apart and started over again."
The show is also unique because it is one in which both cars and motorcycles are shown together. There are also restrictions on the model year of the vehicles allowed to show.
"All of the cars are from pre-1964," Williams said.
The show included a wide variety of motorcycles as well. They included choppers, Harleys and some British style bikes. Many of the bikes were hand built by the owners, Williams added.
The top 12 vehicles in the show were given awards and two special awards of $200 were selected by Ol' Skool Rodz magazine and CK Deluxe magazine.
"The top 12 are called the 'Dirty Dozen,'" Williams said.
Sen. Mae Beavers was also recognized at the show with an award given by the event organizers.
"Sen. Beavers is receiving an award for being a champion of liberty and motorcycle rights," Williams added. She was escorted into the event in a sidecar on a motorcycle.
For its first time, Williams noted the event went well.
"We had close to 800 people in attendance," he said. The success means that he hopes to continue the event annually.
Staff Writer Kimberly Jordan can be reached at 444-3952 ext. 16 or by e-mail at kimberly.jordan@lebanondemocrat.com.