"I once fit 15 horses in a 10-horse trailer,"
said Michelle Chandler, 20, event organizer, analyzing her
diagram on Sunday. "I knew I can do this."
Event volunteer Tracy Thompson led
the team out, carving a path through the thick crowd, the
emcee announcing like they were headed to a boxing ring.
Basic rules: Those inside had to be at least
5 feet tall and 18 years old. Seats in place, doors closed,
windows rolled up for at least five seconds. For this feat,
short people ruled.
The car was on loan from Classic Camber
in Pinellas Park: a white 1971 Beetle with nubby black and
white cloth interior, one functioning seat belt, a chipped
steering wheel, retailing for $2,500. It could comfortably
fit four, maybe five.
“We’re very excited to have been accepted
by the Book of World Records while entertaining VW lovers,”
said Carol Jeffares Hedman, coordinator of the non-profit
Pasco
Bug Jam.
The Pasco
Bug Jam, hosted by the non-profit Pasco County Fair
Association Inc., is the largest Volkswagen show in the Southeast
and the second largest in the country, Hedman said.
Participants come from throughout the country,
and even foreign countries, to enter the show that last year
had more than 500 VWs entered.
The Bug Jam also includes hundreds
of new and used VW parts vendors, children’s games, food,
contests and entertainment.
All proceeds from the Bug Jam benefit
the hospital and other non-profit organizations. Since its
inception 21 years ago, the Bug Jam has donated nearly $150,000
to All Children’s Hospital.
