After a two-year hiatus, car show comes roaring back at Trident Technical College

A large tree provided shady relief Saturday for Stu Shortreed, seated in a portable chair near the rear bumper of his 1973 Dodge Charger. Shortreed, a self-confessed Chrysler man all the way, joined dozens of other enthusiasts at the return of the Spring Spin Off.

"This is one of the best area shows we have, has been for years," he said.

In its 17th year, the Spin Off was an early season fixture in the Greater Charleston auto circles, providing a variety of models, tight organization and an inviting locale at Trident Technical College's main campus. Then a confluence of events — a few years of bad weather and school construction among them — conspired to cancel the fest in 2006, and then again last year.

Also, the Spring Off's driving force has been W.E. "Pete" Dambaugh Jr., chief of the Automotive Technology Department at Trident Technical College, who can be forgiven for being preoccupied. His wife, Lila, died Feb. 23 after a long illness. Bill Scull, for one, can understand what he's been going through. He said, "I'm a friend of Pete," and also knew Lila. "Six or seven couples, every Thursday night we would get together," Scull said.

Dambaugh, a few minutes before awarding trophies, said, "It was a fantastic show. We appreciate everybody's support."

At least 180 cars, trucks and cycles were on display, and organizers cut off registration because there was no more space. Dambaugh pledged the show would resume its yearly status next year, and he believes moving to an expanded locale on campus next year would enable the event to draw 200 vehicles in 2009.

The show's predominant entries were classic cars from the 1950s, '60s and '70s.

Scull of Summerville showed a green 1970 Corvette Stingray. "I wanted a 'bumper' car," he said, referring to the chrome bumpers front and back.

Mixed in with the Volkswagens and Miatas, vintage Buicks and Mercurys, Mustangs, 'Vettes, Corvairs and Camaros, were a few oddities. Clint Sires brought a 1996 Toyota Tacoma jacked up more than 2 feet. "You ride eye level with 18 wheelers," he said.

Ronald Powers displayed a 1948 Whizzer motorized bike. Schwinn built the body, and Whizzer, a Pontiac, Mich.-based company, manufactured a 1-cylinder 1 horsepower engine as a $25 attachment. Powers said the cycle, which is started by pedaling and then releasing a compression handle, can travel up to 35 miles per hour.

"This is the moped forerunner," he said.

The event had a few special displays, including foot-or-so long valve covers crafted into mini cars and raced down a wooden track, a first-time showing of Lego-built toy cars and trucks and a table full of plastic vehicles built by the South Carolina Modelers Association's Charleston chapter.

"We have about 70 on display," said association member Gary McCullough, of Goose Creek. "We try to get kids involved (in model building)," he said. "This is how we can contribute to car shows."

Reach Jim Parker at 937-5542.