This ’64 Ford Falcon, owned by Wayne McCool, will be among the more than 100 cars on display at the Tennessee Trash Car Show October 4, in Brownsville, Tenn. This year will mark the shows 30^th Anniversary. Pictured alongside the Falcon are organizers (from left) Larry Douglas, McCool, Tim Sills and David Duke.

NOTE: Due to rain, the 30th Annual Tennessee Trash Car Show has been rescheduled for Sunday, October 18

Car Show Celebrates 30 Years of Helping Local Charities

The Tennessee Trash Car Show in Brownsville, Tenn., will celebrate its 30^th anniversary Sunday, October 4. The show is one of only a handful in the area that has been held consistently for this period of time.

“We’ve been very blessed,” says Tim Sills, a charter member of the club and one of this year’s organizers. “We’ve had some of the same people show each year since day one.”

The club began in 1978 when Sills, David Duke and Jim Mayer began fixing up old cars and traveling to areas show, some as far away as Indianapolis. Eventually these three decided they should organize their own and the first Tennessee Trash Car Show was held in 1979.

They began calling themselves “Tennessee Trash” during those early days of competing. Duke explains that the title is “taken from the old Tennessee Dept. of Tourism song about keeping Tennessee beautiful.”

“We’re no longer a club,” explains Sills, “we’re more like a family.” And for Sills that statement holds special meaning since his son, Joe, has joined the ranks of car enthusiast and now helps organize the event each year.

The actual ‘club’ title may no longer exist, but former members, and a few newcomers, continue the annual tradition that raises money for Haywood County charities. The Multiple Disability Class has been the beneficiary of the show’s proceeds for most of the 30 years.

“This is something we love and it’s a way for us to give back to our community,” says Sills. According to Sills, this event has contributed well over $100,000 to local charities.

Wayne McCool is another local car enthusiast who began competing at the Tennessee Trash show around 1994. He no longer shows at the event since becoming one of the organizers 7 years ago. McCool does however brings one or two cars “just to display,” and continues to compete in other shows in the area. “I go somewhere nearly every weekend,” says McCool.

After 30 years the group has no plans for slowing down. On the contrary, talks are already underway to host three or four cruise-ins next year before the big show.

Sills and McCool both emphasis the importance the community plays in the continued success of the show. “It takes a lot of help, from lots of people,” says McCool.

On Sunday, October 4, the 30^th Annual Tennessee Trash Show will take place at the WOW/Elma Ross Public Library parking lot on the corner of East Main Street and Boyd Ave., in Brownsville. Participants are asked to register between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. Entry fees are $25 per car. Judging will begin at 12:30 p.m., and winners will be announced during an awards ceremony at 2 p.m. There will be classes for all entries.

With 100+ cars participating, Sills estimates that crowds reach well into the thousands during the daylong event. For more information, contact Tim Sills, 731-780-6061; Wayne McCool, 731-772-9276; or Joe Sills, 731-780-1356.