Times staff
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Ian Sitko, left, Bob Chew and 15 others broke a world record when they crammed into this Volkswagen at last year’s Jam.
DADE CITY — At last year's Pasco Bug Jam, 17 people twisted and turned and squeezed into a small 1971 Volkswagen Bug to break the Guinness World Record for the most people crammed into an old-style VW Beetle.
How do you top that?
Organizers of this year's gathering of Volkswagen devotees, slated for Nov. 14 at the Pasco County Fairgrounds, have two records in sight.
They want to break the record for the number of Volkswagens at a show (existing record is 527 VWs from a 2008 gathering). And they want to see how many people they can fit in a classic VW bus.
Guinness doesn't have a VW bus record, said Carol Jeffares Hedman, coordinator of the nonprofit Pasco Bug Jam.
"So we're going to set one," she said. "It'll be fun."
Registration is under way for the 22nd annual Pasco Bug Jam. This year's theme: "Let the Games Begin."
The event will include music, food, a silent auction to benefit All Children's Hospital, and more than 150 used and new parts vendors, along with VW toys and collectibles.
There are 59 classes for pre-registered entries. Pre-registration for show entries is $25 and includes gate admission for two, a show shirt, dash plaque and goody bag. The deadline to pre-register is Oct. 29. Pre-registration can be made and paid for online at pascobugjam.com.
If space is available, day-of-show entries will be accepted for $25 cash, but that won't include show shirts or goody bags.
This year's Bug Jam will be dedicated to the late Dave Clark, founder of Sundance Bug and Buggy in Plant City. Clark, a longtime Bug Jam sponsor, VW lover and friend of many, died in December. A memorial run will be held Nov. 13, concluding at a pre-Jam party at Beef 'O' Brady's in downtown Dade City.
More than 7,000 people attended last year's Bug Jam, held annually on the second Sunday of November on the 40-acre Pasco County Fairgrounds.
Spectator admission is $5 for adults, plus a can of food. Children ages 10 and younger are admitted for a can of food. Parking is $2.
Spectator gates are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
All proceeds go to charities, including Suncoast Harvest Food Bank, which provides food to agencies helping needy people in Pasco and surrounding counties. In the past 20 years, the Bug Jam has collected more than 2½ tons of food for the food bank and raised nearly $200,000 for All Children's Hospital.