Campground Baptist Church builds custom hot rod

Members of one local church have been working nonstop to create a unique vehicle for a new car show next weekend.

It’s almost time to start your engines. Campground Baptist Church is gearing up for its inaugural ‘Rumble at the Camp’ Car Show next Saturday. Members have been busy finishing up a one of a kind ride to giveaway to one lucky attendee. Church member Ron Corder said, “I got the idea that, well, maybe if we gave away a car we’d attract a lot more people, might make a bigger show, a better show, a more far reaching show.”

The church was given a 1923 T-Bucket hot rod to restore, but after further inspection of the frame and other components of the car, the decision was made to build from scratch. Jason Rutledge said, “We had a bend in the frame rail, rust was a little bad in some areas and a little beyond just, you know, stripping it down, painting it up and refreshing it.”

Those involved in the restoration have relied on donations from other members and businesses for vehicle parts, including the engine.

However, the car’s frame was made in-house by the assembly team and allows the car to ride lower than a typical T-Bucket. “We wanted to get this car down a little bit lower, and so we achieved that by building our custom frame and a five-inch drop axle and a custom rear suspension.”

Besides the nuts and bolts of building and assembling the car, Ron Corder says the build has been a way for church members young and old to learn and spend quality time together. “A lot of people’s lives have been impacted. Not only the men, but also some young people, we’ve encouraged wives to send their husbands and husbands to bring their sons to shop night. So with that there’s been several families that have had father and son experiences here at ‘Rumble at the Camp’ Shop Night.”

Those connections have left a lasting impact on many, including Jason Rutledge. “Through this personally, I’ve had a chance to meet another member that we ended up having so much in common. It was great to come together and do this together.”

There will be multiple ways to have a chance at winning the car, including registering antique vehicles for ‘Rumble at the Camp’ and participating in the scavenger run.