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Pasco's Bug Jam will try to set Guiness record Sunday

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By GEOFF FOX | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 6, 2009

DADE CITY - Thousands of Volkswagen lovers will convene for the 21st annual Bug Jam on Sunday at the Pasco County Fairgrounds.

While the popular event will feature the usual array of Volkswagen Bugs and memorabilia, it is also the site where VW lovers will attempt to break the world record for cramming people into a vintage Volkswagen Beetle.

"I contacted the Guinness Book of World Records, and they accepted us as an official" contestant for the world record, said Carol Jeffares Hedman, a Bug Jam organizer who is also a correspondent for The Tampa Tribune.

The world record of 15 people squeezed into a Bug was set last year in Brazil. Brian Corley, Pasco County's elections supervisor, will oversee the record attempt, which must be timed by two people and videotaped.

"The windows have to be up, the doors closed and no [body parts] sticking out," Hedman said.

The world record attempt will be made in a 1971 Volkswagen Beetle donated for the event by Classic Camber, a car-restoration company in Tampa.

Breaking the record won't be easy.

"You have to be 5 feet or taller and at least 18 years old," Hedman said. "We'll sign up as many people as we can, then kind of weed them out."

However, "We could take all day and grease them up if we wanted to," she said with a laugh.

Besides the Guinness attempt, the Bug jam will feature a 1960s tribute band from Sarasota called Yesterdaze, which will play three shows, food, and children's games, as well as used and new parts vendors.

Through the years, the Bug Jam has raised about $140,000 for All Children's Hospital.

Bruce Wolzanski, owner of McNab Auto Parts in Fort Lauderdale, said he attends the Bug Jam every year, except when his daughter got married a couple of years ago.

He said people can expect an elaborate celebration of all things Volkswagen, from parts vendors like himself to all manner of VWs, some even modified into boats with wheels.

"They have a little bit of everything," he said. "There's an auction and all kinds of stuff for the kids.

They'll have a bounce house. One year, they even let the kids take a sledgehammer and beat the hell out of an old Beetle.

"It's quite an event. You'll be amazed at what you see there."

IF YOU GO
WHAT: The 22nd annual Bug Jam, an extravaganza for lovers of Volkswagen Bugs
WHERE: Pasco County Fairgrounds, 36722 State Road 52, Dade City
WHEN: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday
COST: Admission is $5 for adults plus a can of food that will be donated to a local food bank. Children 10 and under will be admitted with a can of food.
INFORMATION: For information about the event, call (352) 567-6678, e-mail bugjam@pascocountyfair.com or visit www.pascobugjam.com.

Reporter Geoff Fox can be reached at (813) 731-1239.

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