WELL-LOVED VEHICLES IN THE SPOTLIGHT AT CAR SHOW IN PARK

Anyone wanting to comb their hair in Capaha Park Sunday afternoon didn't need a mirror. More than 150 highly polished cars sat in the park reflecting images as well as any looking glasses.

Hoods, trunk lids, fenders and chrome gleamed in the sunlight as hundreds of people admired not just the polish but the craftsmanship and the love that those who entered the annual River City Rodders Car Show put into their vehicles.

Entrants brought their cars, trucks and even trailers from hundreds of miles around to compete, show off and admire. Orman McCord drove his gleaming burgundy 1947 Cadillac convertible with pastel white interior to the show from Clarksville, Tenn.

McCord left his hood up so onlookers could see his shining Chevrolet engine with no visible oil stains. He opened the trunk lid to show off the carpeted trunk and carpet-covered spare tire. When he closed the lid, he let it down slowly. He didn't want to disturb the finish and he knew it was machined so well he didn't need to slam for it to lock.

Don McQuay, president of the River City Rodders, admired McCord's pride and joy. "This Cadillac has been radically changed," McQuay said, pointing out the tilted steering wheel and the suspension modified to make the car sit lower to the ground.

"That makes it look longer," McCord said.

McCord said he had every bit of chrome in the car removed and sent to a shop to be rechromed. It looked brand new. He replaced the old hydraulic apparatus that powered the windows and the convertible top with an electric motor and installed air conditioning and a modern radio.

"It's fun to drive," McCord said. "But you have to look out for the other guy."

McCord's Cadillac drew many admirers, but the show's overall winner was a 1958 Chevrolet Corvette restored to absolutely mint condition and owned by Jim Wente of Jackson. Roger Gibson of Kelso did nearly all the work. If the chrome and fiberglass body were a Marine's shoes they would pass the toughest sergeant's inspection.

Unlike McCord's car, everything on Wente's was designed to look like it just rolled off the assembly line in 1958. Even the chrome air filter shone. Nothing was updated.

Brenda Smith drove to the show with her husband in their air-conditioned 1930 Ford Model A from their farm near Clarkton. She said she has no fingernails because she spends so much time polishing.

They own a pickup they use for farm work, but whenever they can they drive their Model A. They enjoy it so much they intend to drive it to Biloxi, Miss., in October for another car show.

The Smiths won't be alone. Thousands of people like them are expected.