On Saturday, June 15, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Miles Through Time Automotive Museum in the Old Clarkesville Mill, children enjoyed driving model cars, bikes, battery-operated cars, and more.
It was the 4th Annual Kids on Wheels Car Show. Sponsored by the city of Clarkesville, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Miles Through Time Automotive Museum, the day gave children an opportunity to explore the wonders of cars and learn about their history. They also got the chance to see public safety vehicles up close and meet the personnel who drive them.
“Four years ago, there was COVID taking place, and kids didn’t have an opportunity to do anything at the time,” Thomas Black of the U.S. Forest Service explained. “I reached out to the city of Clarkesville, and they gave us permission to have a kids’ car show so kids could take part and enjoy our wonderful community.”
Black said they talked to First Responders, work vehicles, and Classic Cars and all came together to make this incredible event. From its inception, it has become something many look forward to attending.
This year was even more significant because it marked the 80th Birthday of Smokey the Bear.
Children compete in pedal car and bicycle races, and awards are given for the best rides. The main three awards for the day are Little Hot Rod, Little Miss Pedal, and Most Unique Ride.
Collecting memories
Jim Geary from Franklin, North Carolina, loves toy cars. He’s been collecting toy cars and studying the history of the automobile since 1950.
“I still have most of the models that I built back in the ’50s. I love seeing the children playing with the cars,” he says.
Geary wants to create a love for cars in children that will carry on into the future.
Larry and Renee Forbes from Gainesville have a 1948 Chevy Truck. It is the same truck that Larry’s grandfather purchased new.
“It was the main farm truck for my granddad, hauling wheat and feeding cattle in Kansas,” Larry said. The couple enjoys the atmosphere and sharing their automobile with enthusiasts.
Just as the Forbes enjoy sharing their classic vehicle at car shows, kids reveled in the chance to show off their bikes, Big Wheels, and battery-powered cars.
The kids car show precedes Miles Through Times’ 8th Annual Car Show, which will be held on Saturday, June 22, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Old Clarkesville Mill on Grant Street.
