Smith captures multiple awards at World of Wheels – The Clanton Advertiser

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Austin Smith stands in front of the 1968 Camaro he took to the Earth of Wheels Auto Demonstrate in Birmingham from Feb. 3-5. (AUSTIN SMITH | CONTRIBUTED)

Austin Smith took a few autos to the Planet of Wheel Vehicle Display including a 1972 Chevrolet Blazer, left, and a 1971 Plymouth Duster. (AUSTIN SMITH | CONTRIBUTED)

By Carey Reeder | Employees Writer

Austin Smith has been immersed in cars and trucks considering the fact that he could stroll. Now a 19-calendar year-aged Jemison Significant School graduate, Smith owns his personal restoration small business and just lately brought dwelling 3 awards for his assignments at Environment of Wheels Car Clearly show in Birmingham from Feb. 3-5.

The 52nd annual clearly show in Birmingham introduced in hundreds of automobiles from all-around the southeast, and some entered the very best in exhibit contests to see whose trip is the sweetest at the show.

“They had a bunch of distinctive cars and trucks up there (at the clearly show),” Smith said. “If you like cars and trucks, it is definitely worthy of heading to.”

Smith took 3 automobiles he labored on to the vehicle clearly show — a 1979 Chevrolet two-wheel travel K5 Blazer, a 1968 Chevrolet Camaro and 1971 Plymouth Duster. The Chevrolet Blazer won to start with location in the utility and wagon course and the Camaro and Duster the two positioned second in the conservative hardtop and bracket class, respectively.

The Camaro was a venture for one particular of Smith’s buyers who authorized him to choose the automobile to the automobile show, and the Duster is his father’s car.

“One of the largest good reasons I wished to go up there and demonstrate these autos off is for the reason that I try to give folks an trustworthy cost,” Smith said. “I am not in the enterprise to be a millionaire in two yrs … I needed to display people that you do not have to commit $100,000 on a vehicle to have a little something good to be proud of.”

The three autos Smith took to Planet of Wheels each and every had between $20,000-$30,000 in restoration function into it.

Smith’s adore of automobiles began at an early age and has grown ever given that.

“I have developed up all around these cars and trucks,” Smith mentioned. “Since I was old ample to go exterior, my dad would have me outdoors and (I would) get in his toolbox. I have been around autos my full daily life.”

Smith has been driving a drag car considering that he was 15 decades previous, and he now owns his very own organization, Smith Trucking Functionality & Paint in Jemison.

“Since I graduated school (final yr), I have gotten out and finished this on my possess for myself,” Smith stated. “Mostly aged vehicles are the place I specialize. We generally paint cars and trucks, but we do some operate on race automobiles and drag cars and create motors for men and women.”

Smith took a paint and body perform class at LeCroy Career Technological Center wherever he sharpened his abilities in the sector he was getting ready to split into. All through the course, Smith painted the Plymouth Duster and parlayed that into a next-position complete in the bracket group at World of Wheels.

Smith’s father is a truck driver and hopes to follow in his footsteps in the coming years and generate trucks as properly. His father’s do the job is also how the truck functionality factor of Smith Trucking Functionality & Paint came about.

Smith can be identified at any community car satisfy or clearly show these types of as the Chilton County Cruisers, and the vehicle demonstrate at O’Reilly Vehicle Areas in Jemison with some of the vehicles he and his group have assisted restore. Smith claimed there are a great deal of typical vehicles in and all over Chilton County for those equipment heads interested in obtaining included in the nearby vehicle scene.

“I just have a knack for vehicles, and it is like an addiction,” Smith stated.

Smith claimed a person of his foreseeable future objectives is to create or restore a automobile with his dad and choose it to an auction such as Barrett-Jackson to see how a lot it can carry in.

Anyone fascinated in restoring an outdated car or truck can contact Smith Trucking Overall performance & Paint at 205-294-0984 for far more facts.