24-05-2025
Supercharged Camaro bursts into flames in downtown Waynesville
May 23—A man and his 14-year-old daughter escaped injury when their car engine spontaneously combusted on Main Street in Waynesville on Wednesday, but damage to the immaculately restored red Camaro and $35,000 custom-built engine were a heartbreaking blow.
To be exact, a 700 horsepower Camaro — a street-legal drag racing car with a 6.0 engine and paradigm supercharger.
"This is a lot for me to take. That is a lot of loss," said Austin Moore. "But my young'un's safe."
Moore, who grew up working on cars with his daddy, has already pledged to repair it one day.
"It's all fixable, you just have to put the money into it," Moore said.
Moore was driving through the heart of downtown Waynesville, slowly crawling along, when flames erupted from his hood. His first thought was getting his daughter Katie Lou out of the car. As a street legal racing car, even the passenger side has a five-point harness. But she bailed out with ease.
"She just about got out quicker than I did," Moore said.
Moore picked a good spot for his car engine to catch fire — within sight of the Waynesville police station and town hall.
A battalion of police, public works and even the town's code enforcement officer rushed out to help. The street was cordoned off lickety-split, and a fire engine with sirens blaring rolled up a minute later.
In the meantime, shoppers and workers along Main Street came dashing out to see the commotion — and get videos of the blazing car, of course.
At Main Street Diner, a cook grabbed a fire extinguisher off the wall, ran out and thrust it toward Moore.
"I sprayed at it, but it was too late. That was a lot of heat and a lot of gas," Moore said.
Moore has been working on cars since he was knee high.
"My whole life," he said. As for where his dad learned to work on cars?
"Old school rednecks. That's what we do, we fix stuff," Moore said. "I got a 41 International in the garage right now."
This isn't your typical restoration job though.
"The body is fine, it's just the hood and the engine and the supercharger. And probably the interior and all the electronics and all that's shot," Moore said, tallying up the to-do list in his mind. "It's probably $50,000 in damage."
While no car is technically ever "done," starting over completely is a tough pill to swallow. Especially as insurance won't come close to covering the costs.
After firefighters put the fire out, town workers on the scene soberly gathered around as Moore's car was winched onto a wrecker and hauled away. They offered their condolences, and Moore shook hands around the circle thanking each for their help and quick response.
"Thank y'uns for being on it," Moore said. "Sorry for all that awesomeness I brought to Waynesville today."
Before leaving, Moore handed the fire extinguisher to a waitress from Main Street Diner. Like a country boy raised right, he promised to replace the spent fire extinguisher.
"I'll bring you a new one tomorrow," he said.
