Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2023 i dune buggies and hotVWs

As I am writing this column, the year 2023 has just started. We hope all of you are doing well and had a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year. By the time subscribers receive hotVWs Magazine's March 2023 issue, you will probably be readying to attend VW shows in February. The year 2022 was another rollercoaster for us. We were almost “getting back to normal” after the pandemic, when the war in Ukraine, hyperinflation, gas prices (especially in California), supply chain issues and many uncertainties hit us… We are still having a challenging time, but we are movingforward with what we love. For Dune Buggies and hotVWs, the year 2023 marks our 56th year of print publication. Since the first issue in 1967, we have never stopped being…

With the start of a new year and a look back at what is behind, I did a little math. Math has never been a strong point for me but after a quick count of all my fingers and toes, plus another helpful hand, I realized that 2023 means that 1998 was 25 years ago. The numbers are just numbers of course but the obvious fact that the VW New Beetle is now 25 years old hit me really hard. That means the New Beetle is old enough to be welcomed into events run by the Antique Automobile Club of America. Shocking, but true. There are many arguments about what is truly an antique or a classic or even vintage if you will, but 25 years is long enough to…

The ID. Buzz is now part of the “Building an Electric Future” exhibit at the Petersen Automotive Museum. The multimedia exhibit, which opened to the public in November 2019, celebrates Volkswagen's rich and impactful history, both globally and locally, and showcases the design and construction of the vehicles of tomorrow. The ID. Buzz is the newest addition to the growing fleet of Volkswagen all-electric vehicles and is anticipated to go on sale in Europe in late 2022 – a long-wheelbase model is planned to debut for the North American market in 2023 and go on sale in 2024. The zero-tailpipe emission ID. Buzz transfers the design of one of the greatest automobile icons – the 1967 and earlier Bus (T1 Transporter) – to the era of electric mobility. The short…

Fernando was the kind of kid who strived to be the best at everything he did. In the 1980s, he was really into breakdancing and skateboarding, two unique artistic expressions. Volkswagens were about to fall under the same category, as he was ready to employ the same commitment and dedication to a VW project. The only problem was finding one. Fernando was raised in the small town of Le Grand, California. The area is rich in farmland and everything grows on trees… except for Volkswagens. He scoured through his limited resources to find one, and finally did thanks to “Pretty Good The Can Man”… He was called that because 90% of his vocabulary consisted of the words “Pretty Good”. Apparently he not only collected cans, but Volkswagens too. Fernando used…

Now in its fifth season, Fast4Cartel was founded by two enthusiasts, Jeff Newcomb (aka Newk) and Jeff Kramarsic (aka JK). This VW drag racing series has a unique way to run their competition, attracting a large number of racers. The team runs the series mainly in Northern California and Southern Oregon. Following the slogan “For the Racers, By Racers”, these events offer exceptional hospitality and atmosphere, which attract not only local entries but also racers from Southern California, the Pacific Northwest, Idaho, and Nevada. As a result, it has turned into one of the fastest-growing VW-only drag race series. They have hosted four events during the 2022 season. The way they race is quite unique. Each event is based on two-day weekend activities, with qualifying (test & tune) on Saturday…

Now that we're retired, my hubby likes to take on a project from time to time, both as a challenge and to keep himself busy. Our latest is a 1985 Puma GTI. For those who aren't familiar, Pumas are iconic sports cars built in Brazil during a time when importing cars into South America was almost impossible. Puma was founded in Brazil in 1964 as the Sociedade de Automóveis Lumimari Ltda. The name “Lumimari” came from combining the two first letters from the first names of the company founders: Luiz Roberto Alves da Costa, Milton Masteguin, Mário César de Camargo Filho, and Rino Malzoni. Malzoni was an Italian immigrant to Brazil, and was in charge of designing and engineering the vehicles. His designs have been revered in Brazil and around…

In the last article, we talked about ball joint arms on Bugs and Ghias, so it only seems fitting that we address Buses (1968-1979) now. As I said previously, these are different because the ball joints both point downward. This is a good thing. The bad part about these is the spring bundles are stiff, and the upper arm is preloaded on the bump stop. This can be a real pain in the a** and not an easy thing to do. Unfortunately, we can't avoid it, so I'm going to tell you how I do it. First, get your jack stands under the front beam. At this point, you will want to remove the brake drum. Or if it's a 197179 model, remove the caliper and the rotor. On the…

Alright, so most of you readers will be familiar with this, but just in case, I need to explain a certain subject to our friends who are new to the VW scene… One of the most successful VW-related brands, EMPI, was established almost seven decades ago by Joe Vittone, the owner of a Volkswagen dealership named Economotors in Riverside, California. Originally, EMPI stood for European Motor Products, Inc. As a Volkswagen dealership owner, Joe noticed that many VWs returned for service with cylinder head problems – the valve guides wore out. However, the German manufacturer never supplied the required repair parts at the time. Volkswagen's instruction to dealers was to throw away the cylinder heads and install new ones. Joe Vittone saw a business opportunity: He made his own valve…

Shaka VW Weekend has always been the Hawaiian scene's largest and favorite Volkswagen event series, with 2022 marking the 20th show. These activities are held during Labor Day weekend in Honolulu, on the beautiful island of Oahu. The VW Club of Hawaii (which welcomes uniquely styled VWs) and the friendly Hawaiian Vee-Dub folks always treat you like Ohana (family) and welcome you for a tropical Aloha VW experience. The VW Club of Hawaii which promotes the festivities was founded in 1997 by a group of friends. The original group had been enjoying the VW scene in Oahu Island starting in the late 1970s-early ‘80s. Todd Matsumoto (the club founder and president) and executive board members Angie Cariaga, Gordon Ortiz, Richard Carvalho, Geri Salvador, Hannibal Cabacungan, and Sal Acosta passionately serve…

In the case of Minnesota residents Chad and Beth Veiths, it was a stranger who turned them onto the Westy you see before you. Chad has owned a good number of VWs over the years, but not one earlier than a Bay Window. He had always wanted a Split Window Bus, but the opportunity had not presented itself…yet. One day, a random stranger was walking past Chad and Beth's home when he spotted a pair of Bay Windows in their backyard. The gentleman knocked, and was greeted by the couple's son. The passerby mentioned he had a friend with a Bus he was wanting to sell, so he left his contact information. Chad gave the gentleman a call after his son passed along a message, and he mentioned that he…

For the majority of my 76 years on the planet, I have had a love for automobiles. It began in my early years with my grandfather who had a passion for cool cars and I was exposed to many different vehicles. My grandfather was also a car trader as he would keep a car for six months or so and trade it for the next one that suited him! Thanks to an early training in mechanical things (as he had a lawnmower repair shop), I was working on single-cylinder engines at age 11. The love of cars was passed to my father and to me as well. The beginning of my real relationship with cars, other than thinking about cars, happened when I got my learner's permit at 15-1/2 and…

Many of us VW people don't talk to their “regular” friends about our passion for old Volkswagens, because we don't want to bother them with boring car stories. And nobody wants to be known as “the guy who just talks about cars”. But let me tell you, there is nothing bad about letting the people around you know that you are into old VWs. Why? Well, let me explain. Let's take my friend, Karsten, for example. He was into VW Things and has a perfectly restored Type 181 in his garage. But then in 2008, he felt the urge to own a proper Cal Look Bug and he was on the lookout for a nice base car. Of course, he checked all the usual online platforms and asked his VW…

To be clear, the Mooneyes Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show is not a VW-only happening but an event that celebrates the American hot rod, custom and motorcycle culture. For the long-awaited 2022 affair, Mooneyes picked VWs once again as one of the main themes for the show – a special display called “Volkswagen Air Cooled In Action” sponsored by FLAT4. In 2012, the Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show promoters picked VWs as a main theme, inviting the Schley Brothers’ Lightning Bug 2 and Bill Schwimmer's ‘59 Bug from DKP car club. The massive crowd enjoyed the exhibit. For the 30th Anniversary show held last December, Mooneyes chose to highlight two iconic Japanese VWs: the Moon Buggy and FLAT4's Inch Pincher Too!, which entered the hall in front of a huge…

The Goliath name might not ring a bell to most hotVWs readers, being a somewhat obscure automobile brand born in Germany, which only sold very few vehicles in the United States. It never enjoyed the same success as Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes-Benz in particular, during the ‘50s. By 1961, the firm drew to an end when its mother company, Borgward, was forced into liquidation. Goliath produced a range of frontwheel-drive two-door sedans, station wagons and coupes, along with light trucks – most of them three-wheelers. They often relied on small two-stroke engines, including the 886cc GP900. Living in Utah, Mitchell Fuller and his father Boyd happen to own two of these rare finds, which created quite a commotion when they appeared at the VW Classic show in Southern California, last…

June 2022. This is the week leading up to the world-famous Hessisch Oldendorf Vintage VW Show, where 25 “Old School” cars coming from seven countries and ranging from 1948 to 1958 met up to spend time together and celebrate all things Old Speed. The race is organized “by racers, for racers,” and 2022 marked the 6th edition of the event. This year's edition was promoted by Øystein Asphjell (Norway) and Georg Schmundt Thomas (Germany), with support from the rest of the committee and good sponsors from all over the World. Bjoern Schewe hosted a great start to the event at the Oldtimer Paradise where he lives with fellow oldtimer VW fans. The race is also supported by the Grundmann family and the HO2022 team. Traugott and the newly elected Mayor…