dune buggies and hotVWs August 2023

I can’t believe how time flies. As I write this Semaphore column, we will have concluded the month of May, and by the time you receive this copy, we will have reached the halfway point of 2023. Since OCI Media took over ownership of hotVWs Magazine and I became an editor in April 2017, we have produced 76 issues. I feel incredibly blessed and honored to be a part of hotVWs Magazine’s history, spanning 56 years and encompassing the publication of 641 editions since 1967. We have never stopped printing since 1967. The total publication of 641 editions is remarkable. We are blessed to have the opportunity to be a part of the wonderful VW community. This achievement is thanks to our long-term readers, advertisers, and the loyal support of…

Call Me Old School Hello Jon! You might consider me old school, as I’m still running a 36hp engine in my 1956 Oval. I’d like to have some extra power but still want to keep a period-correct look, so I think I will go with a Wolfsburg West Okrasa kit. To upgrade my motor, I was looking for a better oil flow to keep the engine cool. Do I have any option to upgrade the oil pump? Any suggestions will be appreciated. Thank you! Tim Reynolds Fresno, CA Tim, you can use an oil pump that would normally come on a 40HP or 1300cc engine, as those have the same 6mm mounting studs as your engine. The diameter of the pump body is the same as on a 1300 or…

As some of you know, I have been very lucky to travel to many different countries, most recently Australia - all because of Volkswagens. But this story is about a road trip. My longtime friend and VW brother Mr. Rich Kimball and I have been known to load up and go at a moment’s notice! On this trip we were on a mission. Let me explain. At the Bug-In around 2015, we had a Legends Party where many wellknown VW people attended. A group photo was taken at the party and the Schley brothers got an enlarged copy of it, gathering as many legends in the photo as they could. Unfortunately some of the great characters in the photo are no longer with us. Among the people seen in the…

One memorable show for me was the 2nd Barndoor Gathering in Amersfoort, the Netherlands, in 2018. As you may have guessed, it is all about the early Type 2s up to ary 1955, but other vintage VWs are also welcome. That second edition of the event took place near the freight depot, where Volkswagen used to unload their finished Beetles and Buses for the Dutch importer Ben Pon. Several old brick buildings made for a nice surrounding, separated by alleys and open squares and topped off with lots of greens, bushes and trees. The area was quite close to the town center, but still somewhat remote. As this event was only the second of its kind (the third edition took place this year), only Barndoor owners and fans were present,…

While wintering in Florida, we met up with one of the most interesting people in the VW World. Scott Bosés has had quite a diverse career for the past several decades as the Hollywood Car Guy. Now retired, he still plays with cars, as evidenced by his current crop of rare vintage Volkswagens. Scott was born in Brooklyn, New York and spent his early years honing his mechanical skills by building his own motorcycle at age 14. Moving to Hollywood in the 1960s, he graduated high school, then worked his way through college as a mechanic. After college in 1970, he took off for England to find a Bentley to bring home. Having no luck finding the car, he decided instead to become an entrepreneur, buying 17,000 British Army surplus…

I recently had someone ask me about my attraction to the automobile and why I have chosen to pursue a life of working with cars. It’s not a question that can be answered with a simple sentence. There are so many things about the automotive world that attracted me as a young man and still continue to pull me in as an adult. The history, the design, the performance and the people continue to entertain and intrigue my silly little brain. The joys come from all angles and energize the mind and soul quite nicely. I have said it many times before in my column and to friends, that no matter how much I know, there is always something new to learn. As time goes on and memories fade I…