David Saucier's Epic Stories and Volkswagen Journey Ep25

WEBVTT

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Music.

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To learn more about this class-leading VW magazine.

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Welcome back to another episode of Dub Life Diaries.

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Our guest today has been around Volkswagens literally since about the time he could walk, right?

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A familiar face in the Bay Area

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VW scene, David Saucier's love affair with classic air cools runs deep.

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From his iconic 67 Deluxe Sunroof Beetle to the legendary Silver Surfer Squareback.

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If you've been to a VW show in Texas, you probably already know him,

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or at least recognize him.

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Let's welcome David Saucier to the podcast.

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Thank you very much, Joe. I appreciate being here.

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Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Before we dive in, I'd always like to give a quick shout-out to my sponsors.

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As we probably well know, this podcast is sponsored by Volksmania Magazine.

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I feel it's the flyest VW magazine on the face of the planet.

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And the folks there at Volksmania are just special.

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Also, this episode sponsored by Salty Dub. from the

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all right my friend that's all i got back

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to you back to you yes sir so tell me how did this obsession start with you

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back in back in early days 68 69 when i was born Mom and Dad had a 66 Volkswagen

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Beetle when Dad was in the Navy

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and drove that quite a bit while we were stationed in Norfolk, Virginia.

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And I've got a few pictures of me behind the wheel or in the cubbyhole in the back-back seat.

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And I liken the obsession back to then.

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Had another when I was not in high school, but just out of high school. It was 1971 standard.

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Enjoyed it immensely, immensely. and drove that until we got married.

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Suzanne and I, you know, been married back in 1990. We drove it up to Illinois

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for, I joined the Navy and had it for a while until we outgrew it.

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And while stationed in North Virginia, I had, it was a dry spell,

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not owning one, but I quickly corrected that as soon as I could and jumped right back in and got a 69.

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When I got out of the Navy, drove it home here in Houston, La Porte, and had that for a while.

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Until I morph to the 67 bug that I have now and the 71 square that's in the background.

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Well, we're going to talk about those. We're going to talk about them.

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I want to thank you, too, for your service to this country.

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I certainly appreciate my freedom, and anytime I get an opportunity to say that

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I'm grateful, I do, because I certainly appreciate your service, so thank you. Yes, sir.

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Yes, sir. So, is it safe to say, then, your parents are the ones that introduced you to Volkswagens?

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Yes, I blame them thoroughly, 100%. Yes. Okay.

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And then the first one that you ever owned was this one yourself right outside

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of high school then, right?

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The 71, yes. Okay. Yes. So tell me in your life and in the big picture now,

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you know, an older gentleman, some awesome accomplishments in your life. What makes VW the one?

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Simplicity, the recognition, the thorough enjoyment of driving it.

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The cars nowadays are highly automated and modified, and these require 100% of your attention.

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Manual transmission, manual AM radio, hand-cranked sunroof, manual windows.

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It's 100% you, not the car.

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And that's partially why I enjoy it because you're involved with the car.

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The car is part of you, and I love that. And it starts from pushing that button,

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opening the door and smelling that horsehair smell of the seats.

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Amen. So true. So true. I was just thinking about that the other day.

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There's a page here that I help run in Florida called VW Club of Florida.

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And I try to create engagement sometimes. I was going to bring up a question

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about the smell of those seats.

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So I'm glad to hear I probably should do it because you relate to it. Yes.

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Yeah. Awesome, man. Let's talk about the significance of your 67 Deluxe.

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I guess maybe significance of that model year.

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It is obviously 67, whether it's standard or deluxe. First year 12 volt,

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huge improvement over six volt.

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And I know six volts have their aficionados, but that is the biggest one of all.

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And this one also, it's a sunroof and it's a working sunroof.

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A lot A lot of people that have sunroofs, they silicone them or tape them shut.

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Mine still works. Parts are somewhat available. Yes, but the thorough enjoyment

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of having a sunroof bug, like none other.

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I have a 74 thing, so I know what it feels like to drop the top in a sense.

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I can drop my windshield too, so then it feels like I'm on a motorcycle.

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But yeah, I can relate to that.

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Any stories behind this 67 Deluxe, maybe buying it or restoring it over time

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or thinking to it or maybe even the first shows?

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Sure. There's two that comes to mind right off the bat. The first one was when

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I bought it 12, 13 years ago from an old fellow up in Kennard, Texas.

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He had bought it to restore for his granddaughter as a high school graduation present.

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Well, health problems kicked in. He contacted me knowing that I love 67,

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as he said, is for sale. Are you interested? I said, yes, I am.

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But I was not up in Kennard at the time. I was stuck in work in Houston.

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I called dad up at the farm at Crockett and I said dad mr.

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Thames is selling that 67 bug would you go take a look at it and tell me what

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you think he said yes he shot over he said David if you don't buy it I will

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so I immediately wired mr.

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Thames the the money for the bug went dad

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and I went picked it up brought it home and it it

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was not a mess but it was

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a challenge to overcome the original motors blown

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so i had to source up a an original motor which was

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not a problem but that was kind of the story about acquiring

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the bug the second one is probably the most fun

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my my buddy jumping joe barnett and

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i he's a famous local houston radio dj

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he and i

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went and participated in the june bug rally in

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austin back in 21 22 we won

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first place driving home we

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had to have the trophy sticking out the roof and for those that know me i like

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to stop celebrate the winnings so joe and i stopped at a bar right outside of

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manor texas and enjoying a drink brought the trophy in some bikers didn't like it So.

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Yeah, so we pick it up, we go outside, we're going to leave,

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and what happens at the biker bar?

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Shots rang out. Whoa.

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Yeah, so unfortunately, the trophy did sustain a couple of bullet holes,

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so now that's part of the glory of the trophy and whoever wins it.

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Yeah, that's cool.

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Crazy, dude. We didn't stick around too much longer after that, so we left.

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So that's kind of the story of the trophy that we won at the GMBugger Rally.

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Okay. And that's a great story, too. Yeah.

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Has the 67 ever left you stranded? Yes, it has actually.

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Isn't that something, you know, most cars, we say this, and I had a rule outside

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of high school, right? If a car ever left me, I was going to leave it and I was going to sell it.

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And that's how I felt, right? With these Volkswagens, I know that my cars are

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going to let me down and they're going to leave me.

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You know, you got to have AAA these days.

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But it's funny because we don't look at our old classics and feel the same way. or at least I don't.

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But yeah, so anything stand out there about a time it left you stranded?

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It, this was a, it was the beginning of the most problematic issue that I had with the 67.

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And I thought it was blowing coils. It kept overheating and blowing,

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which it turned out it wasn't coils.

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It wasn't a generator to the alternator that I changed out.

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It turned out to be, and this was the most pesky problem was the resistor and

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the rotor had blown out and the coil I'd throw in a new coil,

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it would make enough voltage to jump the burned out resistor.

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But as it aged the resistor in the rotor, it got worse and worse to the point

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where it didn't want to work.

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And I finally realized that when I put in a new rotor, problem solved.

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So I went to the resistorless rotor instead of having the one with the resistor in the rotor.

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The thing works like a champ now. Now, it hits on the first key,

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but that is a problem that I will never forget. Let's switch gears.

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Let's talk about the Silver Surfer. Yes, sir. Talk about David Blades.

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I want to learn about this one. That's behind you, right?

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Yes, it is. All right. This David Blades, he was a transplant from Amarillo, Texas.

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He moved to Crockett, Texas, and had an AC and cooling company that he and his dad both worked for.

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And through his love of Volkswagens, he acquired a lot of cars.

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And with the cars came parts.

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And his obsession was paint and body. He wasn't mechanical by any means.

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He was paint and body man.

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So what he would do is he would turn one into a work of art.

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And then he would keep them for a while. And then he would sell it.

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The Silver Surfer was one of them. Sadly, David Blades passed away in 22.

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And the Silver Surfer went through a number of owner's hands until my wife and

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I went to the Volkswagen Harvest in Austin last year.

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We parked next to it. The sign in the window said, for sale.

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So my wife said, you know what? We need to buy this. That's all the permission that I need.

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You get the grace. Let's go. So we negotiated a price that was acceptable for

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both the seller and I, bought it right there. And we've had it ever since.

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And this is a connection to David Blades and his legacy.

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And it will stay with us forever. I won't get rid of it.

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What month is the harvest in Austin?

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That is always in October of every year.

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I'm going to try to time it right for my next class Because I teach a class

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out there in October In Austin,

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You would thoroughly enjoy it Gary, Tommy, and Martin Do a wonderful job Of

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putting on the show And our club,

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the Bay Area Volkswagen Club Sponsors the Twinkie eating contest for the kids

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We've been doing that for a long time What a cool idea I like that idea It is

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fun It gets the kids engaged Because they're coming up behind us to continue

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on the obsession with the Volkswagens.

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Because if you don't bring them in and show them what we have,

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they're not going to follow.

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And that's our thinking. But it is always put on around October of every year,

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around October 20th, 21st, 22nd, wherever that weekend might fall.

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Tell me more about, I want to just learn for the listeners to paint the picture about Silver Surfer.

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What year again?

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It's a 1971 standard squareback. Okay. It's a true automatic,

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true three-speed automatic.

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Oh, cool. It is. It is.

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Any custom work or anything that you can highlight so we can kind of envision?

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I know we can see it behind you, but certainly this is a podcast that'll be audio only.

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Sure. It's David Blades cut in a ragtops sunroof. Okay.

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He lowered it quite a bit. It's a little too much for my liking,

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but I'm not going to change it because that's what he wanted.

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So I'm going to leave it at that.

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He did a custom paint job. He removed certain badging, some turn signals from

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the very large turn signals on the front to put the small bullet turn signals.

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He did a lot of his personal touches on this car that would have made it his.

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And like I said, when he had passed away, it went through a series of owners and it ended up with us.

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I'm not changing much of anything. I'm leaving it as such because that's how he wanted the car.

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Do you show this car? Is this a driver or more of a show car or a driver type?

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It is. It is a show and a driver.

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Okay. I can take this thing out of the driveway here in La Porte.

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I can take it anywhere and it will get there faithfully.

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And it's also a very good show because it's, it's, it's obviously it's a Volkswagen squareback.

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People are not familiar with the squareback as they are with the bugs.

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They know the bugs, but seeing a squareback, oh, that's brand new.

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And so I've taken as many shows as I can Obviously, it's hard to take them Both

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the 67 and the square back Right So that's why I have to get my wife involved

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Say, come on, honey Let's take them to the show Hey,

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and it's an automatic So even if it's a stick, right?

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We can rock the automatic That's one of the requirements When I was looking

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for one for my wife Was she said, well, I don't think I'll ever have An old

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Volkswagen I think they're cool But I don't ever want to drive a stick shift

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So I'm out I'm like, well, hang on.

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You know, remember I told you about my beetle in high school had an auto clutch.

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So you could, you know, you could kind of shift gears, but the,

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you know, the, yeah, she's like, well, that sounds kind of cool.

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Right. So here's my favorite one, right. The Carmen Ghia.

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So I ended up finding her one also a 71 with the auto clutch. Excellent.

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Yes. You said you have won some awards then though. That's, that, that's awesome.

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So I just wanted to highlight that. Talk to me about the scene there,

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Galveston, Houston area.

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What's the vibe of the VW culture in that area?

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It exists. It could do better. It could always do better.

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But our show, our club puts on a show every year and it draws a lot of cars locally and from afar.

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It could always be better. That's why when we organize cruises,

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we try to go outside of the area.

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We'll cruise down to Galveston. We'll cruise to, say, Austin when they put the

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show on. We'll cruise to Anahuac to go to a restaurant.

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And all the while, I know it's creating, I guess, well, trying to think of the

00:16:06.782 --> 00:16:08.042
better word for it, awareness.

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But people don't know, hey, that's the Bay Area Volkswagen Club.

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So we try to go where we hand out cards, stickers to, hey, get people involved.

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But the vibe could always be better, but it does exist.

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It does exist here, yes. So you mentioned something there. I want to make sure

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we talk about it, maybe even dive into the history of how you got involved.

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But give me the history of the Bay Area VW Club.

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Sure. It was founded back in 1988.

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Wow. And of all places, I know, all places, the very first meeting was at Les Marks Chevrolet.

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And LaCorte Texas off, I know, off at 146. I know.

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But one of the members had a good friend that was sales at Les Marks Chevrolet.

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So he volunteered the big meeting room for the club.

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And so that's where the first meeting was. And it has evolved since then.

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The very first show was put out of the San Jacinto Monument back in 1990.

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And we just finished up our 35th show.

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Wow Oh yes Very cool

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It's a big show And I would I've tried

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to back this up with facts And I would

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say We may be the oldest Volkswagen club

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Still putting on the show in Texas Wow that is cool Cool to hear Cool to meet

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You know cool to know that that's happening The listeners This is This club

00:17:35.155 --> 00:17:40.635
is also on Facebook right It is And for those that are interested They can go

00:17:40.635 --> 00:17:44.095
to the Bay Area VW Club on Facebook.

00:17:44.675 --> 00:17:49.235
There are some security questions, obviously, to eliminate some of the riffraff

00:17:49.235 --> 00:17:53.915
because we've all seen it on Facebook, but for true aficionados of Volkswagens,

00:17:54.375 --> 00:17:55.815
you will know the questions.

00:17:56.615 --> 00:17:59.875
Yeah. Awesome. And I think that's good too, also for the bots.

00:18:00.835 --> 00:18:05.575
You won't have any fake accounts trying to get. Now you're involved in this.

00:18:05.695 --> 00:18:08.775
How many members are in this club we have

00:18:08.775 --> 00:18:11.635
at any given time at a meeting and we meet every

00:18:11.635 --> 00:18:14.515
first thursday of every month any given meeting we could

00:18:14.515 --> 00:18:17.675
have from 12 to 18 members

00:18:17.675 --> 00:18:20.635
showing up consistently yeah it

00:18:20.635 --> 00:18:24.635
goes from up and down for the meetings because actually people work raising

00:18:24.635 --> 00:18:31.515
kids uh shift work um but we have that that's what it is when we'll do cruises

00:18:31.515 --> 00:18:36.295
or participating in other shows locally they know who we are.

00:18:36.455 --> 00:18:37.775
They know who we're representing.

00:18:37.995 --> 00:18:42.495
We always throw up a little pop-up canopy with the banner saying who we are and.

00:18:43.188 --> 00:18:47.648
You cannot go anywhere here locally. I say locally, Galveston, Houston area.

00:18:48.328 --> 00:18:54.068
People know who we are. That's a cool club. It is. It sounds like it's been around for a long time.

00:18:54.388 --> 00:19:00.768
You know, you have kind of a rich culture. You guys have a pretty decent scene there.

00:19:00.908 --> 00:19:04.388
It seems like it's been around, like you said, this club's, you know, 35 years.

00:19:04.548 --> 00:19:09.328
There's club members that are engaged, showing up to monthly meetings.

00:19:09.328 --> 00:19:13.648
And then there's, you know, organizing rides and all that fun stuff. and cruises.

00:19:14.168 --> 00:19:20.228
Just tell me in your personal opinion, being versed and probably traveling quite

00:19:20.228 --> 00:19:25.248
a bit over your life, like myself, like most people, what makes the Texas scene

00:19:25.248 --> 00:19:27.608
different from other VW communities?

00:19:27.968 --> 00:19:33.368
Probably the image of actually being in Texas. That would be the image.

00:19:33.848 --> 00:19:38.988
For viewers, say in England or Ireland, they would see this.

00:19:39.228 --> 00:19:42.808
And I I know that they're going to probably hit on my accent.

00:19:43.088 --> 00:19:47.628
That's not a problem. But a lot of people that are out of state,

00:19:47.808 --> 00:19:48.848
out of country, you're going to see this.

00:19:48.948 --> 00:19:52.668
They're going to think of Texas being the image of we all have trucks.

00:19:52.668 --> 00:19:54.488
We all have oil wells. We all have cattle.

00:19:54.868 --> 00:20:01.428
That's not true. That is not true. We have lots of Volkswagens here that are

00:20:01.428 --> 00:20:03.948
still in somewhat decent shape.

00:20:04.688 --> 00:20:09.028
More northern counties of here than the Gulf Coast. because obviously the Gulf

00:20:09.028 --> 00:20:10.788
Coast is exacerbated with the salt air.

00:20:11.168 --> 00:20:17.088
That's right. But true older Volkswagen still exists and was quite popular in

00:20:17.088 --> 00:20:19.068
Texas for a long, long time.

00:20:19.188 --> 00:20:24.428
And even before the interstates came around, people drove those cars for economy's sake.

00:20:24.768 --> 00:20:26.788
And really, it was cheap.

00:20:27.208 --> 00:20:30.168
And then, of course, when the oil bust came around, and I'm probably getting

00:20:30.168 --> 00:20:35.768
a little off topic here, but a lot of people drove those cars during the oil bust because why?

00:20:36.048 --> 00:20:43.108
Economical. So it does exist here, but what people would get from being in Texas, the image.

00:20:44.278 --> 00:20:49.618
Outside of the Bay Area VW Club, do you host any events yourself,

00:20:49.938 --> 00:20:53.118
any other events outside of the club or the group?

00:20:53.478 --> 00:20:57.498
Besides our monumental Bug Bash show that we do every year, we also,

00:20:57.758 --> 00:21:01.398
as a group, as a club, from the money that we raised at the show,

00:21:01.598 --> 00:21:05.678
we sponsor three schools for school supplies.

00:21:05.678 --> 00:21:11.638
We do that, and that's every August, September timeframe. And then the biggie,

00:21:11.798 --> 00:21:17.918
we adopt families during Christmas and we provide toys for the kids.

00:21:18.038 --> 00:21:20.458
We provide a meal for the parents.

00:21:20.778 --> 00:21:24.358
But the caveat is they have to come to us to pick up the stuff.

00:21:24.418 --> 00:21:30.158
And we have a club member that dresses up as Santa to give them all this stuff. Oh, this is fantastic.

00:21:30.498 --> 00:21:36.878
Yeah. This is what we do. Yeah. This is, that's a community with a capital C.

00:21:37.318 --> 00:21:39.138
Yeah. Yeah. That's amazing.

00:21:39.738 --> 00:21:45.798
Now, you've talked about going to these shows, being in the scene as long as you've had.

00:21:45.938 --> 00:21:48.998
It's hard to not be recognized at a show.

00:21:49.218 --> 00:21:52.138
Has this changed the experience for you over time?

00:21:52.538 --> 00:21:55.518
It has. Talk to me about that. Sure.

00:21:56.038 --> 00:22:00.958
While the recognition is nice from all the people, and I love going to shows

00:22:00.958 --> 00:22:02.238
and talking to my old friends.

00:22:02.238 --> 00:22:06.098
It's always like a family reunion or high school reunion, so to speak,

00:22:06.198 --> 00:22:07.178
seeing all those people.

00:22:07.178 --> 00:22:10.638
And my My experiences has

00:22:10.638 --> 00:22:17.618
changed To where it went out early on Oh I wanted to win that trophy Now I don't

00:22:17.618 --> 00:22:21.618
want to win the trophy And I always write on my registration Do not vote for

00:22:21.618 --> 00:22:25.778
me I want the new person coming in to start winning Because that's going to

00:22:25.778 --> 00:22:28.138
keep them coming back Yeah man.

00:22:28.958 --> 00:22:35.238
That's me That's awesome I've always enjoyed seeing And while the cars are nice,

00:22:35.834 --> 00:22:39.814
I always like seeing the people there at the show because that means they're

00:22:39.814 --> 00:22:43.754
still around. They're still here. They're still enjoying the same things that I enjoy.

00:22:44.414 --> 00:22:48.874
It's always good to see people returning to shows. Well, it sounds like they

00:22:48.874 --> 00:22:50.034
got the right guy in charge.

00:22:50.474 --> 00:22:55.574
Oh, yes, sir. Thank you. Yeah, that's awesome. For you over the course of your

00:22:55.574 --> 00:22:59.194
life, being an ex-police officer, being in the military, in the Navy,

00:22:59.454 --> 00:23:04.834
a lot of times you see Navy guys, cops even, the stigma.

00:23:04.834 --> 00:23:09.914
You see muscle cars and big V8s and that kind of stuff around that vibe, right?

00:23:10.254 --> 00:23:12.774
Why VWs for you and not muscle cars?

00:23:14.014 --> 00:23:17.514
Now, hold on. Now, that's not true.

00:23:17.594 --> 00:23:23.994
I can pan this camera around and you'll see the background of, and I'll do it. Do it.

00:23:24.154 --> 00:23:29.494
For those that are looking, can probably pick that out, that that's a 1987 Buick

00:23:29.494 --> 00:23:32.034
Grand National right there. Ooh, man.

00:23:32.334 --> 00:23:35.554
Yes, sir. In 87, were they putting the big block in that?

00:23:35.854 --> 00:23:39.814
No, sir. That was a 3.8 Turbo V6. That was the bad boy.

00:23:40.174 --> 00:23:45.274
Yeah, okay. That was the one. Now, that is going to go under the knife soon.

00:23:45.274 --> 00:23:47.554
It's going to be somewhat restored.

00:23:47.914 --> 00:23:51.834
That's my wife's car. That was her daddy's car, and he passed away.

00:23:52.214 --> 00:23:56.234
Now, we have that car, so yes, we do have that.

00:23:56.434 --> 00:23:59.814
We do have the muscle car, and you cannot see it.

00:23:59.914 --> 00:24:07.254
I'll turn the camera back to the surfer. But out in the driveway is another one of my loves.

00:24:07.434 --> 00:24:10.934
It is the Chevrolet C10 trucks.

00:24:11.334 --> 00:24:16.094
Yeah, I love C10s. I have an 86, a long bed, long bed love.

00:24:16.434 --> 00:24:21.154
I always loved the Chevy square bodies, and I have that.

00:24:21.474 --> 00:24:27.294
So don't let the Volkswagen sway you. I do have other loves. Is the square stock?

00:24:28.114 --> 00:24:33.754
No. Yeah. Tell me about it, man. I know it's a VW podcast, but I appreciate

00:24:33.754 --> 00:24:34.994
old classic trucks, too.

00:24:35.594 --> 00:24:40.314
The little story behind it, it's a 1986, the same year I graduated high school.

00:24:41.092 --> 00:24:44.892
I let my youngest daughter, my number three daughter drive to high school.

00:24:45.072 --> 00:24:47.572
She was an instant popular hit. They're having it at school.

00:24:48.392 --> 00:24:51.592
But that was, I left, that was in stock form.

00:24:51.752 --> 00:24:57.612
Okay. Once she graduated high school, I jerked out the 305, put in a little warmed up 350.

00:24:58.032 --> 00:25:02.872
I had the 700 R4 gone through to shift a little bit better, a little bit harder.

00:25:04.092 --> 00:25:08.452
And the stock 10 bolt is now a 342 posi.

00:25:09.012 --> 00:25:12.952
Ooh. But you cannot tell because the truck is neither raised nor lifted.

00:25:13.272 --> 00:25:16.372
So it appears stock, but it's not.

00:25:17.092 --> 00:25:19.812
Cool. I like that. Yes, sir.

00:25:20.052 --> 00:25:25.512
And that sounds like a great truck. I've had Chevys in my past as well. I've had Fords too.

00:25:25.732 --> 00:25:30.172
I had an old 77. I had a 78 F100 Ranger Ford.

00:25:30.452 --> 00:25:35.632
Let's see. I had a 72, a C10, 4x4,

00:25:36.052 --> 00:25:42.712
which they put a 67 front end on because they took the marker lights out of

00:25:42.712 --> 00:25:45.732
the sides where the 72 had them and they put them up.

00:25:45.852 --> 00:25:52.132
So all that was done. So it appeared it was a late 60s, but it wasn't a 72.

00:25:52.432 --> 00:25:56.032
But that was one of my favorite trucks. I had a big block in it and it was all

00:25:56.032 --> 00:26:00.752
done up and you chromed out. And, you know, it was a privilege to own and drive

00:26:00.752 --> 00:26:02.072
that truck for a few years.

00:26:02.212 --> 00:26:08.192
I owned it out West in Colorado and it was, it was a great, great truck for a, for a small time.

00:26:08.312 --> 00:26:12.312
Every time you started that thing and drove it down the road, that was $25 in gas.

00:26:14.212 --> 00:26:18.092
So the days of 25 bucks, fill in the tank and driving for a week,

00:26:18.172 --> 00:26:19.772
like we do in our dubs. Right.

00:26:20.312 --> 00:26:27.252
But anyhow, back to the, the Volkswagens, what's the VW scene taught you most

00:26:27.252 --> 00:26:30.532
about community and also about craft.

00:26:30.972 --> 00:26:36.952
To tolerate other people's tastes in, say, paint, accessories,

00:26:37.572 --> 00:26:39.352
lowering, raising, engines,

00:26:40.112 --> 00:26:47.232
it's while you have your favorite, what you do to your car may not appeal to other people.

00:26:47.412 --> 00:26:49.892
They're going to customize their vehicles how they want.

00:26:50.452 --> 00:26:54.592
Totally cool. I have no problem with it because that is your car.

00:26:54.832 --> 00:26:57.812
You drive it how you want it. I have no problem with that.

00:26:59.192 --> 00:27:02.412
Purists will come in. And while I am a little bit of purist on the 67,

00:27:02.992 --> 00:27:04.892
sure, not so much on the 71.

00:27:05.332 --> 00:27:09.932
But I think the purist of any Volkswagen, and no matter what year,

00:27:10.192 --> 00:27:12.012
can probably be the worst critics.

00:27:12.332 --> 00:27:14.272
And I try not to be that guy.

00:27:15.057 --> 00:27:18.537
And I catch myself doing it. And when I do, I stop.

00:27:18.697 --> 00:27:23.697
I stop because that owner of that vehicle doesn't want to hear any criticism

00:27:23.697 --> 00:27:26.457
about their vehicle unless it's invited. Oh, no.

00:27:26.897 --> 00:27:31.037
So that has taught me to be a little bit more tolerant towards other people's vehicles.

00:27:31.717 --> 00:27:36.737
And you try not to create instant enemies. I say enemies. That's a bad word.

00:27:37.497 --> 00:27:41.537
Non-friends or people that won't talk to you or they just don't want anything to do with you. Right.

00:27:41.757 --> 00:27:45.817
Because why? You're talking bad about the car. So it's taught me a little bit more about tolerance.

00:27:46.217 --> 00:27:50.717
Yeah. Yeah. The, the, the over opinionated guys that show up,

00:27:50.797 --> 00:27:55.717
you know, it's like not a lot of love there. Not a lot of, that's tiresome.

00:27:56.057 --> 00:27:59.277
Yeah. Yeah. It, it, it is. It's draining for sure.

00:27:59.537 --> 00:28:04.677
Cause you have to put up with it. Right. It's like, especially if you're a community

00:28:04.677 --> 00:28:08.017
leader, you know, you want to set the right example and you don't want,

00:28:08.017 --> 00:28:10.417
you don't want to push them away, but at the same time.

00:28:10.737 --> 00:28:12.837
So yeah, I get that for sure.

00:28:13.457 --> 00:28:18.977
Tell me what would be some advice that you would give maybe the next generation?

00:28:19.257 --> 00:28:22.477
You know, we, we, we spend a lot of thought and time and, you know,

00:28:22.477 --> 00:28:26.177
I have other guests that come onto the podcast and we talk about this a lot.

00:28:26.417 --> 00:28:33.497
We hope, and we want the next generation to be interested in these cars like we are. Yes.

00:28:33.837 --> 00:28:37.577
But you and I, you and I both know it's, it's dying off. And,

00:28:37.577 --> 00:28:40.797
you know, where there is a scene

00:28:40.797 --> 00:28:46.477
for these younger kids, it's not as popular as it is for folks my age.

00:28:46.777 --> 00:28:50.877
And there is no right or wrong reason as to why.

00:28:51.017 --> 00:28:55.957
So what we try to do in the community is put as much interest into the younger

00:28:55.957 --> 00:28:59.677
folks, kind of like the idea you said, where let's let the new guys win the

00:28:59.677 --> 00:29:02.217
awards and that type of stuff, because that'll keep them interested.

00:29:02.597 --> 00:29:07.797
Yes. What advice would you have for the next generation getting into the VW

00:29:07.797 --> 00:29:10.597
scene, you know, working on their cars and building them up?

00:29:11.137 --> 00:29:15.917
Jump in feet first and be as interested in it as you can.

00:29:16.277 --> 00:29:21.377
Do not be afraid to get your hands greasy and dirty because that's what these

00:29:21.377 --> 00:29:23.417
cars require. They require maintenance.

00:29:23.757 --> 00:29:29.057
Do not be afraid of that because in turn, it's going to reward you with trouble

00:29:29.057 --> 00:29:33.617
free miles when you're driving. Yes, adjusting the brakes can be a pain in the butt.

00:29:34.197 --> 00:29:38.577
Yes, adjusting the points can be very aggravating.

00:29:40.057 --> 00:29:43.457
Adjusting the valves. Yes, that is very involved in doing so.

00:29:43.697 --> 00:29:49.477
But in that, you will be rewarded for trouble-free miles as long as you stay on top of it.

00:29:49.557 --> 00:29:52.137
Do not be afraid of that. Get your hands dirty.

00:29:53.470 --> 00:29:58.790
Good advice. Good advice. Do you ever feel like there's a spiritual side to

00:29:58.790 --> 00:30:02.010
being involved with the VW community? Yes.

00:30:02.570 --> 00:30:08.930
Yes. We all talk to our cars. Yeah. A lot of people name their vehicles.

00:30:10.090 --> 00:30:15.150
Some people, they understand their cars better than they do their spouses.

00:30:16.010 --> 00:30:19.590
That's something. And I'm not trying to get in trouble with Suzanne. I'm sorry, Sue.

00:30:20.050 --> 00:30:24.030
But that's just the way it is. And spiritual,

00:30:24.370 --> 00:30:32.470
yes And we were all exposed to that Early on back when Herbie made the silver

00:30:32.470 --> 00:30:37.950
screen That had a lot to me believing that Oh,

00:30:38.170 --> 00:30:41.290
these cars have a soul Man,

00:30:41.550 --> 00:30:46.230
well said And then, you know, there's the whole connection to, you know,

00:30:46.310 --> 00:30:52.550
Germany And everything over there as well With the history of these cars which

00:30:52.550 --> 00:30:56.970
also makes it very cool and almost gives it a feeling.

00:30:57.730 --> 00:31:03.910
Some can associate that to potentially a dark time, but it had to be dark before

00:31:03.910 --> 00:31:05.770
it could come, before it could be light.

00:31:05.970 --> 00:31:11.670
That is correct. And then now these cars are celebrated for their ingenuity

00:31:11.670 --> 00:31:17.090
and their engineering and the fact that we can drive around town in 50-year-old

00:31:17.090 --> 00:31:19.610
cars and they are dependable.

00:31:19.850 --> 00:31:21.450
Yes, they are. Yes.

00:31:21.830 --> 00:31:27.890
So, so good stuff. All right. Let's talk about modifications or any type of, uh, of customizations.

00:31:28.170 --> 00:31:30.390
Have you done any over time that you regret?

00:31:32.530 --> 00:31:37.090
Not, not too many. No, not too many. I did try once.

00:31:37.370 --> 00:31:44.450
I did try one time to, uh, use double Holly bug sprays on my old 69.

00:31:45.070 --> 00:31:51.390
Yeah. It didn't work. It was way too rich. It was like I had a refinery following me everywhere I went.

00:31:52.110 --> 00:31:57.070
So I would say don't do that. But I did try it. That was probably the biggest

00:31:57.070 --> 00:31:58.410
mistake that I ever tried.

00:31:58.650 --> 00:32:02.310
But since then, I've learned that less is more.

00:32:02.910 --> 00:32:09.130
And I followed that rule on my 67. Mild camshaft, a good cleanup of the heads,

00:32:09.730 --> 00:32:13.070
good valve springs, pays off dividends.

00:32:13.070 --> 00:32:16.650
Dense and and while it may not seem like a lot for

00:32:16.650 --> 00:32:19.850
these little cars it doesn't take a lot and and

00:32:19.850 --> 00:32:22.690
that was enough that was enough and there's plenty of

00:32:22.690 --> 00:32:27.990
websites that samba's one of them that you can glean a lot of information from

00:32:27.990 --> 00:32:31.870
that's good but there's a lot of bad yeah and i would to people that jumping

00:32:31.870 --> 00:32:37.910
in don't go head first just test the water first with your toes to start tuning

00:32:37.910 --> 00:32:40.990
and performing at start, start slow,

00:32:41.190 --> 00:32:44.430
start slow because it can get out of hand real fast.

00:32:45.585 --> 00:32:48.825
Now, talking about the next generation, talking about, you know,

00:32:48.905 --> 00:32:53.705
these kids and hoping that the next generation of builders and enthusiasts,

00:32:53.705 --> 00:32:58.645
you know, do kind of get bit by the bug, so to speak, the Volkswagen bug.

00:32:58.945 --> 00:33:03.565
What's your take on the EV conversions? Because those seem to be very popular

00:33:03.565 --> 00:33:04.725
in the younger community.

00:33:05.165 --> 00:33:10.345
They are. And while I appreciate them, not going to buy one,

00:33:10.425 --> 00:33:13.765
nor am I going to do a conversion on any of my vehicles.

00:33:14.085 --> 00:33:17.725
They have their place. And maybe it's the new draw.

00:33:18.205 --> 00:33:25.145
I'm not sure, but they're starting to show up at the Volkswagen shows. I know. I know it.

00:33:26.005 --> 00:33:30.145
They're not going away. Right. It's going to be a part of what we do.

00:33:30.485 --> 00:33:34.605
And they have their place, and I appreciate them. It's quiet.

00:33:34.905 --> 00:33:38.585
They'll sneak up on you if you don't pay attention to them on the road,

00:33:38.725 --> 00:33:39.985
but they have their place.

00:33:40.445 --> 00:33:45.185
But I won't own one because I'm more prone. I like the filling up the tank of

00:33:45.185 --> 00:33:46.805
the gas. I like checking the oil.

00:33:47.225 --> 00:33:52.005
That's what I like to do. I like the sound and the smell of an air-cooled engine, period.

00:33:52.405 --> 00:33:56.225
That is correct. I can leave it on that. I like the sound and the smell.

00:33:56.885 --> 00:34:01.245
I'm not against them, and I'm okay. If that's what it takes to get young kids

00:34:01.245 --> 00:34:03.925
into these class cars, fine.

00:34:04.485 --> 00:34:07.985
As soon as you fall in love with the car, well, eventually you're going to probably

00:34:07.985 --> 00:34:10.205
want one with an air-cooled engine just right because.

00:34:10.705 --> 00:34:15.305
So you know whatever gets them in and gets them attracted you know to keep the

00:34:15.525 --> 00:34:17.425
classic W's going I feel like,

00:34:17.948 --> 00:34:25.988
I can be open to it and consider it. However, I too, I probably would not convert my car to an EV.

00:34:26.208 --> 00:34:30.388
I just like the way an old air-cooled engine sound looks and feels.

00:34:30.608 --> 00:34:34.448
And yeah, I like everything about it. Right. I would not discourage anybody

00:34:34.448 --> 00:34:36.088
from buying one or doing that.

00:34:36.268 --> 00:34:39.108
No, that is not my call. That's all their call. You want to do it?

00:34:39.648 --> 00:34:42.988
Great. I myself will not. Right on.

00:34:43.368 --> 00:34:47.268
So the next questions I have for you are going to be more fast-paced,

00:34:47.268 --> 00:34:50.928
He's kind of like a rapid fire, kind of looking for fast answers.

00:34:51.588 --> 00:34:53.488
You know, whatever comes to mind first.

00:34:53.688 --> 00:34:55.968
All right. Favorite VW model of all time.

00:34:56.848 --> 00:35:04.088
1967 Volkswagen Bug, Deluxe Sunroof. All right. He was waiting with that one. Yes. And you own that.

00:35:04.408 --> 00:35:11.388
Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Most overrated VW model of all time. Oh, the split one to buses.

00:35:13.208 --> 00:35:17.728
They overrated and overpriced and they shouldn't be, but they are. Yeah.

00:35:18.008 --> 00:35:20.988
You are not the first person to come on and say that.

00:35:21.128 --> 00:35:24.408
Now there's like two sides to this though, because some people say,

00:35:24.508 --> 00:35:29.008
oh, you know, there's no way any old air-cooled VW could be overrated. Right.

00:35:30.288 --> 00:35:34.908
There's others that have, have very, very consistently picked the split window

00:35:34.908 --> 00:35:38.288
and it's not for any other reason other than, you know, if you're above six

00:35:38.288 --> 00:35:41.808
foot, you know, it's hard to get in and squeeze in and, you know,

00:35:41.928 --> 00:35:44.388
and I've heard comfort. I've heard slow.

00:35:44.728 --> 00:35:48.728
I've heard overpriced, you know, And then I say, okay, well,

00:35:48.768 --> 00:35:50.428
what's the replacement then mentally?

00:35:50.768 --> 00:35:54.128
Most people say, and I'll let you say it. What do you say?

00:35:54.983 --> 00:35:58.363
The next one's going to be following the bay window buses. That's right.

00:35:58.603 --> 00:36:00.683
Everybody says I'd rather have a bay window.

00:36:00.963 --> 00:36:05.583
Yes. So, yeah. Okay. All right. How about beetle or bus? You had to pick one.

00:36:06.223 --> 00:36:08.463
Beetle. Bug. Beetle. Bug. 100%.

00:36:08.463 --> 00:36:12.723
Okay. Probably a very stupid question for you, but I'll still ask it.

00:36:12.963 --> 00:36:15.423
Air-cooled or water-cooled? Air-cooled.

00:36:16.503 --> 00:36:21.303
All right. How about worst breakdown story? Worst breakdown was the resistor

00:36:21.303 --> 00:36:26.503
burning up in the rotor, leaving me stranded at midnight on Highway 290 between

00:36:26.503 --> 00:36:29.763
Austin and Houston, coming back from the Junebug rally one year.

00:36:29.983 --> 00:36:34.923
And it took an hour to finally get it running and go home. We finally got home

00:36:34.923 --> 00:36:37.883
2 o'clock in the morning. Oh, my God, made for a long day.

00:36:38.243 --> 00:36:42.283
Yeah, those days and nights are rough ones and certainly ones that aren't forgotten.

00:36:43.943 --> 00:36:46.843
What's always in the glove box of one of your dubs?

00:36:47.723 --> 00:36:53.583
Always a set of wrenches, points, accelerator cable, clutch cable.

00:36:54.323 --> 00:36:58.923
A length of a fuel line, fuel filter, certain hand tool like screwdriver,

00:36:59.163 --> 00:37:02.903
Phillips head, flat tip, a ratchet, and a set of brushes.

00:37:03.063 --> 00:37:05.263
Well, no, I can't take the back. A set of brushes.

00:37:05.543 --> 00:37:09.523
It may not be for me because I have an alternative 67, but somebody else might need the brushes.

00:37:10.063 --> 00:37:12.643
Dang, man, that sounds like a toolbox, not a glove box.

00:37:14.343 --> 00:37:20.523
It's a small bag. Okay. How about favorite VW or a show snack?

00:37:20.523 --> 00:37:24.203
I guess it doesn't have to be a VW show, but this is a VW podcast.

00:37:24.503 --> 00:37:26.083
So favorite VW show snack?

00:37:27.403 --> 00:37:33.723
I like when it's available, it's always barbecue. Oh, you're in Texas.

00:37:33.723 --> 00:37:35.363
Of course. Always barbecue.

00:37:36.343 --> 00:37:40.163
We have a vendor that comes out to our show and does a fantastic job.

00:37:40.163 --> 00:37:43.323
So we try to stick with that, but it's always been barbecue.

00:37:43.603 --> 00:37:46.143
Are you familiar with the Dallas-Fort Worth area at all?

00:37:46.923 --> 00:37:52.283
Regrettably, yes. Okay. So in Dallas-Fort Worth, downtown Fort Worth,

00:37:52.523 --> 00:37:56.963
there's a barbecue spot called Heim, H-E-I-M, Heim Barbecue.

00:37:57.684 --> 00:38:03.304
About four years I spent in that area teaching a sales class up there,

00:38:03.364 --> 00:38:06.384
and I would bring all my students to this spot.

00:38:06.604 --> 00:38:09.764
Why? They have barbecued bacon burnt ends.

00:38:10.304 --> 00:38:13.164
Oh, yeah. And, buddy, I got to tell you, they melt in your mouth.

00:38:13.424 --> 00:38:15.504
You can chew them with your tongue in the roof of your mouth.

00:38:16.784 --> 00:38:23.484
To die for, I even tried to duplicate his recipe, which is online, and I can't.

00:38:23.484 --> 00:38:28.964
You know, I'm not a Texas guy for Texas barbecue, but I talk about Texas barbecue

00:38:28.964 --> 00:38:34.304
a lot on my podcast because I am privileged enough to go like to the South in Austin.

00:38:34.604 --> 00:38:38.704
And there's a whole bunch of them around Austin that I that I fancy and that

00:38:38.704 --> 00:38:41.324
I will make sure I don't skit when I come into town.

00:38:41.684 --> 00:38:46.204
No, don't do that. Yeah, you're cheating yourself. Yeah. So I can appreciate Texas barbecue.

00:38:46.684 --> 00:38:52.544
Who's like the most influential person that you've met because of VW shows? Oh, I did.

00:38:53.484 --> 00:38:57.824
I can't say one. There's many. One goes back.

00:38:58.464 --> 00:39:01.664
Okay, and this is kind of a long list, but I'm going to make it as quick as

00:39:01.664 --> 00:39:03.984
possible because I know this is quick. That's all right.

00:39:04.724 --> 00:39:10.244
Donnie Smith, VW Foreign, Donnie Moore, Gary Alexander, Tommy Smith,

00:39:10.644 --> 00:39:16.904
Martin Lehman, Sammy Smith, Jumpin' Joe Barnett, Bruce Carlisle, James Holm.

00:39:17.224 --> 00:39:21.904
All these are either members of the Bay Area Club or other people that I have

00:39:21.904 --> 00:39:26.784
associated with in the past that are with the Volkswagens, and there's no one person.

00:39:27.424 --> 00:39:32.264
I can't. I can't. Even Paul Smith is another one.

00:39:32.384 --> 00:39:36.004
He's been doing this forever, and he's another I love to go talk to,

00:39:36.064 --> 00:39:39.944
but there's no way I can name one, none, not one.

00:39:40.124 --> 00:39:43.644
That's what I love so much about this community, just that answer.

00:39:44.444 --> 00:39:50.084
You mentioned a whole lot of people, and it's like they're all of equal value.

00:39:50.804 --> 00:39:53.784
Yes. You know, that's, again, that's what's great about our scene.

00:39:54.084 --> 00:39:57.444
All right, so maybe some final thoughts from you.

00:39:57.584 --> 00:40:01.264
Like what really kind of keeps you stimulated, keeps you coming back to the

00:40:01.264 --> 00:40:06.364
VW scene year after year, you know, even if you're organizing an event or,

00:40:06.564 --> 00:40:09.264
you know, just doing something for the Bay Area Club, you know,

00:40:09.404 --> 00:40:12.404
what keeps you coming back? Give me some final thoughts for the listeners.

00:40:12.864 --> 00:40:16.844
This, the club, we meet every month and we decide what we're going to do.

00:40:16.944 --> 00:40:22.204
And obviously I've already told you about the school supplies and the Christmas drive that we did.

00:40:22.824 --> 00:40:27.944
But when any time that I go out, say at, at, at, at a Freddy's frozen custard

00:40:27.944 --> 00:40:32.624
up here close to, to where I live, we can go there Friday nights and, and it's,

00:40:33.415 --> 00:40:37.415
always a story that has somebody has for a Volkswagen and one in particular,

00:40:37.415 --> 00:40:41.595
and this has been a while, this little girl walking by the Volkswagen,

00:40:41.895 --> 00:40:46.755
she run her finger from the front fender along the door to the back fender.

00:40:46.955 --> 00:40:50.675
And all she was saying is the whole time she did this, she was saying,

00:40:51.335 --> 00:40:54.835
Herbie, whoa, the whole way.

00:40:56.795 --> 00:41:01.875
So that tells me that that little girl knows the value of the Volkswagen.

00:41:02.395 --> 00:41:05.515
She's already been, not indoctrinated, that's a terrible word,

00:41:05.655 --> 00:41:08.855
but steeped into the Volkswagen, the air-cooled way.

00:41:09.095 --> 00:41:14.115
And then I know that little girl will always remember that because she knew

00:41:14.115 --> 00:41:17.975
who the car was in the movie screen and equated it to my car.

00:41:18.775 --> 00:41:21.875
So yes, that still comes around.

00:41:22.055 --> 00:41:24.895
But like I said, always somebody has a story about it. Or, hey,

00:41:24.955 --> 00:41:27.695
I knew a guy that still has the car. Really?

00:41:28.715 --> 00:41:32.175
Tell me more. So that's what keeps me going. Okay.

00:41:32.655 --> 00:41:36.075
Tell me where people can find you. Do you have social media?

00:41:36.335 --> 00:41:39.075
Maybe shout out the Facebook page for the group?

00:41:39.515 --> 00:41:44.315
I'm sure everybody can find you. Joe, I'm a relatively easy person to find.

00:41:44.655 --> 00:41:49.695
If I'm not on the Bay Area's Facebook page, I can be found on Samba under VW

00:41:49.695 --> 00:41:51.575
Crazy. That's my screen name.

00:41:52.175 --> 00:41:56.975
Hell, if you search my name, David Saucier, you could find either my email or

00:41:56.975 --> 00:41:59.675
my cell phone number. I am not a hard person to find.

00:42:00.335 --> 00:42:03.695
And obviously there's always going to be those people out there that just like

00:42:03.695 --> 00:42:05.795
to let me crank call or what. Yeah.

00:42:05.955 --> 00:42:09.455
Okay. Whatever. I'll just block you. But the true people that will call me or

00:42:09.455 --> 00:42:12.435
text me, Hey, what can I do? Or how can I get this?

00:42:12.555 --> 00:42:15.695
Or do you know of, yes, I'm here to help you.

00:42:16.055 --> 00:42:19.835
Whatever you need, I'll do within reason. Absolutely. But I'm a relatively easy

00:42:19.835 --> 00:42:23.955
person to find. And that's a wrap for this episode of Dub Life Diaries.

00:42:24.255 --> 00:42:28.015
Thanks for riding along with us and diving into these incredible stories of

00:42:28.015 --> 00:42:30.055
the people in the dub that drive their dreams.

00:42:30.475 --> 00:42:34.875
If you loved today's episode, don't forget to subscribe or hit that follow button

00:42:34.875 --> 00:42:36.195
so you never miss an adventure.

00:42:36.595 --> 00:42:41.155
Do you have a story to tell or know somebody else who's living the dub life? Awesome.

00:42:41.455 --> 00:42:46.495
Reach out to us. You can find us on all socials at Dub Life Diaries or shoot

00:42:46.495 --> 00:42:48.255
me an email. I'm not hard to find.

00:42:49.095 --> 00:42:54.195
DubLifeDiaries at gmail.com Until next time, Keep the engines humming and the

00:42:54.195 --> 00:42:57.435
wheels turning, and always follow the road that inspires you.

00:42:57.595 --> 00:43:01.135
This is Joe Person. I'm signing off. I'll catch you on the next.

00:43:01.840 --> 00:43:58.741
Music.