From Sarasota Beetles to Master VW Tech | Car Culture, Community & Doing It Right Joe Kent Ep48

In this episode of DubLife Diaries, Joe Person sits down with Joe Kent—a lifelong Volkswagen enthusiast whose journey runs deep through Sarasota’s VW scene, dealership bays, and decades of hands-on car culture.

Joe Kent shares how his passion began with a 1970 Beetle inspired by Herbie the Love Bug, growing up immersed in hot rods, art, music, and late-night garage sessions with friends. What started as a hobby quickly became a calling, leading him from backyard builds in Florida to becoming a Volkswagen Master Technician in the Pacific Northwest.

This conversation weaves through:

• The tight-knit VW community of the 80s and 90s and how it shaped generations

• Building both air-cooled and water-cooled Volkswagens—from GTIs to Eurovans

• Life inside Volkswagen dealership training and what it really takes to master the craft

• Why doing the job right matters more than doing it fast

• Raising the next generation of enthusiasts, including building his son’s first classic car

• The evolution of VW culture, parts quality, and the future of air-cooled cars

Joe also talks about returning to Florida, the realities of today’s housing market, car life in different regions, and why Tampa Bay continues to pull enthusiasts back home.

This episode is about more than cars—it’s about community, craftsmanship, and the stories that stay with you long after the engines cool.

🎙️ Listen now and experience the DubLife—where Volkswagens, people, and passion intersect.

Shout Out to Paul Cave and the team at Volkmania Magazine