COO / Dad / Newlywed / Adventurer
In addition to my Bug being featured in the Spring 2026 issue of Volksmania (#25 hitting mailboxes now). I’m taking it on a big adventure in just a few weeks.
In March 2026, I’ll be undertaking a ~7,000-mile automotive enthusiast’s expedition called the Memento Mori Run — a cross-country and Baja off-road journey built around endurance, durability, and actually using my vehicles as intended.
The run begins in Virginia with a three-vehicle fleet that tells a single, connected story:
• A 2024 Ford Bronco Raptor (The Grim One) — the primary vehicle for the entire journey and the Baja portion
• A restored and re-engineered 1967 Volkswagen Beetle (The Grey Ghost) — a personal and emotional centerpiece
• A 2025 Futura RT500 open trailer (The Reaper’s Chariot) — simple, functional, and intentionally exposed
The Bronco tows the Beetle west, not as a novelty, but as a cultural counterpoint. The route includes multiple classic Volkswagen shows far from home
* Southern Aircooled Chill Out 3/7 Gainesville, GA,
* Volkswagens on the River 3/14, Yuma, AZ
* Silverado Bug-in 3/22, Silverado, CA
…as well as visits to automotive museums, and long stretches of open road before reaching Southern California.
There, the journey changes character. The Beetle and trailer are parked safely, and the Bronco continues south into Mexico as part of EXO’s Baja Mitad group run — a five-day off-road expedition down the Baja peninsula.
After Baja, the Bronco gets a few days of well-earned rest back in San Diego. During that time, the focus shifts to the Beetle — cruising the Southern California coast, visiting partner shops that furnished major components of my build:
CoolRydes Customs in San Diego and
PowerHaus VW, Schott Wheels, Forever Sharp in Los Angeles, and capturing the kind of unplanned moments that happen when you slow down. Sunset runs along places like Laguna Beach and Coronado become part of the story, not a side note.
From there, the fleet reunites and turns back east. The return follows historic Route 66 for its Centennial year (photo ops at Joshua Tree, Cadillac Ranch and Slug Bug Ranch), and finishing with a final reflective leg through the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.
What sets this expedition apart isn’t the distance — it’s the deliberate contrast. Modern capability alongside an automotive icon. A vehicle built for desert punishment paired with one that preserves a piece of anutomotive history.
At its core, the Memento Mori Run isn’t about speed, spectacle, or conquering terrain. It’s about acting while the window is still open — and documenting what capable vehicles make possible when they’re actually used, day after day, across changing environments and intentions.
I’ve can send photos of the fleet and event banner for context. (This form wouldn’t let me attach a pic)
Best regards,
John Krahulec
Memento Mori Run
IG: @grim_one_bronco | @67greyghost | @wv_cabin_life
Westbound passenger (VA → CA):
William “Bill” Hopper
President & President Emeritus
Washington Automotive Press Association
IG: @washautopress | @DCcarguy
Links
https://www.instagram.com/67greyghost
https://www.facebook.com/share/17oRTx53Zg/
https://www.instagram.com/grim_one_bronco
https://www.instagram.com/jkru69
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7516978