an Roussel is a passionate VW enthusiast, artist, hot rod builder, and a true jack-of-all-trades. If something stays still long enough, Ian will find a way to transform it into something extraordinary—often with a creative nod to hot rods. Fans of the show Full Custom Garage will recognize Ian as the master builder behind some of the wildest custom car creations out there. Known for his unorthodox approach, Ian doesn’t follow traditional rules. Instead, he uses his imagination and resourcefulnes...
Dec 27, 2024•1 hr 26 min
In this episode of *Let’s Talk Dubs*, we sit down with Tom Simon, an iconic figure in the world of drag racing and a long-time enthusiast of classic Volkswagens. Tom shares his incredible journey, from early days in the racing scene to the challenges and triumphs of competing on and off the track. We delve into the technical secrets behind building a high-performance VW drag car, the evolution of racing culture, and Tom’s personal insights into what it means to live a life of speed. If you’re a ...
Dec 20, 2024•1 hr 9 min
On this weeks episode, we discussed the Vegas world finals drag racing. I bring on Adam Wik to get a drag racers perspective on how the event went down and his impressions. Also, I give my thoughts and two cents on the dragracing community what they can do to come together and also what's gonna happen now that Irwindale is gone. After that, we get on the microphone from world finals in Las Vegas and discuss drag racing in Belgium with the Belgian drag racing Association representatives. We sit d...
Dec 13, 2024•1 hr 8 min
This weekend coming up is the Vegas world finals drag racing at the Las Vegas motor Speedway. We discuss a little bit of that toward the end of the podcast but we spent some time talking about the new video that Bill and @VegasMicahG. just put out on the crew cab, a.k.a. the carbon cab. Micha does some pretty rad videos and I really like his style so we decided to collaborate on shooting a cool video for the carbon cab. Some rolling shots driving through Vegas as well as the story and the build ...
Dec 06, 2024•23 min
This year December 7th is the first Cory Mac's Vegas world finals. Putting on a drag racing event is no small feat. Las Vegas motor Speedway is one of the premier tracks on the West Coast and to put on a Volkswagen event. There is a special thing. We have Brian Watts on the podcast today the promoter for this event and we discuss some of the details with, this car show Swap meet and drag race event. Without events like this, what happens to our hobby my suggestion is to promote and support these...
Nov 30, 2024•1 hr 3 min
On this episode, we discussed the history of the type three 1500 better known in the US by the models the square back, the notchback and the type 34 ghia were never officially imported to the United States. This podcast will give you a summarized history of VW's purpose behind designing the type three 1500 the reasoning behind it and what went into producing this car. In addition to those fun facts, you'll also get to hear a lot of specific details that make the type three different than the typ...
Nov 22, 2024•29 min
Restoring the oldest type 34 Karmann Ghia. In this month hot VW's December 2024 check out Lee Hedges oldest type 34 Ghia fully restored. It's the 11th Type 34 ever produced. This is the in-depth interview for tons of detail on the uniqueness of an early 1962 type 34 Ghia. These cars are really unique to begin with, but this one's even more special, being the first handful that came off the assembly line there were lots of other really unique parts and pieces for this car that make it very specia...
Nov 07, 2024•1 hr 17 min
The binz all right double cab is kind of a mystery mostly produced from 57 to 59. The first Sales literature shows up as a special order for Volkswagen in 1953. On this podcast we go through the story of the Binz double cab, the purpose that ignited the creation and a lot of the details and history that went along with this pick up truck that was built essentially for two years. Now there may be more out there that we're built from 53 to 57. None that are on the registry at this point for more i...
Nov 01, 2024•1 hr
Brian Hyerstay G Dragster has a 1680cc engine revs to over 10,000 RPM & has a best ET of 8.43. And thats with NO POWER ADDERS. Brian has been involed n VWs since his first Bug in the early 70's. Since then hes raced his 1962 Beetle that hes owned since then. He then switcehd over to a Manx buggy for drag racing. When he reched the pinnacle of that, he bought a used G-Dragster and started his journey up the ranks of Competition Eliminator. His 1680 CC has custom builr cylinder heads, an overh...
Oct 25, 2024•1 hr 40 min
Bill, Andy Finch (Spikes Vintage Restoration) Tory Alonzo @vdubber4life discuss One Crazy Weekend 2024. The Strip Cruise, The car Show & The Poker Run!!!!! Jumping the El Ritchie Ghia tribute car.. Crusing the strip and all teh fun that follows. Desert dubs did a video on it. George T did a build video check out the links below. Andy discusses the 3 Day 80's Tribute build of the 1986 VW Trends Cover car of Ritchie King. www.letstalkdubs.com www.vwtrendsmagazine.com www.rosswulf.com https://w...
Oct 18, 2024•1 hr 9 min
The 1980s were a super cool time and show cars. Most of the guys in the scene were in their early 20s and not only did they have a big hand in building their own cars. A lot of guys drove them to the shows and back with full wheels off mirror displays. Cal-dub was no different. Built by Jack Digiacomo painted by Steve Knecht coming out of Bakersfield. These guys were ready to shake up the SoCal Vw scene. And that, they did with lots of battles out there in the show circuit. This story is about c...
Oct 11, 2024•1 hr 39 min
What Happend to the original inch pincher? A fviral Video from a podcast called west of Tulsa had a guest Peter Kappen He spoke about a guy Blase Mcfadden who claimed to have the orignal Inch Pincher. This podcast takes on a wild ride as to who exactly blaze McFadden was as well as the history of the inch pincher years and dates when things happen modifications took place to try to validate whether this is the actual inch pincher or not or something totally different. The VW hobby is filled with...
Oct 09, 2024•1 hr 1 min
Andy Finch From spikes VIntage restoration is in the studio. He has brought Zorba, the Ghia and his bus here to Las Vegas. For a couple weeks of fun in the sun. We discuss how the Zorba project started some of the challenges we ran into and as well a lot of the people that really helped in the build process. What he thought of my theme when we started. The bumps in the road as builder and customer, but the culmination of my ideas the spikes, vintage teams, hard work and the successful unveiling ...
Sep 27, 2024•57 min
Sometimes steering is the craziest thing to deal with on your vintage bus. Rusty, who hail out of the Netherlands, decided to help some friends, modify their buses and install some rack and pinion set ups. From that became a business. Since then he sold over 100 rack and pinion bus steering set ups. We get into the details of what makes the difference between a warm drive and rack and pinion steering. Also what it takes to install and what the difference is between the different set ups. Can you...
Sep 20, 2024•1 hr 5 min
Tony Viera hails from San Jose, California. His connection with Volkswagens started at an early age working at a speed shop (Goodies speed shop) and thinking they were cool. He built a Manx he saw those cars being so cool. He opened up a business by the name of Meg's house. After a few years moved on and partnered in a company called Bugformance and Sunnyvale, California. His history starts in the 60, late 70s with Volkswagens. Being an exclusive Manx dealer for a few years as well as the "thund...
Sep 13, 2024•1 hr 29 min
After my podcast last week talking about a Myers Manx that I was posting up for sale I got an inbox message from Kenny Nash. Kenny referred me to his body Todd Cooper, who had a really great story on finding an all original one owner Max in the basement of a house in Virginia. When he tried to buy it from the original owner, it was a no sale. Things changed when the owner passed away. He left his good friend in charge of all the cars, but the buggy was supposed to go to an ex-girlfriend as luck ...
Sep 06, 2024•1 hr 51 min
Bill & Tory talk about OCW updates. How can shows effect / enhance the VW scene. Bill found his 1963 VW. The 3rd owner has had it over 25 Years... I owned it for 5 years hes owned it 25. Im conflicted. We discuss the 80s Car stereo scene. What was the set up that you have ? Lufhause Blake sends me some MB Quart Speakers. What I have been collecting for vintage car audio. Some of yor favorite test tracks. www.letstalkdubs.com www.vwtrendsmagazine.com www.rosswulf.com www.lufthaus.com...
Aug 30, 2024•1 hr 37 min
Bill & Tory Alonzo discuss the last podcast it got some good response. It was about why do we not see people expressing their individuality through their cars like they once did in the 1980s and 90s. Lots of factors came in to play. We read some listener feedback. We also discussed in evolution of what could've caused this change and what factors are pressing on this. Also, our car shows part of the problem? Have they fed into this lackluster scene that we see right now? Will, Tori, Alonso a...
Aug 23, 2024•1 hr 28 min
Has the VW scene gotten stock? Are we seeing a lot of the same cars being featured at the shows focused on stock paint stock engines wheels lowered? Does it seem like people are more focused on keeping cars stock colors than doing custom. Are people building cars within guidelines of keeping it as close to vintage and original and resell Abel? On this episode, Bill takes a deep dive and we walk through his opinion of the evolution of the hobby since the early 80s. The different styles that have ...
Aug 16, 2024•1 hr 4 min
Damon Harmon name should be familiar if you've followed Volkswagen Drag racing. He was the dirver for Quarter Toy 1, 2 & now 3. He loves racing so much he even had campained 2 cars at once. He seems not be able to get enough. He held the record until it was taken by Pat Downs, but He holds the best MPH record 5.99 @117mph (Pat Downs holds the ET record at 5.90 @116mph) this podcast took place at European Buggin in 2024 in the pits of Max speed Carmenia. That's where I met Damon in Belgium in...
Aug 09, 2024•1 hr 2 min
On todays Round table. Bill & George discuss Bills European trip. 1500 miles in the Katasrtophenshutz supplied by andy Finch. From Badcamburg, to Wolfsburg, to Chimay for EBI.The expereiance and where to see the videos. We discuss the build of Zorba the Ghia. Some of the details. How the scene is with car builds and what some of the trends are. Check out Georges Youtube channel http://www.youtube.com/@the_Wagen My Youtube Channel Here www.vwtrendsmagazine.com www.rosswulf.com...
Aug 02, 2024•1 hr 14 min
Intro to this podcast I talk a little bit about Zorba the Ghia also picking your own style and rolling with it. Don't worry about what anybody else thinks you do you and forget about the haters. The guts of this podcast we get into auto Craft how the company started Mike see more the new owner his passion, the company their commitment to quality and also what makes their product stand out it's a story about an enthusiast who ended up buying a company that he believed in and continuing the busine...
Jul 26, 2024•1 hr 4 min
Your first car is always something special. No matter how good or bad is it holds a place in your heart. Well this podcast is about what the experience would be like to drive your same first car or a recreation to it 50 years later. Dean Kirsten's been on the podcast several times before, he's the first guest to be on for a third time. And it's only fitting after driving across Europe with him in the 2024 Cal look caravan and watching him drive the recreation of his first car the Vw blue 1967 Ca...
Jul 19, 2024•1 hr 32 min
Origanlly hailing from Boston Mass. A cross crounty trip in a new 1968 VW Bus would change this family hobbies. Moving to California then the meet MR Lee Leighton. The family sarts racing with Rodney Jr. known as "Radical Rod" Dad (Rodney Seinor) gets the itch & Lee sells them a Drag car fomally known as the Pied Piper that would soon become the "Sum Fun" Pro Stock drag bug. Larry the younger brother has a 56 Oval hes driving to highschool. in 1984 he pulls it apart for a restoration. The ca...
Jul 12, 2024•51 min
Martin Freidschröder is the pilot of the Mexxspeed Ghia. This is the worlds fastest naturally asperated Volkswagen. With a best ET of 8.6 secons in the 1/4 mile. Martin is a bit excited about his car. So excited you can feel it through his interview. He never stops thinking. He has custom built most parts on this what started life out as a karmann Ghia. From the carbon fiber body parts to the overhead fuel injection rails that quirt the menthonal into this beast of an engne. He custom built his ...
Jul 07, 2024•55 min
The cal-look caravan started as an Idea. Woudlnt it be cool to see a bunch of California Look VW's Drive from Wolfsburg Germany to Chimay Belgium. Russell Ritchie & George Otto collaberated on the plan. Start at Wolfsburg tour the VW museum Photo shoot in front of the factory. Then a 138 mile drive to the Karmann factory for a special tour of proptorypes. Also a special photo in front of the factory. From Onsabruck, on to Gelderland Porsche in the Netherlands. for lunch & a tour of the P...
Jun 28, 2024•1 hr 6 min
For most of us, EMPI has been a name that has been synonymous with the aftermarket parts since we started the hobby. Especially for those of us that were in the hobby in the 80s and 90s there was a time when vintage EMPI stuff was on the rampage. The culmination of which was Scott Smith, 1967 black EMPI accessorized to the max sedan. On this podcast I talk about headed to EMPI this weekend as well as some of the history from a short part of the early history what started EMPI to the different le...
Jun 14, 2024•42 min
If you're familiar at all with Arizona or the southwest, you have for sure heard of Chirco Vw. Joe Cihrco started the business in 1984. As a teenager he met a neighbor that had a classic Volkswagen and he would go hang out one day that neighbor gave him that Volkswagen. His family built a shop and he started Turco Vw 16,000 ft.² of Vw heaven. In this podcast, we talk about the last 40 years of being in business. The customers he's met. The cars he's purchased and sold. From split windows to doub...
Jun 07, 2024•1 hr 21 min
On this episode, George and I discuss the upcoming show season Southern California which events we will be at. We discuss Zorba the Ghia and Spike's Vintage Restoration process with the restoration. Its moving fast for sure. Bill almost has the interior re-done due to camera Color That's taking place. We reach out to John Limnios, the winner of the real Street class for the Volks group race in Samoa. 900 hp drift widebody bus being built by Kenny Pfitzer. Lots of cars coming down for one crazy w...
May 31, 2024•1 hr 30 min
Autohaus! The name that is synonomus with VW aftermarket parts. Started by Ron Rosevear in 1968. Starting as a small stereo shop in Buena Park California. Ron decides to buy some chorme VW accessories and they started selling like hot cakes. We find out about thier business stratagies. Who drew the world famous logo. How they started as a parts re-seller and then on to a VW empire with brands like Race-trim and fiberglass manufacturing. The connection with Paul Schley. Armorall and so much more....
May 24, 2024•1 hr 40 min
