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Title: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: Jim Ratto on March 26, 2008, 19:53:10 pm Anybody have good old memories? I know VW scene wasn't as fertile as So Cal, but guys like Tony Wilkie, RACEHEAD and Larry M... must have some growing pains stories...
Name some VW clubs that were around in the last 20 years or so in Bay Area... and maybe street racing stories, Baylands stories, etc... Pictures woudl be cool too..... (hint to kafercup!) Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: rick m on March 28, 2008, 04:47:23 am Jim,
A little known racer in 71-72, Ray Vallero (a mechanic at NIELLO VW) in Carmichael (outside Sacramento), was running 11.40s with his H/Gas sedan. Ray was an innovative and talented friend. He was an excellent machinist and fabricator. His first drag bug, BUG-IRON, was something I was able to pick up later. Here is a shot of it at Sacramento Raceway in 1972 with the halibrand spokes on a tube axle, DEANO rear wheels, etc. It had a 2180cc HILBORNE Injected motor, with an SPG roller crank. I became good friends with RAY who did my machine work for several years in the early 70's. The foot bridge behind the nose of the bug was what you had to use to walk over the start up road that ran behind the starting line bleachers on the south side of the Sacramento Raceway starting line. It is where the FUEL Dragsters were push started and they would go around the back of the south side of the tower and make a sharp right hand turn to stage by the starting line. It was this same time period 71-72 where there was an NHRA points race at Sac and Vittone, Andrews (Modified Compacts with angle port stock heads) and many other H and I gas sedans were in attendance. What a fun time that whole era was! Rick Mortensen Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: Rennsurfer on March 28, 2008, 05:58:47 am Wow, Niello is still going strong? COOL! That's an old VW dealership that's been supporting the scene for many decades. I was in my local VW shop, this morning, buying parts while admiring the vintage Niello chrome license plate frame behind the sales counter. Love to have one of those for my collection.
Carry on. Sorry to intrude. Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: speedwell on March 28, 2008, 14:04:28 pm it looks like similar to LIL SNORT
the front wings were different and the front beam too Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: Jim Ratto on March 28, 2008, 16:20:44 pm Jim, A little known racer in 71-72, Ray Vallero (a mechanic at NIELLO VW) in Carmichael (outside Sacramento), was running 11.40s with his H/Gas sedan. Ray was an innovative and talented friend. He was an excellent machinist and fabricator. His first drag bug, BUG-IRON, was something I was able to pick up later. Here is a shot of it at Sacramento Raceway in 1972 with the halibrand spokes on a tube axle, DEANO rear wheels, etc. It had a 2180cc HILBORNE Injected motor, with an SPG roller crank. I became good friends with RAY who did my machine work for several years in the early 70's. The foot bridge behind the nose of the bug was what you had to use to walk over the start up road that ran behind the starting line bleachers on the south side of the Sacramento Raceway starting line. It is where the FUEL Dragsters were push started and they would go around the back of the south side of the tower and make a sharp right hand turn to stage by the starting line. It was this same time period 71-72 where there was an NHRA points race at Sac and Vittone, Andrews (Modified Compacts with angle port stock heads) and many other H and I gas sedans were in attendance. What a fun time that whole era was! Rick Mortensen Wow, that is cool old history, I've never seen pictures of that car. Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: Tony M on March 28, 2008, 16:22:36 pm Lets go back into the early 70's with the one club from Oakland that i remember - The Ice Wagons, all black car club. Wish i still had pictures of there cars. Big on flaired glass fenders, hood, and deck lid's. Cars had a good rake to them. Most ran Ansen type rims, 13in in front and 15in in rear. All had Big motors - 2180cc w/ IDA's. Wild paint jobs, Metal flake, Flames, Shag interiors, velvet, ect... They all would come down to the shop in San Leandro in a pack. When working at Buggy House in the 80's still had a few club members that were still into the VW's and came in to buy parts and shoot the shit. Had an old club tee shirt for a long time - will try to see if my dad still has it - if he does will post a picture.
Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: Jim Ratto on March 28, 2008, 16:31:43 pm Tony, do you remember any clubs from the 80's.... I can remember West coast V-Dubs but I think the majority of their cars weren't performance minded, they were more of the hot-pink, mirrors under the pans ilk.
Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: Tony M on March 28, 2008, 18:17:41 pm Jim i only remember 1 other clud and that was DKL - Der Kliner Lowen - mostly a beed drinking club - it was Big Mark, Tall Kevin, Kevin's HOT SISTER!!!!! - and me - a few others - mostly people that came into BH at that time - WCVW's were later - i never got into that club. We did make a few runs to Bug-o-Rama - had a tent w/logo banner - lot's of beer - but thats all that i remember :-*
Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: Jim Ratto on March 28, 2008, 18:35:20 pm Tony! That's right, I forgot about Big Mark's club Der Kleiner Lowens
Most of the guys had high CR, 48IDA stuff, if I remember right. From the era of when Mark was at Small Car I think he told me it was back then he went for a ride in some guy's Bug, 1835, K8, 48IDAs and they got into a stoplight battle with a Mustang or something. I remember the jist of the story was Mark built an identical motor because of how fast his buddy's car ran. I think Jeff Madden was in DKL too.... RIP. Mark or Jeff showed me a club flag they used to run on their antennas. Back then, early 1990's, Mark was still manager @ BH, we'd stay around the shop after work.... Sheep, Javier, myself and Mark and we'd sit around and talk about starting a small high perf VW club.... back then nothing happened... we did come up with some Germanic name... Der Grosen Fier or something like that (The Big Fours). Couple of other guys we wanted to recruit were PEte Staat, J. Popper and this guy in Alameda, Roger, with his white '67 (2276cc, SPG crank, Super Flows) Later in 1994 the urge to start a high perf VW club came up again and three of us sat one night and drank a pile of beer and actually planted the seeds... and got the basics down..... ;) Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: Tony M on March 28, 2008, 18:48:40 pm See i can still spark ;D things up - jeff and kyle - a few others - little frank w/ his 67 ( not sheep ) bobby the painter. there were more after i left BH that i did not know. Dont forget Kevins SISTER !!!!!! Sorry i had the hots for her, and many others that came into BH - had a lot of GOOD TIMES late when working on the race car by my self :-X :-X :-X
Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: Jim Ratto on March 28, 2008, 18:55:35 pm ..... and that night the three of us, Sheep, myself and Sean Dorman, sat in Sheep's dad's place, on a hot Friday night in Aug 1994 and wathced a copy of the DKP 1 reunion tape, from 1990. First time we had seen many of the DKP's stuff from back then and we were gape-mouthed and pretty buzzed off cheap beer. For me it was pics of Aronson's white '63 and a red '67 with BRM's and a brown split with BRM's that got me going. years later, plus all the energy these guys displayed, rallies, racing, partying, etc... stuff the three of us wanted to do. Frank and myself were already very interested in traditional Cal Look stuff, and now even more so....and already were running the big cc IDA motors in our '67's.... so a club was pretty much inevitable. There were other guys we knew from college and BH that were running around and seemed to fit what we wanted to do... kafercup Derek, Bates, a few others... SODA...etc. So one night we all met up @ alehouse and it was a go....
Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: kafercup on March 29, 2008, 00:18:47 am ..... and that night the three of us, Sheep, myself and Sean Dorman, sat in Sheep's dad's place, on a hot Friday night in Aug 1994 and wathced a copy of the DKP 1 reunion tape, from 1990. First time we had seen many of the DKP's stuff from back then and we were gape-mouthed and pretty buzzed off cheap beer. For me it was pics of Aronson's white '63 and a red '67 with BRM's and a brown split with BRM's that got me going. years later, plus all the energy these guys displayed, rallies, racing, partying, etc... stuff the three of us wanted to do. Frank and myself were already very interested in traditional Cal Look stuff, and now even more so....and already were running the big cc IDA motors in our '67's.... so a club was pretty much inevitable. There were other guys we knew from college and BH that were running around and seemed to fit what we wanted to do... kafercup Derek, Bates, a few others... SODA...etc. So one night we all met up @ alehouse and it was a go.... Hey!! That's the good old Raymond road 1/4 mile where many a muscle car puttered away with its tail between its legs after being eviscerated by a little 4 cylinder bug motor :) Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: lawrence on March 29, 2008, 01:56:38 am I like this post. It is cool to know that there was a budding hi-po vw scene in the bay area when I was just a little kid. Now im doing the same thing with my beetle, street racing and such, but there are zero guys my age that are into the look. That pic of the two beetles lined up is very cool. If it was taken in B&W it could pass as a scene from rural socal in the early 70s.
Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: Tony M on March 29, 2008, 02:31:29 am When you go down that same road today it looks the same - I still live in Livermore - had my baja out there at times doing "carb checks" 8) 8) 8) - still a lot of guys go out there - major burn marks in the road - some posi and some not
Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: Brian Silva on March 29, 2008, 04:52:18 am About 10 years back or so, a club starte din San Jose called blitzkrieg vw's. Had a great turn out for years. Once the club got bigger, there would be 25-30 vws on an average thursday night. Was pretty cool to see a lot of people with the same interests. I remeber we were hanging out one night and Mr. Ray Schubert was driving Larry McKenzies red cal-looker. Roasted the tires leaving the street painted with black stripes. Nothing like the sound of a big motor with ida's. Now Im in Discovery Bay looking to meet people associated with VW's. So, if your out here, let's get together!
Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: Jim Ratto on March 29, 2008, 06:34:46 am About 10 years back or so, a club starte din San Jose called blitzkrieg vw's. Had a great turn out for years. Once the club got bigger, there would be 25-30 vws on an average thursday night. Was pretty cool to see a lot of people with the same interests. I remeber we were hanging out one night and Mr. Ray Schubert was driving Larry McKenzies red cal-looker. Roasted the tires leaving the street painted with black stripes. Nothing like the sound of a big motor with ida's. Now Im in Discovery Bay looking to meet people associated with VW's. So, if your out here, let's get together! Brian you should look up Jason Cross aka "peeps" ;D Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: MVAL on April 10, 2008, 22:11:17 pm Hi,
I just joined this site and I have some information about Ray Vallero. Ray lives in Colfax, CA and has a Machine Shop and Repair facility in Auburn, CA. Vallero's Auto Repair & Machine Shop. He still works on many performance engines and does machine work for Rocklin Harley Davidson's Pro Stock Motorcycle. Matt Guiderra rides the bike and they won thier first race out this year at Gainsville, FL and was runner up at Houston, TX the second race out. Ray isn't racing at this time but he builds Bonniville motors and motors for vintage race cars also. Marty Vallero Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: Jim Ratto on April 12, 2008, 00:48:43 am ..... and that night the three of us, Sheep, myself and Sean Dorman, sat in Sheep's dad's place, on a hot Friday night in Aug 1994 and wathced a copy of the DKP 1 reunion tape, from 1990. First time we had seen many of the DKP's stuff from back then and we were gape-mouthed and pretty buzzed off cheap beer. For me it was pics of Aronson's white '63 and a red '67 with BRM's and a brown split with BRM's that got me going. years later, plus all the energy these guys displayed, rallies, racing, partying, etc... stuff the three of us wanted to do. Frank and myself were already very interested in traditional Cal Look stuff, and now even more so....and already were running the big cc IDA motors in our '67's.... so a club was pretty much inevitable. There were other guys we knew from college and BH that were running around and seemed to fit what we wanted to do... kafercup Derek, Bates, a few others... SODA...etc. So one night we all met up @ alehouse and it was a go.... Hey!! That's the good old Raymond road 1/4 mile where many a muscle car puttered away with its tail between its legs after being eviscerated by a little 4 cylinder bug motor :) Same road where Ed out ran the cops that night... oops forgot, you're a cop now. :-X Good old Raymond Road. Every Friday night you could find a street race out there. The road got gradually less black the farther away you got from starting line. The night with the hayseed in the Mustang should go down in VW history. I can't believe I got away after the cops were SITTING there waiting for the next pass... I always thought Patterson was the place to get busted.... I had to outrun a "labcop" out there one night, without my fan belt on.... poor motor. Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: Tony Wilkie on April 16, 2008, 05:48:51 am Hummmmmmmmm Bay Area memories..............
I would say. DON'T give Mr. Ratto your business fax number :D That guy is one hell of an artist with a cartoon drawing flare! But, faxes came through my machine for days >:( ;D I still have some of his artwork framed on my office walls. The best was an auto-craft ratio rockers, valves, & spring combo. Can you say valve float rocker side play dilemma explotion ;D Some of Jim's artwork should be included in Seume new book ;) tw Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: Rick Meredith on April 16, 2008, 06:30:38 am Hummmmmmmmm Bay Area memories.............. I would say. DON'T give Mr. Ratto your business fax number :D That guy is one hell of an artist with a cartoon drawing flare! But, faxes came through my machine for days >:( ;D I still have some of his artwork framed on my office walls. The best was an auto-craft ratio rockers, valves, & spring combo. Can you say valve float rocker side play dilemma explotion ;D Some of Jim's artwork should be included in Seume new book ;) tw I hate to steal Marks graphic but .... (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v18/Sumdumsurfer/threadisworthless.gif) Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: Tony Wilkie on April 16, 2008, 06:34:24 am ah man...I would have to take it out of the picture frame.
I'm sure Ratto could draw us up something ;D tw Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: Jim Ratto on April 16, 2008, 16:24:16 pm oh man..... a whole new topic for Lounge.... the BH faxes
::) Thanks ALOT Tony....hahahahahaaa we should ahve set side play on those rockers to 0.00000000000000000001" like we've been "taught" ;D Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: Dick Mitchell on April 21, 2008, 03:45:53 am Quote I always thought Patterson was the place to get busted.... I had to outrun a "labcop" out there one night, without my fan belt on.... poor motor. Me Gilbert and Zenjoe weren't as lucky... :( Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: my65rhd on September 01, 2008, 02:22:36 am Wow this brings back LOTS of memories. I started hanging out with the DKL back in 81 or 82. My brother Jeff had our families 68 Bus. I have a DKL flag still that I got from Jeff. I remember bbq's on D Street in Hayward...I do remember Bobby,John, Centerline John of Castro Valley, Frank with the white 67. Didn't Kevin's sister have a blue euro 60? I have a pic in front of me with my brother,Mark and Kevin at a show in Merced back in the day. I need a scanner. Was Niel with the red convertible out of Hayward I think in DKL? Carlos with a maroon oval rag out of Hayward. Another club was the Bay Area VW Association. I joined Tri-City V-Dubs in 1983...Whew I am winded from thinking Kyle
(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a257/rhdragtop/Newsletter.jpg) (http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a257/rhdragtop/Newsletter2.jpg) (http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a257/rhdragtop/Newsletter3.jpg) (http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a257/rhdragtop/Newsletter4.jpg) (http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a257/rhdragtop/neils.jpg) (http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a257/rhdragtop/80scars-38.jpg) (http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a257/rhdragtop/80scars-37.jpg) (http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a257/rhdragtop/80scars-4.jpg) Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: jpperf on September 04, 2008, 07:01:22 am Jim, how can you forget the infamous "Foothill Cal VWs", led by legends such as "Thumpin Ed" and "Slammin Lou". I will try to drum up some old pics of my car with the window painted.
If I remember right, wasn't West Coast run by that tall ass chick with the gi-normous rack? JayP Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: my65rhd on September 04, 2008, 09:41:43 am I couldn't get into the Foothill club. My Notch at the time had a few shades of primer and they said they only wanted cars with one color...I sure do remember those two guys. I was in West Coast V-Dubs which was fun also. I was the treasurer. The presidents name was Robin. I think the highlight of the first club I was in..Tri-City V-Dubs was when I became eligible to become a member and taking my car to this guy (cant remember his name) and he hand painted the logo on my back window of my high school Notch. I felt on Cloud 9.
My friend Steve's Notch.. you can sort of see the logo (http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a257/rhdragtop/StevesNotch.jpg) 8 Notchbacks at one meeting (http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a257/rhdragtop/Tri-CityV-DubsSmall.jpg) (http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a257/rhdragtop/Tri-CityV-Dubs.jpg) Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: speedwell on September 04, 2008, 10:52:01 am funny to see the different height
Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: my65rhd on September 04, 2008, 11:11:31 am ya stock Type 3's were so dang high. Mine was the white one with the oval euro plate. I bought that from Chris Huvey that owned the silver baja ragtop lowered..WOW thats funny I just remembered his name.. Also more friends back then was Jose,George (Kent Engineering) and Walter Grundler. My brother and I hung out with them a lot. Walter helped me alot with car parts... It's also funny that the one car I would like to own someday is a lotus white 67 bug sunroof. I always liked lil Frank's (not sheep) back in the early 80's.Seats bolted to the floor and you could hardly see him.. So many memories Kyle
Hey Tony...Do you know if Mark made those fenders for "The Thumper" ..they were hella flared Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: Prowagen on September 04, 2008, 11:22:04 am Jim, A little known racer in 71-72, Ray Vallero (a mechanic at NIELLO VW) He had the I/GAS or H/GAS porsche 912 didn't he with the flip body, it was for sale some time ago! Awesome car. Rob. Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: sheep on September 04, 2008, 15:58:40 pm ya stock Type 3's were so dang high. Mine was the white one with the oval euro plate. I bought that from Chris Huvey that owned the silver baja ragtop lowered..WOW thats funny I just remembered his name.. Also more friends back then was Jose,George (Kent Engineering) and Walter Grundler. My brother and I hung out with them a lot. Walter helped me alot with car parts... It's also funny that the one car I would like to own someday is a lotus white 67 bug sunroof. I always liked lil Frank's (not sheep) back in the early 80's.Seats bolted to the floor and you could hardly see him.. So many memories Kyle Hey Tony...Do you know if Mark made those fenders for "The Thumper" ..they were hella flared Kyle is yours the white one facing the opposite way of all the others??? Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: Tony M on September 04, 2008, 16:14:57 pm Jim, how can you forget the infamous "Foothill Cal VWs", led by legends such as "Thumpin Ed" and "Slammin Lou". I will try to drum up some old pics of my car with the window painted. If I remember right, wasn't West Coast run by that tall ass chick with the gi-normous rack? JayP I forgot about them - Thumpin Ed & Slamin Lou - More of the BH fan club - And the real little Frank with his 67 and prelude seats. Nice picts MR RHD :) Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: Jim Ratto on September 04, 2008, 16:29:25 pm Wow Kyle you are like a walking history reference book. I remember Tri City.... I went to one of their events @ San Leandro Marina way back in '87 and I was kind of snubbed for having stock height and chrome moldings and stuff like that, but that was ok. There was a small group of us guys @ Amador High School that fiddled around with VW's after school, you probably remember some of the same guys... Lars had a few Notchbacks (the primered car I remember best, with high CR 1835 and DCNFs), Billy Alexander had the slammed baby blue '68 Squareback, Jason that had the metallic root beer brown Lowered Baja (!) with thumping 1835 dual 44IDF, and of course, I know you knew Ty. Everybody knew Ty. Eric Boring was another guy that we sometimes hung out with, he was older than all of us, but worked at Beetle Power (with Billy Alexander), a shop that RACE HEAD (Tony Mace) now owns. And that shop is about 500' away from Original Sam's Pizza, which I am sure you recall very well from the old club meetings where we drained the kegs dry...... and smaller world.... Billy, Sheep and myself all worked there at Sam's at one time, together.... where I did the big burnout without my decklid and lost the fan belt when it flew off and landed on their roof.
Working my tenure @ BH kind of was like a Black Hole.... all of you guys got pulled in my direction. A good thing? hahahaha Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: my65rhd on September 04, 2008, 17:14:06 pm and No Sheep I managed to park my car correctly thank you very much. Jim I remember those guys too. My brother bought the blue Notch off Lars then I bought it later on ...Kyle
Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: crofty on September 05, 2008, 05:39:13 am Frank, Didn't you have that pink '68 on Rivieras when you where in Fault Line?
Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: Rennsurfer on September 05, 2008, 06:03:15 am Jason that had the metallic root beer brown Lowered Baja (!) with thumping 1835 dual 44IDF That's HOT. Forget Cal Look... it's all about lowering every Baja Bug, now. Sorry. Carry on. Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: John Rayburn on September 05, 2008, 06:07:17 am Thank God for you, Mark!
Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: Jim Ratto on September 05, 2008, 16:15:08 pm Jason that had the metallic root beer brown Lowered Baja (!) with thumping 1835 dual 44IDF That's HOT. Forget Cal Look... it's all about lowering every Baja Bug, now. Sorry. Carry on. damn right Mark! The car was nothing, if not unique. Imagine a cool root beer brown, metallic typical 80's Cal Look car, shaved, lowered, brown velour semi-custom interior.... gauges, FF steering wheel, 1835 chromed out, 44IDFs with rinky-dink push-pull linkage, mega-power stereo. Now put a narrow-eye Baja kit on it, and change merge race header for Tri Mil. There you go. I don't remember ever seeing another one like it. Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: sheep on September 05, 2008, 16:32:26 pm Frank, Didn't you have that pink '68 on Rivieras when you where in Fault Line? Oh yeah and I had a mullet too Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: Tony M on September 05, 2008, 16:41:06 pm Kyle - Big Marks fenders on THUMP were Creative Car Craft - Befor they moved to FL. Do you guys remember the other Rootbeer Brown lowered baja - Rod G. from CV - Owned Cobblers Shoe store on Foothill Blvd. Might have been the same car - cant remember if he sold it or not around that time.
Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: Jim Ratto on September 05, 2008, 16:45:30 pm ..... and that night the three of us, Sheep, myself and Sean Dorman, sat in Sheep's dad's place, on a hot Friday night in Aug 1994 and wathced a copy of the DKP 1 reunion tape, from 1990. First time we had seen many of the DKP's stuff from back then and we were gape-mouthed and pretty buzzed off cheap beer. For me it was pics of Aronson's white '63 and a red '67 with BRM's and a brown split with BRM's that got me going. years later, plus all the energy these guys displayed, rallies, racing, partying, etc... stuff the three of us wanted to do. Frank and myself were already very interested in traditional Cal Look stuff, and now even more so....and already were running the big cc IDA motors in our '67's.... so a club was pretty much inevitable. There were other guys we knew from college and BH that were running around and seemed to fit what we wanted to do... kafercup Derek, Bates, a few others... SODA...etc. So one night we all met up @ alehouse and it was a go.... Hey!! That's the good old Raymond road 1/4 mile where many a muscle car puttered away with its tail between its legs after being eviscerated by a little 4 cylinder bug motor :) Who remembers the night the cops ambushed us out there, just after the Mustang vs. my '67? Kyle, got headlights? Ed V. did quite the job of making a get a way.... but then what cop would suspect a plain Jane looking 4 door Rabbit racing (and beating) a wild flashy go-fast 5.0 Mustang? 8) how about the night we all got kicked out of the go kart track? How do a couple of guys manage to stack 3 go karts up on top of each other? Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: Tony M on September 05, 2008, 16:49:41 pm Drunk :o
Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: Jim Ratto on September 05, 2008, 19:50:47 pm Kyle were there any big cc cars in Tri City? All I remember was that a chick was in charge. I think our club was one of the only performance minded clubs around that area, aside from DKL with your brother and Big Mark
Berkeley was kind of a hot spot for VW/porsche hot rod stuff too. Same with some guys on the Peninsula, especially when it came to USAC stuff. We cannot forget about Mike Collins. What good friend and genius to boot. I think anybody that had hp stuff and hung around BH knew Mike. Clement Ave in Alameda. How many 100mph+ passes were made down that street? Tony, Bryan, Anton, myself. I remember after i got Danny Wyche's 2164 up and running and Tony took it on a jetting run... the car was just going in loops in front of the shop, suffocating in tire smoke. Seems that summer every day the sun was blotted out by burnout smoke. 8) Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: my65rhd on September 06, 2008, 04:44:42 am Kyle - Big Marks fenders on THUMP were Creative Car Craft - Befor they moved to FL. Do you guys remember the other Rootbeer Brown lowered baja - Rod G. from CV - Owned Cobblers Shoe store on Foothill Blvd. Might have been the same car - cant remember if he sold it or not around that time. Thanks Tony...I wonder if they still make em that wide..Dude Rod's baja sounds SO familiar. Didnt he live on Crow Canyon Road..I do remember his ride..I knew I had seen it Kyle Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: my65rhd on September 06, 2008, 05:03:46 am I messed up with the Quote button. Sorry but I am having an old persons brain fart..
So to answer your question Sir Ratto...God of all Gods Tri-City started with Terry Harker as President in the early 80's. I remember him hitting a cow and totalling one of his cars. I think he started off Cow-Look...Steve Cox and Jim Ledgewood (RIP) were big parts of that club. Many others too but cant remember their names off hand. I really cant remember who had what as far as big engines..Later on my friend Ron started it back up again..Always a Fremont based club Jim the girl you are thinking of is Robin who was the President of the West Coast V-Dubs out of San Leandro Mike Collins was an awesome guy. He built my tranny that was in my rhd bug. It never gave me any problems. I remember him also retapping some new rotors for my old Notch. He said he loved jobs like that because it wasn't greasy. I also took my moms squareback to him when the spark plug shot out. Always a cool guy to chat with. Good times Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: my65rhd on October 08, 2008, 12:43:30 pm I am trying to find an old friend. He grew up in Fremont but last I heard he was living in Oregon. His name is Steve Cox. I have known him since about 1982 or 1983. If anyone has any info it would be greatly appreciated..Thanks Kyle
(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a257/rhdragtop/SteveCox.jpg) His old Notchbacks (http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a257/rhdragtop/StevesNotch.jpg) (http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a257/rhdragtop/StevesNotchback.jpg) Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: sheep on October 08, 2008, 15:37:40 pm I am trying to find an old friend. He grew up in Fremont but last I heard he was living in Oregon. His name is Steve Cox. I have known him since about 1982 or 1983. If anyone has any info it would be greatly appreciated..Thanks Kyle (http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a257/rhdragtop/SteveCox.jpg) His old Notchbacks (http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a257/rhdragtop/StevesNotch.jpg) (http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a257/rhdragtop/StevesNotchback.jpg) Isnt that Joey Ramone :o Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: Jim Ratto on October 08, 2008, 16:14:33 pm I think it's Johnny.
I remember that guy, Kyle. Sheep and I always used to see him @ Bug A Rama, we called him the Johnny Ramone guy. We had 'nicknames' for just about everybody. Bill Schwimmer was known, by Sheep, as "Bill Fishwagen" Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: sheep on October 08, 2008, 16:16:07 pm I think it's Johnny. I remember that guy, Kyle. Sheep and I always used to see him @ Bug A Rama, we called him the Johnny Ramone guy. We had 'nicknames' for just about everybody. Bill Schwimmer was known, by Sheep, as "Bill Fishwagen" What :o hahahahaha thats a good one Jim ::) Shouldnt you be cruising the junior high looking for a date :o Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: Jim Ratto on October 08, 2008, 16:31:58 pm I think it's Johnny. I remember that guy, Kyle. Sheep and I always used to see him @ Bug A Rama, we called him the Johnny Ramone guy. We had 'nicknames' for just about everybody. Bill Schwimmer was known, by Sheep, as "Bill Fishwagen" What :o hahahahaha thats a good one Jim ::) Shouldnt you be cruising the junior high looking for a date :o no I should really finish reading this book "Building VW Bug Engines for Dummies" I'm not sure where this big gear goes inside the case :-\ Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: sheep on October 08, 2008, 16:49:42 pm I think it's Johnny. I remember that guy, Kyle. Sheep and I always used to see him @ Bug A Rama, we called him the Johnny Ramone guy. We had 'nicknames' for just about everybody. Bill Schwimmer was known, by Sheep, as "Bill Fishwagen" What :o hahahahaha thats a good one Jim ::) Shouldnt you be cruising the junior high looking for a date :o no I should really finish reading this book "Building VW Bug Engines for Dummies" I'm not sure where this big gear goes inside the case :-\ I just sprayed coffee all over my keyboard ;D Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: Jim M on October 08, 2008, 17:31:36 pm I am trying to find an old friend. He grew up in Fremont but last I heard he was living in Oregon. His name is Steve Cox. I have known him since about 1982 or 1983. If anyone has any info it would be greatly appreciated..Thanks Kyle [ His old Notchbacks (http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a257/rhdragtop/StevesNotchback.jpg) Steve Cox haven't seen him in years. Thats him to the right of the notch, Mr Ramone It looks like that turbo blue oval next to it with a vintage club plaque on the rear of the car.Steve is a very cool guy tho. He built some great cars in the east bay.I remember a beater 58 or 59 with a under the decklid turbo, a sleeper with stock 58 brakes.Always top notch,notches he built.I also remember Big Mark with "thumper" and some crazy caravans down to the last Bug Inn's with those guys. Anyone remember the MEDFLY NATIONALS at Sears Point Raceway. Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: Jim Ratto on October 08, 2008, 17:42:14 pm That blue Oval was one mean mother in its day.... 10.86 @ Baylands?
I heard about some of the trips to OCIR from Big Mark.... Mark Miller in the fields on the side of I-5 manking his own freeway Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: stealth67vw on October 09, 2008, 01:46:04 am That is Rob Case's Turbo 56. It is the fastest car I have ever ridden in. Me and Jerry Dicker went to his house in San Jose about 1994 and he took me for a ride down West San Carlos. Holy Fuck! My heart was pounding for hours after I left.
Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: my65rhd on October 11, 2008, 12:13:51 pm Few other things I found from the past...Club stuff and more Bay Area cars... Kyle mr rhd sucka
I haven't found the flag yet (http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a257/rhdragtop/DerKleinerLowen.jpg) (http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a257/rhdragtop/MybrotherJeffs68Bus.jpg) (http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a257/rhdragtop/MybrotherJeffs68busMay1982-2.jpg) My brother Jeff, Kevin and Mark P. at the Bug Bash in Merced way back in the 80's (http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a257/rhdragtop/JeffKevinandMarkBugBashMerced.jpg) My brothers 64 sunroof I think he bought off the real Lil Frank... (http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a257/rhdragtop/Jeffs64sunroof.jpg) (http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a257/rhdragtop/MybrotherJeffs64sunroofatBOR.jpg) Me and my 1965 Notch in highschool about 1983 or 84 (http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a257/rhdragtop/Kyleandthe65Notchinhighschool.jpg) Raymond Rd anyone? (http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a257/rhdragtop/Aufklarung.jpg) Part of the Bay Area VW Association (http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a257/rhdragtop/BugORama17BayAreabugs.jpg) Was this your Notch Mr Mayo ?? or was yours red ? (http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a257/rhdragtop/BugORama18BayAreaNotch.jpg) Centerline John from Castro Valley (http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a257/rhdragtop/CenterlineJohnCastroValley.jpg) I remember following "The Gangster" on Harder Rd in Hayward (http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a257/rhdragtop/TheGangsterofHayward.jpg) Think his name was Tim out of Hayward maybe ? (http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a257/rhdragtop/BugORama22BayArea.jpg) Hayward based I think (http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a257/rhdragtop/BugORama23BayAreabug.jpg) Hayward based too. I think the owner was Carlos ?? (http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a257/rhdragtop/BugORama24BayAreabugCarlos.jpg) Evan's 61 rag from SF Bay Area VW Association (http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a257/rhdragtop/Evans61ragBayArea.jpg) My brother walking to Bearfoot at BOR in early 80's (http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a257/rhdragtop/JeffwithBearfootBugORama.jpg) My first club...they actually voted me in. If they only knew (http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a257/rhdragtop/Tri-City.jpg) Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: j-f on October 11, 2008, 12:26:21 pm It's fun that somebody is call "Cox" because it's the exact translation of Bug in French! 8)
Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: Tony M on October 11, 2008, 17:04:26 pm Mr RHD does it again - Kyle you have a awsom collection of picts - Rob Case and his Turbo bug - When i was at BH , sold him more parts for his car. On one saturday he spent almost 10k with me. Of course i gave him a big discount on parts because he was buying soo much, Rich D. had a shit fit untill i showed him the tags from the day. And yes that car was way fast. Still see him to this day, lives in San Jose, married with children, 2 boys both race 1/4 midgets. And as far as i know he still has his car. I rember a lot of those cars in the photos, and between Big Mark and myself we sold a lot of parts. Kyle you still look the same as you did in that one picture ;D Seeing your brother, Kevin, Mark, brings back very good and fond times. Thanks you for posting those. I will try and scan some picts that i found of BH in the early days. Keep em comming.
Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: Tony M on October 11, 2008, 22:47:39 pm And as for The Gangster of Love - Herb Martinez - How about a nother name - Jeff Bogart - BRE - Rob's partner - I know a lot of you guys in the area dislike Jeff B. - I know Rob does - Burned him at the old shop - Just packed up and left town. But the guy did build some bad a-- engines.
Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: stealth67vw on October 12, 2008, 00:58:47 am Jeff Bogart didn't do so hot on Kyle's motor. :-\
I made a trip or 2 out to his house in Sunnyvale in 1994 also. He was wayyyy spun out on dope. He had sold almost everything in his house for dope although he did have stacks of JC, Street Eliminator and Super Flow heads in his garage along with the Wild Side Pro Turbo car the Eserini's ended up with. He had an engine on the stand at the time that had the sides of the case decked and big steel plates bolted to it, along with big thick steel plates bolted to the roof of the case ??? He said he took the Wild Side car down the 85 freeway before it was opened and opened it up to about 150mph :o. Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: my65rhd on October 12, 2008, 01:08:51 am Oh boy..Don't get me started on Jeff Bogart..B.R.E. Broken Racing Engines " If you want an engine built right, Go somewhere else." I think that was his motto or the sign in his office haha..WOW he sure messed up my 2016cc longblock. A big loss of money.It took a shit at 1,300 miles and when Jim and I took it apart boy there were lots wrong with it. I went through 3 starters trying to just turn it over. I don't think he checked any clearances. There was no side to side clearance at all on the rods. The crankshaft was missing the main dowel pin for the bearing. It was so close to ruining the brand new case..Cam gear was hella crappy. Just lots of cheap parts. ..Jim can definately chime in on this subject haha huh Jim After Jim was done I put over 150,000 on the beast.....Kyle
PS: I have many more pictures to scan Tony Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: my65rhd on October 12, 2008, 01:20:43 am A few more pics before I run some errands
Rob's wicked Oval. I never got the chance to ride in the beast (http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a257/rhdragtop/RobCaseswickedturbo.jpg) Tri City V-Dubs member Dan out of Fremont. Sears Point Show (http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a257/rhdragtop/Dans64Notch.jpg) Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: sheep on October 12, 2008, 16:52:48 pm Kyle.... Jim built you a motor :-[
Is it finished????????? Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: Tony M on October 12, 2008, 17:50:56 pm That was the bad part of Jeffy - the dope killed him - Rob told me some other stories about other guys motors - a big v8 all the goodies bolted on with no guts inside - but the vr6 turbo drag engine was pertty cool - but i dont know if somebody else had to fix it. He built our off road engine - ford ranger - went pretty good - but i know he f___ a lot of guys over. I dident know he got you Kyle, thats too bad - I hear he lives in Alabama with a fat girl :o
Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: Jim Ratto on October 12, 2008, 18:13:43 pm Kyle, didn't it take him a long time to build it too?
I don't want to smear some other guy's work but it was pretty bad. Top dollar for stock junk, stock valves, stock springs, stock retainers, keepers not ground, junk rocker shafts, junk adjusters, rods didn't fit, cheesy timing gears, too high CR, single thrust cam bearings, missing dowel pin for mains, stock gland nut. glad you got 150,000 out of the one we built, Kyle. 8) Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: sheep on October 12, 2008, 18:15:38 pm Why didnt kyle go with Jim to begin with?
Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: my65rhd on October 13, 2008, 02:09:41 am Why didnt kyle go with Jim to begin with? Because I didn't want to bug him. He had others wanting engines to be built plus he had school. Since I had spoke with Jeff a long time regarding an engine I didn't think anything would go wrong. I had known since the 80's..oh well... Kyle Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: my65rhd on October 13, 2008, 02:11:37 am Kyle.... Jim built you a motor :-[ Is it finished????????? Jim and I finished it in a weekend ...some beer and the Grateful Dead did the trick...Kyle Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: Jim Ratto on October 13, 2008, 16:53:45 pm Why didnt kyle go with Jim to begin with? Because I didn't want to bug him. He had others wanting engines to be built plus he had school. Since I had spoke with Jeff a long time regarding an engine I didn't think anything would go wrong. I had known since the 80's..oh well... Kyle what a guy. Your motor was a good one, Kyle, it had a real nice power curve and sounded healthy. I'm still amazed that it ran for all those miles. I was always really proud of that one, and thankful that that motor had such a thoughtful and conscientous owner that took good care of it. I hate seeing junk being put together like the builder was blind. Waste of time and parts. Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: my65rhd on October 14, 2008, 04:43:12 am WOW..my Notch made it in the July 08 issue of Ultra VW's.BOR #60.......Kyle mr rhd
(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a257/rhdragtop/UltraVWJuly08-1.jpg) The first issue was better in 2007..all thanks to my friend Rob E. (http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a257/rhdragtop/Ultra.jpg) (http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a257/rhdragtop/Ultra2.jpg) Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: Tony M on October 14, 2008, 15:26:23 pm Congrats Kyle - Way cool 8)
Tony Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: Jim Ratto on March 07, 2017, 23:58:54 pm I found some old pics of Rob's turbo street car from 1990 Pleasanton
Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: Jim Ratto on March 08, 2017, 00:01:02 am Behind the scenes at BH around 1994
Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: Jim Ratto on March 08, 2017, 00:04:51 am The house some of us shared out by Raymond Rd in 1995. The driveway always looked like this. One of the neighbors reported us to the city for "running a business"
My Dad's single cab is the in the distance, getting a timing and carb adjustment- 2054cc with lots of nice parts Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: Mike P on March 10, 2017, 01:15:44 am I got into the VW game here in the SF Bay Area much later than most and have been on a nearly 15 year break due to money and life. Who all is still around and playing with these goofy old cars? I know of a couple other individuals, not on this forum, that are starting to tinker again. Lets meet up and do something sometime if anyone is still there.
Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: javabug on March 10, 2017, 20:28:13 pm The house some of us shared out by Raymond Rd in 1995. The driveway always looked like this. Would-be challenger trying to find the fast guys? Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: Jim Ratto on March 10, 2017, 20:57:58 pm Wow. In all these years I never noticed that car back there. Now to try to remember who owned it. I do not think Frank's red '67 was running at this point. It may have been our friend Erik, before he painted his '68 white.
Good eye. Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: Dan Ahrendt on April 18, 2017, 18:41:11 pm Beautiful old memories. Can someone tell me who was the biggest vw dealer around 1969 in San Francisco?
I only know that my bus was delivered to San Francisco ;D Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: Clatter on April 30, 2017, 01:53:03 am Wow, great thread! ;D
I didn't move to the bay area until 1996 or so, but, Got me a set of BRE heads from the Eserini Brothers at the Bug-O years ago that are still going strong! The guy must have done some things right at a time, Because these heads are my crown jewel. Even though they are only 40 x 35.5, non-welded oval ports on OG 311 castings, I have Shut Down a couple of big catalog-order 2276s with my 1914 they sit on. 8) (Overlapping that great 1835 thread here, kinda..) ;) Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: Jim Ratto on May 05, 2017, 17:51:43 pm More old pictures courtesy of Kyle Madden
Title: Re: San Francisco/Bay Area VW history, clubs, people, cars....etc. Post by: stealth67vw on May 07, 2017, 08:16:57 am Wow. In all these years I never noticed that car back there. Now to try to remember who owned it. I do not think Frank's red '67 was running at this point. It may have been our friend Erik, before he painted his '68 white. Could it have been Jaimie's super beetle? Hard to tell.Good eye. |