The Cal-look Lounge

Wouldn't it be nice to hear about John's ride? And see some pictures of how it evolved?

(http://www.dkpcarclub.com/dkp_images/rayburn.jpg)

I read that John's DKP ride is his first VW! It can also be seen in the early DKP III club photo together with the Berglar and a few other member rides that have vanished...

John, tell us about how long you have been hitting the streets in your '64 and the stages it's been through. Tell us about the rare empi accessories! And of course the engines you've had in it and the times you set with it. I guess you didn't get your reputation of being fast for nothing, right?

i 1st saw a pic of his car yesterday on here, one piece windows and pop outs work really well!  8)

Let's hear it John!

This could take a while, I'll have to put on my reading glasses for this one...

~DR.

Oh this is going to be good.......  ;D

yes come on robert talk about your zepelin ;D ;D ;D

where's Ron Jayburn been?

probably has "Good Times, Bad Times" turned up to "11" and can't hear you, Mark. You gotta wait for one of the quieter songs... Battle of Evermore, for instance.... or maybe Rain Song.

I'M SURPRISED JOHN DIDN'T START THIS THREAD HIMSELF..... ;D

cool
One thing's for sure... John's one guy that's not afraid to use his car, and use it like it's meant to be used... VERY HARD.
he should earn a nick name of Leadfoot Zeppelin :o

cool! can't wait :)

you know thinking about it, I think I posted this all before? John?

OK ,Jim, you were probably right, but I think Walters Walk was playing on the IPod. I was at a client's in Yorba Linda touching things up for one of their parties this weekend, nice short Friday! Decided I should probably turn on the phone, and there was a message from Mark saying I had a thread to answer. You guys flatter me, and I appreciate it! And Jim, my IPod goes to twelve! Diederick, I have had the car along time, my Dad is the original owner of my Berlin model 64. He bought it in October '63 and , although I don't remember, I came home from the hospital as an infant in that very car. I spent my whole life in that car, and can remember exacly how everything smelled. The german carpet, rubber mats, upholstry, everything. In the mid 70's my brother bought his EMPI demonstrater from Timmons Volkswagen in Long Beach. Dave Rosique built the engine for it and it was a real fast car! He used to take me out in it alot and beat up on all the local yokals. That was great fun and I knew I had to have one! One night , my brother let me drive his car when I was about 13 or 14. He told me to step on it, and I did. That was such a rush , I didn't sleep for about 3 nights I was so wound up. My Dad gave me my car in '79, and my brother and Dave had been helping me plan things and gather parts for the day I got my license. The day that happened, I drove the car to H&H Motors, where Dave lowered my front end, put my 135's on that he had set aside for me. Put in my Hurst shifter, my Koni shocks in the rear, still on the car, and gave it a super tune. I'll never forget pulling out of there to go for a spin in my own lowered car ! I ran around for about a year or so with Porsche chromies until I aquired my EMPI 5's, which I ran for many years. I remember when I put those wheels on, I hadn't put the caps on yet, and was on my way home to do that. I drove past Auto Haus , but didn't stop, because I didn't want Mark to see it without the caps. Mark knew exactly how many minutes it took me to get home, and the phone was ringing off the hook when I hit the door. I pick it up, and Mark yells, Why didn't you stop and show me?!!! I saw you drive by, and I'd recognize those wheels spinning from a mile away!!! I screwed the caps on , and drove back to show him. Mark hit the door as I was pulling in. He and I were a couple of EMPI perverts that taunted each other at the drop of a hat. Look what I got! Oh yeah? well, look what I turned up. Sometimes, I'd pull in and if I got out of the car with some item, like a gauge package, he'd lock the door. Dave Rosique was always on the lookout for stuff he knew I needed. When I was looking for Sprintstars, he says, Hey, there's two being used for stepping stones at the Wilmington Pick Your Part! Or the box of crap he bought for 5 dollars at a swap meet that , upon dumping it out , had my EMPI brass sender fitting! One of my favorite engines , I ran the daylights out of, was my 78.4 X 94 that Dave Rosique built. It had a W130 with 1.25's and Jeff Denham Super Whammy non welded heads and 48mm Dellortos. I drove this car daily back and forth to scenery shops in LA, and animation shops out in San Bernadino. It ran consistant low 13's on radials and was extremely reliable and ran real cool. When the Berg 5 went in, it really became a great driver in the early nineties. After years of a close ratio 4 speed, the fifth gear spoiled me. Jim mentioned I drive pretty agressively, and I do. Dave Rosique , for years, has called me Mr. Wheeler, for the Disney cartoon of the miled mannered Goofey, until he gets behind the wheel.Mark asked me to relay a story, and I hope Dave will chime in on his perspective as he witnessed it. I left Dave's shop one day and started smelling fuel real bad. I shut it off and found one of my 44 IDF's had lost one of the large plugs underneath the floatbowl. Luckily, the plug was laying there underneath it. I called Dave and asked him to bring a pair of vice grips. We sinched off the fuel line and he started following me back to his shop in his 356, me driving the Bug on two cylinders. I pull up to a stop light behind a UPS truck, and the jackass putts it in reverse and plows the front of my car!. He starts to leave, and obviously, I couldn't drive after him. So I jump out and chase him on foot. I jumped up on the driver side window and grab the guy by the collar. Thank heaven he stopped the truck! I got all his info, and Dave says he'll meet me back at the shop . I get the bug back over to Dave's and walk in the door. Dave says, "Yep, Mr. Wheeler!" These days, I run my 84X94 with Jeff's welded heads and it's a real hoot to drive. I went to Dave's house one cold morning about 9 years ago after breaking this combo in and took him for a test drive. I think Dave liked it. I just recently added a set of Joe Gallagher's torque thrust D spoke wheels and replaced my 356B brakes with some nice AC disc brake units. My car has been a constant companion, and I've seen and done it all while I've been driving it. Thankfully I have an understanding Wife!

                                                   Yeah, you did, but it was more of a Zeppelin post.

nice story John... I love hearing about how cars have been part of their lives.... so much more fun to read and talk about instead of tech talk crap. I can totally see you bulldogging after that UPS driver and getting a hold of the guy.

Just for this story, I will make you a cheese pizza next time you come over.

Thanks Jim! I hope Dave will tell us his perspective on the UPS incident.

cool write up john! pretty cool to hear how long it's been in the family and how you got help when you were younger!!

so, the front end was badly damaged then? did you have to repaint it?
do you have a pic of the car with the 5 spoke as well?
how about the interior? ;)

p.s. mark, what java green '66? i thought was orange...

The car had a pretty  messed up crease, from one side to the other, from the step on the back of the truck. Jim Gordon in Paramout metal finished the two fenders and the hood and repainted the front of the car. I'm trying to find an old photo of the car with the 5 spokes. Mark's Java Green 66 was his Anti Lakewood Sheriff car for when they were putting the screws to him in the orange car.

                                                                            The lifetimes are always the fun in our hobby. Some of the guys that are newer to the scene don't always realize that Cal Look was always about the people, not so much the car. The car was the thing that all were into, but it was the people and the stuff that happened along the way that made 99% of the Cal Look scene.

Here's a shot I found taken backstage at Disneyland with my friend Jan. His 67 was all original and beatiful. He also snapped the photo with a timer.

Your favorite, Savanah Beige.

Hey John, cool stories.  One thing definetly notable about your car is larger tire sizes, especially the front.  A preference you've developed through the years?

Two reasons on the larger front tires, but they're closely related. I started running 356 brakes around '82 or '83, and needed more tire to keep the brakes more manageable. Beings it was daily driven many , many miles, rain also was a big factor. Not only for stopping, but for cornering. Usually 165's up front, when no 155's were available. I do have 155's on it again. They work really well with the disc brakes.

I've been looking forward to some good shots of it with the 155s on the front. 

whats cool about those 155s on johns car the same company make 185s I'm still thinking about that combo with frys and a drink

Ah yes... The UPS incident.
As John noted earlier, due to a fuel leak we had gone to limp the car back to the shop for repairs... John chuggs up behind this UPS delivery van who was waiting to turn right or something, and all of a sudden I see the reverse lights come on and this guy backs right in to John! Then he starts to drive off! John Jumps out of the car and chases this guy down ON FOOT! You think his car is quick! Anyway, John jumps up to the drivers window wanting a piece of this 6'6" delivery driver and this poor guy still didnt quite know what the heck was going on! I remember a heck of an exchange! Something like: "WHAT THE #@%& ARE YOU THINKING YOU $%& *^ @ $#%&^ GET YOUR *%#@$ @## DOWN HERE OR I'LL DEAG YOUR #$%^%$& @$$ OUT OF THE $@#@%&* TRUCK.Seems like he waited for John to cool a bit before he got out. TRUST ME, YOU HAD TO BE THERE!

A good time to have seen me mad was driving down the 91 to an animation shop about 15 years ago. About 3/4 of a mile ahead there was a big piece of debris that EVERYBODY saw and was moving out of the lane and going around. As I drive by it, this jackass in his pressed 1000.00 suit and manicure and executive hair, driving an Infinity slips in the lane, drives over the debris and kicks it into my front end. I pull up next too him to motion him over, and he gives me this smartaleck shrug, and puts his foot in it. He was happy as a clam a couple miles down the freeway cruising at about 105 mph; until he looks in his rearview and sees me pushing him. Startled, he tries to speed up and it doesn't work for him. He gets off the freeway and goes into some secured parking garage at a bank. I can't follow him, so I approach the guard, tell the guy what happened and the plate number. I tell the guard to relay my info and that if he doesn't call with his insurance in a half hour, I'm calling highway patrol with a hit and run report and he can sort it out from a jail cell, as I will tell the CHP right where to find him. He called my home and told my wife everything and claimed he was too afraid to stop, that he was afraid I was going to kill him. My wife told him , she was sure that I would've. He told his insurance that my car only had minor damage and that he's not responsible. The " minor" damage was $850.00 and his own adjuster refered to him as that ass hole. Again another front end repaint.

Yeah Fred, John was smokin' mad at UPS that day.

Something a little off topic I wanted to add though. I met John when he was about 13 or so through his brother Bob (he had the GTV car). Trust me, John had the VW addiction even at thirteen. John and I have been friends for over thirty years and it's been a real pleasure to work on or with him on his bug. From the time his dad gave him the car, to when I opened my shop in 1985, John was my most loyal customer... Even my first dollar stapled on the wall came from him. When we moved the shop in 1991, again he was my first customer and again my first dollar was from him. I still have both dollars with some of my old shop stuff.

Sadly, we shut the shop down in 2001, but some of my absolute BEST memories stem from the old shop days which John and his car were a huge part of. 

Now, it's been John's turn to keep me up to speed with the VW scene. I'll get a call once in a while from him reminding me about a cruise night, Drag Day, or some other VW happening... all the while encouraging me to get my Oval running, even if it's not finished.

People like John, Fred & Sarge are what this stuff is all about if you ask me.

~Dave

I like John - he's the only guy I can talk to eye to eye...

cool story john ,any other pictures from your car in the 80's ???
love the car with the torkers
 ;)
(http://cal-look.no/lounge/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=20.0;attach=20842;image)

 :o ::) ;D ;D ;D ;D

Great to hear a little history on John’s car. I can never get enough of cars like these with all the history. I for sure feel like I was born in the wrong time period. I found an old one stuck to some others of some DKP cars at good ol Carlsbad.
I think it would be so cool if the mags would re-shoot some of the old school cars still on the roads today. We can count on seeing the new shiny cars with no chips and dings from rock throwing slicks. But how bad ass to show off the REAL cars still kicking ass today!!! Like Johns car.



(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/vishfab/dkpcarlsbad.jpg)
All the power sitting there!

Casey, that is one cool old shot! I loved Carlsbad. I'm glad you found that photo! Fabian, thanks for the stylized shot. I don't know of any other shots of my car in the eighties. I don't recall even owning a camera then, and I can't recall anybody ever taking any photos except for that one backstage shot. Mike, you wanted some shots with the 155's. Hope these help you.

Another.

Another.

your car rocks with torker i prefer those one to the sprinstars

Another.

your car will be cool too with buggy bars  ;)

is that your caddy john ??
wanna sell it ?

cool 1990's pic Casey

John your Infiniti story....perfect! 8) Somebody needs to show these stiffs in their V neck sweaters and painted on haircuts what's up. In fact....  just Thursday I was on my way into work, as every Thursday (and Monday and Friday) driving my Bug, coming down out of Box Canyon and into Canoga Park. As you drive east on Valley Circle, it becames Plummer Ave as you get near Topanga Cyn Blvd. At one stopsign, the lane is wide enough for two cars to pull next to each other, even though it is really marked as one lane. And just about every morning some soccer mom or some office-stiff wants to turn this intersection into staging lanes. Well Thursday, some CEO-snoot Jay Sebring look a like guy in his new Chirs-Bangle-Abortion BMW 750i thing tries his luck. I gave Mr. Stiff a car-length, then flattened the pedal....oh man I shot in front of the guy and his eyes looked like dinner plates. Yes, sir, you just got trounced by a VW!

Speedwell , thanks! My buddy Dave is fabbing some buggy bumpers for his oval. Maybe we'll have to try them on. Ian, not for sale! Sorry. I do get asked that alot lately with fuel prices.

keep up the good work jim !!

That's awsome, Jim! I hope he crapped his three piece suit!

probobly for the best .
i've been yold to stop spending money on car stuff !! ;)

Time to start hiding receipts, Ian! And Keith, when I'm standing there talking to you, I actually feel normal!

who wants to be normal?

Not me , if I were normal, I'd be that idiot in the Infinity. Who wants that?

John, those shots are perfect, THANKS!!!  I'm probably gonna go to those when my 145s wear out.

PS Nice Caddy, I drive a white diesel everyday.   8)

Mike , I'm glad the photos helped! The Caddy is a fun little driver, isn't it? I've gone just about everywhere in mine. It's gas with a '84 GTI 1.8. It gets 36 miles per gallon whether my foot is in it or not.

Thanks for sharing, John. Your car has some cool history. What is the story on the white Golf in front of the caddy;D

That's my wife's '86. She's the original owner. Has about 200,000 original miles, and doesn't use a drop of oil!

i just wanted to say that Jhon is probebly one of the kindest VW enthiest i have ever met. and know im not saying this to get favors from him in ART form. i truly mean that. hes the only one that i can talk to about alot of things not just vws.
 the simpsons/ hogans heros/ aircraft/and many other cool subjects. thanks jhon for being there your deffenetly a true freind at the top of my list. and let me tell ya the list is not that long.hey mr wheeler go tear the streets up  ;). UD. 

Hey Jeff! Thank you, that's really nice of you. Jeff, of course , does my cylinder heads and they always exceed expectations. He's a great guy and does incredible work. Everyone knows him. There was this guy I used to see around his shop that would look straight at you, but neither eye would be looking at you. One day, Jeff heard some far off voice calling his name. He went outside, and there was nobody around. But, the voice was still calling his name. The voice of God? No, it was the eyeball guy in a Cesna circiling his shop at about 900 feet. He had the window down and was screaming Jeff's name , just to say hello.

john since when are you involved in the vw ??? , you will answer when you came home from the hospital as an infant   ;D ;D and your dad gave you the bug in 79  ::) , but before nothing with vw ???
Of more john is always someone of smiling and always to the listening I am satisfied to have got acquainted in the cruise night before the bug in  ;)

Fabian, I guess I was involved in VW's from about '73 or '74. That was mainly due to my older brother, as I didn,t have a drivers license yet. My brother was teaching me how to take carbs apart and put them back together, use a unisyn gauge, stuff like that. My brother learned to drive in my car while my Dad still drove it daily, and we'd work on that together. My car was originally slated to be my brother's, and he was going to pattern it after Dave Roique's '64. He then purchased a real clean '69 that he kept briefly, before he found his EMPI demonstrator at Timmons Volkswagen in Long Beach. The odometer had 43 miles on it. That's when we knew for sure that the '64 would be turned over to me.

cool  8) any pictures of the empi  car of your brothers ???

My brother just found a box of slides of his car recently and put them in his loft in his garage. I've been tearing the place apart trying to find them so I can scan them. I'm going to head over there again today to see if I can put my hands on them!

A friend that would gladly SELL you the shirt off his back ::) ;) ;D  One of the hardest working promoters of DKP! 8) 8) 8)

Hey, that's a rare photo right there – Dave Kanase! Where are you Dave?  :)

yeah, and while John does work his rear off to keep DKP clothed and stylin', he's one of the funniest guys I've ever met, VW's or not. I remember a few years back how welcome Rayburn made me feel in the club with his sly ribbings. He's nothing, if not a die hard VW guy, but more so.... a real friend. Just before my son was born, he kept demanding "let me know as soon as he's here!" And a few days after our little guy arrived, Bon Rayjurn sends me a card signed not only by him, but his family of birds too. How cool is that?
John you're about as cool as they come.

Thanks , Jim! That's real nice of you. Thanks to Sarge , too. Jim, glad you made it from Simi tonight in one piece. Good meeting your old buddy , too. Wish i could've stayed longer!