BURNOUTS at Volkswagen of America Headquarters in Michigan

[rick m]

The first GENE BERG MEMORIAL CRUISE had a bunch of highlights for those of us who participated and attended.  One of the fun parts of that first cruise in memory of GENE BERG was the crazy idea we had of doing burnouts in our Cal Lookers right on the doorsteps of the Volkswagen of America Headquarters.

There were some that were a little hesitant to try it so I rolled out my 67 street car first and lined it up by the sidewalk and proceeded to do the first one. Clyde Berg laid down a little water for me but unfortunately my line lock did not lock the front tires and I could not get full advantage of heating up the tires properly.  To see my best burnout ever, go to OCEAN STREET VIDEOS and see the one I did at the April Bug-O-Rama in 1997 (a year after these pictures were taken).

Anyway, I managed to lay down about 40+ ft of rubber and the crowd started gathering around for the next showing. WHO WOULD IT BE?  Gary Berg!

Gary, who had since sold the BERGLAR to Rich Zavala some time before, was given the keys by RICH to show the crowd what the BERGLAR could do. Gary, being no stranger to big horsepower burnouts, did not disappoint.  He had Sally Eberle, the public relations manager for Volkswagen of America, jump in the BERGLAR on the first go and ride with him.  In typical BERG fashion, the BURNOUT was second to none. Check out the shots of my tire marks and the incredible (two) patches that Gary left from his exhibition.

We probably broke every driving rule for the VWOA Headquarters but the show of horsepower was legendary and one those in attendance will never forget.

Rick M

G

[Diederick/DVK]

awesome burnout!
those cn36 pirelli tyres surely lost some thread there

[rick m]

Gary literally left two imprints in the asphalt drive.  You could say that a BERG left a lasting impression on VWOA headquarters!  :-)

Rick M

[.]

I was there that day and witnessed the whole event.
I was also given a ride in the Berglar !
 

[rick m]

Hey Richard,

I remember us meeting and talking.  Good to see you here on the lounge.

Rick M

[TexasTom]

AWESOME pics ... aah the good old days!
Wish I could've been there.

Hard to believe the Ocean Street thing was that long ago ... not so very long though.

Thanks for posting.
Tom Funnell

[Hotrodvw]

I wanna do it!!!!!!! 

I would however like to see these pictures in a larger format, you know.......desk top wall paper size.   

[rick m]

There are limitations on the posting size of the photos on these sites.  Trust me... they are awesome larger too!  :-)

Rick M

[volksnut]

Rick, love those pictures of yours...and the story's are cool too...

[bugnut68]

I was just watching that Ocean Street Video the other day... the announcer was all excited... "I hope he burns them down to the cord!  What the... WHERE'D HE GO?   All RIIIGHHHHTTTTTTTTT!"   That WAS a hell of a burnout, though, I gotta say :-D