Original DKP Member

[Mike Lawless]

I talked to a guy at length at the West Coast Hot Rod opener at Famoso. He was an original DKP member, and raced in I, J, and K gas back in the OC Bug In days.

His name is John Ward. Any of you historians know of him?

[johnl]

I talked to a guy at length at the West Coast Hot Rod opener at Famoso. He was an original DKP member, and raced in I, J, and K gas back in the OC Bug In days.

His name is John Ward. Any of you historians know of him?

Mike,  Being that I was there before and from day 1 of DKP here is what I can share.  To my knowledge there was never a person named John Ward in DKP I. 

I do remember a John Ward who worked at Goodwin Automotive in Costa Mesa close to the 1953 Newport Blvd. Auto Haus store.  As I recall he was their parts guy and drove a rather nice dark green '59 sedan and it may have been a ragtop.

This John Ward was a super nice guy and had a beautiful wife as I recall.  Something tells me that he also worked at Don Burns VW on Harbor Blvd., Garden Grove.

From the early '70's on seems to me he moved up to the Big Bear area and from that time on I have no idea what happened to him or his car.

[Mike Lawless]

Perhaps another DKP "wanna-be" then.

The guy I talked was a nice guy. I think he did mention Don Burns. He seemed pretty knowledgeable about those early days, so I took him at his word.

He said he got out of the scene in the early 70s and went on to other recreational activities.

[johnl]

Perhaps another DKP "wanna-be" then.

The guy I talked was a nice guy. I think he did mention Don Burns. He seemed pretty knowledgeable about those early days, so I took him at his word.

He said he got out of the scene in the early 70s and went on to other recreational activities.

I suspect we are talking about the same guy.  It surprises me a bit that he would make statements as to belonging to the club and also racing.  Anyway that was a name I've tried to come up with a couple of times over the years and it always went "BLANK".  You have filled the void in my memory.  Thanks..........   

[johnl]

As one would have it "Father Fleming" Ron just phoned me regarding something else.  I relayed the John Ward story to him and he also doesn't remember the name within the club nor in any form or drag racing.  Ron was certainly in the VW racing world then so I'm sure he would know the name.

[Mike Lawless]

That's pretty interesting John.

Sounds like a clear-cut case of "The older I get, the better I was!"

Thanks for the info.

But if I see him again, and it's likely I will since he is racing in the same series as I, I'll just smile, nod my head and say "Yeah man. That's pretty cool!"

[Rick Meredith]

That's pretty interesting John.

Sounds like a clear-cut case of "The older I get, the better I was!"

Thanks for the info.

But if I see him again, and it's likely I will since he is racing in the same series as I, I'll just smile, nod my head and say "Yeah man. That's pretty cool!"

"So who do you know from DKP?" 

[johnl]

Sounds like a clear-cut case of "The older I get, the better I was!"


Wasn't that the way Al Bundy operated............   

[Mike Lawless]

"So who do you know from DKP?" 

Hell, I wouldn't know if he was telling the truth or not. I don't know who was in that club back then, or even who all is in it now except for a few.
He knew of Fleming and Aronsen. He knew of the white car. Same as just about anyone who picked up a VW magazine at some point in the last 30 years.

[Jason Foster]

Mike, Rick was implying for you to ask that question to John Ward.

[Mike Lawless]

I know Jason. So much gets lost over the web.

My point was that even if I had asked the question of the guy, I wouldn't know if he was truthful or not if he were to rattle off a few names.

Now if Fleming asked the question without introducing himself first, well now! Wouldn't THAT be hilarious!

[Jason Foster]

I gotcha and agree that would the best but really it doesn't matter. If this gentleman wants to live a lie that's his deal.

[Rennsurfer]

I gotcha and agree that would the best but really it doesn't matter. If this gentleman wants to live a lie that's his deal.

Some people are happy with that.

[stealth67vw]

Me and Ratto met a guy at Lakeport in the mid 90s that claimed to be an original member of "DKW". He knew Jerry Berg and all the guys. 

[Rennsurfer]

Me and Ratto met a guy at Lakeport in the mid 90s that claimed to be an original member of "DKW". He knew Jerry Berg and all the guys. 

HA! I see what you did there, Bates.

[Russell]

 Sounds like a clear-cut case of "The older I get, the better I was!"

That is the best line ever..... 

Never been, never will be, a member of DKP, but might be a stalker...... LOL

[Jim Ratto]

Me and Ratto met a guy at Lakeport in the mid 90s that claimed to be an original member of "DKW". He knew Jerry Berg and all the guys. 

Key word: Lakeport

That guy was as twisted as his story. Fun weekend though. Except the handgun incident in Lower Lake

[Neil Davies]

Maybe it's just the wording that we've misunderstood. Maybe he said he was in with the guys in DKP, not that he was in DKP? Not wanting to doubt Mike, but equally giving this guy the benefit of the doubt.

[johnl]

Maybe it's just the wording that we've misunderstood. Maybe he said he was in with the guys in DKP, not that he was in DKP? Not wanting to doubt Mike, but equally giving this guy the benefit of the doubt.

Neil, I'm with you in giving someone the benefit of the doubt.  The John Ward I knew never was around VW groups back in those days that I knew of.  Because he was in Costa Mesa possibly he might have hung out with Newport Beach VW Association.  My only contact with him was though the Auto Haus store when he would come over to purchase parts.

 

[Mike Lawless]

Well, regardless of what the guy said, vs what I heard vs what he actually meant, I'm certainly not going to confront him about any claims. It's likely that I will see him throughout the year at various events, as he is with a team that races a 7.90 index dragster.

I certainly don't want to make enemies or damage any relationships at the track. That's not the way I want to conduct myself.

The only enemies I have at the track is the guy in the other lane. Before and after the run, we can be best buddies!

[johnl]

Mike, your approach on this is exactly correct.  There is no need to bring issues up that are pointless.  After all it was years ago and what does it really matter? 

The main thing is be courteous and productive in your sport and enjoy it.

[Russell]

Was having a meal with the Schley brothers tonight and they don't remember him from racing at the bugins in any class either !

[deano]

There was a slalom racer from Costa Mesa that had a Bug, lowered with fat tires and rims, had Ward's Automotive on the side. Hot VWs did a story on it in the June 1977 issue (I think). Probably the same guy...

[kingsburgphil]

Just checked the last club roster from NBVA, his name wasn't listed. If he hung with us...I don't remember.

[jamiep_jamiep]

It's now even possible to get repro club members??!!!  what will they think of next?

[mgmahaffey]

Don't know this guy. And I was in it from 1966 until we disbanded. Don't think I missed a meeting or event in all that time. But then again my memory isn't what it used to be.  BTW, who's this John Lazenby guy?

[johnl]

Don't know this guy. And I was in it from 1966 until we disbanded. Don't think I missed a meeting or event in all that time. But then again my memory isn't what it used to be.  BTW, who's this John Lazenby guy?

I enjoyed Mike's last statement.  FYI, Mike and I met at Hoarce Mann School Elementry School in Anaheim when he was in the 3rd grade and I was in the 4th.  That was in 1956, 57 years ago and we've been friends ever since.

When we were kids we had a paper route together and it was amazing to see Mike sit and fold those papers.  He could make his legs do things that humans shouldn't be able to do.  That along with his red hair and freckles lead to him becoming Howdy Doody http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howdy_Doody

Back in the early days of DKP when he would arrive at a club function someone would always yell out, "Hey kids, what time is it"?  This of course made all yell back "It's Howdy Doody Time"..  I think he hated it but was a good sport. 

This of course went futher to such things as "don't pull my strings" and hey "puppet man", well you get the idea.........   

[deano]

John Ward's racer from 1977 Hot VWs...