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Don Burns.jpg
1- AIRMIGHTY 37  |    2- AIRMIGHTY 41  |    3- AIRMIGHTY 43  |   

DON BURNS VW DEALERSHIP...

IVERSON, RENFREE, ECONO, CATRON, VAN WYK... If you collect license plates of former VW and PORSCHE dealerships in the Los Angeles area, these names will certainly be familiar to you. And, if like me, you are passionate about performance Volkswagens and the fantastic events that took place at the end of the 1960s, you will know that there was a particular dealership that was very active in terms of sponsorhip and support : Don BURNS, which was located on Harbor Boulevard in Garden Grove, one of the municipalities of Orange County, California.


So-Cal VW Dealerships used to sponsor some of the most active clubs. Don Burns used to sponsor Der Guteeinene Volkswagen Association, some of its members are shown here...

I always have been intrigued by the large number of race-prepped or custom Volkswagens (and Porsches for that matter) which proudly displayed the colours of this dealership. So, when I was recently given the opportunity to interact with the man who managed the Parts Department between 1968 and 1970, I felt obliged to share the results of my research with you...

Note the Don Burns sponsor lettering on the DGVA bus. Bill MORTIMER April 70 picture.

Sadly, Don BURNS passed away 10 years ago (in May 2011) at the age of 85, after a very busy life. Don opened his VW dealership in Garden Grove in the mid-60s, and he quickly realized that that putting his name and colours on a few unique or iconic race cars would give him much more exposure than the Yellow pages or paying for TV spots...


John WARD, ex Don BURNS employee very nice green '59 in action... The B&W picture appeared in the Bug-in #4 program.

Paul SCHLEY remembers that, although they bought their '63 at the Chick IVERSON dealership, it was Don BURNS who was the first to sponsor the two brothers car, as evidenced by the rare pictures of the time that still exist. In return, the SCHLEYs got free spark plugs and distributor points, as well as a 10% discount on all parts. But there was even better : the SCHLEYs also had access to the dealership's facilities, in particular the engine workshop where they got their start on VW mechanics. When you know that Dean LOWRY (who had assembled their very first engine) had advised them to change the connecting rod bearings every 15 runs, you can easily imagine that such direct access was a godsend for them...

This is the very first Love Bug!! oval built by Howard RAIBURN that ran in the Modified Compact class. Car was originally found in the car lot at the dealership. All the lettering was made by John WARD brother in law. Picture from Bug-in #2 I guess.

But let's come back to John WARD, the former dealership employee who has retained an excellent memory of those good years... At the time, David owned an olive green '59 which he used to compete in slalom events, and which also had the honour of being featured in several of the leaflets that were specifically edited for the Bug-in events. In one of the pictures which illustrate this column, and which was taken during Bug-in #2, you'll notice that BURNS was already sponsoring John's beetle which looked great with its EMPI 5s wheels up front.

Don BURNS Racing in hard action... This is a different Love Bug with #1 number, and not the usual #53 one... I did not found what Volksland USA was meaning... Any idea?

John also worked with Howard (Howie) RAYBURN, another employee, to build the white LOVE BUG (a nod to Disney's famous Herbie), a small '55 oval window bug which was sitting on the garage's parking lot. It proudly sported a number 1 on its sides as well as the DON BURNS logo. Note that the same artwork was used on the Porsche 911s and 908s raced by the dealership at the same time, and driven by Allan JOHNSON and Dick HAYES.

Awesome & never seen before picture at OCIR ;-) Famous 'Love Bug' stickers were used on headlights and taillights also. Perfect to save weight but not sure about night efficiency...

With its Type 3 block, its double Solex carbs, its short-ratio gearbox, its fiberglass body parts and its stripped down interior, it was very competitive in the Modified class, cloking a best time of 14.69s at Carlsbad. Obviously, the access to the dealership's dyno room was a big plus for Howie and John.


A 'For Sale' ad that appeared in an early Bug-in program...

A second version named SUPER BUG and built by Casey COLLIER, another Don BURNS employee, was later piloted by John SMITH until he crashed in 1972 in Sanair, Quebec. He replaced it with the famous SUPER BUG II, a red chop-top, which still ran under the same banner. This super gasser deserves its own complete article...


A very early picture of the new Super Bug showing Casey COLLIER on the left.

Some rather unique creations were also used as advertising media for the brand... I'm thinking in particular about a pair of Mini bugs (a Sedan and a Convertible) with their small 5- and 7- hp engines, which allowed speeds in the order of 35mph. They were a big hit at Bug-in #6, especially when they raced each other on the OCIR 1/4 mile...

Now, the Super Bug compete in the I/G class...

Let's not forget the little beach-themed pick-up beetle, in its resplendent purple metalflake paint with flower-power interior and running boards spotted at Bug-in #2. You can see this weird VW-powered hydrofoil-on-wheels in a picture taken with the very first Miss Bug-in, but I won't ramble on about it too much for fear of losing even the most open-minded among us...

Howie & Casey, driver & builder...

At the end of the 1960s, Don BURNS was also active in some preminent clubs, and in the DGVA (Der Guteneine Volkswagen Association) in particular, as evidenced by the snapshot of the late Bill MORTIMER showing the bus and the trophies won by the club. In short, here was a very active Volkswagen dealership (we would sincerely love to see more of those today), and undoubtedly a visionary entrepreneur who certainly deserved a little Nostalgia tribute here...


JOHN SMITH SUPERBUG I/G :

Super Bug was later sold to John SMITH of Santa Ana and was now running in the I/Gas class. It seems the bug was very competitive in this class until John totalled it at Sanair, Quebec in 1972. But a racer's a racer and he quickly found a tired '54 sedan to build another gasser, the famous Super Bug II, but that is another story and the red top chopped gasser would derserve a whole section on its own...


Picture of the Super Bug on trailer under John SMITH ownership. Look at that top chop bug behind... I always wondered what was this top chopped bug in primer with a Deano big sticker on the side...


Note that the lettering was now done by Shaky JAKE... Shaky is still alive...


These few shots are just awesome. John (and his uncle?) are swapping transaxle at the race (location unknown)...


John is wrenching in the engine bay... I love the single rear nerf bar on this bug :-)


The brand new 411 station wagon is used as a service vehicule...


Unfortunately, John crashed the bug in 1972 while attending the NHRA Grand National at Sanair, Quebec, Canada... The SCHLEY bros are checking the car after the accident... A total wreck...


Hard to believe that John was unhurt after he hit a bump on the track and sevreal rollovers...


I guess everyone now is convinced by the necessity of a roll bar when drag racing... Lucky John who looked to be safe except for a nice black eye...


Bug was a total loss... Who talk about a top chopped roof? Not sure the windshield angle was NHRA compliant then ;-)


DON BURNS CURIOSITIES :

I have to admit that Don BURNS used to show its colors on very very unusual machineries, from Beach bug to Mini bug, not to mention Wheelstanders, one of a kind Baja Bug and V8 bug... One thing is for sure, seeing those VWs at the tracks was far more interesting for his business than TV spots or other commercials... And we can not blame it...


First is this awesome groovy purple metalflake beach bug, perfect to enjoy the Bug-in... Note the vinyl running boards...


Definitely not a bug nor a beach buggy... One of a kind for sure... Don't miss the crazy pipe exhausts...


Definitely not a bug nor a beach buggy... One of a kind for sure... Don't miss the crazy pipe exhausts...


Hydrofoil VW powered on wheels at the first or second Bug-in ever??? Miss Bug-in seemed to enjoy this thing...


Of course, Warren Gunter Durachrome Bug was another Don BURNS sponsored curiosity at the track...


Not to mention the famous Chuck Poole Chuckwagon here wheelstanding at New York national Speedway, 1973...
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A FRENCH TRIBUTE
TO THE PIONNEERS OF VW DRAG RACING
---



Super cool matches!!! Home of the Love Bug was a popular slogan...


DON BURNS & THE SCHLEY BROS :
Don BURNS was the very first sponsor of the Lightning Bug of the SCHLEY brothers as evidences are shown on the rear quarter panel lettering. Don offered access to the large dealership facilities. Nedless to say, the best part for them was they could work on the engine room. Paul remember this is where they first learned the internal mechanisms of their Dean LOWRY built engine.

How nice is this period advert :-)

 Very very early picture of the Lightning Bug...

 Proud young racing brothers...

 Running against Rick BAY Fiat 600.

DON BURNS MINI BUGS :
For sure, the Mini Bugs twins were a crowd favourite at the Bug-ins. And it's easy to understand why... They first appeared at Bug-in #6 when the OCIR track officials pitted them against each other to see which one turned the fastest time on the dragstrip with their 5hp powerplant. Would you believe they also ran against Big Brother Super Bug? If you are interested, there is a great review in September 1971 issue of Hot VWs.

This is the only picture I have ever seen of the Super Bug racing against the Mini Bug at OCIR.
Ron JOHNSON picture in the Bug-in pits... I would love to see more pictures of this awesome single cab. The tiny cabrio didn't get his Sponsorship yet...

It seems the Mini Bugs wore later a more modern paintscheme... What a big smile...

Another funny 1/4 mile race...

Another funny 1/4 mile race...


DON BURNS PORSCHE :
Porsche are a rare sight on this website, but I thought it would be cool to mention that Don BURNS sponsored some successful Porsche back in the days... Man, Don was a very busy man, sponsoring every inch of a successful race car in those days...

Racing at Bug-in #2 I think. Note that the paintscheme looks the same as the Love Bug...

Bug-in #2, 1968, unknown driver.

Don BURNS sponsored this very nice Porsche 911.

Don BURNS himself stands on the left of the '68 911.

The very same Porsche 911 driven by Alan JOHNSON.