Press Release #4: Writing for Rothfink

I, the editor of Caught the VW Bug, am super stoked to announce a huge milestone in my emerging hobby/career in blogging.

After talks from Dubs at the Park, I can reveal to my beloved audience that I will now be writing for the incredible Rothfink Industries, who really have taken the VW scene into the alternative  realms of classic car care and restoration, sticking their middle finger up to the Concourse D'elegance in the process, complemented with a bottle of whiskey in hand.

Rothfink are truly in the big leagues of the VW scene, with numerous merch and stickers dotted around every show to support the guys going against the grain.

A dose of slammed VW's with rusty patina and stanced camber your thing?  Well, I await your visit.

I will be writing on their blog, and I am excited to invite you to the... less fluffy side of the VW scene. In the meantime, while I take time to write up some quality posts, why not take a look at what they do, it's a pretty amazing experience.

http://www.rothfink.com/

Show Report: Stonor Park. No Marijuana in Sight.

Stonor Park, home of stoners and VW fans. Based five minutes outside Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire which itself is 10 miles from Reading, Berkshire, Stonor Park hosted their annual VW Rally, attended by keen enthusiasts and is considered to be one of the biggest VW shows in the South East of England, second to the VolksWorld Show. It's arguably one of the most glamorous settings, on the grounds of a great whopping manor house, owned by the Stonor's in the past.



It holds not only a range of trade stands, the obligatory burger van and Heart FM speakers (HATE 102.7. HATE.) but also the Concourse D'elegance, a setup similar to Stanford Hall but a little more informal where VW lovers enter their pride and joy that their owners have been attached to since the characters entered their lives and hogged their driveways. In addition, there are always an extra non-VW super special vehicle, this year was in the form of a McLaren MP4-12C. Perfection and technologically streets ahead of a Bug. However, the Bug can at least get you from 0-60 in about 2.4 days, quicker than your McLaren when stationary.

Totally non-VW related in everyway, with a 6 litre Mercedes engine.

As always with our show schedule, Doris was once again wheeled out for her report and delivering her account of the event.

"'Wake up sleepy head, put on some clothes, shake up your bed' were the lyrics of choice I decided to wake the family up for the morning of the show as prior to the event, I received a boost in sound quality in the form of some new Sony speakers which I am most pleased with. Coupled with a rechromed stereo from XXXX, I can now please my owners by playing their favourite records via the iPod!

Stonor Park was the first show on the calendar where the show didn't host any drama, although my owners did have food poisoning so one way or another, it's not a show without a problem! I got my owners up to the event safe and sound which was a positive! Although, my thoughts where that the people of Oxfordshire were silly to host a cycle race on the day of Stonor Park's VW Rally as not all of us Bugs and VW's have shiny disc brakes and find it a struggle to slow down.

I got to meet several hundred of my fellow VW companions and we got chatting throughout the day, having a look at each other's engine bays and generally how we are getting on and what improvements we've had. Some of the Bugs were still completely stock, which was impressive to see and I hope they do well in the show. I decided not to enter in this year's Concourse as it's something I prefer not to do, I wouldn't want to steal the limelight and take home all the trophies, that would be unfair.

Jersey registration, once featured in VolksWorld.

The weather was suitable, perfect driving conditions and all around, another great show!

Until next time!"

Thanks Doris, producing yet another cracking show report.

In addition to seeing all the VW's, we met Julie from the Last Edition Register out of the blue. Sting, my next car who joined us in February 2014 is also a Last Edition Beetle and we planned our attack on Stanford Hall for next year through Julie so it was a pleasure to meet her! Julie was representing the Last Edition crew, entering a fantastic looking Last Edition Beetle which in turn only 300 exist. We wish her all the best in the results.

Great to meet the Last Edition Beetle Register owner! A truly remarkable example of an LEB.

Photo's to follow on Pinterest from the show. I didn't take many as I was suffering from food poisoning but I tried my best.

Super-mega rare, a 'Razor-Edge' Karmann Ghia, only 25 of these left!

Overall, great show but I would prefer to suffer a hangover over food poisoning though. 4/5.

Bottom's up!

Editor's Update: 02 June 2014

Hi y'all!

Just a quick one from me, currently updating the webpage which is looking really exciting!

I have a lot of posts raring to go, such as the report from Stonor Park show, McCartney's Pay & Spray, which is a two-parter and will go out throughout the week. 

Also, I am amidst a new post for ClassicVolks.com, a how-to on replacing seat covers so I will be keeping posted. In the meantime, I will be uploading images to Pinterest from Stonor and other various shows sporadically. In addition to all this incredible content, if you fancy some non-Beetle chat, see my Google+ for new posts occassionally.

All my links are below, along with sponsors:

See more of my antics and updates at Caught the VW Bug
http://caughtthevwbug.blogspot.co.uk/ 

Follow me on my various channels of Social Media
My Twitter
My Tumblr 
My Google+

Like the images? View more at Pinterest
My Pinterest

Here are my sponsors & affiliates too.
ClassicVolks.com
VW Heritage
Charge Clothing

SOLD! TO THE LADY ON THE EBAY CONTRAPTION

McCartney has been a great servant, but laden with intermittent troubles, we finally decided to sell him. The old boy has done well for 45 years in the motoring service and our year's duty with the boy has been called time.

Many memories were had, many breakdowns were had and most importantly, many, many loud records were played out of those big Alpine speakers that shall be coming with me. 

We shook up the motoring community at least locally, served as a great impetus for the blog which you're all reading right now and got me properly excited about a motoring icon. It gave people another idea that you can motor around on the cheap, with your own custom style to cars, for cheaper road tax (zero) and insurance!

We turned heads where-ever we went, whether that was the car sounding like a bag of spanners, rolling to a halt in a roundabout or simply for the one day in a blue moon, sounding sweet.

It was good fun. However, there are more bugs to report on and more for me to get behind the wheel and repeat the process all over again. I will also be reporting on it's work over the week off I have had that involves a quick respray and change of interior.

Farewell mate.

Jesus. So, so loud.

It's Time For A Change

Change is on the horizon.

I awake from my 9 hours sleep each night and get ready for work. Hot shower awakes me and a small breakfast does the job. I am ready for the day's challenges. Before opening the door, I see my boy through the frosted glass in his dark green coat and that cheeky smile he always pulls at me. I smile, get in my car and drive to work. 

This has been a staple morning for nearly a year now with my Green Machine McCartney sitting on the driveway. But, it's time for a change. McCartney has been riddled with problems for about 6 months now, ranging from the clutch to the whole bleeding engine. 

It's been a tough, yet understandable decision. McCartney has been a great servant (when he wants to of course) to introducing me to the Beetle scene. Covering many, many happy miles, and a few sad ones too. We've shared a whole year together however it's time to get him fixed, resprayed and ready to say farewell to the team and also my life. 

I'm not cheating on another Bug at all, or two, but it's almost like a break up.

Throughout this week I will be documenting our brief restoration and spending a good week with my boy before he's looking better than ever for a new owner to enjoy perhaps the quickest Bug I have ever had the pleasure to sit in.

Going forward, the endgame is to have Jake at the end of the year but also use the others in the stable, primarily Sting who will be going through a quick first stage of restoration as he's been put on the backburner with the arrival of Jake Bugg and co. and then look to complete Sting properly in late 2014/2015.

The money from McCartney's sale will go into the respray for Jake so I will make friends with both Sting & Jake Bugg. 

Change isn't all bad, but to progress, you must embrace the changes. They might not get you from A to B half the time but it's all part of the fun.

Happy memories. Very, very happy memories

Finding the Right One for the Job

£5000 FOR A BASIC RESPRAY.

Exactly. The price of labour and paint has increased massively.

I'd wager that this is the most prominent reason why the whole Rat scene has come to light where fellow Dubbers run their cars in a more... shabby fashion because the costs are so high.

High costs now!

We've been offered cheaper, to the tune of £3k, but the prices do spark debate. People would take more time to respray their classic icons if the prices came down. Then again, would the scene be vastly different as a result? Most likely a reprisal of the 1990's renaissance thanks to the cheap price of Bugs (and probably respray's for that matter). But due the high costs, people are therefore turning to more innovative and cost-effective measures. For that price, you could slam it, run air-rides and place some decent modifications to your Rat, if that's your style or on the other end of the spectrum, deck out the interior to be bold and loud and find some rare accessories to your Bug.

Underpinning this is the age old debate of Built vs. Bought as it's possible that you can buy a near-perfect '67 Bug for £5k but the drawbacks are that you are limited to putting your own spin on the project of your dreams.

Something will come up I am sure as there are quality people in the country. But £5k? Not a chance.

Here was our attempt when we resprayed Parker.

See more of my antics and updates at Caught the VW Bug
http://caughtthevwbug.blogspot.co.uk/

Follow me on my various channels of Social Media
My Twitter My Tumblr My Google+

Like the images? View more at Pinterest
My Pinterest

DAT WEATHER - Dubs at the Park

Well as they say, "It's not a show without a breakdown!". That can be used both mechanically and also emotionally. VolksWorld started with a whole host of drama. Dubs at the Park commenced with a breakdown less than a mile out from the site.

JAKE?

Nightmare! Doris actually broke down for once, but it was merely an overheating problem due to the absolutely scorching weather we experienced. It was the first time I cracked out the shorts for 2014 which usually is a trend that will continue to late September so residents of the UK, beware of my pasty legs!

Best vehicle around, I even got to have a quick spin on it!

So Dubs in the Park was greeted with some excellent weather and some excellent VW's. I was on a hunt to look at any '67's and for any cream painted Bugs to gather some inspiration for what Jake would look like when he is completed. A few cream Bugs were lying around in the sunny weather with their proud owners, which is pleasing to see! No 67's from recollection so I do feel that Jake Bugg will be in his own when we finish him.

The event was held at Easthampstead Park in Berkshire which was a stunning location, similar to Stonor Park, but was much more chilled out then your VolksWorld and Bug In's of this world. It had the right, friendly atmosphere with fans from all over the scene, ranging from your Buggers, to the families in the Buses to MK1&2 Golf's and later T4/5's amongst other rare and awesome VW's. They also had various live bands playing both their original content and some well known hits from days of past and present. In addition, they had Mountain Bike Trial's specialists demonstrating some absolutely insane skills, their most daring jumping 10 ft onto a set of rails, much to the visitors amazement and applause!

PARKER?

Trade stands weren't as prominent as some of the bigger shows but it was pleasing to see the likes of Hayburner and Rothfink (the latter travelled all the way from Cardiff for the event) representing the alternative VW scene which is slowly dominating, especially with the amount of Rothfink stickers about the place! Hayburner's new magazine is out now too so which I thoroughly recommend.

Un-licensed bar...

Anyway, a great, family friendly event for just a fiver, blazing hot sunshine and a licensed bar? Oh we will be back in 2015.

Just chilling.

A whole range of photo's will be up of the event on Pinterest, we have only included the best ones here!

Next report will come from Stonor Park on the 1st June, never been? The links are here!

Links!

My Twitter My Tumblr My Google+ My Pinterest
Rothfink Industries
Hayburner Magazine
Stonor Park

The PARTS WAGON was also spotted!