It all started for me around 1972; I was in High School and had just turned 16. I had a
driver's license, but no wheels and no money. Mom told me that if I saved up some money,
she'd split the price of a car with me. That's all it took, before you could say Volkswagen,
I had seen a car I could afford, a 1967 Beetle, dark blue in color and running! I made
arrangements for a test drive, had never sat behind the wheel of a standard transmission before.
The car had no gas pedal, but I could afford it, I managed to get it around the block and I was sold.
What a car! We called her Matilda. She had no heat, no floors, rust cancer all over, but she was mine!
I have very fond memories of the year or so that I owned her, she never had any brakes, or heat and I lived
in Canada on the east coast at the time. I learned to drive, shift and scrape the ice off the inside of a
windshield, all at the same time. I could barely afford to keep gas in her; I had a gallon jug and would drive
until the gas tank was empty, pour in the gallon of gas and stop at the next gas station I saw to pay my fifty
cents for another gallon of gas.

I don't exactly recall what happened to old Matilda, probably one repair too many was required and I had to let her go.

That was how my fondness for those odd looking German cars began. Since Matilda, I've owned several more; there
was a red 1970 Beetle, a '70 orange type 3 square back that was constantly being hit by someone. That relationship
ended when I was hit head on by a drunk driver. A 1974 super beetle was next, then children entered my life in 1984
and my Volkswagen affair was put on hold until last year.

I moved from Canada to the high desert called Reno, NV. Everyday I would see cars in great shape that I would only
see at car shows back home. And I saw lots of Beetles.

I looked around a bit and priced several cars but never saw one that I liked for the price being asked, then one Sunday
I found Ebay. I saw a car that appeared solid and was going for quite a bit less than all others. I bid, never thinking
that in the remaining 6 hours no one else would spot this error. I went out for the day, returning to the news that I
had won my auction! Panic set in, the car was in California, along the coast, how did one pay for a car they had never
seen on a web site I had never used. I figured it all out and 2 weeks later the car was delivered. An orange 1971 Beetle.

The car was in okay shape and with a few minor repairs was up and running well. I've been having a lot of fun with the
car, buying parts on Ebay and on business trips down in Los Angeles. Then last fall on Craig's List a local had a '69 beetle
for sale, couldn't resist, the body was solid, the engine turned over and the price was right.

I now have two cars in my garage. The orange '71 is running and I drive it as often as I can (warm dry days), it even has
heat if it gets cool.

The '69 now has brakes, the engine is on my bench awaiting me to have the time to put it back together. I tinker with her
as time allows, I want to restore this one to her former glory. She appears to have been sitting for almost 20 years and has
low mileage. She just needs some TLC.

Special thanks to Bill and Colin at Fibercraft and Spencer at Reno Buggie Barn for helping me keep my cars on the road.

April, 2009 - Well, had my first engine fire the other day in the convertible, lucky we caught it quick and were able to get it
out right away. $130 tow truck ride later and she sits at home. I've replaced all of the wiring and melted parts and just
need to tune her up so we can enjoy this car all summer! All that is left from the fire is a few heat bubbles on the rear
Deck :(.

December, 2010 - Finally got started on the '69's restoration, see the page I developed to track my progress (or lack there of).