Scorching hot weather for the 11^th Hot VWs Drag Day at Irwindale California brought out not only the Bugs but also all sorts of other critters – including ‘Rabbits’ and even the occasional Thing. They’d come out of the woodwork to either soak up the sun or scurry down the quarter-mile drag strip at sub-six second speeds. Beetles, Microbuses, Karmanns, Fastbacks were also hard not to miss. Our colleagues at LACar.com filled us in on the details with words and pics by Sean Spear…

With 113 Racers, over 300 Show & Shine cars, and nearly 2,000 spectators, one would think that Drag Day has been a reliable event for the VW crowd year in and year out. But the event has had to repeatedly adjust to changing times since it was first held in 1974. As Rich Kimball of the event presenters Periscope Enterprises puts it, “Drag Day started off as an off-shoot of ‘Bug-In’, our main event we had been holding since 1968. I went from an 18 year old parking cars and directing traffic at that first get-together, to eventually being the General Manager today.” Back then, Bug-In members were mostly high school aged plus, and were just looking for the chance to show-off their Bugs and Dune Buggys. “We set up Drag Day for those guys that wanted to race. Having the event at the old Orange County Raceway was really their only opportunity to go all-out without having to worry about the cops getting you.”

Hosting two Drag Days a year, the event really took off. By 1983, over 1,000 cars would be present, together with 10,000 Spectators. “That was our best year, but the drag strips were all closing; including our home at Orange County [Raceway]” said Kimball. While a third show, the VW Classic, continued, both Bug-In and Drag Day went dark for nearly 20 years. With the opening of the Irwindale Raceway, and later the Fontana Raceway, both events were revived in 2002 and 2005, respectively. “We were pretty much the same guys, but older and with families. Really, the VW culture had changed too. There are now less [Dune] Buggys and current models, and more vintage, custom, and hopped-up racing cars. Between the races, the club member show-off areas, and the swap meet, we may all have different reasons for coming, but we’re all VW enthusiasts.”

Reuben Navarro, founding father of the “German Folks” VW club describes today’s Drag Day as “…a chance for all of us to get together, hang-out, talk sh*t. You know, like family.” German Folks started more than 33 years ago with 15 guys, and now has chapters in Arizona, Texas, the UK, and Japan. “We’re not one of those clubs with all those rules and dues and mandatory stuff. My Dad gave me his VW as my first car. After I took a break from the club for a while, my Mom and Dad asked me to come back in. It is really a family thing with us. It’s deep.” While all of German Folks’ VWs were spectacular, a beautiful ’65 21-window Microbus demanded the most attention.

Over at the races, spectators’ jaws dropped when they saw another Microbus do a burnout and speed down the strip. Even some water-cooled models made their presence felt (taking one of the six racing trophies won that day). But in the end it was the air-cooled marvels that dominated the field and strip. LA Car’s camera held by Sean Spear, was able to catch a few before they got away…

The opinions expressed here are the personal opinions of the author and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of VW Heritage