[Bob Butler]

Still got my number one car too, a 1968 VW Beetle. I was offered something like $100 trade in when I went to upgrade it way back when, so I said no way and kept it as a toy. Over the years it's been a lowrider, dragster, baja, rolling stereo, etc. I've also flipped it 8 times, drug myself under it in the mud until it hit a tree and stopped (yes, that put me in a wheelchair for a while). And it's been hit by a Mack truck, a Plymouth Satellite, two ford vans, and an Olds 88. (I've gotten pretty good with body work over the years and people swear it can't be the same car.) When my youngest son was a toddler trying to help daddy he crawled up between the engine and the cage and burned himself on the exhaust pretty bad. Nothing permanent, but it gave me a really good scare so I put the car into storage for a while. As he and his sister got older I did a lot more coaching, scouting, karate, dance, gymnastics, band, etc and a lot less playing with wrenches. Now the same kid who scared the crap out of me when he wasn't even two is almost on his last year of high school. His immitations of Dad these days are what wore out the clutch in my SC last week. About two years ago I decided that the bug had sat long enough and it's been going through a major overhaul. We've welded back in a lot of new steel, done some glass work on it, and just this past week did a full re-wire on it. If all goes well its getting new paint this weekend then I'll drive it until the clutch gets replaced in the 911 (would make a nice fathers' day present incase certain people are reading this). I'm really hopeful the bug works out Ok after sitting for so long because I'm working a VW race next weekend and I'd love to take my old bug back to the track.

Wish me luck.
--Bob
PS: I know... a single picture could have saved me a thousand of those words up there. I'll try to dig some up and post one.