Ep 363 Jbugs.com's Sam Mebane

From the day he was brought home from the hospital in his father's split-window Beetle, it seemed Danny Allan was destined for a life surrounded by Volkswagens. As they say, he was born with the "VW Bug." For decades, Danny has been a familiar and highly respected name in the UK Volkswagen community. Many enthusiasts first discovered him more than 35 years ago when the Mk1 GTI he built himself earned magazine cover status, establishing his reputation as a talented builder with an incredible eye for detail. Since then, he's become one of Britain's most recognized air-cooled Volkswagen enthusiasts, creating an impressive collection of beautifully crafted Beetles, Buses, and Cal-Look inspired cars. Whether he's building award-winning show cars or dependable drivers for close friends, Danny's work is known for its exceptional craftsmanship and attention to detail. Beyond the garage, Danny has spent years sharing his passion through the pages of VolksWorld magazine as a contributing writer, producing feature stories, technical articles, and in-depth coverage of some of the UK's finest Volkswagens. His influence on the British VW scene extends far beyond his own builds, helping preserve and celebrate the rich history of the hobby. In this episode, we get into Danny's lifelong journey with Volkswagens, the evolution of the UK VW scene, the stories behind some of his most memorable builds, and what it takes to create cars that continue to inspire enthusiasts around the world. We also discuss his work with VolksWorld magazine, the people who shaped the hobby in Britain, and why the Volkswagen community remains as strong as ever. If you're a fan of vintage Volkswagens, Essex UK culture, air-cooled performance, or simply love hearing stories from someone who's lived through decades of VW history, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

On this episode, we discuss Bill's Euro-trip 2026. Starting in England, then onto Hessisch Oldendorf in Germany for HO26. Then numerous Shop tours throughout the week before European bug in. We discussed the day by the events plus the all the shops we stopped at and museum tours all VW connec, if you haven't gone, you gotta go totally worth it. www.vwtrends.com www.rosswulf.com www.damvolks.com www.airmighty.com

For over 40 years, Mark Prosser has been proving that you don't have to build a split-window Bus to create something truly unforgettable. While most enthusiasts chase the iconic early buses, Mark has dedicated his career to transforming 1968-and-later Bay Window Buses into some of the coolest, most performance-oriented Volkswagens on the road. Think slammed stance, serious horsepower, perfectly dialed suspension, and a no-compromise attitude. Mark takes what many people once overlooked and turns it into something that stops people in their tracks. One look at one of his builds, and you may find yourself shopping for a Bay Window before the episode is over. From routine tune-ups and mild performance upgrades to full, ground-up custom builds, Mark has spent decades perfecting his craft and earning a reputation for creating Bay Window buses that are as exciting to drive as they are to look at. But this episode isn't just about incredible Volkswagens. It's also the story of a man who walked away from the security of a steady career, a guaranteed retirement, and the safe path in life to pursue the thing he truly loved. That leap of faith led him to build a business creating some of the most inspiring Bay Window buses cruising the streets of London. Join us as we get into Mark's 40-plus years in the Volkswagen scene, the evolution of Bay Window performance, the challenges of building custom buses, and why he's made it his mission to show the world that Bay Windows deserve just as much respect as their split-window predecessors.   www.vwtrendsmagazine.com www.airmighty.com www.rosswulf.com www.damvolks.com https://www.facebook.com/Autotechniks/  

If you've spent any time watching the popular how-to videos from JBugs, you've probably seen Sam Mebane and his son Nathan working side-by-side, sharing their passion for air-cooled Volkswagens while helping enthusiasts keep their classic VWs on the road. From restoration projects and maintenance tutorials to building Nathan's own Volkswagen, the father-and-son team has become a familiar and trusted source of knowledge for the VW community. In this episode of Let's Talk Dubs, Sam shares a deeply personal story that goes far beyond Volkswagens. From a childhood spent in foster care to discovering purpose, building a successful career, and creating a life on his own terms, Sam's journey is one of perseverance, determination, and faith. His story is a powerful reminder that where you start in life doesn't have to determine where you finish. We also get into the history of JBugs, exploring how the company grew from a small mail-order Volkswagen parts business into one of the most recognized and influential names in the air-cooled VW industry. Sam discusses the evolution of the hobby, the challenges of serving a passionate customer base, and how JBugs has adapted through decades of change while continuing to support Volkswagen enthusiasts around the world. Whether you're a longtime air-cooled Volkswagen owner, a fan of JBugs' instructional videos, or simply enjoy hearing inspiring stories of overcoming adversity and building something meaningful, this is an episode you won't want to miss. Topics Covered Sam Mebane's journey from foster care to entrepreneurship Finding purpose and defining success on your own terms The origins and growth of JBugs The evolution of the air-cooled Volkswagen hobby Creating educational VW how-to content Working alongside family in business Building Nathan's Volkswagen project car The future of the classic Volkswagen aftermarket www.vwtrendsmagazine.com www.rosswulf.com https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_n1PgUZ4Uw

The 2026 VW show season is officially underway, and Bill is gearing up for one of the biggest Volkswagen adventures of the year. Before heading overseas, Bill will be taking the legendary Type 34 Karmann Ghia "Zorba" to two major events: Luft Zeigen on June 13th and the EMPI 70th Anniversary Celebration on June 20th. From there, the journey continues across the Atlantic to the United Kingdom, where he'll pick up the famous orange Katastrophenschutz Bus and begin an epic European road trip. The route will take Bill and friends from the UK across the Netherlands and into Germany for the world-famous Hessisch Oldendorf Volkswagen Treffen, one of the most significant vintage VW events on the planet. After Germany, the adventure continues through Europe before arriving in Belgium for the legendary European Bug-In at Chimay, where thousands of air-cooled Volkswagen enthusiasts gather each year. Joining Bill this week is longtime friend and VW builder Andy Finch, who shares the details of the upcoming trip, the planning involved in driving a classic Volkswagen across multiple countries, and some of the incredible destinations, collections, and VW enthusiasts they'll be visiting along the way. Andy also gives listeners an inside look at what's happening at his shop, including several exciting restoration projects, new builds, and some fresh equipment and products he'll be unveiling this season. The conversation dives into vintage Volkswagen culture, European road-tripping, restoration craftsmanship, and the friendships that make the VW community unlike any other automotive hobby in the world. Whether you're dreaming about driving a split-window Bus across Europe, attending Hessisch Oldendorf, or simply love hearing stories about classic Volkswagens and the people who keep them alive, this episode is packed with adventure, history, and plenty of VW talk. We can also never thank Russel Richie enough for being so involved in the VW seem to put so much of this together. We'll have him on the podcast real soon. In This Episode: Bill's 2026 European VW road trip plans Taking Zorba to Luft Zeigen and the EMPI 70th Anniversary Picking up the Katastrophenschutz Bus in the UK Driving across England, the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium Hessisch Oldendorf Volkswagen Treffen preview European Bug-In at Chimay Andy Finch's latest restoration projects New shop developments and upcoming debuts Vintage VW travel tips and road trip preparation Why the European VW scene is unlike anywhere else in the world

What started as a great weekend at the drag strip quickly turned into a moment no racer ever wants to experience. Longtime Volkswagen enthusiast and drag racer Tony Moreci joins us to share the story behind the crash that damaged his iconic 1954 Ragtop Beetle during a recent racing event. Tony has spent decades behind the wheel of this legendary Oval-window Beetle, campaigning it at tracks across the country and earning respect throughout the vintage Volkswagen drag racing community. In this episode, we break down exactly what happened on race day, the sequence of events leading up to the accident, and the emotions that follow when years of hard work and history are suddenly put at risk in a matter of seconds. Beyond the crash itself, we take a look into the history of Tony's '54 Ragtop—its evolution from a classic street car into a well-known drag racing machine—and the memories attached to a car that has become part of his identity. We also reflect on our longtime friendship, the experiences we've shared over the years, and our connection through the legendary DBK Car Club. This conversation isn't just about bent sheet metal and damaged parts. It's about perseverance, friendship, the risks that come with motorsports, and the passion that keeps racers coming back to the starting line. Whether you're a Volkswagen drag racing fan, a vintage VW enthusiast, or simply appreciate the stories behind the people and cars that shape our hobby, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

On this episode, Bill and George catch up on projects that they're currently working on. George is in the shop busy working on a 21 window Bus super Beatles and producing videos for his YouTube channel. Bill talks about the existing status of his projects plus Pookie's dream what's happening with that and One craLuft Ziegen Car Show Registrationzy weekend talk the weekend with the off-road ride to Goode Springs Nevada. Bill also shares his story about getting car jacked with his close friend Mark D back in the early 90s in South Central Los Angeles. Lots of fun stuff don't miss it.. www.vwtrendsmagazine.com www.rosswulf.com    https://type-emotorsports.com/collections/featured-collection/products/icon-forged-piston-set-aircooled-vw  

On this episode Bill reviews the latest shows coming up for this summer in the never-ending SoCal weekend festival of shows throughout the entire summer. Lol I talk about the shows I will be at which is gonna be Luft Zegen and also Empy 70th anniversary happening June 20th. Also discuss the passing of Takashi Komori of Flat 4, Japan. I didn't get a chance to mention before I finish the recording the passing of legend Fred Simpson from performance technologies I'd like to get some people on to do a special podcast just for him. Also, I discuss some of the unique features you could find and some of the early issues of the magazine and some wild inventions, which will be a new feature coming up. also couple magazine reviews   ICON pistons www.VWtrendsmagazine.com www.rosswulf.com use disocount code LTD10 for 10% off any purchase ar Ross Wulf 

Rick Sadler is one of those names you may not always hear first—but if you've been around the vintage Volkswagen scene long enough, you've definitely seen him. A member of the legendary Der Kleiner Panzers (DKP), Rick is what you'd call the Forrest Gump of the VW world—always there, always involved, and somehow part of some of the most iconic moments in VW history. In this episode, Rick takes us  into his journey through the Type 4 performance scene—a path far less traveled when most builders were focused on Type 1 engines. From his early days racing at Ascot Park Speedway to pushing the limits in drag racing, Rick shares the evolution of his builds, including custom cylinder head development, experimental setups, and the relentless pursuit of horsepower. One of the highlights of Rick's story is living out a dream that most VW enthusiasts only imagine—getting the opportunity to rebuild the engine for the legendary Schley Brothers' Type 4 dragster. It's a full-circle moment that perfectly captures the passion, persistence, and community that define the VW scene. This episode is packed with history, innovation, and firsthand insight into what it really takes to go against the grain and develop serious performance from a Type 4 platform. If you're into vintage Volkswagen racing, engine development, or just love hearing stories from the guys who were there, this is one you don't want to miss.