Lets Talk Dubs Classic The Classic VW podcast

Bill Tsagrinos
  • 4.9 (320)
  • Automotive
  • Updated Weekly

The classic Volkswagen podcast committed to the history of the hobby. The people that made it what it is today. Uncovering history from the early days of the aftermarket Volkswagen hobby

  1. 1d ago

    Ep 363 Jbug.com's Sam Mebane

    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

    1h 8m

  2. Jun 5

    Ep 362 Bills European vacation with Andy Finch

    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

    55 min

  3. May 29

    Ep 361 Tony Moreci his 54 bug Crashed at Samoa

    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.

    44 min

  4. May 22

    Ep 360 Bill & George Roundtable

    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

    1h 15m

  5. May 15

    EP 359 Bill Talks summer events, Magazine & Old VW inventions.

    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

    46 min

  6. May 1

    Ep 358 Rick Sadler & his Type 4 racing history.

    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.

    1 hr

  7. Apr 28

    Ep 357 The Big Super charger Kit from Rababak performance

    Supercharging a classic Volkswagen isn't a new idea—it's been around since the 1960s—but today's technology is taking air-cooled performance to a whole new level. With the rise of modern kits like the AMR500, more VW enthusiasts are exploring forced induction as a serious upgrade for their street and performance builds. In this episode of Let's Talk Dubs, we welcome back Ron and Kevin Trewhella from Rababak Performance to break down their latest innovation—the all-new MK supercharger kit. Designed specifically for larger displacement air-cooled VW engines like 2276cc, 2332cc, and 2.2L+ builds, this system is built for real, usable power. We're talking dyno-proven numbers pushing up to 240 horsepower and 288 lb-ft of torque at just 3000 RPM—the kind of low-end torque you can actually feel on the street. We get into the development process behind the MK kit, what makes it different from smaller AMR500 setups, and what engine combinations work best to maximize performance and reliability. Whether you're building a street-driven Volkswagen, a weekend warrior, or just curious about bolt-on supercharger kits for air-cooled VWs, this episode is packed with insight straight from the source. If you're into supercharged VW engines, air-cooled performance upgrades, Volkswagen engine builds, or forced induction setups for classic Beetles and buses, this is one you don't want to miss.

    1h 15m
  8. Ep 356 Dino Mendoza Real Street Race Director

    Apr 17

    Ep 356 Dino Mendoza Real Street Race Director

    What does it really take to build a true street Volkswagen that can survive the cruise… and then go heads-up on the drag strip? On this episode of Let's Talk Dubs, we sit down with Dino Mendoza — one of the driving forces behind the VW Real Street racing scene — to break down one of the most exciting and authentic forms of air-cooled Volkswagen drag racing happening today. Dino gives us an inside look at how Real Street VW racing was built from the ground up, what separates it from traditional bracket racing, and why the rules—pump gas, all motor, carbureted, and mandatory street cruise—are what make this class so competitive and respected. We dive deep into: The origins and evolution of VW Real Street racing What it takes to build a fast, reliable air-cooled VW drag car Why "real street" means more than just a name Engine combinations, tuning strategies, and common mistakes The difference between heads-up drag racing vs bracket racing Stories from the track and the people pushing the limits of street-driven Volkswagens If you're into classic Volkswagen performance, VW drag racing, air-cooled engine builds, or street-driven race cars, this episode is packed with real-world knowledge straight from someone shaping the scene. Whether you're building your own VW or just love the culture, this is one you don't want to miss.

    1h 25m
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4.9
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320 Ratings

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The classic Volkswagen podcast committed to the history of the hobby. The people that made it what it is today. Uncovering history from the early days of the aftermarket Volkswagen hobby

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