beetleluvr: aka Ben R. I am originally from the Midwest (Indiana to be exact). I attended Indiana State University for two years then decided that I had enough advanced education (shame on me). I left Indiana State to work with my ex father-in-law in the truck bed mounting business. I developed my mechanical and welding skills under his guidance. I moved to Houston in 1981 and have been here ever since. I am currently employed as my company’s Global Purchasing & Logistics Manager. I could not have been blessed with a better job!
I stripped my 1st Volkswagen down to the pan in 1978 to make a dune buggy. I shortened the pan 18 inches, built a frame around it and used the stock motor to make it go. I sold it to a friend in 1979. Many times I have sat and wondered what YOM that VW was. I sure hope it was not an old split window or oval! My next venture into the VW air-cooled world was in the late 80’s. We raised our kids on VW’s starting with a 69 Type 1 for my daughter Marlene, then added a 66 Type 1 for stepson Chris, then a 71 Ghia for my wife Pat and finally a bright orange 1974 Super Beetle for me. At one point we had all four of these air-cooled VW’s in our driveway/garage. I did a ground up resto-custom build on the 69 starting with replacing portions of the floor pan and the rear luggage area, all the way to final painting. The last one left the driveway in 1992. Jump forward to 2006 where I decided I could not do without an air-cooled VW any longer. I purchased my 1966 Bahama Blue Type 1 in December of 2006 and added my 1956 Polar Silver Oval in late 2007. I am not like the majority of the dLk members in the way that I roll my VW’s mostly stock. But, like my fellow dLk members I am dedicated to preserving VW’s and helping my comprades in any way that I can to make their cars meet their dreams, whenever I can. Who knows, maybe some of this lowered profile and high performance motor stuff will rub off on me. More than anything else, I enjoy the companionship and friendship that our small group of air-cooled VW enthusiasts brings to the table.
Some of my other interests are collecting VW toys, saltwater fishing and raising/showing our English and French Bulldogs: