Bugorama PHX 2005

Wickedmag.com covered the Phoenix Bug-O-Rama and as usual we started with the car show. The single most surprising vehicle there, was a truck converted to VW power. This was no hack job. The creator of this piece of metal art carefully crafted it with a clear vision and a precise hand. Check out the pictures. The track had its share of excitement but my favorite, PARADISE EXPRESS pulled the wheels off the ground big time! Check out the video.

Check out the stats:

Top MPH & LOW ET of Meet:

“PARADISE EXPRESS” Dragster /Scott, Kris, Jason Lauffer-San Marcos, CA

PRO MOD (Heads-Up)

Winner – Eric Madsen/Grand Junction, CO – 1964 Turbo GHIA

R/Up – Eric Calabrese/Simi Valley, CA – “Red Baron-57 Bug”

SUPER COMP (10.90 Heads Up)

Winner – Jeff Lovell/ Canby, OR – 67 Bug,

R/Up – Mike Sheldon/ Redondo Beach, CA – 62 Turbo Bug

SUPER STREET (Heads Up)

Winner – Greg Tims/ Riverside, CA – 68 Bug

R/Up – David Stark/ Corona, CA – 66 Bug

SUPER GAS (11.90 Heads Up)

Winner – Scott Bakken/ Glendora, CA – 63 Bug

R/Up – Dave Calta/ Rio Linda, CA – 68 Bug

Gene Berg Pro-Eliminator (0-12.99 Bracket)

Winner – Ernie Crowley, Albuquerque, NM – 58 Karman Ghia

R/Up – Hobi Oseguera/Los Angeles, CA – 67 Bug

SPORTSMAN “A” (13.00-15.99)

Winner – Brian Yandell/ San Diego, CA – 64 Bug

R/Up – Dino Bakolas/ Las Vegas, CA – 65

SPORTSMAN “B” (16.00 and slower)

Winner – Lewis Cowarey/Witchita, KA – 63 Bug

R/Up – Chris Predmore/ Prescott Valley, AZ – 61 VW Single Cab Truck

Der Renn Kafer Cup Results

Total Points

1st Place – Joe Maestas – Covina, CA- 57 Oval (Car 107) 90.75

2nd Place – Rick Dickson – Sacto, CA – 67 Bug (Car 108) 87.5

3rd Place – Leyder Ness – Glendale, AZ – 62 Bug (Car 109) 82.5

Best ET – Rick Dickson (Car 108) 11.57

Best Show Score – Joe Maestas (Car 107) 92

Best of Show – Watercooled

Mike Grady – Green 73 Thing (Car 2601)

Gary Lutz – Blue 95 Jetta (Car 3702)

Gilbert, Arizona

Phoenix, Arizona

Best Paint- Air-cooled

Best Paint – Watercooled

Hans Christensen – Green 58 Ghia (Car 1602)

Earl McCutcheon – 98 Beetle (Car 4201)

Prescott, Arizona

Solvang, CA

Best Interior – Aircooled

Best Interior – Watercooled

Danny Berrelleza – Red 68 Bug (Car 1903)

Gary Lutz – Blue 95 Jetta (Car 3702)

Chandler, Arizona

Phoenix, Arizona

Best Engine – Aircooled

Best Engine – Watercooled

Brent Zuehlke – Green Mini Truck (Car 903)

Gary Lutz – Blue 95 Jetta (Car 3702)

Mesa, Arizona

Phoenix, Arizona

SPECIALTY AWARDS PRESENTED FOR AIR & WATERCOOLED:

Best Engineered – Aircooled

Best Engineered – Watercooled

Brent Zuehlke – Tube Chassis VW Pwd Truck (Car 903)

Mike Lewis – Green 99 Beetle (Car 4202)

Mesa, Arizona

Phoenix, Arizona

Most Unusual VW

Promoters Choice

Brent Zuehlke – Green VW Powered Truck (Car 903)

Mike Lewis – Green 99 Beetle (Car 4202)

Mesa, Arizona

Phoenix, Arizona

CAR SHOW CLASSES:

VW Trike – Class 800

(801) 1st Place – Alex Ross – Green Trike / Tucson, Arizona

(802) 2nd Place – Lon Eckert – Blue Trike / Glendale, Arizona

Special Interest – Class 900

(903) 1st Place – Brent Zuehlke – Green Mid-VW Engine Mini Truck -

Mesa, AZ

(901) 2nd Place – Ed Snyder – Red 74 Bug – Delta, Colorado

Vintage Bug up to 1957 – Class 1000

(1002) 1st Place – Carlos Guzman – Reseda Green 49 Split – Los

Angeles, CA

(1001) 2nd Place – Peter Sciacca – Toupe 57 Oval – Chandler, AZ

Vintage Bug 58′ thru 67′ – Class 1100

(1101) 1st Place – Ed Williams – Blue 1966 Bug – Scottsdale, AZ

(1103) 2nd Place – Nancy Axtell – Zenith Blue 1967 Bug – Tempe, AZ

Vintage Bug 68 & Later – Class 1200

(1201) 1st Place – Jack Foster – Silver 1979 Super Beetle – Gilbert,

AZ

Vintage Type 2 thru 1967 – Class 1400

(1401) 1st Place – Nels Dutton – Red & Beige 67 Bus – Phoenix, AZ

(1403) 2nd Place – Mike & Barb McLean – Red/Brown 58 Bus – Tucson, AZ

Vintage Type 3 (All) – Class 1500

(1501) 1st Place – Katie Eberhardt – Yellow 71 Squareback – Peoria, AZ

Vintage Ghia (Stock or Restored – All) – Class 1600

(1602) 1st Place – Hans Christensen – Amazon Green 58 Ghia -

Prescott, AZ

(1601) 2nd Place – Ben Turgeon – Blue/White 68 Ghia- Peoria, AZ

49 – 63 Mild Mod Bug – Class 1700

(1702) 1st Place – Michael Owen – Dove Blue 61 Bug – Mesa, AZ

(1703) 2nd Place – Maria Weaver – White/Gold 61 Convert. – Tucson, AZ

64 to 69 Mild Mod Bug – Class 1800

(1806) 1st Place – Curt Nadean – Blue 64 Bug – Prescott Valley, AZ

(1805) 2nd Place – Charlie Tahuahua – Red 64 Bug – Las Cruces, NM

Street Custom Bug – Class 1900

(1906) 1st Place – Jason Mueller – Dove Blue 58 Sedan – Mesa, AZ

(1901) 2nd Place – Jerry Pancost – Blue 62 Bug – Tucson, AZ

Racical Custom Bug – Class 2000

(2003) 1st Place – Tom Carsten – Flamed Green Oval – Las Vegas, NV

(2001) 2nd Place – Paul Yaroz – Black Chopped 53 Bug – Winnetka, CA

Mild Mod Bug Convertible – Class 2100

(2101) 1st Place – Jason Liborio – Red 66 Vert. – Chandler, AZ

(2103) 2nd Place – Renee Salazar – Red 69 Bug Vert. – Winnetka, CA

CAL LOOK – Class 2200

(2201) 1st Place – Jon Schweers – Red 69 Bug – Yorba Linda, CA

(2202) 2nd Place – Joe Lupia – Green 56 Bug – Phoenix, AZ

Mild Mod Ghia (All Years/Models) – Class 2300

(2302) 1st Place – Alicia Charles – Periwinkle 62 Ghia – Mesa, AZ

(2301) 2nd Place – Chrys Espejo – Black/Tan 63 Ghia Vert. – Van Nuys,

CA

Mild Mod Type 2 (All years) – Class 2400

(2401) 1st Place – Rod Nunmacher – Blue/White 70′ – Mesa, AZ

(2403) 2nd Place – Polly Michaels – Blue/White 70′ Bus – Mesa, AZ

Type 2 Campers (ALL) – Class 2500

(2502) 1st Place – Tim Schnieder – White 90′ Synchro Vanagon -

Gilbert, AZ

(2501) 2nd Place – Robert Highsmith – Yellow 77′ Camper – Scottsdale,

AZ

VW THING (All) – Class 2600

(2601) 1st Place – Mike Grady – Green 73′ Custom Thing – Gilbert, AZ

(2602) 2nd Place – Chas Ellis – Yellow 74 Thing – Ft. Wayne, IN

TYPE 3 (All Models) – Class 2700

(2701) 1st Place – Jimmy Hopper – Blue 65′ Notchback – Gilbert, AZ

GLASS BUGGIES (All Models) – Class 2800

(2801) 1st Place – Bob Christensen – Green 65′ Meyers Manx – Phoenix,

AZ

(2802) 2nd Place – Robert Bowyer – Red 69′ Dune Buggy – Globe, AZ

STREET BAJA (All Years) – Class 3000

(3003) 1st Place – Kim/Kirk King – Black 70′ Baja – Hereford, AZ

(3001) 2nd Place – Jason Heuton – Green/Purple 69′ Baja – Prescott

Valley, AZ

SANDRAILS (All) – Class 3100

(3101) 1st Place – Mike Leas – Blue 96′ – Phoenix, AZ

GOLF 1 (Water-cooled) – Class 3200

(3202) 1st Place – Andrew Weitkunat – Blue Pearl 78′ Rabbit -

Phoenix, AZ

(3204) 2nd Place – Jorge Rached – Yellow 81′ Rabbit – Mesa, AZ

GOLF 2 (Watercooled) – Class 3400

(3401) 1st Place – Fernando Rached – Green 92′ Golf – Mesa, AZ

JETTA 2 (Watercooled) – Class 3500

(3501) 1st Place – Brian Parks – White 16V GLI – Tucson, AZ

GOLF 3 (Watercooled) – Class 3600

(3601) 1st Place – Jeremy Hayes – Green 95 Golf – Tuscon, AZ

(3603) 2nd Place – Nicole Wheatcroft – Red VR6 GTI – Scottsdale, AZ

JETTA 3 (Watercooled) – Class 3700

(3702) 1st Place – Gary Lutz – Blue 95 Jetta – Phoenix, AZ

(3701) 2nd Place – Donald Grunden – Green 96 Jetta – Tucson, AZ

GOLF 4 (Watercooled) – Class 3800

(3803) 1st Place – Josh Boettcher – Silver 2003 GTI – Mesa, AZ

(3802) 2nd Place – Chad Esterberg – Yellow 2003 GTI – Tempe, AZ

JETTA 4 (Watercooled) – Class 3900

(3903) 1st Place – Ryan Waddington – Silver 2002 Jetta – Phoenix, AZ

(3904) 2nd Place – Martin Kulakowski – Silver 2001 Jetta – Tempe, AZ

CORRADO/SCIRROCCO (All) – Class 4000

(4003) 1st Place – Chris Elliot – Green 93′ Corrado – Phoenix, AZ

(4001) 2nd Place – Jess Franklin – Red 93′ VR6 Corrado – Tucson, AZ

PASSAT (All Years) – Class 4100

(4101) 1st Place – Andy Sink – Green 2001 Passat – Chandler, AZ

(4102) 2nd Place – Jeff Ford – White 99 Passat – Chandler, AZ

NEW BEETLE (All Years) – Class 4200

(4201) 1st Place – Earl McCutcheon – White/Flamed 98 – Solvang, CA

(4203) 2nd Place – John Streeter – White 2002 – Tempe, AZ

VW RAT RODS (All Models) – Class 4400

(4401) 1st Place – Jan Blair – RHD Black 62 Bug – Phoenix, AZ

TYPE 2 COMMERCIAL VEHICLES (All) – Class 4500

(4503) 1st Place – Selzo Salazar – Blue/Cream 63 Single Cab – Mission

Hills, CA

(4501) 2nd Place – Kent Thorpe – Red/White 67 Crewcab – Glendale, AZ

The Phoenix Bug-O-Rama would not be possible with out Rick and his crew. Thanks guys. Drop him a line at rick@bug-o-rama.com and let him know what you think. The only thing that could be improved is the engine blow.  That engine was tough and I don’t know about you, but I want to see carnage, explosions and debris flying.

John Dane

Wickedmag.com

Copy right 2005