April 13, 2005

This past weekend, California Speedway drew a different crowd, all of them Volkswagen lovers. An estimated 250 VW-powered vehicles and over 500 entries in the car show.

It was Bug In 32, organized at California Speedway by VW drag racers, Clyde Berg, Joel Mohr and original Bug-In promoter, Rich Kimball. The first Bug-In was held at OCIR in 1968 and the last Bug-In, Number 31, took place in October 1983 a couple of weeks before OCIR closed its gates for good.

Bug-In 32 used the original format with events including, ¼ mile drag racing, a car show, swap meet and special displays. Also the top show car award "America’s Most Beautiful Volkswagen", and the ever-popular "Engine-Pull Contest", and special displays of vintage racecars, dune buggies, formula V’s and Bug-In legends.

Winner:Troy Palmer 1960 VW 12.147 94.93 12.08
Runner-Up:Brian Herstay 2000 VW 10.217 128.31 9.850
Semi:Mike Lawless 1965 Ghia 11.761 112.96 11.76
Semi:Bjohn Schuerger 1966 VW 10.217 128.31 9.85

Winner:Chip Wimer 1966 VW 11.954 91.98 11.77
Runner-Up:Mike Engert 1957 Ghia 14.777 87.32 14.82
Semi:Mike Fordyce 1966 VW 12.537 103.23 12.47
Semi:John Schuerger 1966 VW 12.130 109.20 11.85

Winner:Bud Whitfield 1966 VW 13.356 92.77 12.99
Runner-Up:James De Mond 1967 VW 15.052 84.19 12.99
Semi:Michael Cruz 1962 Manx Broke

Winner:Daniel Kurtzman 1962 VW 14.525 70.94 13.58
Runner-Up:Ron Rice 1965 VW 16.024 62.25 14.28
Semi:Nathaniel Thames 1964 VW 14.464 76.83 13.30
Semi:Les Navales 1964 VW 13.498 91.06 13.00

Winner:Corey Casauette 1967 VW 17.043 73.65 17.15
Runner-Up:Adam Navarro 1969 VW 17.823 52.15 18.00
Semi:Jazz Briscoe 1964 VW 17.032 74.86 16.60
Semi:Eddie Brizuela 1964 VW Broke

Winner:Neel Mehra 2005 VW 15.134 92.34 15.00
Runner-Up:Ramiro Martinez 2004 VW 14.288 90.68 14.30