Podcast
Lets Talk Dubs Classic The Classic VW podcast
Hosted by Bill Tsagrinos · EN
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
37episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Ep 347 I bought a new project! and Internet engine debate With Ross Wulf & Pat Downs performance
Jan 1600:58:59Tap to summarizeI made it a whole two weeks into the new year without buying a new project… and then I blew it 😆. This episode kicks off with the story of how I ended up with "Pookie's Dream," the iconic VW Trends August 1991 cover car. We touch on what that car meant to the hobby back then and why it still matters today. But the real heart of this episode is The Great Engine Debate. A recent dyno session sparked a massive discussion after comments posted by Ross Wolf revealed an engine that didn't deliver the expected results. What followed was an explosion of opinions—over 65 comments deep—covering engine specs, dyno expectations, real-world performance, and long-standing air-cooled engine-building philosophies. We get deep into the weeds on what numbers really matter, why expectations don't always match results, and how different builders approach power, reliability, and intent. To balance the conversation, we bring in feedback from both sides, including insight from Jared Winton and a direct take from Pat Downs Performance on the topic. This is one of those discussions that never really ends in the VW world—but that's what makes it so good. Grab a drink, settle in, and enjoy another episode of Let's Talk Dubs, where history, opinion, and air-cooled passion collide.
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Ep 346 Dino's Verts Down the baddest "Kat" in the Chevy Truck world is an OG VW guy!
Jan 901:34:52Tap to summarizeThe baddest "Kat" in the Chevy truck world might surprise you—because it all started with Volkswagens. In this episode, we sit down with "Dino Battilana, the mastermind behind the world-famous Dino Git Down Chevy truck show in Phoenix, Arizona, one of the largest and most influential classic Chevy C10 events in the country. For more than 10 years, Dino Git Down has drawn Chevy pickup trucks from all over the United States and international visitors, growing into an absolute monster of a show. With over 13,000 trucks attending last year, it has become a must-attend event for classic truck enthusiasts, custom builders, and C10 fans worldwide. But before the C10 fame, Dino's automotive journey began in the Volkswagen world. In this episode, we dive deep into his VW roots, his passion for air-cooled Volkswagens, and how that foundation shaped his approach to building, design, and community. We also break down his latest personal build—a jaw-dropping 1960 Volkswagen that defies categories. While it looks like a convertible, the window channels have been permanently sealed, making it a true open-air cruiser with a unique custom twist. This VW features air suspension by Levi at Pan Draggers, traditional styling mixed with modern creativity, and even subtle Chevy-inspired interior details—a perfect crossover of two iconic automotive worlds. We talk shop on custom fabrication, air-ride setups, vintage Volkswagen styling, and how his love for VW culture helped influence the growth of one of the biggest classic truck shows in the country. If you're into classic Volkswagens, Chevy C10 trucks, custom car culture, air suspension builds, automotive event history, or the evolution of car shows, this episode is a must-listen. We cover Dino's full journey—from air-cooled VW beginnings to building an automotive empire—and how Dino Git Down became the global phenomenon it is today. Enjoy
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Ep 345 Type 4 Master Jake Raby
Jan 202:52:22Tap to summarizeJake Raby is widely regarded as one of the world's leading experts on the Volkswagen Type 4 engine, with more than 30 years of hands-on experience building, developing, and refining air-cooled Type 4 VW engines. Since the late 1990s, Jake has been deeply involved in Type 4 engine rebuilding, performance development, and long-term reliability testing for platforms used in VW Bus, Porsche 914, and high-performance air-cooled Volkswagen applications. Over the decades, Jake has pushed the limits of the Type 4 air-cooled engine platform, pioneering advancements in cooling systems, cylinder head porting, plenum and intake temperature control, camshaft profiles, and custom internal components. Many of the bespoke Type 4 engine parts used in his builds were designed or commissioned specifically to solve known weaknesses and extract maximum horsepower while maintaining street-driven reliability. What sets Jake apart in the air-cooled Volkswagen Type 4 engine world is his uncompromising work ethic and attention to detail. Every engine is built as a custom, customer-specific Type 4 VW engine, focused on longevity, drivability, and real-world performance—not shortcuts. His mission has always been the advancement of the Type 4 VW hobby, ensuring these engines remain viable, powerful, and dependable decades after their original production. Beyond engine building, Jake has played a major role in Type 4 engine education, offering classes, technical training, and early-2000s instructional videos covering Type 4 engine teardown, inspection, and rebuild processes—resources that helped countless Volkswagen enthusiasts understand and preserve this unique engine platform. That innovation didn't stop with Volkswagen. Jake later applied his engineering mindset to the Porsche flat-six engine world, where he helped develop the widely known intermediate shaft (IMS) bearing solution, along with numerous other reliability upgrades for Porsche engines. This episode is packed with deep technical insight into Volkswagen Type 4 engines, air-cooled performance development, engine reliability, and decades of real-world testing. If you're passionate about VW Type 4 engines, air-cooled Volkswagens, Porsche engineering, or engine development at the highest level, this is an episode you won't want to miss. www.letstalkdubs..com www.vwtrendsmagazine.com www.rosswulf.com use code LTD10 for 10% off your order Info for Luft Zeigen here
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Ep 344 Sausage, Local VW hoard & Murder
Dec 2700:53:59Tap to summarizeSan Leandro, California—an industrial Bay Area city shaped by its Portuguese community and a deep-rooted Volkswagen culture—holds a story few outside the neighborhood ever knew. Tucked away behind an unassuming fence was a Volkswagen collection unlike anything else in the region. For years, local kids would stop, peer through the slats, and take it all in: early Beetles, split windows, rare convertibles, stacks of glass, and parts that hinted at decades of careful accumulation. It was a forgotten archive of Volkswagen history—silent, untouched, and unexplained. Then came the revelation. The cars belonged to Stuart Alexander, the owner of the Sausage King facility and the man later convicted in one of San Leandro's most infamous criminal cases—the murder of health inspectors at his warehouse. A crime that shocked the community also cast a long shadow over what had once seemed like a harmless automotive mystery. In the years that followed, the Volkswagen hoard was quietly dismantled. With the help of a volunteer assisting the family, the cars were sold off—often at fair, reasonable prices—and released back into the Volkswagen world. One by one, these forgotten cars reentered the scene, restored, driven, shown, and enjoyed, largely disconnected from the dark chapter that once surrounded them. In this episode, we Me & John Limnios explore the intersection of true crime and Volkswagen history—how a legendary Bay Area VW stash came to be, how it disappeared, and where those cars may be today. Many of them are still out there, living new lives, their origins unknown to their current owners. If you own one of these cars, recognize the story, or have information about the San Leandro VW hoard, we invite you to reach out. This is more than a crime story—it's an unfinished chapter of Volkswagen history, and together, we may be able to trace it back to where it began. www.letstalkdubs.com www.vwtrendsmagazine.com www.rosswulf.com use code LTD10 for 10% off
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Ep 343 Year end review 2025
Dec 2100:37:36Tap to summarize2025 was a huge year for documenting Volkswagen history—and in this episode, we take a full look back. We review the entire 2025 podcast episode list, breaking down highlights and key moments from nearly every show in case you missed an episode or two along the way. From early Volkswagen drag racing history and legendary builders, to modern VW product development, fresh builds, and stories shaping the hobby today, this year covered it all. With over 50 episodes released, there's a ton of ground to cover. This recap episode ties everything together, revisits standout conversations, and reflects on why preserving and sharing air-cooled Volkswagen history still matters. So sit back, relax, and get a full rundown of the stories, guests, and moments that made 2025 an unforgettable year for the VW community. www.letstalkdubs.com www.vwtrendsmagazine.com www.rosswulf.com use code LTD10 for 10% off www.ssaircooled.com ICON pistons
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EP 342 Found & rebuilt his first car after 30 years Nov 25 Volksworld Cover car Dave Lawlor
Dec 1201:27:58Tap to summarizeWhat if the Volkswagen you built as a teenager never really left you? In this episode, we get into the incredible full-circle story of David Lawler and his 1971 Volkswagen Beetle from Southeast England. David bought his very first VW at just 14 years old, poured years into building it, and saw that dream rewarded when the car landed in a Volkswagen magazine in 1995. But life changes. Priorities shift. The unthinkable happens—and the car is sold. Watching your first show-winning Volkswagen drive away is a regret that never fully fades. For decades, the Beetle would resurface in David's life, always just out of reach. Nearly 30 years later, he finally gets the chance to buy it back—only to discover it's far worse than he imagined. Rather than restore what was lost, David makes a bold decision: start over and build something entirely new. The result is a radically re-imagined 1971 VW Beetle—a modern, hot-rod-inspired machine that stands completely apart from anything else in the Volkswagen world. From extensive paint and bodywork, to chop-top modifications, a full roof conversion, and a cartoon-style window treatment, this build rewrites the rulebook. The hot-rod-meets-custom interior seals the deal as a true one-off. That risk paid off in a big way. The car was selected Top Five at the VolksWorld Show and went on to land the cover of the November 2025 Volkswagen magazine. This episode covers the emotional journey, the design decisions, the fabrication challenges, and what it means to let go of the past—only to build something even better. If you love custom Volkswagen Beetles, VW show cars, chop-top VWs, and real stories from the global air-cooled scene, this one is a must-listen. www.letstalkdubs.com www.vwtrendsmagazine.com www.rosswulf.com use code LTD10 for 10% off of your order www.ssaircooled.com ICON pistons here
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Ep 337 Brett Hawksbee Bug Jam Targa Ghia and more
Oct 3101:27:04Tap to summarizeBrett Hawkbee is a name that's known throughout the UK for creating a legendary bug jam. The largest show in the UK and it's third year it broke all records for any show that was happening in the UK car show specific. Going to other shows and feeling like he could do better, he decided to put something together with an idea and a couple opportunities. The doubters were stacked against him thinking it would be a flop instead 38 years later it still, pushing right along. He's also the builder of the legendary Targa Ghia that was at One crazy weekend. That's now owned by Russell Ritchie. That car has a place in Volkswagen history of one of the most iconic 80s cars ever produced in the UK. This is a story of what happens when you have the desire, determination and a love for the hobby. Brett has gone on to do skateboard shows. Music festivals and other events. He was also the founder of the UK's VWDRC . www.letstalkdubs www.vwtrendsmagazine.com www.rosswulf.com use LTD10 doe 10% off ICON Pistons here
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Ep 336 Scott Hopkins Laydout splitwindow
Oct 2400:57:16Tap to summarizeScott Hopkins hails from Hyrum Gerogia his 1956 oval window is quite unique. What happens when you build a Volkswagen that doesn't follow the norms of your typical fue wheels and original paint colors and no customization. Well, in this case it will get you noticed at the triple Crown of hot rodding car show. And receiving a top 30 award that's example of modern Volkswagen builds that blend some hot rod flavor with traditional Volkswagen enthusiast styling. Over the past few years, we've seen influx of Volkswagens starting to show up at some of the hot rod shows and picking off some of the top awards. It's a trend. I enjoy seeing because it continues to push the hobby further into a new crowd that can expand their ideas into other car builds not just hot rods. this is a unique build that has a really good balance of hot rod and Vw creativity. One of the great things is that other than Paint Scott has done a lot of this work himself out of his garage over the past few years. A true labor of love while trying to be different and unique. Keeping true to his roots and dipping over to the Mini Truck side, this split window/oval window is bagged to where it will lay the pan on the ground 17 inch Budnick wheels stuffed into some mini tubs and hot rod inspired leather interior. Check out the pictures below and enjoy. Click here for Pictures of the build !!!!!! www.letstalkdubs.com www.rosswulf.com www.vwtrendsmagazine.com buy ICON Pistons
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Ep 335 Tuff E Nuff Rick Stanchfield
Oct 1701:56:01Tap to summarizeRick Stanchfield has VW history starting back in the 1970's. His passion was fuled by the hearing some fast VWs while slinging drywall. His life was changed forever. He started with a single port engine then off to the races with his new "race Motor" running in the 12's. His path is long & winding with the likes of Steve Tims. driving for lots of different people like Eric Ballard and many more. He moves from drywall to transaxels. Steve Timms buys the Lee Leighton Oval then they rebuilt the car and ran 10.30's. So much history in this podcast. Crazy stories about drag racing events. www.vwtrendsmagazine.com www.rosswulf.com ICON pistons here www.letstalkdubs.com
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Ep 334 AFTER OCW 2025 roundtable
Oct 1001:17:57Tap to summarizeOne Crazy weekend has passed and we sit down with Andy Finch & Trav lawton and discuss the weekend events from the weekend. Lots happend this week up to and during the event. Top 20 awards Best of show winner for $1,000 and the specialty awards. Travs perspective as a visitor from out of country. Andys push to get the OCW 68 & Sin City 69 to the finishline. We dicuss the events of the Poker tournament, Bowling torunament & strip cruise then the car show with the finally of the Poker Run! what an event!
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