Cal-Look.com - Nostalgia Corner by El Dub

A FRENCH TRIBUTE
TO THE PIONNEERS OF VW DRAG RACING
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ANDERSON STORY BY THE ANDERSON...

Below are some words that Ron ANDERSON himself put down on paper... He was kind enough to allow me to post some of them here... That is very very cool as those words really help to capture the "behind the scene". Is it very interesting! Thanks Ron!

This is another Cyclone ad dealing with the Here comes da bug gasser! The bug shows Cyclone accessories including racing hood with gauge cluster, flared front and rear fenders, decklid with fresh air scoop, rear clean up panel... as well as super extractor!

Mark and Paul SCHLEY worked for Deano’s Dynosoars. Mark and Paul invited us out to the shop or store that next Saturday to see the place. Rick and Ron were given all the information needed to get there. Next Saturday Rick and Ron went down to Santa Anna to Dean’s place. We were introduce to Dean and Ken. We were asked what kind of motor we were running and what we wanted to do or get out of racing VW’s. We spent all day at Deans with the whole crew there. We learned a lot that day. We were around very nice people all day. At the end of the day Dean had told us to come out anytime we wanted. Thank you very much we replied. After some time went buy going out to the shop and buying parts little at a time. With the help of Mark and Paul Schley talking to Dean and Ken telling them how Rick and Ron had the same goals in racing. Another brother team like them, the Schley, would they like to help out another brother team. Well Mark Schley called us to come out that next Saturday. They had something to tell us and show us. The next Saturday morning Rick and Ron on there way to Deano’s shop. A half a day goes buy and were all talking having a good time. Dean, Ken, Mark and Paul got together Dean started asking if I do this for you would you put our name on your car. Well needless to say Rick and Ron about fell over. SURE we would do that for you. Dean said he would have Rich Mc peek set up a time to letter our car with Dean’s logo. Before all this took place Rick and Ron had gone out many Saturday’s to the track making changes all the time to go faster on their own, but didn’t know enough on how to make it go fast. One Saturday out at Dean’s we ordered a new 2180cc motor complete. Each BUG-IN we wanted to get the car better in some way.

"Our car club that we belonged to in Culver City was asked to appear for background cars in the movie “Two Lanes Black Top”. We picked up our new 2180cc motor put it in the car. Never took it out to the track yet with new motor in car. We got out to the movie site on a Saturday unloaded pushed the car where they wanted it. Saw the BIG MAN himself BIG WILLY and he is a BIG MAN. Everyone was talking about doing burnouts with BIG WILLY. So why not were just a VW a little car, HAY BIG WILLY do you want to go up agents a VW? NO WAY I’m NOT touching a VW those things are fast. Big Willy must have seen the Lighting Bug. Remember that we haven’t been out with our new motor. We are asked to do a burn out next to a big block Chevy. Rick does his first burn out. He was not ready for what happened, that little car took off like never before. It was so much faster then before. It was so fast that it beat that big block off the line. That was a fun night no one wanted to deal with the little blue HERE COMES da BUG all night. WE were only allowed to do a burn out, off the line and shut off in second gear. That’s all the room they gave us, BUT IT WAS FUN. Our burn out wasn’t used in the movie, But you did get to see it way in the back for a short second. I will say there was a lot of people who came around to check out the little blue HERE COMES da BUG after those burn outs. They would say NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. Are you sure it’s a VW motor? Very proud to say yes it is. Now in another movie that we didn’t know we were in until we saw it was FUNNY CAR SUMMER. It is an air shot of the staging lines at Orange County Raceway with John Smith’s Super Bug and our car behind him.

Now what about an interesting article I had to share with you!

DRAG NEWS 1971 volume 16 number 31

LIONS SPOTLIGHT

While many racers feel Chevys, Fords or Chrysler products powered by a 400 cubic inch engine are the only way to go, Ricj and Ron ANDERSON have a different opinion and their '56 VW is the proof. The Anderson VW called "Here Comes Da Bug" is powered by a 2180cc VW engine (equal to 133 cubic inch) turning out 230 hp and has no problem nettin an ET of 12.07 at 109.63 mph.

Rick ANDERSON, driver of the bug, started racing in 1967 with a '66 VW that turned out a total of 125hp. While racing the '66, ANDERSON began putting together the bug. ANDERSON started racing with a 1900cc VW engine that was more than capable of netting ET's in the 13.10s. Six months ago ANDERSON switched to the present 2180cc engine which was prepared by Deano Dyno Soars Inc. He estimates his engine cost to be close to 2100$ or a total of 4200$ in parts alone for the car.

Not only is the ANDERSON bug at the top of the line in performance, it also has the looks of a professional car, chich might be the reason why Cyclone Products used the bug as the advertising VW for 1970.

The ANDERSON's bug is definitely not to be taken for granted as can be proven by its 95% win record in the F/G class and it's 50% win record in the brackets. The name on the side of the VW says "Here Comes Da Bug" but for those who might consider giving a small bead start to the VW staged in the other lane, they just might end up saying "Here Goes Da Bug".