"Prove me wrong." Those are three words to live by. They have been in the case of Ricky and his 56 Oval Window Bug.

His association with the car started back in 1984 when Lester G. told him of an oval for sale. If the price is right, anything can be bought regardless of condition, just ask any VW enthusiast. It can always be drug home, right? Even if it only has a Fred Flintstone floor? Any luck convincing yourself? Well, try convincing a wife, one that didn't see the little bug's inner beauty. She said, "You've blown $200 bucks! You can't help it, put it out of ‘our’ misery!" Took Ricky almost 5 years to prove her wrong, but prove it he did!

The bug was brought back to original condition right down to the wide whitewall tires and the original colors of Horizon Blue with Navy interior. A few years into the car, Ricky changed out the 36hp engine and transmission to a 1600 with dual Dell’s, lowered the front, and installed polished 5 spokes. Nice looking engine with all that chrome. But sometimes, all good things must come to an end, VW's included. That engine was called home to the VW factory in the sky while participating in a car show.

Ricky is one of our members that has had their cars showcased in the Hot VWs magazine. The June 1997 issue titled "Memphis Mover." Ricky thought the article should have been titled "Memphis Blues" since he and Dee Foster watched the demise of the previous motor the year before!

He now has a bone stock 1600 engine built for reliability. Weekend cruises to those car shows are now a joy instead of having to worry about walking home, or worse, being towed to the "Barker Garage." But, as Ricky said, walking is supposed to be a good form of cardiovascular exercise!

Now, I have to admit, I am forever learning something new and exciting being associated with these cars. And in the case of Ricky and his Oval, it is no different. We had attended a car show in Jonesboro last summer, and we were all getting ready to hit the road for the trip back to Memphis. Everyone was checking oil, checking tires, being sure everything was road ready for the trip, and hoping no one was going to have to be towed! Ricky pops the hood of his car, fiddles around with something and pulls out a wooden dip stick. I'm thinking "What the ...?" And forever being the curious one, I just asked, "What are you doing?" He very nonchalantly says, "Checking my gas tank." Sure enough, I look in his car at the dash, no gauges, no gadgets, just a speedometer.

Modern technology! Idiot lights! Gauges! Bah humbug! Who needs 'em?! A word to the wise, just don't leave home without checking your dip stick!