June 1, 2008: Punch Buggy 4 SickKids: We attended the Punch Buggy 4 SickKids event in Toronto yesterday and it couldn't have been better. Mitch did an excellent job of organizing the whole thing and he had about 20 VWs show up even with the threat of rain. We cruised through the streets of Toronto on a Victory Lap to the cheers and smiles of the people out on that glorious day. TV crews and radio stations were at the park where all of the Beetles parked for the picnic after the cruise. So far Mitch and his crew have raised over $2,000.00 for the Hospital for Sick Children and there's still time for you to help http://www.punchbuggy4sickkids.com/. Read all about the show in our Events section.

June 7, 2008: Correct Knob: I was looking at the brochure for my 1975 La Grande Beetle and I noticed something. The original gearshift knob that came on my VW was the correct one after all. When I got my Super Beetle 13 years ago and started getting into the whole VW scene, I remember thinking "I wonder where this gearshift knob came from, it looks too new to be factory equipment". So I looked around and ended up ordering one of those black plastic "Mushroom style" knobs from CIP for about four bucks. I never really loved it but I thought this is what must have come with my Bug so I'm going to have to live with it. The one that was installed on my Beetle when I bought it was cheesy vinyl and had the Wolfsburg Castle on it, surely this was too modern for my '75 and was probably off a newer Rabbit or something. Wrong. Here's a quote from the specification page on the brochure, "Gear Shift. Your black leatherette gear shift knob featuring the Wolfsburg crest adds a touch of elegance". YIKES! Now where did I put that thing? I didn't think that I would throw it out. But knowing me, if it wasn't stock I might have tossed it. I searched through my garage and finally came across it in the bottom of my sons old tool box. Score one for me. So without further ado, here it is.