Some days you’re rebuilding an engine. Some days you’re chasing electrical gremlins. And some days… you’re staring at a rusty corner thinking, “Well… that could definitely use some attention.” 😂 Today’s project was all about the little things. The front bumper got stripped down and cleaned up, ready for another chapter. I cut out the rust in the lower corner of the front door, welded in fresh steel, and gave Lula something she hasn’t had in a long time… solid metal where Mother Nature had been slowly helping herself. A little grinding… A little welding… A little filler… A little primer… And suddenly that ugly hole was just another memory. While I was at it, I spent some time polishing the chrome headlight rings. Amazing what a little elbow grease can do. They won’t blind the neighbors just yet, but they sure look a whole lot happier. It’s funny how these old Volkswagens teach patience. You look at the whole bus and think, “I’ve got forever to go.” Then you step back after a day like today and realize… one corner is finished. One bumper is better. One more piece of the puzzle is done. That’s how these projects get completed. Not all at once… One weld. One bolt. One panel. One adventure at a time. The best part? Lula isn’t waiting to be “finished” before she gets to enjoy life. She’s already out making memories. Today she took one of her longest drives since we’ve owned her, and she never skipped a beat. No drama. No roadside repairs. Just mile after mile with that old VW spirit reminding us why we fell in love with her in the first place. She may still wear a few scars, and she still has plenty of work ahead, but every trip reminds us that restoration isn’t just about bringing an old bus back to life… It’s about living the journey while you do it.

➡️Go here for Event Info Texas vs the World 2026 VW Shootout The 2026 Texas vs the World VW Shootout will take place September 25–26, 2026, at Xtreme Raceway Park in Ferris, Texas, and will feature the largest VW drag racing event in the country. gearheadevents.com Event Overview Organized by Hot VWs Magazine and powered by Driven Racing Oil, this is a weekend-long celebration of Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche drag racing culture. The event is open to all aircooled and watercooled VWs, Audis, and Porsches, and will include: - Drag Racing in multiple pro and bracket classes - Car Show with entries and displays - Swap Meet with vendor booths - Power Wheels Racing for kids - Raffles & 50/50 Drawings - Camping on-site - Huge payouts for winners gearheadevents.com Sponsors & Class Highlights - Title Sponsor: Driven Racing Oil - Presenting Sponsor: Hot VWs Magazine - Class Sponsors: Dune Buggy Warehouse (Pro Stock), Paradise Motorsports (Outlaw), Jason’s 1st Choice Electronics (Bandits), Seale of Protection (Street VW), Rancho Transaxles (Pro VW), Cooter Browns (Gangster 165), Ohana Racing (Lady Bugs) gearheadevents.com Ticketing & Entry - General Admission: $25 (1 day) or $50 (2 days) - Car Show Entry: $25 (includes tee shirt, poster, cup) - Swap Meet Entry: $25 (Saturday only) or $50 (Friday & Saturday) - Race Entries: Camping & Extras - On-site camping available - Camping packages may include event gear and perks - Raffles, 50/50 draws, and vendor booths gearheadevents.com Location Xtreme Raceway Park1800 S Interstate 45 Service Rd, Ferris, TX 75125 gearheadevents.com Tips for Attendees - Arrive early for car show and swap meet entry - Check race schedules for bracket and pro class times - Bring camping gear if staying overnight - Wear comfortable shoes for walking around the track and vendor areas

The 34th Eureka Springs VW Festival will take place August 28–30, 2026 at the Inn of the Ozarks Convention Center, 207 W. Van Buren Street, Eureka Springs, AR 72632 Eureka Springs+1. This annual celebration brings together Volkswagen enthusiasts from across the region for two major shows hosted by different clubs, with all proceeds benefiting a local charity Eureka Springs+1. Event Highlights - Two VW shows by different clubs in one town Eureka Springs+1. - Sunday Tourcade – August 30, 9:30 AM departure from the convention center, visiting Brighton Ridge Nursing Home, Beaver Lake, and scenic Arkansas countryside stops eurekaspringsvwshow.com. - Parade – Saturday, 3 PM, featuring hundreds of VWs, vans, and more Best Western Inn of the Ozarks. - Awards Show – After the parade, starting around 4:30 PM eurekaspringsvwshow.com. - Vendor & Vendor Booths – Open Friday noon–5 PM and Saturday morning eurekaspringsvwshow.com. - Dinner & Cocktail Party – Friday 6–10 PM at the convention center eurekaspringsvwshow.com

If you've ever restored an old VW Bus, you know they have a way of testing your patience... and your sense of humor. 😂 When we first climbed up on the roof, we found years of old paint, peeling coatings, rusty screw heads, cracked sealant, and a canvas that had definitely lived a full life. There were moments when we looked at each other and thought, "Well... this escalated quickly." So we started scraping... and scraping... and scraping some more. The roof wasn't restored in a fancy body shop. It wasn't painted with expensive equipment. It was painted in an abandoned garage with a pile of spray paint cans, a lot of determination, and probably a few too many "Well, let's see what happens!" moments. Then came the new pop-top canvas. Now... if we're being honest... it's not installed 100% perfectly. 😄 There are a few spots we'd probably do differently next time. But here's the thing... It was our first time. We learned together.We laughed together.We got frustrated together.And somehow, by the end of it, we stood back and smiled together. Because that's what this journey is really about. Lula isn't headed to a car show to win trophies. She's becoming our home, our adventure vehicle, and a reflection of every lesson Cat and I learn along the way. We're building her while we're g her ready to live in her .We're fixing her while we're traveling in her. And every project gives us another story to tell around the campfire. Will we make mistakes?Absolutely. Will we probably repaint something, readjust the canvas, or redo a few things someday?Without a doubt. But that's part of the adventure. Perfection isn't the goal... memories are. Here's to learning as we go, laughing through the challenges, and proving that you don't have to know everything before you begin. Just grab a spray can... maybe a scraper... definitely a friend... and get started. Thanks for following along on our crazy little journey. We can't wait to see where Lula takes us next. ❤️🚐

Sometimes working on an old VW Bus feels less like fixing a vehicle and more like solving a mystery. Today's mission seemed simple enough: replace the starter. Lula has a 1995 Subaru 2.2 engine paired to a VW 3-rib transmission. The original VW starter had been struggling a little with the higher-compression Subaru engine, so I bought a high-performance starter thinking this would be an easy afternoon project. Famous last words. 😂 The bottom starter bolt came right out. No problem. The top... not so much. There was a nut that I just couldn't seem to get a socket on. After taking a video and looking closer, I realized the transmission case has a boss cast into it that keeps the nut from turning. "Aha!" I thought. "The bolt must come out from the engine side." Back under the bus I went with a whole new level of confidence. Except... There was no bolt. After a lot more staring, scratching my head, and probably inventing a few new words, I finally figured it out. When the Subaru engine was installed, they put the starter on before mating the engine to the transmission. The Subaru block completely blocks access to that upper bolt. In other words... The only way to change the starter is to remove the engine. 🤦‍♂️ So after all that excitement, Lula is still running the same old VW starter she had when the day began. The good news? I did install a hard-start relay, and it spins the starter much better than before, so the day wasn't a total loss. Working on these old buses teaches you one thing over and over: every project has a story. Sometimes you fix the problem. Sometimes you solve a mystery. And sometimes the bus politely reminds you that she's still in charge. Cat and I just laughed, packed up the tools, and added another chapter to the "Life with Lula" book. One step at a time... one adventure at a time. 🚐❤️