The Chapman Volkswagen Phoenix Bug-O-Rama #27

On my way to Phoenix, I heard weather reports of heavy rains, but, by the time I got to the outskirts of town, the weather turned from overcast and a bit chilly to warm, dry, and sunny. In fact, the day of the show, April 7, the weather could not have been nicer.

According to Rick Mortensen, the event promoter, this year had the all-time best attendance records for spectators. Although there was some notable names missing from the season opener for the Professional Racer's Association (P.R.A.), it was still fast and furious all day.

The top of the heap in the P.R.A. classes is Pro Modified, sponsored by Karl's Custom in Phoenix. It was Ken Cervone, in the old Dominick Luppino "Dragon Slayer" car over John Redding's "Heartbeat of Germany" racer. Ken mustered a 10.26/137.75mph pass to John's 11.03/126.59 run. The reaction times on this race told a lot of the story, as Ken recorded a 0.493 to John's 0.633.

In the Competition Engineering (Tempe, Ariz.) sponsored Pro Stock class, Shawn Geers managed to give Damon Harmon a run for the money, and took home the win with a 9.95/132.11 pass, to Damon's 10.07/131.13 effort. Once again, the reaction time tells the story, as Geers posted a 0.468 to Harmon's 0.499

In the Steve's VW Performance sponsored Super Street class, Doug Wagner emerged victorious over Dave Perkins. Doug ran a 10.59/123.72 with a reaction time of 0.505, to Perkin's losing 10.97/119.11/0.529.

In the Bug-O-Rama-sponsored Super Gas (11.90 index) class, John Schuerger went home with the gold, with a 12.03/97.31/0.546 r.t., thanks in part to Greg Decker's big red eye at the starting line.

In the Gene Berg-sponsored Pro Eliminator class, Eric Calabrese ran an 11.02 on a 11.00 dial-in besting Jan Blair, who ran an 11.60 on a 11.62 dial-in.

In the Bug-O-Rama-sponsored Sportsman Eliminator, Jack Oxleye took home the win with a 15.65 on a 15.82 dial-in, to Jim Hagethorn's NB, which ran a 18.86 on a 18.80 dial-in

The top speed and low elapsed time for the event was set by Kris Lauffer, of San Marcos, Calif., driving the new, front-engined, "Paradise Express" A/Dragster. Kris posted a 7.261 e.t. at a speed of 181.28mph, not far off the old car's world record holding 6.94/188.35 pass.

The big news at the Chapman VW Phoenix Bug-O-Rama was the emergence of the Empi- sponsored Der Renn-Kafer Cup cars. This started last year, as a simple "show and go" class, where street-driven cars are judged on their merits, not only cosmetically, but also how well they do in the quarter mile. From the humble beginnings of four or six cars last year, the RKC swelled to 22 cars.

When the dust settled, and everyone had had their cars judged and made the requisite passes down the quarter mile, it was Damon Leiataua's virtually perfect Horizon Blue Oval that took home the gold. Damon's average elapsed time of 12.52, and his show score gave him a total of 78 points, right behind Mike Gagen's "Flyin' Tomato," which managed to run a lower composite e.t. of 12.22, but came in five points behind with a show score of 73.

Another popular contest at the Chapman VW Phoenix Bug-O-Rama is the burnout contest. Aaron "Bergboy" Gerber of Las Vegas, Nev. Aaron came prepared with a gas mask and managed to stay spinning the rear tires for an incredible 3 minutes, 25 seconds before the right rear tire decided that it had had enough.

In the show portion, there were 153 top-quality cars. The club that keep the show running smoothly was the German Addiction VW Club, and they did a truly magnificent job getting everyone into the show grounds, getting the tech cars filled out, and all the show cars judged by the awards presentation time of 3pm.

The coveted Best of Show award went to Greenwood Village, Colo., resident Peter Manetti. His Radical Custom, black 1972 Karmann Ghia Convertible, complete with Mercedes Benz headlights, frenched tailights and a host of other custom tricks and effects, has to be seen to be believed.

The Best Interior award fittingly, went to Douglas Denlinger, also of Scottsdale, with his 1957 23-Window Bus.

Best Engine and Best Display went to Las Vegas resident and Bugshack owner, Tom Carsten, with his '55 Oval Window, complete with one-wheel trailer with semaphores.

All in all, it was a most successful event with over 4,100 people attending the show. Hats off to Rick and Anne Mortensen, German Addiction car Club, Chapman VW, Gene Berg Enterprises, Karl's Custom Stores, Competition Engineering, and Steve's VW Peformance for making this show this unqualified success that it was. If you missed it this year, make plans to attend next year; you will be glad you did.

DRAG RACING RESULTS
E.T. MPH R/T

PRO MODIFIED
Ken Cervone 10.26 137.75 0.493

PRO STOCK
Shawn Geers 9.95 132.11 0.468

SUPER STREET
Doug Wagner 10.59 123.72 0.505M

SUPER GAS (11.90 index)
John Shuerger 12.03 97.31 0.546

PRO ELIMINATOR DIAL-IN E.T MPH R/T
Eric Calabrese 11.02 11.02 119.23 0.533

SPORTSMAN ELIMINATOR
Jack Oxleye 15.82 15.65 80.11 0.658

OUTLAW CLASS
AVERAGE E.T. SHOW TOTAL
Chris Miles 13.85 78 80.55

BUG-O-RAMA BURNOUT CONTEST
Aaron Gerber 3:25

DER RENN-KAFER CUP

AVERAGE E.T. SHOW TOTAL
Damon Leiataua 12.52 78 80.55

CAR SHOW RESULTS
'49-'53 Split Frenchy De Houx
'53-'57 Oval Tony Di Piazza
'58 to '67 Beetle Scott Barnes
Restored Type II, '67-earlier Douglas Denlinger
Restored Convertible, '67 & earlier Dick Christensen
Restored Type III, '67 & earlier Robert Burgess
Mild Mod Beetle, '49-'67 Robert & Donna Youngsma
Mild Mod Beetle, '68-'77 Jennifer Linde
Beetle Convertible (All) David Owens
Mild Mod Ghia Willie Nelson
Mild Mod Type II Mark Peck
Mild mod Type III Hart Ponder
Street Custom Beetle, '49-'67 Tom Carsten
Street Custom Beetle, '68 & later Kim & Jackie McNill
Cal-Look Frenchy DeHoux
Type II Street Custom Brad Loy
Beetle Radical Custom Al Burkhart
Ghia Radical Custom Peter Manetti
Type II Camper Richard Verno
Best Stock Thing Jack & Fran Gruen
Best Restored Thing Tessa Oldenwald
Best Custom Thing Al & Liz Farmery
Best Thing of Show Tessa Oldenwald
Best Watercooled, '93 & earlier Derek Kosnoski
Best Watercooled, Mike Smith
Special Interest "Muffler Mike" Shelden
Off-Road Ron Dalke
Street Baja Al Burkhart
Off Road Baja Tony McCollum
'Glass Dune Buggy Lynn Christy
Sand Rail David Keyes
New Beetle Mild Mods Lanedon Hill
New Beetle Street Custom Warren Miller
New Beetle Radical Custom Pat Warren