Bugs Of The Volkswagon Variety, That Is

By ANN Contributor Rose Dorcey

As you're walking around AirVenture 2004, you're more than likely to hear this: "Red 3, Red 3, this is Green 1, come in."

The colorful call signs are assigned to an equally colorful fleet of Volkswagen Beetles operated by EAA, a tradition that stretches back more than three decades. A rainbow of VW "Bugs" is the chief form of transportation for many EAA staff and volunteers.

So what's the color code? It's well known around AirVenture that Paul and Tom Poberezny drive the red VW's; Paul is known as Red 1; Tom is Red 3. The tradition of using the brightly colored vehicles started in 1970, when the fly-in moved from Rockford (IL) to Oshkosh. Looking for a fun and easy form of transportation on the grounds, Will Schaik and Paul Poberezny went down to Barney's VW Shop in Oshkosh and purchased the first two. The bugs were such a hit that more bugs were used the following year. Today, a fleet of about 35 of the multi-colored bugs can be seen on the grounds, all of them donated to the organization by dedicated friends of EAA.

Gary Doehling, South-Maintenance Supervisor at AirVenture, said that in addition to the red VW's driven by the Poberezny's, there are yellow, green, brown, blue and white, light blue, and orange bugs with white checkers. The colors represent their purpose. Ron Scott, Chairman of the Communications Center, drives a green bug. Security personnel drive yellow VW's, orange with white checkers are on the flight line, blue and white bugs and their drivers are aircraft greeters; and light blue are the welcome vehicles.

Doehling and his staff have more than 30-years of combined experience in maintaining VWs. It's experience all of them gained while working at EAA. The crew of Dave Jarapko, John Lowell, and Austin Doehling, Gary's son, designate May as VW-month; they begin maintenance on the fleet at the beginning of the month, with a May 31st deadline. "We need to have them ready to go by mid-June, as sixteen of the bugs are used for the annual Miss Wisconsin Pageant Parade in Oshkosh," the senior Doehling said. 

Maintaining that fleet is no small task. Working from a full service auto shop on the southwest corner of the AirVenture grounds, the crew said the Beetles require "a lot" of brake-work and many tune-ups. Parts are sometimes hard to find. "We go through spark plugs like you wouldn't believe," Lowell exclaimed. Jarapko agreed, saying they go through nearly 130 spark plugs each year.

The bugs generally arrive as hardtops, according to paint shop supervisor Bernie Case. Of course, all of them must have their sheet metal roofs stripped off -- to be transformed into the popular vinyl-top convertibles. Case said they occasionally receive a donation of an original VW Beetle convertible.

Donations of VW Beetles that are in good condition are gladly accepted. Volunteer opportunities in South Maintenance are also available.

FMI: www.eaa.org