In Episode 11 of VW Garage Talk, we sit down with my longtime friend Dave McFarland, co-founder of Local Volks, Florida’s largest Volkswagen group. For nearly 20 years, Dave has been a central figure in building and growing the VW scene in the Sunshine State, long before Facebook groups and viral reels.

We talk about:

• Dave’s VW origin story: from his dad’s Baja adventures to his first Beetle at 16

• The early days of car culture: how we organized meets without social media (hello, Yahoo chat rooms!)

• The rise of Local Volks: what started as two guys in a parking lot turned into a 5,000+ member group

• VW ownership highs & lows: accidents, restorations, rail buggies, and his current ‘82 Diesel Jetta

• 10 years of Taco Tuesdays and building community over cold drinks and pit bulls playing in parking lots

• Why the community still matters, what’s changing, and how we keep it going into the future

We also talk about our favorite VW events, like No Dough Weekend, and reminisce about the days of flipping through Hot VWs, VW Trends magazines and CIP1 catalogs.

Dave’s leaving Florida soon, but his legacy in the VW scene here will always roll strong.

🎧 Tune in to hear how the VW scene was built before smartphones, how Local Volks became a staple in Florida, and why community still drives everything we do.

Watch on YouTube or listen on your favorite podcast app!

VW Garage Talk, VW Podcast, Volkswagen podcast, Local Volks, Classic VW, Air-Cooled VW, VW Beetle, VW Bus, VW Community, VW Florida, VW car meet, Car Culture, Classic Car Community, VW restoration stories, Florida VW scene, vintage VW, Type 3 VW, Rail Buggies, VW Jetta, Early Diesel VW, Classic Car Podcast, Car History Podcast, Hot VWs, VW events, BugJam, VW meets #VWGargeTalk #VWPodcast #LocalVolks #VWCommunity #AirCooledVW #VintageVW #ClassicCars #VWStories #VolkswagenPodcast #VWHistory #BugJam #FloridaVWScene #VWLife #CarPodcast #VanLife #VWCulture #VWMeets #NoDough #SplitWindow #VWBeetle #VWBus #TacoTuesday #VWMeets #AircoolVW #ClassicCarCommunity

No Dough Weekend is THIS WEEKEND, and we’re kicking things off with Bill, the man behind one of Florida’s biggest VW events and our friend Dan.

In this episode, we dive into:

✅ Bill & Dan's journeys in the VW scene & first-ever VW

✅ The craziest swap meet finds we’ve each seen!

✅ How No Dough Weekend has evolved over the last 14 years

✅ Must-do events for first-timers

✅ How No Dough stays FREE for everyone & why YOU need to buy a t-shirt

No Dough is just a part of Bill’s story. He’s also been deeply involved in the minitruck world, Miami VW scene and VolksBlast.

Tune in to hear his take on the culture, events, and the future of Florida’s VW community. Don’t miss this VW Garage Talk podcast episode as we gear up for No Dough Weekend! If you're heading to Daytona, drop a comment and let us know!

Listen now on your favorite podcast platform or watch on YouTube!

#NoDoughWeekend #VWLife #VWCommunity #VWBus #AircooledVWs #VWPodcast #DaytonaVW #VolksBlast #FirstCar #SwapMeet #VWshow #VWscene

In this solo episode of VW Garage Talk podcast, I’m bringing you up to speed on all the latest VW project updates, including my 1961 SO23 Subhatch Bus restoration, maintenance plans for my 1973 Beetle and some tweaks I want to make, goals for the ‘71 Westy that’s still out West, and my vision for the ‘72 Squareback. Plus, I reveal a BIG surprise about one of my VWs… one you may not see coming!

We’ll talk:

🔧 Progress on the ‘61 SO23 Bus – Rust repair, welding updates, parts on order, and what’s next

🚗 Still driving my first car – My ‘73 Beetle after 27 years – What’s planned for it?

👀 BIG surprise about one of my VWs – You’ll have to listen to find out!

Whether you’re deep into VW restorations, love hearing about classic Volkswagen builds, or just want to stay up to date on our latest adventures, we hope you’ll tune in!

Subscribe & Follow for more VW content!

Watch the full episode on YouTube

#VWGarageTalk #VWPodcast #VWBus #VWRestoration #VintageVW #VWBeetle #AirCooledVW #VWLife #ClassicCars #VWProject #VWCommunity #VWDailyDriver #CarRestoration #VWStory #Type2 #VWCollector #Volkswagen #Car #Cars

Could you put 30K miles on a classic VW in just 12 months? Dave Broenen did!

In this episode of VW Garage Talk, we sit down with him to talk about his crazy travel schedule, his impressive VW collection, and why he’s always down for an adventure.

We get into:

• The insane amount of miles he’s racked up

• His favorite VW camping trips & bucket list destinations

• Why he collects vintage lanterns (and how that connects to VW life)

• The moment he almost didn’t make it home

• How we unexpectedly first met in the middle of the U.S.

This episode is packed with road-tripping stories & VW inspiration. Don’t miss it, and what’s next on his journey.

📢 Listen now!

🎥 Prefer video? Watch the full episode on YouTube!

#VWGarageTalk #KrustBus #VWBusLife #VanLife #VWAdventures #RoadTripStories #LanternCollector #VWCommunity

What’s it really like traveling & camping in a VW? In this episode of VW Garage Talk, we chat with our friends Tom & Cyntra, who hit the road in their Vanagon to talk about the highs, the lows, and the unexpected moments of life on the road.

We cover:

• ​The best VW-friendly campsites & hidden gems
• ​Breakdowns, mishaps & the reality of road-tripping in a classic
• ​How VW events feel more like reunions than car shows
• ​Why this community is different than any other

🎙️ Listen in for laughs, stories & road-tripping tips!

If this episode inspired your next roadtrip, do me a favor, leave us a review on Spotify or Apple. That helps more VW lovers find us!

Prefer to watch the full video? Check it out here on YouTube

#VanLife #VWVanagon #VWBus #RoadTrip #VWLife #Camping #VanLifeCommunity #VintageVW #VWGarageTalk #Synchro #VWcommunity #VWpodcast

We made it! After thousands of miles, we finally reached Lake Havasu for Buses by the Bridge, but not without some wild moments along the way!

In this episode of VW Garage Talk, Dan joins us to recap the final leg of our cross-country VW adventure, from Arizona desert highways to camping with 300+ VW buses.

We talk about:

• Roadside surprises & last-minute detours

• The magic of VW camping events vs. traditional car shows

• The insane lineup at BBB & our favorite buses we spotted

• Why this event is not just for VW lovers, but a must for anyone

• What it’s like to travel in a VW with friends.

From quirky roadside stops to sunsets over the desert and meeting amazing VW friends, this journey has been one for the books. Tune in for laughs, road trip tales, and all the great VW community vibes!

Follow Dan on IG: @ murderwife

Missed the first half of our roadtrip? Watch here: https://youtu.be/4XdKFWMsRW8?si=RBjXavtXZ25w0Mfw

The challenges and joys of cross-country travel in an air-cooled vehicle.

Roadside attractions, quirky stops, and the best places to camp.

Stories from the road: Unexpected adventures and VW community connections.

Favorite roadside attractions and scenic routes for van life travelers.

Balancing restoration projects and making memories on the road.

Follow Dan on IG: @ murderwife

VW Garage Talk

VW Podcast

Volkswagen podcast

Car podcast

Air-Cooled Podcast

VW Restoration Stories

Classic VW Adventures

VW Stories

VW Westfalia Bus Restoration

Cross-Country road trip

Van Life

Car shows

VW camping

VW Enthusiasts

VW lifestyle and culture

Florida VW Scene

FL Volkswagen community

Southeast air-cooled culture

VW rescue and restoration projects

#VWGargeTalk #AirCooledVW #ClassicVW #VWPodcast #VWLife #CarPodcast

#VWBusLife #BusesByTheBridge #RoadTripStories #VWCommunity #VintageVW #AirCooledVW #Arizona #Havasu #LakeHavasu #BBB2025

In this episode of VW Garage Talk, Angie and I dive into the highs, the twists, and the off-the-wall moments of the second leg of our cross-country adventure. From Houston to Phoenix, we packed in plenty of memories: quirky roadside attractions, joining a VW convoy to Big Bend National Park, exploring the scenic beauty of Saguaro National Park, and facing some challenges along the way (including a stolen gas tank and a series of storage unit mishaps!).We’re gearing up for the final stretch to Lake Havasu City for the annual Buses by the Bridge event in just over a week, and we’ll have friends joining us for the ride! Tune in for all the laughs, road trip tales, and VW love.

VW Garage Talk

​ VW Podcast

​Volkswagen podcast

​Car podcast

​ Air-Cooled Podcast

​ VW Restoration Stories

​ Classic VW Adventures

​ VW Stories

​ VW Westfalia Bus Restoration

​ Cross-Country road trip

​ Van Life

​VW camping

​ VW Enthusiasts

VW lifestyle and culture

#VWGargeTalk #AirCooledVW #ClassicVW #VWPodcast #VWLife #CarPodcast

#VWBusLife #BigBendNP #SaguaroNationalPark #BusesByTheBridge #RoadTripStories #VWCommunity #VintageVW #AirCooledVW #Texas #NewMexico #Arizona

In this episode, I’m joined by my VW brothers: Tony, Jimmy, and Dan. Together, we make “Boombatz,” and we’re spilling the story behind the name!

From VWs we’ve bought and sold, crazy restoration projects, road trips, and hilarious memories, this one’s packed with nostalgia, laughs, and classic car passion.

Three Italians and an Irishman from New England walk into a podcast… what could possibly go wrong? 😂 Buckle up for a laid-back, holiday-themed edition of VW Garage Talk.

💬 Drop a comment—what’s the best or funniest car story you have with your friends?

📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube

Give them a follow ⬇️

Tony | Shell Head Toys

Jimmy | Gnome Leather Works

Dan | @MurderWife

VW Garage Talk

VW Podcast

Volkswagen podcast

Car podcast

Air-Cooled Podcast

VW Restoration Stories

Classic VW Adventures

VW Stories

VW Westfalia Bus Restoration

Cross-Country road trip

Van Life

Car shows

VW camping

VW Enthusiasts

VW lifestyle and culture

Florida VW Scene

FL Volkswagen community

Southeast air-cooled culture

VW rescue and restoration projects

#VWGargeTalk #AirCooledVW #ClassicVW #VWPodcast #VWLife #CarPodcast

#VWCommunity #Boombatz #VintageVW #ChristmasSpecial #VWLife #AirCooledVWs #Holiday #Podcast #VWStories #Humor #Funny

The adventure begins!

We just wrapped up Leg 1 of our cross-country road trip in our 1971 VW Westfalia, and we’re breaking it all down on this episode of VW Garage Talk!

This journey has already been one for the books:

• ​ Quirky roadside stops & offbeat attractions
• ​ Camping in national parks & scenic detours
• ​ The unexpected challenges & triumphs of road-tripping in a classic VW
• ​ What’s next? Lake Havasu & Buses by the Bridge!

💬 Have you ever taken a long road trip in an old car? Drop your favorite travel memory in the comments!

Join us as we talk about our experiences, lessons learned, and what’s next for the road ahead—next stop: Lake Havasu for the Buses by the Bridge event!

Stay tuned for future episodes and updates on YouTube as we continue to share our VW life. 🎧 Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and follow along for more VW adventures!

VW Garage Talk

VW Podcast

Volkswagen podcast

Car podcast

Air-Cooled Podcast

VW Restoration Stories

Classic VW Adventures

VW Stories

VW Westfalia Bus Restoration

Cross-Country road trip

Van Life

Car shows

VW camping

VW Enthusiasts

VW lifestyle and culture

Florida VW Scene

FL Volkswagen community

Southeast air-cooled culture

VW rescue and restoration projects

#VWGargeTalk #AirCooledVW #ClassicVW #VWPodcast #VWLife #CarPodcast

#VWBusLife #Westfalia #Adventures #VanLife #RoadTrip #VWCommunity #AdventureAwaits #BusesByTheBridge #VWFamily #WestyLife #vwscene #podcast #traveling #roadtripusa #Florida #Alabama #Mississippi #Louisiana #Texas