| Those of us who are in classic car clubs, | | | | down or pushing in a lock? If a power window |
| regardless of model or make, decide to become | | | | fails, you're looking at a repair that will cost around |
| members for any given number of reasons. | | | | $400. Maunal seats have given way to 8-way |
| Perhaps we owned a particular car in our youth | | | | adjustable power seats. Is this really necessary? |
| that brings back fond memories of cruising the | | | | Hand-operated levers work fine for a fraction of |
| streets on Friday nights. Maybe we remember | | | | the cost. While we're on the subject of seats, |
| going to Drive-in movies with our date's head | | | | what's up with heated seats? My solution? Wear a |
| resting on our shoulder. Perhaps it was simply the | | | | coat.Cruise control is a nice feature to have if you |
| sound of our particular car's engine, which could | | | | travel frequently on desolate stretches of |
| range from anything to a soft purr or a | | | | Interstate somewhere such as the Dakotas or |
| horsepower-laden monsterous growl as we rolled | | | | Montana, but it's impractical in heavy traffic, which |
| down the highway. Perhaps some of us are too | | | | is increasing as each day goes by. I can't count |
| young to have experienced the era in which these | | | | the number of times I've had to hit the "cancel" |
| cars roamed the earth, but we have nevertheless | | | | button as I gain rapidly on somebody in a Buick |
| been influenced by our elders and appreciate what | | | | Lesabre who has been in bifocals since the |
| once was. Whatever the reasons may be, there | | | | Kennedy Administration going fifty miles an hour. I |
| is nothing quite like finding others who share these | | | | can live without it.Perhaps the most pretentious |
| feelings and enjoy the cameraderie and rewarding | | | | feature to ever come along in today's cars is the |
| experiences that are all part of being in such a | | | | Satellite Navigation System. If you want to save |
| group.My particular love is old Volkswagen Beetles. | | | | thousands of dollars, I have some suggestions. |
| I have been a member of the Chippewa Valley | | | | A)If you feel the need to know what direction |
| Volkswagen Club, based in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, | | | | you are going, go to Wal-Mart and buy a compass |
| for over three years. We go on many cruises, | | | | for six dollars. B) Look out your window and note |
| other outings, and hold our own show annually. | | | | the location of the sun. Unless you live on the |
| During the original Beetle's lifespan, which ran from | | | | planet Venus, it rises in the east and sets in the |
| it's infancy in 1938 Nazi Germany up until 2003, | | | | west. Now look at your watch. C) On cloudy |
| when the very last "Bug," as it was lovingly called, | | | | days, try reading highway signs. They will tell you |
| rolled off the assembly line in Puebla, Mexico, over | | | | whether you're going east, west, north, or |
| 21.5 million were produced. As a result, there are | | | | south.Come to think of it, this works on sunny |
| still thousands of them on roads today, and clubs | | | | days as well. D) Go to a gas station or, more |
| such as mine are dedicated to the preservation of | | | | likely in this day and age, a food mart, and buy a |
| these unique cars. We also support other clubs | | | | map. This will cost about five dollars. If you're lost, |
| throughout the states of Wisconsin and | | | | ask the attendant how to get back on track to |
| Minnesota.The Volkswagen Beetle defined | | | | wherever you're going. Chances are that they'll |
| simplicity, something that is quite lacking in today's | | | | steer you in the right direction. If he or she can't, |
| cars, regardless of model. There is no question | | | | find someone who can. Trust me. You don't need |
| that certain items such as airbags and side-impact | | | | to rely on a satellite in orbit hundreds of miles |
| crumple zones have acomplished much in the way | | | | above.No-frills cars should still be available as an |
| of saving lives, | | | | option for those who share my sentiment. There |
| but let's go back forty years for a few | | | | are undoubtedly many drivers who have become |
| moments. Air-conditioning was considered a luxury | | | | accustomed to the above-mentioned features. In |
| in those days, and only select cars were equipped | | | | fact, there are people who couldn't imagine driving |
| with it. Nearly every car manufactured today has | | | | without them, but should they ever question why |
| air-conditioning as standard equipment. In | | | | cars of today cost ten times as much as those |
| Wisconsin,I use it in my 1996 Volkswagen Golf | | | | of a few decades ago, I have put in my two |
| maybe ten days out of the year. While someone | | | | cent's worth. Or rather, twenty cents...Pat Sills is |
| in, say, Phoenix or Miami would beg to differ, I | | | | an avid Volkswagen enthusiast and writes articles |
| pose the following question: Does somebody in | | | | and feature stories for his club's Newsletter. His |
| Fairbanks, Alaska really need it?Power windows | | | | first novel, REUNIONS, was published in March, |
| and locks have also become the industry norm. | | | | 2005. Check it out at: |
| Have we as a society evolved into such a lazy | | | | or at: authorsden. |
| species that we are incapable of rolling a window | | | | |