HomeCar CultureRadical Volks cruise to Tortilla Flats

Radical Volks cruise to Tortilla Flats

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Bug overlooking lake
Bug overlooking Canyon Lake

On a cool January day, just after the start of the new year, 78 old and air-cooled Volkswagen bugs and busses made their way along the tight curves and mountain grads of the Arizona desert on their way to Tortilla Flats, a ghost town near Canyon Lake.

According to Adam Shalloo, a founder of the hosting Radical Volks car club, the caravan of vehicles stretched over a mile in length and, aside from blocking traffic a few times, faced no challenges and made the trip without any breakdowns.

“Last year I had a friend in town who wanted to go for a drive in my bug, so I picked Tortilla Flats, told some friends and we ended up with 26 participants on that cruise,” Shalloo said in explaining the event’s inspiration.

After a nice drive, Shalloo decided to start a tradition.

Participants came from all walks of life and ages, most were in their 20s, 30s and 40th, but some were in their 60s.

Shalloo told Classic Car News that the club is all about the spirit of driving.

“Some clubs like to do the whole car show thing,” he said, “but we love to drive.

“We travel to California, Nevada, and we are going to Lake Havasu in a few weeks.”

Additionally, the Radical Volks car club works to bring unity to the Arizona Volkswagen community by working with other clubs.

Talk about sharing responsibility: Radical Volks claims to have seven club presidents — Adam, Alec, Shawn, Robert, Manny, Dustin, and Carlos.

For Shalloo, the choice to drive an old bug was an easy one. When he was 15, his first car was an old VW and he has stuck with the brand because, “it suits my personality. I like how you can make them how you want and I just can’t see myself driving a new car.”

And, he adds, “there is just this feeling you get driving a 50-year-old car on road trips. Sure its less comfortable, but I love it.”

Photos by Nicole James 

Nicole James
Nicole Jameshttp://nicoleellanjames.com/
Nicole James has been involved in the automotive world her entire life. Her dream car is a 1965 Shelby Daytona Coupe. She currently drives a 2005 Mustang affectionately known as Marilyn and uses the car to participate in track events, car shows, and explore the world around her. Nicole joined the ClassicCars.com Content and Marketing team in 2014. Nicole is an automotive journalist and the creator of Pretty Driven - an online source for car culture and news for millennials, as well as a contributor for ClassicCars.com. Follow Nicole on Instagram and Facebook - @Nicoleeellan

2 COMMENTS

  1. Valla,que bien seven todos estos mini-Bug y les garantizo que nuncan pasaran de moda mientras yo este vivo y quizas ni aun asi porque mi girl 5 y.old le compre uno del (1962) y es el regalo de e’lla para cuando clumpla sus 15; comparto con usted su comentarios porque mi primer carro en mi juventud a los 16 anos de edad fue un “VW-1953-6volt” pintado a brocha de color orange y fue el regalo de mi padre la cual ya no esta con nosotros;luego segui con la fiebre de los (VW) y compre otro del 1966/ todo lo que pude hacer para conservar el recuerdo de mi padre, estos fueron los que tuve: 1st-1953-luego 1966;1968;1969;1972-Super-Beetle/1600cc;1975-Super-Beetle/1600cc y luego de muchos anos atras pude conseguir el que tengo ahora:1962-VW-Classic;es como usted dice es parte de mi personalidad la cual me hace recordar ma’s a mi padre;les felicito a cada uno de ustedes porque para mi todos estan fuera de serie;nunca volveran a hacer los mismo aunque todavia los fabrican en mexico;bueno felicitaciones a todos hay estare con ustedes como otro fanatico ma’s en ano 2016;adios y hasta luego;Sincerely:Jose’Jr.(1962-VW-) P.S. fui uno de los fundadores de un volky-club que nacio de noche y la manana en mi pais y fuimos los primeros en organizar un “VW-Show” en mi pueblo,Gracias por el tiempo de organizar estos eventos innovidables y que jamas severan si no es con la presencia de todos ustedes…………………

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