Volkswagens inspire devotion

"We dated in this car," says Melody Burke of Moundsville, W.Va., as she stands beside her 1969 Volkswagen Beetle.
Her husband, Greg, bought the bug in 1988 for $50.
Pictures of his purchase reveal a putrid-colored VW with the word Beater written in snow on the windshield.
During the two years before they were married, Greg made minor repairs to the Volkswagen and painted it aqua blue. After their marriage, when children began to arrive, Greg and Melody resorted to other forms of transportation.
"It was parked out behind the garage for 10 years," Melody said.
Last year, Greg decided to restore the vehicle to its original splendor.
Hoping to complete the project before Melody's birthday in June, Greg finished a few months early, in April.
Award-winner
The Burkes' Beetle already has won an award at a VW car show. They were hoping to add to their collection this day.
Parked in a field behind Jim's Custom VW's shop on state Route 7 just north of state Route 14, the Burkes joined more than 100 other Volkswagen owners of every make and model as they converged on the spot last weekend for two days of festivities sponsored by the Tri State VW Club, and Jim and Chris Papania, owners of Jim's Custom VW's.
"This is our 10th year," Chris explains as she stands at the entrance, directing and parking cars.
"We always hold this event the second weekend in July."
Volkswagen owners, I learned as I toured the grounds, have a special passion for their mode of transportation.
"It seems like just about everybody at some time or another has a tie with one," Jim says of Volkswagens. "Everybody has a story."
Talking with the VW campers and those just parked for the day I found Jim's sentiments to be true.
Home away from home
Jim Hempfling of Elyria and his son, Peter, from Lakewood, arrived Friday to set up camp. Jim drives a 1971 Volkswagen Westfala. The van is a veritable camper inside.
"It has an ice box and a sink with a 10-gallon tank," Jim says as he explains some of the other features of his classic Volkswagen. An auxiliary stove attaches to the side. Removing a table, the back seat folds out into a bed. The pop-up top provides sleeping room overhead and a cot for a small child hangs over the front seat.
As if these features, weren't enough, Jim's Westfala has a tent that attaches to the rain gutter outside the vehicle on the side of the sliding door.
"When I'm going to set up for more than a few days," Jim shares, "I put up the tent."
Moving up
Peter drives a 2002 Volkswagen. "This is a fourth-generation Volkswagen van," he says, adding that he has moved up two generations from his father's van. His generation has a more functional -- yet less-classic -- appeal while still holding on to some of the vintage VW van features like the pop-up top.
"I learned to drive in a Volkswagen," Peter says.
"It was transportation that became a hobby that turned into a side business," Jim says. He and Peter sell parts and accessories at the VW shows they attend.
Watching the two men, I contend, it is a hobby turned into priceless father-son time.
Since the beginning
Paul Dragos of Niles has been attending the VW show behind Jim's Custom VW's shop every year since it began. He brings his love, a 1969 Karmann Ghia that he bought and restored.
Paul never imagined that while he was sharing his love with other VW enthusiasts, his daughter, Amber, would fall in love with a VW enthusiast, Matthew Sedoris.
"They were married last year," he says with a smile.
It seems, no matter what the model, all Volkswagens are love bugs.
The Burkes' Beetle being no exception...
"What a great history," I said to Melody shortly before she received a winner's trophy from the club. "If those wheels could talk ..."
Looking sheepishly at her children, Melody replies: "We don't want those wheels to talk!"
gwhite@vindy.com