Those bitten by the car bug can join crews

[caption id="attachment_38263" align="alignright" width="405"] DUB TRICKS: Air-Cooled Junkies members stand proudly next to their beloved bugs. From left they are Sherry-Lee Booyens with 'Big Blue', Jason Flanagan with 'Volla Friend', Shateeq Fakier with 'Maritjie', Matthew Deyzel with 'Lulu', and Minas Mandis with 'Black Coffee'. Picture: DEON VAN DER WALT[/caption]

WITH many of them outliving their owners, it is clear that the Volkswagen Beetles are here to stay and the Port Elizabeth-based car crew Air-Cooled Junkies are making sure you never get a chance to forget it.

The growing motoring scene in NMB has seen a big increase in the number of car crews represented but few do the breakfast runs, parkoffs and breakdowns with as much personality as the 18-member Air-Cooled Junkies.

These Beetle enthusiasts have been turning heads for about a year with their pristinely finished and uniquely modified bugs. They have been known to stop traffic as on-lookers respect both age and beauty says Matthew Deyzel, owner of a 1959 Beetle named "Lulu".

"It's an awesome sight when all 18 of us are riding in convoy. We stopped traffic on Cape Road during one of the breakfast runs.

"That is until three of us had a breakdown on the side of the road. That's the thing about these cars, they each have their own personality," Deyzel said.

Across the Bay their are close to 20 car crews, each attracting their unique brand of driver and car.

These range from stance cars to dragsters, vintage and everything in between Mainstream Crew spokesman Nithaam Fakier said.

"You need to have a car that has some sort of appeal with what the club's intention is.

"As Mainstream Crew we are all about stance... being low, having wheels that compliment the car and so on," Fakier said.

Fakier was echoed by Junkies' member Jason Flanagan and driver of an immaculate 1973 Beetle known simply as his "Volla Friend".

"Our crew is represented by drivers of cars with air-cooled engines, as the name suggests. But it's not just about that, crews are about spending time with company you enjoy talking to about things you can relate to.

"As you can imagine, our main topic of discussion is about Beetles but that's because they're not just cool... they're air-cooled," Flanagan joked.

Crews regularly meet up and show off the unique aspects their cars bring to the motoring scene at park-offs and similar events.

Most crews are always willing to accept new members to source both engine parts and new friendships as Minas Mandis, driver of a 1964 Beetle named "Black Coffee", found out.

"I joined the Air-Cooled Junkies this week to find fellow Beetle drivers who could help me source parts. But being around these guys has been a lot of fun and I look forward to growing these friendships with like-minded people who have a passion for bugs," Mandis said.

If you would like to join the Air-Cooled Junkies or simply find out more about the crew contact Shateeq Fakier on 061-061-5252. - Tremaine van Aardt