VW owners invited to drive in fair parade

Tuesday, July 10, 2007
VW Beetle owner Dick Funk shows off his 1953 double split window car and his 1974 "Thing". Both cars will be in the VW Brigade in the Putnam County 4-H parade on July 20.

Volkswagen owners are invited to join the Putnam County 4-H Fair parade on Friday, July 20 to participate in the 3rd annual VW Brigade. Participants will meet at the Greencastle Middle School on that Friday between 5:30 and 6 p.m. Decorating your car and throwing candy during the parade are optional according to Dick Funk, organizer of the Brigade.

Funk told the BannerGraphic that this is the third year for the Brigade which first started with 18 of the German cars. Last year the group grew to 38 cars and this year Funk expects at least 50 cars to participate.

"It's a great social time. Before the parade begins we look over all the other cars, renew old acquaintances and just have a good time," commented Funk.

The group joined the 4-H parade after a few people began asking him why they didn't have VW's in the parade. It just so happened the parade chairman that year was a VW owner and the Brigade became a new tradition.

Funk, who owns D & K Beetle in Greencastle restores vintage VW's. He purchased his very first VW Beetle in Okinawa in 1958 and has had it ever since. His collection includes a 1953 VW Beetle Split Window which he purchased for $150. He restored the car and today it is worth $25,000. He also has a 1974 VW "Thing" which is a utility vehicle patterned after the German WW II Kubel Wagen.

A Bowling Green, Ind native, Funk was an air controller in the Air Force. He retired in 1973 and opened his Beetle shop in November of that year in Greencastle.

VW owners who are interested in driving in the parade with the Brigade can call Funk at 765-653-3466 for more information.

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