Volkswagen Brigade to ride again on Sunday

Monday, July 12, 2021
The Volkswagen Brigade moves along during the 2018 Putnam County 4-H Fair Parade.
Courtesy photo

Getting people together again. This is what local Volkswagen enthusiasts are looking forward to with the Volkswagen Brigade bringing up the rear of the Putnam County 4-H Fair Parade this Sunday.

Not only will it be the first parade in two years, as it will be for everyone else. It will be the first one since the passing of Dick Funk — the consummate VW mechanic who worked out of D&K Beetles in Greencastle — in April of last year.

Since its first appearance in the parade back in 2001, the Volkswagen Brigade’s mission has been keeping the marque alive by inviting enthusiasts from in and around the area. However, the group’s attendance has suffered in past years.

Lee Creed, a local enthusiast who first encouraged Funk to form the Volkswagen Brigade in 1983, said that the peak of having more classic models consistently represented was over a decade ago. Many longtime participants have either passed away or moved, though.

This being acknowledged, the future of the Volkswagen Brigade lies in having modern, water-cooled Volkswagens not just represented among the air-cooled variety, but certainly welcomed.

“The tipping point may be where modern VWs outnumber the classic ones,” Creed said. “It’s going to happen sooner than later. Everything evolves over a period of time, and it should be embraced.”

Local involvement still remains crucial for the group. Members of the Circle City Volkswagen Club from the Indianapolis area have attended recent parades as well.

The Volkswagen Brigade will stage at Greencastle Middle School at 2 p.m. and then roll onto the parade route.

Those with questions may contact Creed at 765-672-4415 or blackvwgreencastle@yahoo.com for more information. The group can also be found on Facebook and Instagram with the handle PCVWBrigade.

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