What do tattoos, Volkswagens, Muhammad Ali, and a historic mink farm have in common? More than you might think.

In this episode 84 of DubLife Diaries, we sit down with Scottie Morgan, tattoo artist and owner of Homebase Tattoo, for a conversation that goes far beyond cars and ink.

Scottie’s tattoo shop sits on the historic former Pollack’s Mink Farm in Deer Lake, Pennsylvania, a property with an incredible connection to boxing legend Muhammad Ali, who trained there during his rise in the sport. Today, the same property has been transformed into a tattoo studio—bringing together history, discipline, creativity, and art in a place with a story all its own.

Scottie takes us through his journey into tattooing, his approach to creating art for clients, the evolution of tattoo culture, and the business of building a successful tattoo shop in the age of Instagram, TikTok, and viral content.

Of course, we also dive deep into Volkswagen culture—from Scottie’s first VW to his modified Tiguan, the VW community, car shows, water-cooled Volkswagens, and his plans for future builds. We talk about how car culture has evolved, why the VW community is different, and how creativity connects the worlds of tattooing and automotive customization.

We also uncover some fascinating stories from the property’s past, including the surviving remnants of the mink farm and the history surrounding Muhammad Ali’s time there.

This is a conversation about cars, tattoos, history, creativity, business, social media, family, and simply showing up and doing the work.

Whether you're into Volkswagens, tattoo culture, car builds, automotive lifestyle, or just a great story, there's something here for you.

FOLLOW SCOTTIE

Instagram: @scottie__morgan

Car: @static_tiggy

www.HomeBaseTattoo.com

ABOUT DUBLIFE DIARIES

DubLife Diaries is a Volkswagen lifestyle podcast exploring the people, cars, businesses, builds, events, and stories that make the VW community unique.

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In Episode 83 of DubLife Diaries, we sit down with Robert "VW Kidd" Velis for a deep dive into the history, people, and culture behind the LA Cal Style Volkswagen scene.

Growing up in East Los Angeles in the 1970s, Robert was surrounded by some of the most influential lowrider clubs and custom car builders in Southern California. From the Dukes and Brown Breed to the Majestics and Imperials, car culture was part of everyday life. Those early influences would eventually collide with his love of Volkswagen and help shape a style that would spread far beyond Los Angeles.

Robert takes us back to the early days of the Bugs Buddies and the Volkswagen builds that helped establish what would eventually become known as Cal Style. We talk about slammed Beetles and Karmann Ghias, polished alloy wheels, European-spec parts, extreme stances, performance engines, and the influence that traditional lowrider culture had on these early Volkswagen builds.

But this episode goes much deeper than the cars.

Robert shares stories about visiting Vintage Volkswagen Parts Inc., learning from people like Rene Redlos of the Dukes, discovering the Volkswagen scene as a teenager, and watching the culture evolve from something happening in neighborhoods around LA into a worldwide movement.

We also get into the history behind the name "Cal Style," how the term became widely used around 1985, the later "Resto Cal" label, and why Robert believes much of the original history and the people behind it have been misunderstood or forgotten.

Robert's story also takes us through his decades in the automotive industry, his career with Mercedes-Benz, his involvement with the Vintage Volkswagen Club of America, his work preserving Volkswagen history, and his commitment to giving back to the car community.

This conversation was so packed with history that we actually had to hit pause when technical issues cut our recording short. Then 2 weeks later we picked back up and continued the conversation.

Every VW has a story. These are the people behind them.

#DubLifeDiaries #Volkswagen #CalStyle #VWHistory #AirCooledVW #VolkswagenCulture #LowriderCulture #ClassicVW #CalLook #VWScene

What happens when a lifelong Volkswagen enthusiast believes the cars are great, but the people behind them are what truly matter?

In Episode 82 of DubLife Diaries, we sit down with Shawn Stapp, a Volkswagen enthusiast with 34 years in the air-cooled VW community, an incredible collection of classic Volkswagens, and a passion for giving back that goes far beyond the garage.

Shawn shares his journey from a troubled youth and his first 1971 Volkswagen Beetle to building a life centered around family, hard work, classic cars, and helping others. Today, he balances running a commercial plumbing business, managing a ranch outside Denver, and caring for an impressive collection of vintage Volkswagens.

But perhaps the most powerful part of Shawn’s story is what he’s doing to pass the hobby on to the next generation. From gifting Volkswagen Beetles to two teenage boys to encouraging young people to get their hands dirty and experience the VW lifestyle firsthand, Shawn is helping ensure the air-cooled community has a future.

We also dive into the growth of 303 Dubs, the success of Denver Dubfest at Empower Field, his 32-year marriage to Christina, and the story behind his latest Volkswagen project: a 1963 23-window bus restoration.

In this conversation, we explore what makes the Volkswagen community so special, why kindness and generosity matter, and how one person can make a lasting impact simply by showing up for others.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Shawn’s 34-year journey in the Volkswagen community
• His first VW, a 1971 Beetle, and the cars that followed
• Giving away Beetles to inspire the next generation of VW enthusiasts
• The importance of mentorship, community, and passing down the hobby
• The growth and culture of 303 Dubs
• Denver Dubfest and bringing the VW community together
• His collection of classic buses and Beetles
• Life as a plumber, rancher, husband, and Volkswagen enthusiast
• Restoring and customizing a 1963 23-window bus
• Why helping people is more important than the cars themselves

Shawn’s story is a reminder that Volkswagens are more than metal, paint, and engines. They’re a reason to connect, a way to build friendships, and an opportunity to make a difference in someone else’s life.

Because at the end of the day, every VW has a story. These are the people behind them.

🎙️ Welcome to DubLife Diaries — Episode 82 featuring Shawn Stapp.

If you love air-cooled Volkswagens, classic VW buses, Beetles, and the people who make this community what it is, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

Enjoy the episode? Follow DubLife Diaries, leave us a review, and share this episode with someone who lives and breathes the VW lifestyle.

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