Born from a desire to do things their own way, Southsiders VW has grown from four Volkswagen enthusiasts in 2014 into a Florida community of more than 7,400 members. Twelve years later, the group is still bringing people together through a shared love of Volkswagens, Thursday night meetups, road-trip adventures, and a commitment to giving back.

On this episode 86 of DubLife Diaries, we sit down with Jay Gould, Karl Kihlander, Steven Grant, Mike Plante, John Nida, and the crew behind Southsiders VW to hear the stories that built their community and the friendships that have kept it going.

From classic buses and air-cooled Volkswagens to international connections and memorable road-trip mishaps, the conversation covers plenty of VW history. We get to know the stories behind their rides, including Jay's 1970 panel bus, Icebox; Karl's 1969 bus, High Ball Betty; John's well-traveled bus, Helga; and Mike's bus, DD.

But Southsiders VW is about more than the cars. Their weekly Thursday night gatherings bring enthusiasts together rain or shine, while their approach to keeping the group welcoming and drama-free has helped friendships thrive for more than a decade.

The crew also shares the stories behind two of their biggest charitable traditions:

🧸 Toys for Tots: An annual charity run that has collected toys, bikes, and scooters for children in need.

🐾 Winter Blitz: A Volkswagen gathering supporting a local animal shelter through fundraising and donations.

We talk about the early days, the unwritten rules that keep a large community connected, the people who make the scene special, and the dream Volkswagens they'd bring home if money were no object.

In this episode:

• The origins and growth of Southsiders VW since October 2014
• The people and friendships behind a 7,400-plus-member community
• Weekly Volkswagen meetups on Florida's Space Coast
• The stories behind the crew's buses and other VW builds
• Toys for Tots and the Winter Blitz charity event
• Road-trip adventures, restorations, breakdowns, and VW memories
• Why the people behind the cars are what make this lifestyle special

From four friends with an idea to a thriving Volkswagen community, Southsiders VW is proof that the best part of the VW lifestyle has always been the people you meet along the way.

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