Normally about this time we would be raving about how much fun we had at Bob Baker. For many of us in the San Diego area, the Bob Baker VW show marks the beginning of car show season.

It was around this time last year that we heard that Bob Baker was officially cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions. I remember contacting the organizers of the show, asking if they were still going to try to make it happen, given the constraints. Bob Baker VW pulled the plug a couple of days later and I haven’t been to a show since.

After more than a year of social distancing and stay-at-home orders, we’re starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. We’ve been stuck at home like everyone else, but we’re hopeful that loosening restrictions over the coming months will change that.

Here in California we still don’t have official confirmation for any of the big shows. Kelly Park (April), Air-cooled Fiesta (April), and Prado (June) are some of the biggest shows of the year and we’re still not sure what will happen with them.

In other states, some folks have continued working their butts off to make car shows happen. And some of the most enthusiastic people are from areas hit hardest.

In Columbus, Georgia, Steve Thompson and his crew from Scumbugs VW Club are putting on their 10th Annual Bugs on the Hooch Car Show. The show is held in downtown Columbus at the National Civil War Naval Museum, on the banks of the historic Chattahoochee River.

With 8 acres of space to work with and a record high of 150 cars in attendance, the coordinators are confident they can put on the show and still respect social distancing protocols.

As restrictions loosen, more and more VW car shows are popping up across the United States. If you’re looking for a show in your area, head over to The Samba’s Event Listing Page. They have an extensive calendar that covers events up to one year out. Hope to see you out there soon!

JBugs loves the opportunity to help support the VW community. For anyone looking to put on a show this year, you can email me directly at tim@jbugs.com