Bob's Got the Bug!!!
Bob's Got the Bug!!!
This is the story of a special kart. Actually, 2 stories sort of. Let's start with Bob (that's me). It's early 1960, I'm twelve, and have been nuts about karts since I first saw an ad for the Go Kart 400 in an issue of Hot Rod in 1958. I've been collecting catalogs, reading the magazines, but so far did not have the means to be actually be able to buy a kart. One Friday evening I managed to pester my dad into driving me crosstown from Roslindale (a Boston neighborhood) to Allston to see the karts on display at New England Speed Equipment. Walking into the showroom, my eyes met with three metallic blue Bug karts. Two were earlier style Bugs (without the side rails), one with a Clinton, the other I believe had an MC-5. The top model was a Wasp, with the new design frame with side rails that extended back to form the rear part of the frame. This one had an MC-10. A spectacular kart - the metallic blue frame, black naugahyde upholstery, bright yellow Mac engine and Hands aluminum wheels (my favorite - then and now). Wow was it a beaut. After sitting in all three karts and savoring every inch and aspect of their respective designs, I left the showroom before burning put my welcome (without buying anything) with a further heightened fervor for karts and a "bug" for Bugs that has stayed with me for decades.
An early Bug Wasp photo from a 1960 brochure.Standard features on the
$189 Wasp included hydraulic disc brake, Clinton A400 engine and 2-spoke steering wheel.
Optional engines were Clinton A-490, Mac MC-5 and MC-10 (singles or duals). Steering wheel
was upgradeable to a 3-spoke design. Do-it-yourselfers could buy a Wasp frame for $60.00.
The hydraulic brake was "available as an accessory for other karts" for $29.50.
Story 2 unfolds in the midwest sometime in 1960. Out in Marshall, Michigan, a fellow named Carl Menning walked into a racing accessory store and purchased a Bug Wasp, SN# 90184, with twin MC-10's. During the next year or so, the kart saw some use in a supermarket parking lot in Albion Michigan (back in the days when most markets were closed on Sundays). Carl's brother John recalls that the Bug was hauled around in those days cross-wise in the trunk of a black 1960 Ford Galaxie 4-door (with 292 V-8, manual transmission and overdrive). It was never raced, and somehow managed to remain in the family for over four decades. John relates more about the kart's history:
"June 1961, taken to Ottawa Iowa. Started by rope on tire on the back porch. December 1961, stored in attic in Milwaukee Wisconsin when Carl Menning went to Italy. Summer 1968 stored in garage attic in Rhinelander Wisconsin (Ed Menning) until about 1995 when it was moved to Carl's garage in Rhinelander. In October 2001, it was moved to brother John's pole barn in Pinckney Michigan."
In May 2002, John contacted me regarding interest in selling the kart. Not an offer I was about to decline. I purchased the kart (minus the 2 MC-10's - they are collectible and quite pricey - I'll leave those for some well-heeled collector to acquire). Shipping a kart is usually a hassle in these situations, but fortunately John has a nephew in New England. He and his wife drove the kart out and combined the trip with a family visit. The evening of the delivery of the kart to my house was quite an event. John pulled up with van full of family members - and the Bug kart. After exchanging some stories, the family took a few farewell photos of the kart and bid it farewell - confident, at least, that the Bug had found a good home.
So here are some shots. Nothing on the kart is replaced or "restored" It is all original, slightly used since new. The Bug sticker on the gas tank is very fresh, and the only missing detail is the pair of seat side cushions. Hands wheels and Goodyears are what came on the kart the day carl bought it back in 1960.
So that's the story of the 42 year odyssey of the little blue Bug wasp - and a 42 year wait for Bob to own one. Here are some more shots.
Bug SN 90184 as it looks now (Sept 2002).
A cool photo from the 1960 Bug brochure. That's the Bug factory team bus in the
background.