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Welcome to the official Kibbe and Friends Show with myself, Justin “Corndog” Cornette, and Show Producer Bernie McPartland! With this show we’re basically setting up the Boars Nest for the entire automotive media world to swing through for a couple watered down beers, stale popcorn, and fantastic waitresses. You can find every episode here on The MuscleCar Place as well as iTunes, Pandora, iHeart Radio, and Google Play. From time to time we’ll also be posting video clips and full shows to The Kibbe and Friends YouTube channel. If you click the “Download” link at the top of this post you’ll be able to stream it on your phone directly. You can also pull the RSS feed as well.
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Kibbe E-mail: robert@themusclecarplace.com
Thanks!
-Rob Kibbe
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Dallas Kibbe Racing:
Late Models, Rain Delays, and Learning the Next Level
Summer race season is officially underway, and the last few weeks have been a whirlwind for Dallas Kibbe Racing.
While many people see the race results posted online, what they don’t always see is everything that happens around the event itself. The weather has been a constant challenge this season, especially in North Carolina, where rain delays, schedule changes, and late-night finishes have become the norm. That’s part of racing though. The ability to adapt is every bit as important as speed.
One of the highlights from the past few weeks was Dallas making his first Late Model start. For anyone unfamiliar with the progression of stock car racing, moving into a Late Model is a significant step. The cars are faster, the competition is tougher, and the races are longer. It’s a completely different experience from what he’s been accustomed to in Legends competition.
The event took place at one of the premier short-track facilities in the country, and while the result itself was important, the experience may have been even more valuable. Seventy-five laps in a Late Model teaches lessons that simply can’t be learned anywhere else. Managing tires, adapting to changing track conditions, maintaining focus, and racing alongside seasoned veterans are all part of the learning curve.
What stood out most was seeing Dallas continue to grow as a driver. Racing at this level requires patience and discipline, and every lap completed adds another layer of experience that will pay dividends down the road. The team continues to build momentum, learn from each outing, and prepare for the opportunities ahead.
As always, thank you to everyone who follows along, supports the program, and cheers Dallas on as he continues chasing his racing goals.
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The Love Bug Review:
The Car That Started It All
Every once in a while we step away from Hazzard County and revisit a different piece of automotive pop culture history. This week we landed on one of the most important automotive movies ever made: Disney’s 1969 classic, The Love Bug.
Long before the General Lee was jumping creeks, before KITT was talking, before Doc Brown bolted a flux capacitor into a DeLorean, there was Herbie. A humble Volkswagen Beetle that somehow became one of the most recognizable movie stars in automotive history.
Watching The Love Bug today is a fascinating experience because the movie accomplishes something that should be nearly impossible. Disney somehow convinces the audience that a car is alive without ever giving it a face, a voice, or any type of modern special effects. There are no animated eyes, no CGI expressions, and no computer-generated magic. Instead, Herbie’s personality is created entirely through practical filmmaking, sound design, clever editing, and some remarkably creative storytelling.
The story follows Jim Douglas, a talented but struggling race car driver played by Dean Jones. After a chance encounter with a quirky Volkswagen Beetle, Jim gradually discovers that Herbie isn’t just another car. The little Beetle has opinions, emotions, and perhaps most importantly, a strong desire to win races.
As Jim and Herbie begin climbing through California’s racing scene, they attract the attention of Peter Thorndyke, an arrogant and wealthy car dealer who becomes obsessed with controlling Herbie for himself. What follows is a blend of comedy, racing action, and classic Disney storytelling that remains surprisingly entertaining nearly sixty years later.
One of the things that stands out most about The Love Bug is how much heart it has. On the surface it’s a movie about racing, but underneath it’s really a story about friendship and trust. Jim initially sees Herbie as nothing more than a tool to help advance his racing career. Over time, however, he comes to understand that Herbie is more partner than possession. That relationship becomes the emotional center of the entire film.
Of course, for car enthusiasts, Herbie is the real attraction.
The now-famous white Volkswagen Beetle wearing racing stripes and number 53 became an icon almost immediately. It’s difficult to think of another vehicle that achieved such instant recognition while remaining so simple. There are no wild modifications, no giant engines, and no futuristic technology. Herbie succeeds because audiences connected with the character hidden inside the car.
The racing sequences remain fun to watch today as well. Seeing a relatively modest Volkswagen Beetle outsmart and outrun far more powerful machinery never stops being entertaining. It’s the ultimate underdog story, and audiences naturally root for Herbie from the very beginning.
What may be even more impressive is how the filmmakers created Herbie’s personality. Disney sound designer Jimmy MacDonald developed many of the unique sounds that gave Herbie life, helping the audience understand what the car was thinking without ever speaking a word. Combined with practical effects and creative camera work, the result was movie magic in its purest form.
The success of The Love Bug proved that audiences would embrace a vehicle as a genuine character. That formula would later influence countless automotive films and television shows. Whether it’s KITT from Knight Rider, Lightning McQueen from Cars, or even the General Lee itself becoming a character within The Dukes of Hazzard, you can trace some of that DNA back to Herbie.
Nearly six decades after its release, The Love Bug remains charming, funny, and surprisingly effective. It reminds us that great storytelling doesn’t require massive budgets or cutting-edge technology. Sometimes all you need is a lovable underdog, a little imagination, and a Volkswagen Beetle with a mind of its own.
Movie Stats
Title: The Love Bug
Release Date: March 13, 1969
Preview Release: December 24, 1968
Director: Robert Stevenson
Writers: Bill Walsh and Don DaGradi
Producer: Bill Walsh
Starring: Dean Jones, Michele Lee, Buddy Hackett, David Tomlinson
Music: George Bruns
Production Company: Walt Disney Productions
Budget: $5 Million
Worldwide Box Office: $51.2 Million
Box Office Result:
More than 10 times its production budget and the second-highest-grossing movie of 1969.
KF Crew: Bernie, Rob, and Corndog.
