Ep 358 Rick Sadler & his Type 4 racing history.

Ep 358 Rick Sadler & his Type 4 racing history.

From Lets Talk Dubs Classic The Classic VW podcast by Bill Tsagrinos

April 30, 2026 · 60 min

About this episode

Rick Sadler shares his journey through the Type 4 performance scene and his experiences in vintage Volkswagen racing.

Rick Sadler is one of those names you may not always hear first—but if you've been around the vintage Volkswagen scene long enough, you've definitely seen him. A member of the legendary Der Kleiner Panzers (DKP), Rick is what you'd call the Forrest Gump of the VW world—always there, always involved, and somehow part of some of the most iconic moments in VW history. In this episode, Rick takes us into his journey through the Type 4 performance scene—a path far less traveled when most builders were focused on Type 1 engines. From his early days racing at Ascot Park Speedway to pushing the limits in drag racing, Rick shares the evolution of his builds, including custom cylinder head development, experimental setups, and the relentless pursuit of horsepower. One of the highlights of Rick's story is living out a dream that most VW enthusiasts only imagine—getting the opportunity to rebuild the engine for the legendary Schley Brothers' Type 4 dragster. It's a full-circle moment that perfectly captures the passion, persistence, and community that define the VW scene. This episode is packed with history, innovation, and firsthand insight into what it really takes to go against the grain…

People in this episode

Host: Bill Tsagrinos

Guest: Rick Sadler

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Der Kleiner Panzers

Places: Ascot Park Speedway

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