When this site was first launched in August 2003, we were running autocrosses in SCCA and our 1970 Ghia (taking 2004 and '05 DM/EM solo championships for SCCA Alabama Region 1) and running track development at most of the major southeastern road courses. In 2007, we added a 1965 Ghia to our team.

Our original benchmark for our 1965 Karmann Ghia was the 356 Porsche. Now, after direct competition and documented wins over them and other famous marques, the Ghia can be accepted for the sports car it can be, no longer VW's "Common Gear" coupe.

In 2007, driver Barret Camper co-drove with Justin Broughton the 1965 Karmann Ghia in the Carrera Panamericana in Mexico, with a "top 3" win in Historic A class.

Since 2003, under constant development, the '70 Ghia has come into its own, posting very competitive lap times for its engine size at the big tracks. You Bimmers, Mustangs, and Miatas who have chased the rear end of our Ghia around Barber, Savannah, and Road Atlanta at high performance driving events know who you are.

Retro's Ghias were built by Barret's dad, Frank Camper. He was with the Brumos Porsche racing effort in the late 1970's, and is an old hand with Porsche and VW technology. Frank prepared some of SCCA and HSR championship driver Jim Roberts winning cars in the 1970's. Roberts briefly campaigned "Herbie," an IMSA Super Beetle built for him by Frank in 1975. Roberts set a still-standing closed course speed record for a stock-bodied VW at the Talladega Super Speedway with Herbie. Herbie was white, and carried the Disney number 53. The number has been passed along to Barret Camper for his Ghia.