Valentine’s Run. 14 February 2026

Love, Luck, and a Loud Bang: The 2026 Valentine’s Run

The Beach Buggy Club took over the road for our annual Valentine’s Run, and it was a classic mix of sun, sea, and mechanical “excitement.” We started with a mission to get the Bumblebee’s VW air-cooled motor humming and ended with a full-blown parking hunt in Hermanus.

The “Love in the Spotlight” game kept us on our toes. Every beach buggy was a hive of activity as we passed around movie character cards. Between sips and snacks at Fusion, Brent took the top spot and donated his R2000 prize to our upcoming charity event—showing the true heart of our Beach Buggy Club.

It wasn’t all smooth sailing. Shrek ended the day with a bang—a blown head gasket on my water-cooled motor. But that’s the risk when you’re out with a pack of VW air-cooled machines! While I was being towed, the rest of the beach buggy convoy headed to Pearly Beach for an absolute jol. This album captures the brotherhood and the grit it takes to keep these VW air-cooled beauties still driving.

A red drawstring goodie bag from The Wild Buggers Beach Buggy Club Valentine’s Run 2026, featuring heart gummies and a Lovebug 2026 air freshener for every Beach Buggy and Baja Bug driver.
Organizers Brent and Sam made sure everyone received a goodie bag as a welcome gift to kick off our Valentine’s Run in style.
A printed sheet for the 'Love in the Spotlight' game played during the Wild Buggers Beach Buggy Club Valentine’s Run 2026, showing rules for swapping romantic movie character envelopes and a card that says 'You're holding Nothing.'
The stakes were high for our Valentine’s Run: Brent and Sam put up R1000, and the club matched it for a R2000 total cash prize.
Wild Buggers Beach Buggy Club members gathering on a lawn at Brent and Sam's house to listen to the rules of the Love in the Spotlight game for the Valentine's Run.
Gathering at the starting line at Brent and Sam’s place to get the lowdown on the rules before we hit the road.
Wild Buggers Beach Buggy Club members relaxing in garden chairs at the meeting point, discussing the Valentine's Run game rules and enjoying snacks before the drive.
Fueling up on snacks and plotting our movie character strategies at Brent and Sam’s house before the 6-buggy convoy hit the road.
A close-up of a Wild Buggers Beach Buggy Club member wearing a denim jacket and a red lanyard with a "Ryan Reynolds" name tag for the Love in the Spotlight game.
Spotted at the start: “Ryan Reynolds” joined the convoy for a chance to win that R2000 cash prize.
A mostly cleared snack table with red thermoses, Nescafe coffee jars, travel mugs, and a wooden platter with a few remaining muffins, set on a red checkered tablecloth on a brick patio at the Wild Buggers Valentine’s Run 2026.
The snack table was a very popular spot before the run—I was a bit too slow with the camera to capture the full spread!
A close-up of a Wild Buggers Beach Buggy Club member wearing a black "Premium Brand" hoodie and a red lanyard with a name tag for movie character Leonardo DiCaprio.
From the Titanic to a Beach Buggy—Leo joined the Wild Buggers for a shot at the R2000 prize.
Sam, an organizer for the Wild Buggers Beach Buggy Club, stands on a patio explaining the "Love in the Spotlight" game rules to members during the Valentine’s Run briefing.
Sam laying down the law at the meeting point. You better listen closely when there is $R2000$ on the line!
A close-up of a wooden bowl filled with heart-shaped sugar cookies with pink icing, chocolate-wrapped hearts, and fresh muffins on a red checkered tablecloth at the Wild Buggers Valentine’s Run.
There was a massive spread of these Valentine’s treats, but they disappeared so fast I only managed to catch the last few on camera!
An orange Salamander beach buggy named The Wasp and a red Beamish beach buggy named Hornet parked on a lawn under a tree, ready for the Wild Buggers Valentine’s Run.
Let the games begin! Brent and Sam’s orange Salamander, “The Wasp,” and our red Beamish, “Hornet,” leading the pack.
An orange Salamander beach buggy named The Wasp, a yellow Salamander named The BumbleBee, and a green Kango beach buggy named Shrek parked at a BP gas station during the Wild Buggers Valentine's Run.
The game is in full swing at our pit stop! Members are plotting, planning, and ganging up to protect their envelopes.
Jacques and Coralie sitting in their yellow 1600 VW air-cooled Beamish Beach Buggy with a white top during the Wild Buggers Valentine's Run.
Jacques and Coralie looking ready for action in their bright yellow 1600 VW air-cooled Beamish Beach Buggy.
Michelle and Anthony Jenkins standing by their yellow Salamander beach buggy, "The BumbleBee," at a BP gas station, holding the red envelope containing the R2000 prize money during the Wild Buggers Valentine's Run.
At this stage of the run, the stakes were sky-high—Michelle and Anthony had the R2000 prize in their possession!
A Wild Buggers Beach Buggy Club member wearing a denim jacket and black cap, playfully sticking out her tongue while holding up her Kate Winslet name tag and red welcome goodie bag during the Valentine's Run.
Looks like “Kate Winslet” is thrilled with her welcome gift! The movie character game was a blast for everyone in the convoy.
A close-up of Anthony’s yellow Salamander beach buggy, The BumbleBee, featuring a red tinsel Valentine’s heart with a Cupid’s arrow attached to the front hood.
Anthony really got into the spirit of the day by adding a Valentine’s heart to the front of The BumbleBee!
A convoy of beach buggies, including the orange Salamander 'The Wasp' and red Beamish 'Hornet,' driving along a scenic road with mountains in the background during the Wild Buggers Valentine’s Run.
Nothing beats the feeling of a wide-open road and a line of buggies ahead of you. A truly lovely drive to our first stop!
A line of beach buggies, including a red Beamish and an orange Salamander, driving along a winding coastal mountain road under a clear blue sky during the Wild Buggers Valentine’s Run.
The road ahead is looking good! Our convoy of 6 buggies winding through the mountain passes.
A red Beamish beach buggy, "Hornet," leading a yellow beach buggy and an orange Salamander, "The Wasp," along a winding mountain road during the Wild Buggers Valentine's Run.
Still driving and loving every minute! The red Hornet leading our line of buggies through the mountain bends.
A red Beamish beach buggy named Hornet leads a yellow buggy and an orange Salamander named The Wasp along a winding mountain road during the Wild Buggers Valentine's Run.
The mountain air and the sound of air-cooled engines—nothing beats a Sunday drive with the Wild Buggers!
A red Beamish beach buggy, "Hornet," leading a yellow beach buggy, "The BumbleBee," on a tow rope along a winding mountain road toward Kleinmond during the Wild Buggers Valentine's Run.
On the road again! We’re towing the BumbleBee through the mountain passes to Kleinmond to find a mechanic and get her back in the game.
The yellow BumbleBee beach buggy being towed by a red Beamish beach buggy along a highway toward Hermanus after a breakdown during the Wild Buggers Valentine's Run.
Kleinmond couldn’t help, so we’re heading to Hermanus. The BumbleBee might be on a tow rope, but the run goes on!
Leon Wagenaar's black Beamish beach buggy with a 1600 VW air-cooled engine parked on a brick sidewalk in Hermanus near Chapter 7 Cafe.
Leon Wagenaar met us in Hermanus with his slick black 1600 VW air-cooled Beamish—just the boost the convoy needed!
A black Beamish beach buggy parked in front of ST Motors in Hermanus, with an orange Salamander beach buggy parked further back in the workshop area.
Fingers crossed! We found a mechanic at ST Motors in Hermanus—let’s see if they can get the BumbleBee back on the road.
Members of the Wild Buggers Beach Buggy Club, known as the Ladybugs, sitting at a covered outdoor wooden table and standing on the grass while waiting at a mechanic shop in Hermanus.
The Ladybugs are making the most of our pit stop! While the BumbleBee is with the mechanic, the rest of the crew is busy entertaining themselves.
A red Beamish beach buggy and a green Kango beach buggy named Shrek parked in the paved driveway of ST Motors in Hermanus, with the orange Salamander buggy visible in the background.
Chilling at ST Motors in Hermanus. We might be on a mechanical break, but the Wild Buggers spirit is still going strong!
Wild Buggers members, including Anthony in a red shirt, standing around the open engine bay of the yellow BumbleBee beach buggy and talking with a mechanic at ST Motors in Hermanus.
Getting the technical low-down! Anthony and the crew chatting with the mechanic to see what it’ll take to get the BumbleBee back on the road.
A line of beach buggies including a red Beamish, a green Kango named Shrek, and Leon’s black Beamish parked at ST Motors in Hermanus during the Valentine's Run.
The Wild Buggers take over ST Motors! We’re still hanging out while the mechanic works his magic on the BumbleBee.
A colorful line of beach buggies including the red Hornet, green Shrek, Leon’s black Beamish, and the yellow BumbleBee parked along the street and driveway at ST Motors in Hermanus during the Valentine's Run.
The Wild Buggers have officially taken over the block! We’re still chilling at ST Motors while the mechanic works his magic on Anthony’s BumbleBee.
A line of beach buggies, including the red Hornet, green Shrek, Leon’s black Beamish, and the yellow BumbleBee, parked outside ST Motors in Hermanus while club members wait for repairs.
The repairs might be taking a while, but the “Love in the Spotlight” game is in full swing! The envelope is moving fast while we’re still at ST.
A mechanic in blue overalls kneeling behind the yellow BumbleBee beach buggy at ST Motors, inspecting the 1600 VW air-cooled engine with a toolkit open on the ground nearby.
Diagnosis confirmed: the mechanic at ST Motors thinks it’s the rotor! Getting the BumbleBee’s heart beating again in Hermanus.
Rear view of a pristine white classic VW 1500 Beetle with chrome bumpers and dual exhaust parked at ST Motors in Hermanus.
Check out this beauty! We found a very nice 1500 Beetle at ST Motors while the buggies were getting sorted.
A side-by-side view of a red Beamish beach buggy and a green Kango beach buggy named Shrek parked in the brick driveway of ST Motors in Hermanus, with an orange Salamander and a white classic VW Beetle in the background.
Still at ST Motors! While the mechanic investigates the BumbleBee’s rotor, the movie character game is heating up and that prize envelope is moving fast.
A green Kango beach buggy named Shrek and a red Beamish buggy parked at ST Motors in Hermanus, with club members in red shirts chatting near the Bumblebee and a white classic VW Beetle.
The repairs are well underway, but the real action is the “Love in the Spotlight” game! The envelope is moving fast while we wait.
A yellow Salamander beach buggy, the Bumblebee, with its engine cover open at ST Motors in Hermanus, as a mechanic finishes installing a new rotor while club members watch.
Success! The new rotor did the trick. The Bumblebee is purring again and we’re ready for the next leg of the Valentine’s Run.
Sam walks a small black dog on a pink leash past a red beach buggy and a yellow buggy parked at ST Motors in Hermanus during the Wild Buggers Valentine's Run.
Sam giving Lassie a quick stretch before we hit the road! The envelope is still moving, and lunch is calling our names.
An elevated scenic view of a stone-walled tidal pool and the rocky coastline of Hermanus under a blue sky with white clouds.
The walk back was worth it! While hunting for parking in Hermanus, we caught this stunning view of the local tidal pool.
Two large black historic naval cannons flanking a stone-built cone-shaped memorial at the Old Harbour in Hermanus, overlooking the ocean under a clear blue sky.
Taking in the heavy metal! These two cannons at the Old Harbour are a great piece of local history we spotted during our parking trek.
A wide scenic view of the blue ocean with white-capped waves crashing against the rocky Hermanus coastline under a bright, cloudy sky.
The stunning views kept us company on our parking mission! Hermanus really turned it on for the Wild Buggers today.
The Wild Buggers crew and Ladybugs seated at a long table with white tablecloths at Fusion Restaurant in Hermanus, enjoying a meal overlooking the ocean.
Lunch is served! The whole crew finally gathered at Fusion Restaurant to refuel after our morning of repairs and parking missions.
Members of the Wild Buggers Beach Buggy Club sitting at blue outdoor wooden tables at Fusion Restaurant in Hermanus, with Jacques using his phone while others look at menus.
Decision time at Fusion! We’re finally sitting down for lunch while the “Love in the Spotlight” game reaches its peak.
A beautifully layered dessert in a glass featuring panna cotta, granadilla pulp, and a large white meringue shard, served on a blue napkin at Fusion Restaurant in Hermanus.
The pudding was awesome, but the main event was finally here. Lunch is done, and it’s time to see who is holding the winning envelope!
Club members in red Wild Buggers shirts seated at a blue outdoor table at Fusion Restaurant, with Brent being announced as the winner of the R2000 prize for the Valentine’s Run.
We have a winner! Congrats to Brent for taking the prize in our “Love in the Spotlight” game—and a massive thank you for donating it all to our next charity event.
Rear view of a green Kango beach buggy named Shrek with its Nissan water-cooled engine exposed, showing signs of a blown head gasket with water on the ground.
One turn of the key and then—BANG! Shrek blew a top-head gasket just as we were heading for Pearly Beach.
The green Kango beach buggy "Shrek" with a Nissan water-cooled engine, showing a wet patch on the pavement from a blown head gasket, followed by a photo of Shrek being towed by an A-frame on a suburban street.
When Shrek gave up the ghost, the club stepped up! Huge thanks to Leon and Christopher for the rescue mission after that head gasket blew.
The yellow Bumblebee beach buggy with a red tinsel heart on the hood parked in front of a white building with a green roof, with club members and a black Toyota parked in the background.
The crew making a final pitstop on the way back from Pearly Beach! A bit of a heart-sore moment for Shrek, but a massive jol for the rest of the pack.
A bright orange Salamander beach buggy parked under the shade of large pine trees, with three club members standing behind it waving and holding drinks during their trip back from Pearly Beach.
Rubbing it in! The guys found some perfect shade for a pitstop on the way back. Looks like they had an absolute jol while Shrek and I were headed home.
A bright red beach buggy and an orange Salamander beach buggy parked in the dirt under large, shady pine trees, with club members standing together in the shade during their return trip from Pearly Beach.
More pitstop envy! The crew found the perfect shady spot to cool down the VW air-cooled motors while they shared a few more laughs on the road back.
Coralie sitting in the passenger seat of Jacques’ yellow beach buggy with a white roof, parked in a dirt lot during a pitstop on the way back from Pearly Beach.
Coralie and Jacques making the most of the Valentine’s Run! It’s great to see the yellow buggy leading the pack after our morning of missions.
Four beach buggies—a yellow one with a white top, a red one, the yellow Bumblebee with a heart, and an orange Salamander—parked in a row on green grass during a sunny pitstop.
The family just keeps growing! The crew bumped into three more Wild Buggers, including Craig Low, during their pitstop on the way home.
Four beach buggies—Jacques' yellow with white top, Anton's red, Anthony’s yellow Bumblebee with a heart, and Brent’s orange Salamander—parked in a row on green grass during a pitstop.
The ultimate line-up! Jacques & Coralie, Anthony & Michelle, and Brent & Sam joined up for one last epic pitstop on the way back.
A group of eight Wild Buggers club members, including Brent, Sam, Anthony, Michelle, Jacques, and Coralie, standing together for a group photo in a large, busy indoor market area with wooden tables.
The final huddle! The crew stopped for one last jol and a group photo before the final stretch back to Cape Town.
Craig Low and two other Wild Buggers members sitting at a wooden outdoor table, holding green bottles and smiling for a selfie during a sunny road trip pitstop.
Craig Low and the manne joining the jol! Even though Shrek was on the hook, the rest of the crew was making every second count on the way home.
Official Wild Bugger Run 2026 stickers and "Love in the Spotlight" game cards, including a "Bridget Jones's Diary" card and a "You're holding Nothing" card, lying on a table.
The cards are on the table! From movie characters to major donations, the 2026 Valentine’s Run was one we will never forget.

Want the full story behind these shots? From the high-stakes “Love in the Spotlight” movie game to the epic two-stage recovery of Shrek, there is a lot more to these photos than meets the eye. Read the full narrative of how we tackled Bumblebee’s breakdown, hiked through Hermanus, and raised R2000 for charity. Read the Full Valentine’s Run Article Here

Next Stop: Charity Run – 1 March We’re putting our beach buggy passion to good use for the Badisa Goue Aar Tehuis. Brent’s R2000 donation has given us a massive head start. Let’s get every VW air-cooled engine in the club started for this one!

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ANTON KLEYN