FELTON – While his friends in high school all dreamed of owning flashy cars that probably cost more than their entire lives were worth, Morgan McGinnis had something else in mind.
“When I was a kid, my friends all wanted Lamborghinis and Ferraris, and I was like, ”Psssh. I want the Mystery Machine,”” said McGinnis, a 30-year-old Ben Lomond resident and part-time mechanic at Cornerstone Automotive in Felton.
His self-described obsession with the cartoon series, which premiered in the fall of 1969, began as a child and persevered through high school.
Staying true to his dream, he did some research on vans of that era, then went to Van Nuys on Sept. 21, 2001, and paid $610 for a white, 1967 Dodge A100 van.
Once back in Santa Cruz, he painted it blue, splashed the rims with a coat of orange, then got a friend to recreate the design that immediately brings to mind the catch phrase, “I would”ve gotten away with it if it weren”t for those meddling kids.”
“There”s something about the art style that I really liked,” McGinnis said, adding that his crush on the voluptuous Daphne “was the start of my fascination with redheads.” In fact, the rear window of the “Mystery Machine of Santa Cruz County” bears an “I brake for REDHEADS” sticker.
His fascination with all things Scooby even prompted him to name is DVD shop in Felton “Scoob”s DVD.”
The store closed in April 2008, and McGinnis now works several odd jobs.
Over the summer, he took his van out of state for the first time for a road trip to Utah, but it was cut short after the 44-year-old van had a series of near-death experiences.
Now back in Santa Cruz, the Mystery Machine will celebrate the 10-year-anniversary of its resurrection Wednesday. To honor that milestone, McGinnis plans to begin filming a web series that centers around the intrepid members of Mystery Incorporated featured in the hour-long “The New Scooby-Doo Movies.” That series, which began airing in 1972, included guest stars from other television shows who helped the gang find their culprits.
Dubbed “S Files” – as in “Scooby Files” – McGinnis will play the part of Shaggy, with other friends portraying Fred, Velma and Daphne. The first episode starts with a Great Dane running off into the woods. Also, MTV character “Beavis” has lost his buddy, and the five agree to join forces to look for their missing compadres.
Then there”s the episode revolving around “Twin Peaks,” a popular series in the 1990s that ended leaving FBI Special agent Dale Cooper”s fate in question.
“I”ve always wanted (David) Lynch to finish the story – what happens with Agent Cooper – so right there, there”s a mystery to solve,” McGinnis said with a laugh.
