Apologize for cross-posting but I need all the help I can get!

Please - need help from knowledgable folks!!  ASAP!

                             Took a small roadtrip today (Tues 7/11) and off/on
during trip I had some mechanical probs that will need immediate fixing before I
head up to SEA this weekend.   Yikes!!  I need :   (1 ) mechanical advice and
then, especially, ( 2 ) a referral to a nice inexpensive & fair repair shop here
in Portland OR area.  Nice & Fair will do for now, too!  2 out of 3.   Tried
Trafton - he can't fit me in til next week; he referred me to Ron in Gresham -
but I live in SE (Sellwood ) and prefer something closer, if I can..... any
ideas???
      My friend said it seemed (& smelled) like a clutch problem - I have no
clue what it is!!!   When shifting, it basically seemed like I was just gunning
the engine - rpm's would go up, regardless what gear;  I'd stay about 30-40
miles per hr per.  The sound was just like an engine being revved while standing
still.   Then I would downshift or upshift related to terrain and sometimes it
would kick over & driving would be smoother..... or, it would kick & balk at me
- slowing down again and almost spin her wheels!  Only slowing to put in 1st
gear, or totally shutting off the engine, even remotely helped out.     I got
home to PDX ok, even doing 50-60 at times. But there's still a burnt rubber kind
of smell as well as a  burnt oil kind of odor. I am so fried, and nervous!
Just had oil change, tune up,etc at Trafton's end of May. And I'm still
unemployed/no income!!!. Going on 7 mos now.  The Mongrel's worked just fine til
now. Don't want to risk the long jaunt to SEA til I know what gives . . .  any ideas???
Damnation! - just when I am about to sell car #2 & rely on this one as
main/daily driver, something hits the ol' fan!!

Oh, BTW - Trafton's local VW-Drive-In (in Portland) will happen Aug 19th, I believe. Contact
Bill for details.......

Anna QS
'86 Blue Vanagon "Mongrel"

--
" The answer is always "NO" 100% of the time you don't ask".