Great start to the VW year

This time last year I was blogging about a really disappointing Bracknell, our Passat was the only car in the carpark and we left early after a quick cuppa with some friends. The rest of 2011 went down hill and by the summer we’d pretty much given up on it. An influx of new team members and a new chairman at the end of the year saw the meets gaining popularity via good advertising. This has carried across to 2012. On first glance it looked like it would just be two Bays, but within minutes of us arriving the party started. Lily was snoozing in the front so I took the opportunity to snap away as I was there on my own.



A trio of Type 3s drove in, two Squarebacks and a Notch. This Square was riding on air and there was mere mms between beam and tarmac.





Beetles were well represented as well.



As were Campers.





Infact I think short of a Type 4 we had everything covered from air and water cooled with the 25 cars that turned out.



And if you haven’t got a VW that’s running…..improvise like Andy.



My photography assistant had awoken so after a walk around she took to the buggy for some snapping.







Getting chilly and with the light beginning to fade we all headed off, once again Lily enjoying every minute of being up front, she leapt at the chance to get behind the wheel again when we got home.



It was a brilliant start to the year, if we can keep this up the club is on the up once more. The rest of the photos can be found here.

Steve.

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Classics on the A30

I’m nothing if not predictable, its New Years Day and I’m at the Phoenix Inn on the A30 for the massive classic car meet, I say massive as its now stretching further down the A30 than ever before, both sides of the road, up the middle and along the dual carriage way as well. I must be half a mile of road taken over now and the variety keeps on coming. We took a two pronged approach with Kim, Lily and Emma heading down in the push started Passat (new battery for a new year!) and me in the Camper, after a couple of passes we eventually found a space and parked, setting off on the long walk.







The main carpark wasn’t as full as usual and the VSCC cars were very thin on the ground, I suspect they have all uprooted to Brooklands who have a bigger area to contain the cars and the added bonus of the museum and track to look round. I’ll keep with the A30 as its £30 cheaper for our little group than Brooklands would be.



We bumped into Alan looking round, back for more after his first year in 2011, the variety and mini Wheels Day feel drawing him in, where else could you see an Austin Maxi and Rolls Royce side by side!









Back out on the road the spaces were limited and the owner of this Moke enlisted some friends to lift it into a slot on the pavement!





Biggest vehicle of the day went to this mammoth Peterbilt that set car alarms off at 20 paces. With Kim nattering to the Kennedys I set off down the centre of the A30 for some snapping.











With the Passat push started again (new battery was collected on the way home and fitted, fingers crossed for a fix) I took one last wander around. I didn’t count but there must have been several hundred cars and a thousand people.








And with that it was off home> I really enjoy this varied classic start each year, lets hope 2012 brings more automotive fun.

Steve.

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Krispmasy Kreme meet

That’s it, the last outing of the year for us all. We are almost back to where we started, eating doughnuts in New Malden! A chilly December morning wasn’t likely to bring out many American cars to the Krispy Kreme diner off the A3, but there was enough to keep us busy…..drinking coffee and eating sweet snacks.





After a chat I ventured outside into the freezing carpark to check out who’d made it there, it was a Mustang-athon with half a dozen of them parked up.









Back inside David and Matt had arrived and another dozen was ordered as Lily got to grips with this walking lark.





With the time getting on and being stuffed we headed outside as the stragglers left, the heavy right foot exits of the last few visits gone. With a few hundred horsepower and some very slick roads (Our lowly Passat could have performed a rolling burnout!)







Its been another bumper year for us, the old air-cooleds have had less trips than I would like, but hopefully 2012 will see us all out far more.

Steve.

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Festive fun at Bracknell

After Novembers great meeting, hopes were high for the Christmas one, with the offer of Mulled Wine and nibbles it was a meet not to be missed. Rolling in to the car park, rain hammering down were weren't convinced. But over 20 LTV cars and vans and almost 15 from the local water cooled club, Berkshire Dubbers, it was amazing and proof that good advertising and some positive input from a motivated team really does work.



Under the club gazebo a pair of tables heaved with mulled wine, mincepies, cakes and savoury snacks, perfect for a chilly afternoon.



A few people had added some festive fancy dress!



Big kids!


Pab won the "Snow'n'Shine" for this amazing slot car track in the back of a camper, it kept the kids and adults amused all afternoon.



Once again there was a really good mix of old and new, air and water.







Big horsepower, light weight Rocco.



My poor camera battery gave up so the rest are from my phone, cold, wet and forgetting to charge them didn't help!



The riff raff were kept behind bars!



Lily improved her driving skills behind the wheel of Pabs bay.



With yet more rain and the fact it was really cold by now we headed home. From a really poor start in January, through some lean months the Bracknell meet has finally turned the corner. Two great and well attended meets in a row, roll on 2012, lets keep this going.

Steve.

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