Sommaire pour Issue 106 de VWt

Hello and welcome to issue 106 of VWt. First off, we have a bit of a confession to make. Last issue we said we were going to treat you to a larger 116-page issue, well we lied. Yep, it’s 132-pages as we got a bit carried away. But hey, we’re sure you don’t mind. Our plan for this issue was to celebrate the end of Lockdown, the start of summer and what we are calling ‘The Great Escape’. But, we’re not just talking about escaping the chains of Lockdown, but also escaping the other stresses and strains of life and focusing in on what’s really important. I think it’s fair to say us van folk are a different breed, and we live for adventure, escapism and the little things a…

DADDY COOL Hi VWt, This is my dad Russ, with his pride and joy Tommy - we call the T5 ‘Tommy’ as he is part of the family. Tommy has seen many happy days by the sea, family outings and picnics. Russ is an amazing husband, dad to his three daughters and an amazing Bear to his eight grandchildren. I’m unsure if it’s fancy enough for VWt, but he would be so chuffed if you could print a few photos and I know it would make his day. Debbie Marshall via email VWt: Hey Debbie, it would be our pleasure to make your dad’s day, anything for a loyal VWt reader! T4 FOR LIFE Hey there VWt , I love the tech and practicality of newer vans, but for me…

ALPINE DVR-C320S DASH CAM Lucky enough to own a dash cam compatible Alpine head unit? Well you need the new DVR-C320S in your life then! This little stunner records in 1080p Full-HD with 29 frames per second and features a CMOS image sensor for great recording quality even at night. This allows you to record important details such as vehicle number plates for solid proof in the event of a crash. GPS geo-information and driving speed are recorded as well. Once connected to a compatible Alpine head unit you can display recorded footage and see a live-view on the touch screen. The DVR-C320S also includes a parking mode that keeps your car under surveillance even at night. If any impact by another car, bike, etc is noted, the camera will…

WAKEBOARDING @ THE NEW FOREST WATER PARK, NEW FOREST, ENGLAND The New Forest Water Park offers a huge range of activities. But for us top of the list is wakeboarding on one of their two cable systems - the Rixen 5 pylon main cable or the Sesitec system 2.0 straight line cable. Alternatively you can go kneeboarding. Other activities at the centre include the Wibit Aqua Park assault course with trampolines, blobs, slides, hurdles, 3-metre-high jumping points and more. You can also hire kayaks or SUPs (stand up paddleboards) for an hour or more and enjoy paddling around the awesome freshwater lake. So whether you go for a few hours or a few days, you’ll love every moment! Too tired to go home after? They also offer camping too! The…

MAY 21st-23rd VW BREAKOUT Santa Pod Raceway, Wellingborough, Northants, NN29 7XA www.santapod.co.uk 23rd EARLY EDITION Sywell Aerodrome, Hall Farm, Northamptonshire, Sywell NN6 0BN www.edition38.com 29th- 30th RETRO RIDES WEEKENDER Goodwood Motor Circuit, Chichester, PO18 0PX www.retroridesweekender.com JUNE 19th SIMPLY VW Beaulieu, New Forest, Hampshire, SO42 7ZN www.beaulieu.co.uk 19th- 20th PLAYERS CLASSIC Goodwood Motor Circuit, Chichester, PO18 0PX www.players-show.com JULY 2-4th JULY CAMPER JAM 21 Weston Park, Shropshire, TF11 8LE www.camperjam.com 8th – 11th GOODWOOD FESTIVAL OF SPEED Goodwood Motor Circuit, Chichester, PO18 0PX www.goodwood.com/motorsport/ festival-of-speed/ 10th – 11th CUMBRIA VAG Westmorland County Showground, Cumbria, LA7 7NH www.cumbriavag.co.uk 23rd-25th BUG JAM 34 Santa Pod Raceway, Wellingborough, Northants, NN29 7XA www.bugjam.co.uk AUGUST 1st TATTON PARK VW SHOW Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 6QN www.vwnw.co.uk 6th – 8th VW FESTIVAL Harewood House, Harewood,…

If you’ve read my ramblings before on the T6, you’ll know that this van is the family workhorse and the van that really clocks up the miles. Also, and most importantly it’s a WAV, which stands for Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle as my youngest son is in a wheelchair. So this van is more than just a van, it’s a tool that enables us to do things and get places that would otherwise be very tricky. Having a WAV also means modifying can be problematic, as we have to have a specialist insurance policy that’s not that flexible. In fact, when I changed the wheels, I had to even change insurers as they wouldn’t insure aftermarket alloy wheels! I know right, w the actual f? The result of this though means…

British Armed Forces & Emergency Services Volkswagen Owners Club  Area: National www.facebook.com/ groups/330513957412420/ Bath Air-Cooled  Area: Bath & Bristol www.bathaircooled.co.uk Cambs Transporters  Area: Cambridgeshire www.facebook.com/ groups/1374742886168935/ Club 80 – 90 T25  Area: National www.club80-90.co.uk Chase Dubz  Area: Cannock Chase & surrounding www.facebook.com/ groups/1535643423130892/ Club-Vdub  Area: Kent & National www.club-vdub.co.uk Cornwall Volkswagen Owners Club  Area: Cornwall www.cornwallvwoc.com Dirty Low Down Dubbers  Area: West Sussex www.facebook.com/DLDDVWC/ Donny Dubz  Area:›Doncaster www.facebook.com/ groups/562792360434388/ Dorset Dub Club  Area: Dorset www.facebook.com/dorsetdubclub/ Dubbed Out VW Community  Area: Nationwide www.facebook.com/ groups/2434740270141152/ Dubs in Law  Area: Wigan & surrounding www.facebook.com/ groups/1415419492007924/ Dunstable Dubbers  Area: Dunstable www.facebook.com/groups/ Dunstabledubbers/ Herts VW Owners Club  Area: Hertfordshire www.facebook.com/groups/17758385004/ Highlandubbers VW Club  Area: Highlands of Scotland www.facebook.com/ groups/1671739203039871/ Just T4s  Area: National www.facebook.com/groups/JustT4s/ Kombi Club  Area: National www.facebook.com/groups/kombiclub Leicestershire & Warwickshire VW Owners Club…

The breath-taking Cheddar Gorge in Somerset provides the perfect backdrop for this challenge, with some precipitation only adding to the atmospheric vibe of the stunning pictures. As the restrictions on our daily lives begin to ease, the flow of these roads like rivers meandering through this incredible natural landmark are just too much to resist. Throw in a trio of tuned T6 TSI Transporters and, if you’re not already reaching for your keys well, then you probably don’t have any! To get under the skin of this 900bhp plus star-studded cast, let’s break it down into three short episodes. We’ll call them The Brown One, The Blue One and The Black One, after all, we’re all friends here, right? First, a quick overview. What you’re looking at is essentially the…

So, I’m going to put my opinions out there, my opinions aren’t necessarily those of the Editor or VWt in general. But, from my limited experience, until I cast my eyes over Ren Papus’ T6 here, I’ve found that chrome vehicle wraps seem to be a staple of the Arab supercar/hypercar fraternity that descend on London for “Supercar Season”. We have a couple of these local to me, who seem to think that driving down the seafront at full chat in second gear, then backing off to get exhaust pops is the height of cool (it isn’t). Maybe it’s this that has made me think that, in general, chrome wraps are a trying too hard modification for those a bit lacking in the trouser department – maybe their Mum’s didn’t…

COOL FLO ALOHA OUTLAW COLLECTION Established in ‘89, Cool Flo was born from three brothers’ love for all things old school and air-cooled. But these guys don’t rest on their laurels, as every year sees fresh releases and luckily for Dub fans they’ve just launched their awesome new summer/spring ’21 range. There’s everything from hoodies and caps to stickers, tees and more. As we’re approaching the sunnier months, we thought we’d take a look at their new Aloha Outlaw collection of tees from their collaboration with Norwaii. A range of cool designs fusing Hawaiian surf vibes with the automotive free spirit of the Outlaw. There are tons of designs to choose from with every base covered size wise from XS up to a 5XL! Priced from £22 www.coolflo.co.uk ELEMENT X…

As we all know, last year the show scene was pretty much non-existent and it sucked, and we mean it really sucked! On VWt we live for show season, as it’s a time for beers, laughs and of course seeing vans, lots of vans! But last September, a few lucky VAG and van fans managed at least one weekend getaway (during a break in lockdown restrictions) to the Pod for the first ever VW Breakout event. But the start of VW Breakout signalled the end for one of the longest running VW shows, the legendary Big Bang. So why the change? Santa Pod told us: “In recent years, the Big Bang event has changed with the VW specific focus moving away from the track to pave the way for the…

1. A82 LOCH LOMOND TO LOCH NESS (SCOTLAND) This scenic route is widely regarded as one of the most iconic in Britain. Starting in Glasgow, the A82 stretches north into the Scottish Highlands, passing Loch Lomond before heading into arguably the highlight of the route – Glencoe. This stunning area has been called the most spectacular location in Britain, and one look makes it easy to see why. Film buffs will also recognise the area from the James Bond film,›Skyfall. After Glencoe, the A82 rounds Loch Leven before passing through Fort William. On this stretch of road, drivers are able to spot Britain’s tallest mountain Ben Nevis towering above them. Those feeling particularly adventurous often stop in Fort William and attempt to climb the mountain’s peak. Continue north on the…

Every weekend, families across the country stack up their vans with bikes eager to explore previously uncharted lanes, paths and tracks. But which racks are best suited to the job? Here’s some of the most popular options, but the first thing to remember is that secure at 0mph doesn’t necessarily equate to secure at 70mph – your bike flying off its rack on the motorway will make a horrible mess and also get you into a lot of trouble with the law. That’s why it’s important to buy the right sort of rack for your vehicle, your bike, and your travelling requirements, and most importantly of all, make sure you fit it correctly. Before buying, think about how many bikes you want to carry, whether you want to retain access…

Most vehicles are best maintained through usage and some aspects of their condition can deteriorate when left parked for many weeks or used only occasionally for short distance journeys. Tyres lose their air pressure over time and harden when they are not used regularly, which can lead to sidewall cracking – a serious safety issue. It’s also possible for ‘flat spots’ to appear where the tyre’s tread has been flattened due to the weight of a vehicle bearing down on it for an extended period of time. No matter what your plans, these checks are especially important if you have not been driving your van regularly during the Lockdown. So check them out and if needs be act upon the advice below from our friends at TyreSafe. 1. AIR PRESSURE…

Much of this VW story is pretty familiar. 26-year-old Jake Crocker, a builder and woodworker from Barnstable, Devon, became interested in VWs during his childhood. “From a young age I’ve always been interested in cars and being able to mod them. I always loved watching West Coast Customs and seeing how far you can go with a car”. At 18, Jake was the proud owner of a SEAT Arosa. He bought the Mk1 Caddy you see here shortly afterwards and would alternate between the two. Although the MTV influence shows through again with the ultimate goal of a second-gen Ford F100, the Caddy is by far Jake’s ultimate VW: “The Mk1 caddy has always been my dream Dub, I think mainly for the tailgate and how good they look slammed”.…

Maybe one day my tailgate will have the dents removed and so will the passenger side, but to be honest with you, it is what it is. It’s an old builder’s van, its parked on the street and in car parks all the time. Plus it’s my work van and it does some serious miles, and no doubt will get damaged by other road users so it’s not a priority. However, updating and making the cab a little more comfortable is a priority! You may recall in issue 100 I fitted the Rusty Lee Swivel base and the Mk7 GTD Seats, I got the front and back seats with door cards for a steal due to the passenger air bag going off. It was clear that it just needed restitching…

70 YEARS OF THE SAMBA It’s April 19th, 1951 and the Frankfurt Motor Show opens its doors for the first time after the war. Volkswagen takes full advantage of the opportunity and presents its new vehicles on a breath-taking super-size stand. On it, Volkswagen builds a partial copy of the Beetle assembly line, and an unprecedented, almost surreal lighting installation has visitors spell-bound. The highlight though, is the world premiere of a Volkswagen called rather plainly the VW ‘Special Version’ minibus. Yet, the differences between it and the standard version are anything other than plain. On the outside the classy minibus is resplendent in harmonious two-tone paintwork with an attractive aluminium trim and front bumper. All-round windows, including ‘skylights’, make the Bulli with 23 windows a ‘Glazed Sightseeing Bus’. In…

CALIBRE X-LOAD Looking for a wheel that’s tough, chunky and a break from the norm? Then get ready to be slapped in the chops by a wheel ‘arder than Dwayne Johnson, Chuck Norris and Jason Statham rolled into one. Say hello to (if you dare!) the latest introduction to the high-quality yet affordably priced Calibre wheel line, the mighty Calibre X-Load! A six-spoke slab of alloy wheel with a robust, sculpted appearance backed up by state-of-the-art flow-formed construction. This advanced heating and metal-manipulating process optimises the molecular structure of the wheel barrel, endowing the cast alloy with a strength and resilience similar to that of a forged alloy but without the price tag. And get this, it packs a big boy load rating of 1250kg for all derivatives, which ensures…

Just imagine it. Roaming around Europe with everything you need to earn a living neatly stashed on board your beautifully converted camper. For nearly everyone this would simply be a fleeting daydream, enjoyed but dismissed as entirely unrealistic. For Natalia Buchholz and Mateusz Felsmann of Warsaw, Poland however, this is their beautiful reality. They run an independent creative agency designing anything from packaging to websites. With almost all of their workload based in digital format, it’s the perfect scenario for a life outside of the norm. Their chosen workspace is, of course a VW Transporter. In this case, a T5 4motion hi-top expertly converted by Tomek Basinski and his team at Vannado in Warsaw. Vannado itself was founded to challenge mainstream ideas and in their words “accelerate shift towards sustainability.”…

Some of you reading this may not be particularly au fait with VW’s older models – the bloodline of what this magazine covers. In basic terms, production of the Type 2 (often referred to in Europe as the T1) began in 1950 as a basic panel van, but, by 1951 there were other models available, such as the Sondermodell or Samba as it’s widely known, which featured tri-tone paint for 1951 (with a white roof) and then two-tone Chestnut brown over Sealing wax red until 1958. Just as many monotone Type 2’s in both Split screen (up to ’67) and Bay Window (’68-79) were produced as the two-tone versions, but, somehow, the dual-tone paint scheme has become as iconic as the shape of the VW Bus itself. Pick up any…

Built-in stoves are great. Especially when it’s chilly or raining and you want to keep all cosy while making a brew or concocting a delicious delight in your van. However, when it’s warm and sunny and everyone’s in the fresh air soaking up the rays, the prospect of being stuck inside sweating over the hob isn’t quite so appealing is it? Not only that, but if you’re tight for space, a stove you can use outside will instantly liberate more cupboard or storage space. WHAT FUEL? The first choice you’ll need to make is what type of fuel to use. There’s solid fuel, liquid fuel and canister gas stoves available. Solid fuel stoves can be fun and a fiddle at the same time, but aren’t great when it’s very wet…

Visit any coastal town on a blustery day and you’re destined to see an assortment of T4s in the beach-side car parks, their wet-suit clad owners enthusiastically unloading their surfing kit from the boot or roof. However, father of two Ben Smith, 35, who lives in a small town on the Wiltshire/Dorset border doesn’t need the wind or the waves to enjoy his hobby. He’s hooked instead on the rapidly growing pastime of paramotoring – a powered powerglider, to put it simply. And his T4 provides the perfect lifestyle vehicle to do it in. Ben, who’s an operations and logistics manager for Gilo Adventure Sports and Parajet International, purchased ‘Sacha’, a ‘96 1.9 SWB T4, a little over 12 years ago for £2,000. “She started off as a plumber’s van,…

Lakecrest The Lakecrest provides good space with a detachable bathtub groundsheet in a surprisingly small footprint. While entry is normally via the front door, access is also available via the doors located in the link zone that connects the awning to the side of your van. Very helpful for creating a useful area in which to leave wet, muddy gear before entering your van or awning area. Price £500 Woodcrest Not only can the Woodcrest be used at the side of a campervan, but the tall roof is designed to cater for an open tailgate or barn doors if used to the rear. Like the Lakecrest, it features large side mesh windows with waterproof curtains for ventilation and a large roll-away front opening for panoramic views. Roll-away front triangular side…

Own an awesome Transporter, Crafter or Caddy and want it featured in these very pages? We would love to see what you’re driving! Please e-mail a selection of good quality images that show the exterior and interior of your van to glenn.rowswell@kelsey.co.uk along with a full spec list and add the subject title ‘Feature me VWt’. If we like what we see, we’ll get back to you and talk about the possibility of a VWt magazine feature shoot. So, what are you waiting for? Get snapping and show us what you’ve got!…