Table of contents for Issue 138 in VWt

FAREWELL. IT’S BEEN EMOTIONAL... Hello and welcome to issue 138 of VWt magazine. So, after 3 ½ years, 43 issues, 2,489 posts on Instagram, 230 plus feature vans and more meets, shows (and hangovers!) than I can count... oh, and one pandemic, the time has come for me to say goodbye to the editor’s chair at VWt. I’ve been into VWs - specifically Transporters - since I was a kid, thanks to the Taiga Green Bay Window that was owned for over 30 years by my late grandparents George and Audrey. VWs have always been a huge part of my life, so this job was a dream come true. I may be disappearing out of the side sliding-door with a swish-bang behind me, but I am not destined for the…

From a young age, Matt Kendrick has always loved cars. “My dad and grandad were both car guys,” he says. “My grandad even did a bit of racing in his time. That led me into cars and as I got older, I started buying and modifying them.” It wasn’t until later in life that he got the Transporter bug. “I always liked them,” he admits. “I just never felt the need for one due to being into cars so much! One of my best mates, Mark used to come around to my place with his vans. He started off with T4s then got into facelifting T5s. He was always talking to me about them and asking my advice on modifications. I lost count of the times he said I should…

I’ve known Marco for quite a few years through the air-cooled scene; initially through his column in the Dutch Airmighty Megascene and then we were friends on social media for a bit before I met him in person at the Volksworld Show; he’s a fun and very nice guy with some crazy skills when it comes to building top-level cars; perhaps his most famous build is a Jeans Beetle on air ride that he built in a crazy short timescale for the Volksworld Show - actor Ewan McGregor now owns that car. The first T4 he bought was a white panel van that he lowered on 17” Fuchs wheels and had sign written so it’d be a rolling advert for MarCo Supplies. Having his own well-equipped workshop in Bunschoten in…

In the world of campervans, the journey to finding the perfect one is often filled with twists and turns. Some enthusiasts search far and wide, trying out different models and styles, until they finally discover the vehicle of their dreams. For Rich and his family, the pursuit of the ideal camper led them down a fascinating path, ultimately culminating in his current versatile T6 Transporter. Sixteen months ago, Rich found himself at a crossroads. He had previously owned a Long Wheelbase T5 Transporter, which served the family well until it became a bit cramped. In response, he made a leap, selling the T5 and opting for a motorhome to accommodate his growing family. However, the grandeur of the motorhome soon clashed with the practicalities of daily use. Rich realized that…

OCTOBER 17th – 22ndMOTORHOME & CARAVAN SHOWNEC, Pendigo Way, Marston Green, Birmingham,B40 1NTwww.thenec.co.uk NOVEMBER 5thULTIMATE STANCEThe Telford International Centre, Telford, TF3 4JHwww.ultimate-stance.co.uk DECEMBER 1st – 3rdDUB IN THE MIDDLE XMAS CAMPCroft Farm, Bredon’s Hardwick, TewkesburyGL20 7EEwww.dubsinthemiddle.co.uk 2024 JANUARY 19th – 21stMOTORHOME & CAMPERVAN SHOWStoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV82LGwww.outandaboutlive.co.uk FEBRUARY 4thCAMPER MARTThe Telford International Centre, Telford, TF3 4JHwww.ultimate-stance.co.ukwww.campermart.co.uk 13th – 18thCARAVAN CAMPING & MOTORHOME SHOWThe NEC, Birmingham, B40 1NTwww.ccmshow.co.uk MARCH 10thULITMATE DUBSThe Telford International Centre, Telford, TF3 4JHwww.ultimate-dubs.co.uk 16th – 17thVOLKS WORLD PLUSSandown Park, Esher, Surrey, KT10 9AJwww.volksworld.com APRIL 21st – 23rdVW CAMPFESTChester Racecourse, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 2LYwww.camperfest.co.uk JUNE 7th – 9thBRISTOL VOLKFESTBirches Farm, Bristol, BS48 3RN www.bristolvolksfest.co.uk 21st – 23rdVWT FESTIVALKent County Showground, Maidstone, ME14 3JF events.fastcar.co.uk/vwt-festival/ GET ADDED Got a meet or event that should be in here? Drop…

Ricki Clarke hasn’t merely embraced the colour of his van, he’s built its entire identity around it. “It’s all down to my lad, Tommy for coming up with the poo emoji theme,” laughs Ricki. “The most surprising thing to me is finding out how many things you can buy that are shaped like poo!” Of course, this stunning (yet hilariously themed) 2018 Transporter is definitely more than something for kids and let’s face it - parents to have a giggle at when parked up at shows and festivals. It’s had some serious loving and it shows. This T6 is unrecognisable from the Trendline panel van with rear doors it started life as. Even the number plate has changed. But Ricki admits, it was the Chestnut Brown colour that initially attracted…

T5-T6.1 RAMAIR PRORAM INDUCTION KIT Looking for a bit more grunt from your engine? Then check out the new ProRam induction kit from Ramair. Their performance synthetic nanofiber air filter with clever Twin-Tangential Velocity Stack is designed to optimise airflow and deliver extra performance gains – especially when added to an already tuned Transporter. This induction kit will increase the airflow into the turbo while increasing engine noise over the rather conservative and restrictive factory air intake system, whilst the heat shield helps maintain low intake temperatures by providing a physical barrier between the air filter and the rest of the engine bay. The kit includes everything required for fitting, including nuts, bolts, hose clamps and high-quality silicone hose connectors. RamAir Filters utilise top-quality components in all their kits, in…

I hate to be all British and start by talking about the weather, but this summer has been, well, a bit rubbish weather wise, hasn’t it? Especially during the school summer holidays, which for us parents is a long old stretch, particularly when that huge burning ball of hydrogen and helium in the sky is playing hide and seek. In the week leading up to Busfest I was looking at my weather app daily, as the screen shone back at me and told me to expect everything from rain and thunder to a heatwave. Luckily, as the weekend drew close it was clear it was going to be the latter. As I arrived Friday evening it was incredibly hot and humid, which was surprising considering it had gone 9pm. In…

The beauty of the VW Camper is that no matter who you are or your passion, there’s always a van out there for you. On the rare occasion that ‘special one’ is not forthcoming, all is not lost. You can just go ahead and build your own. If you’re on a tight budget, there are many ways to make it stretch. Buy an older van. Look for something with higher mileage. Pick up some flat-pack CNC-cut furniture online. Transporter forums and eBay are awash with decent kits available for great money and there are always loads of second-hand parts listed to help customise your van. If you have a bigger budget, then the sky really is the limit. Get down to Volkswagen, buy yourself a brand-new van and get it…

RETURN TO VOLKSWORLD The VolksWorld Show will be back at Sandown Park in 2024… but with a difference! It will be bigger and better than ever, how? Well, the world’s best air-cooled VW magazine - that’s Volks World of course has teamed up with its fellow publications, VWt, Classic Porsche and Performance VW to bring you not just the best air-cooled VWs, but also the crème de la crème of water-cooled Transporters, classic Porsches and the finest retro water-cooled Volkswagens, too. So, besides the world class collection of Beetles, Split and Bay Window Buses, Karmann Ghias and Type 3s, you’ll also see air-cooled Porsches 356s, 911s, 912s, 914s and more showcased within the halls (and maybe even a few transaxle models outside, too). Meanwhile, out on the grandstand apron, Performance…

BONES ‘N’ BOARDS T-SHIRT Hit the waves with this dope Vee Dub Transporters t-shirt, created to represent the fun and adventure of being a Vee Dubber. Made with super-soft 100% organic cotton, featuring a ribbed neck and straight finish hem. Available in sizes small to 3XL and available in white, black, or grey, and also as a hoodie! Price £21www.veedubtransporters.co.uk THQ POM-POM BEANIE Keep your noggin toasty this Winter with a heavyweight multi-yarn Transporter HQ pom-pom beanie. Made from 100% soft-spun acrylic with cuffed design and thermal band for extra warmth. One size fits all... well, unless you have a seriously big ol’ head or very large hair. Price £16www.transporterhq.co.uk OUTWELL CONSTELLATION DUVET LUX DOUBLE Get the comfort of home in your van with this double duvet with super soft…

If you’ve read this issue in the normal way - that’s front-to-back for you backwards page flickers – you would have seen my announcement (see page 5) that I am stepping down as editor of VWt. One of the main reasons for this is to spend more time with my youngest son Buzz, who has complex health needs. As he continues to grow big and strong (which I am very grateful for), so have the demands on me, my time, my partner Vikki and Roo, my oldest son, as everything is getting harder by the day. Many people say to me: “Oh, it’ll get easier” but truth is, it won’t. And, working as a full-time editor, who works a lot of weekends and has a 4-weekly print deadline that cannot…

STUART RICHARDSON’S 2021 T6.1 Photography Connor Clark Hi VWt, this is my T6.1 work van. I got into Transporters after having modified cars in the past and watching the Lowdown YouTube vids. Previous cars included a Max Power style Corsa that I spent 30-grand on, and a 2-litre red top Nova. I’m also the legal owner of a Triumph Spitfire, although it’s my dad’s, so that’s where the love of motors comes from. As far as I am concerned, anything on air is cool. Sadly, the wife won’t let me bag our Tiguan! I only decided to buy a T6.1 when I worked out my Split Screen fund wasn’t growing fast enough, although I did hire a Split as my wedding car. Also, I needed a new work van so…