Outcast VW Club monthly meeting, September.

This month's Outcast VW Club monthly meet couldn't have fallen on a better summer's evening, as it was said to be the last day of summer by the forecasters. The weather was glorious sunshine all day and the temperature in the mid 70's. The nice weather meant that everyone who attended the meet could chill out with other VW owners in just a T-shirt while sipping a cold beer and generally socialising.

 

 

Kevin came over in his immaculate green
and white T4 named 'The Grinch'.
Kevin is a member of 'OXDUBZ' a VW club
based in Oxfordshire, although Kev can
regularly been seen at other club meets
including the Outcast Club.

The back of Kevin's long wheelbase T4.
The photo's do not do justice to the lovely
colour of this van.

Kevin's nephew, Scott came along in his clean
green Lupo. It's always nice to see both air-
cooled and water cooled VW's at a meet because
as they say, variety is the spice of life.
 

Very nice reflection in the side of Scott's
Lupo.. just wish my bus had a shine like that.!

Another member of the OXDUBZ VW Club
that came to see us was Nathan, who turned
up in his newly acquired daily driver. 

A very cool looking Passat, riding on air
suspension and with a full leather interior...
and this is his daily driver.!

Passat parked up with the suspension set to
'down in the weeds' mode, as if this wasn't
enough Nathan also has a lovely patina'd
Californian early bay, and a beach buggy!

Almost deemed as regulars now at the Outcast
Club are Elliott and Alanna and of course his
gorgeous 1970 cherry red beetle. Elliott is a
member of 'The House of Dub' VW Club, but
both Elliott and Alanna are more than welcome
anytime at our club meetings.
 

This is the normal condition of Elliott's bug,
it always seems to be gleaming. I really don't
know how he keeps it so clean.

What do you do if you want to put a decal on
your bug, but don't want to ruin it's looks?
You do what Elliott has done and put it on
the back of the rear bumper, which is also
immaculate.

From one extreme to another, my bay. If you
look closely I'm sure there's a reflection
somewhere in the paint... I've just not found it
yet.

My lovely 1969 Californian import, which I
would have had for 2 years in about 4 weeks
 time. Think that's a cause for a celebration?

Steve popped down in his 1970 white Beetle.
Steve is a semi professional photographer
and has been trying to do an impromptu
photo shoot at our club meets for a few months
now, but something always prevents him from
doing so. I guess with the nights drawing in
it'll have to wait until next year now, Steve.

This must be the most pampered bug out
there as Steve never drives it in the rain!
Check out Steve's web page if your looking
into getting a photographer for whatever
reason:
http://swalephotography.carbonmade.com/about

Ellie came down to join us in the evening
sunshine in her (trusty) 1995 Golf.

Ellie and her daughter Esmé posing in front
of 'Nitro Nancy'

Whenever I'm out and about, either in my car
or in my bay I always carry some Outcast
Club flyer's to put on any VW's I see. And the
result of my efforts was these guys from
Ivinghoe, a village less than 10 miles from
Aylesbury. I must admit I have forgotten the
name of the owner of this buggy.

Talking to the owner I believe this is 1965(ish)
Volksrod body shell with a long wheelbase. He
has owned the buggy for about 9 years and
when he got it, it had a single roll bar which
he decided to remove, only then did he realise
it was made from exhaust tubing.!

Having removed the old 'roll bar' he has since
fitted a proper steel roll cage. Interior is sparse
as all buggy's are, but when your open to
the elements it's probably for the best.

The buggy owners partner had this lovely
looking 1972 bay window. Believe it or not
the shiny orange paint was actually put on
with a roller by hand, then I guess a lot
of polishing. It was driven not by the buggy
owners partner, but a guy called 'air-cooled
Rob' and between them they have about
11 air cooled vehicles, including, bays /
buggies / beetles and a sand rail.

This really is a nice finish on the paint
considering how simply it was applied.

Another member of 'The House of Dub' VW
club, that made their debut at our club meet
was Phil and his son Nathan. Phil's 1975
red and white beetle looking clean.

Looking immaculate from every angle. Hope
you both enjoyed yourselves at our club meet,
and we hope to see you both again.

Phil has been busy applying decals to his rear
window. The German eagle with the car's name
'Buzz Box' is almost the full width of the window.

Claude came down in his 1960 Kombi, with
his partner Jean, who has recently had
surgery on her foot. Glad to hear your on the
mend Jean.

Claude's split screen always looks good. The
single colour, the stance and the narrowed
front beam make this kombi stand out.

The sign written decals on Claude's bus just
add that finishing touch.

Kevin and his mate came down in Kevin's
1970 Trial themed Bug. I met Kevin for the
first time about 2 weeks ago and it turns out
that he lives less than 5 minutes away from
our club meet so hopefully he and his mate
will become regulars.

Really cool looking bug, nice to see the boot
rack being used.

Another regular at our meets is James and he
came down in his 1980 late bay in bright
orange.

This really is a clean looking bay window that
has clocked up some mileage recently.. so it's
reliable as well. James also has a T25.

Regular readers of my blog will know about
my 'Hotrod' past. Back in the 1980's I was
driving around in this 1959 Ford Popular with
a Rover V8 under the hood. I sold the car
to a local guy called Lee, and that was the
last I saw of the car and Lee... until now.

Andy Martin, a member of the Outcast VW
club knew Lee and that he had bought a 1977
late bay. Lee needed some advise and Andy
told him to go and see Stuart Munro, my
best mate, and a few days later Lee and his
bay are at our club meet.!

It was really good to see Lee and his bay
window and to have a good catch up after
about 20-25 years. Is going from hot rods to
VW's a natural progression or just the fact 
that we are becoming more mature?

Stuart and Tim came along in Stuarts 1971
turbo powered bay window. Stuart has recently
re-designed his exhaust system and you can
certainly hear him coming.

If you have got it, flaunt it. Stuart letting his
turbo cool down.

Gavin, from the 'Paint Shop Pro's' came along
in his distinctive Baja with metal flake blue
and white paint scheme.

I do like the unusual, and Gavin's Baja ticks all
the right boxes.


So that was the September Outcast VW Club
monthly meet. Overall a really good night, and
it was good to see some new faces, and some
faces we don't see enough of. Many thanks to
everyone who came along... see you next month?
 

House of Dub, August monthly meet.

On the last Wednesday of each month the House of Dub VW club hold their monthly meet at The Globe Inn, in Linslade, Bedforshire LU7 2TA. The club meet is organised by House of Dub / H.O.D. Imports ( http://www.houseofdub.co.uk/Welcome.html ) I met Stuart / Liza and Steve at our club meeting place, The Charter Pub in Aylesbury for the short 10 mile cruise over to The Globe Inn.

My 1969 bay window which is a Californian
import and imported by The House of Dub.

Steve's '70 white beetle complete with roof
rack but minus the usual accessories he
normally carries around.

Steve mentioned that he very rarely drives his
bug in the rain, this could be why it's so solid
and relatively rust free.

Phil and his son Nathan came along in their
1975 red and white beetle. Phil had spent
most of the day polishing the car and it was
worth it, because this bug did have a nice
shine.

From the side view of Phil's bug, you can see
his hard work has paid off.

This was new to the HOD club meet, it was
owned by a guy called Kevin and he was
saying that the car was built some years ago
in Wales and was regularly used for time trials
up the sides of muddy Welsh mountains.

It certainly has the 'time trial' look about it.
Sitting quite high to provide ground clearance,
and minus running boards. I assume the rack
on the deck lid was for spare wheels and to
also provide weight over the rear axle to help
provide grip.

Plenty of ground clearance helps the car over
the muddy ruts and small rocks.

A regular at the HOD club meet is Tony in
his immaculate 1990, T25. This is one of those
vehicles that you never see with any dirt on.

Mark came along in his stunning T5. The
colour of this bus has to be seen to be
appreciated as the photo's do not do any
justice as to how nice it really is.
 

A single colour so bright on a bus this size
shouldn't work, but with the black tinted
windows, black wheels and black stripe, it's
just enough to make the paint scheme work.

Liza came over from Oxfordshire, met us in
Buckinghamshire, and then cruised with us
over to Bedfordshire to the club meet. Three
county's in one night, Phew.!

Stuart parked up at the meet and promptly
opened his engine hatch to let his turbo cool
down. Stuart has now re-designed his exhaust
system, to reduce back pressure and it now
consists on a piece of pipe about 8in long.

Mystery T4 parked up. I'm not sure who owned
this, but it was nice to see it at the club meet.
I have just been informed by Mark with the lime
green T5 that this T4 belongs to Darren, a
member of WGC VW Club, thanks Mark.

Simon and Amanda joined our convoy en-route
in their latest vehicle, a 1997 T4. I had a chat
with them both and had a look inside... very nice
and kited out with the camping interior.

Amanda had the right idea, order food from
the bar, and get it delivered to your camper.
Now that's what I call style. !

Another car I haven't seen at the club meet
before was this 1970 Notch-back. I did chat
to the owner briefly and he did tell me his
name, but I'm at that age where I forget things
espicially names, sorry mate. Phil just sent me
a message saying the owners name is Doug!
Thanks Phil.

Very clean from every angle. The U.S. style
all red rear light lenses, the roof rack and the
BRM wheels compliment the car perfectly.

Lovely straight bodywork finished off with
deep gloss black paint.

The Interior on this left hand drive notch-back
was lovely, it looked original and was in such
good condition.

Josh arrived later in the evening in his T4,
which I believe is up for sale.

Elliott and Alanna came down in their stunning
1970 cherry red beetle. This is another of
those vehicles you never ever see with any
dirt on it, quite a feat with the weather we
have in the U.K.
 

Such a pretty bug and very straight, look at
the reflection in the door of Elliott and Alanna's
bug. I do like those clear indicator lenses on
top of the wing, it's all about the small details.

Ash came along in his newly acquired Jetta.
You would never believe this cars paint was
so faded when Ash got the vehicle it was
a dull pink colour, but lots of polishing later
and it's gleaming deep red paint is back to
how it should be.

A lot of hard work has gone into this to make
it look this good, but it's certainly well worth all
the effort.

Lewis came along in his tough looking '82
Golf. This must be a menacing sight in your
rear view mirror.

Lewis's Golf tucked away under the trees at
dusk. This really is a nice looking car.

Neil came over in his '97 Golf, with the instantly
recognisable paint scheme, orange flecks over
gloss black. I do like the paint on this car.

Those orange wheels compliment the paint
scheme perfectly. A really nice looking Golf.

Ben decided to come along in his '99 Golf,
having left his spilt screen and T5 at home.
 

Ben's Golf tucked away under the tree's in the
car park. Ben works long hours so it's always
nice to see Ben and have a catch up.

Another Elliott, made his debut at the HOD club
meet with his impressive '71 deep red beetle,
even more impressive is the fact that Elliott is
still a teenager.

I believe the car belongs to Elliott even though
he's not old enough to drive yet, so was driven
to the meet by someone else. A pretty nice
ride for your first car! Apparently it has just been
M.O.T.'d and flew through with no advisories at
all.

Interior is pure '70's classic bug and looking
good. I bet Elliott can't wait until he's old enough
to drive this lovely bug on the road.

Stephen has started to work on his 1960 beetle
so he came over in his 1978 Californian bay
window import with pop top. Finished in a
lovely beige colour which looks like the original
paint and has the original chequered seat
covers and original curtains.. although these
are faded from the hot Californian sun.
 

Stephen was saying that like my bay, having
lived most of it's life in the sunny U.S. the bus
was quite solid and relatively rust free... not
sure how long that will last in the damp U.K.

So the August House of Dub club meet came
and went in the blink on an eye. It was good
to see so many familiar faces and meet some
new faces, (just wish I could remember their
names!) I'm not sure if the Globe Inn was
exceptionally busy or whether the HOD club
meet have almost outgrown the venue but
it was extremely busy and difficult to park
later in the evening. Still, could be worse,
the rainy season starts soon...



Photo quality: Unfortunately although it's still
only August, it's almost dark by 20.00hrs.
(it doesn't help that the car park is not
illuminated, apart from one bright orange
spotlight) I don't use a fancy camera or any
accessories and only use a Panasonic Lumix
FS16 14 mega pixel camera, so my apologies
if the photo's are not up to the usual quality,
but I guess we should be used to this living
in the U.K. !