VWt -julkaisun February 2018 -irtonumeron sisällysluettelo

“a brief insight into the combined VWt musical mindset” Whether I work better under pressure is debatable, but there’s no doubt that as the print deadline looms the small team of people who make this mag possible sure do come together and work as one hell of an effective unit. We also choose to socialise together as well, so we even like one another outside of work, which I’m told is somewhat rare for work colleagues. Another thing that unites us, apart from the love of VWs and sleeping in them at remote locations around Europe, is a shared passion for music. That’s why I introduced a monthly soundscape on Spotify called the VWt playlist. If you’d like to know what’s been motivating us through the festive time, head on…

“less of a show and more of an institution in our minds” Stonor Park, or VW Expo to give it its proper name, is another of the long-standing UK VW events that feels like it’s been going since time began. In actual fact, it’s now 33 years old, and you simply don’t get that sort of longevity without doing something right. The Association of British VW Clubs welcomes all VW enthusiasts with open arms to convene for one day in simply glorious surroundings. Whether you’re interested in the strictly stock concours d’elegance (one of the few shows that really understands what that means), extensive club displays, trade stands or simply just want to have a chilled day in the countryside, the show has built a solid reputation for showcasing VWs…

It’s been a bumper year of truly exceptional feature Vans for us here at VWt. Choosing who should take the crown for this year’s hotly contested Van of the Year (VotY) is no easy task and it shouldn’t be up to us here to decide, so that’s where you fine VWt-buying folk come in. All you have to do is log on to our Facebook or Instagram pages in order to vote for your favourite Van from 2017’s haul of groundbreaking, scene-shaping show stoppers. It’s that simple. The Van with the most votes wins, and its owner will then be able to bask in the knowledge that not only do other people like their Van, its exalted position was achieved by a totally unbiased public vote. He or she with…

“not all exhausts are made equal” If there’s one modification that everyone with an interest in cars will have done at some point it’s changing an exhaust system. Like most mechanical jobs on a Van, it’s made infinitely easier with a ramp, but your choice of system can also make a huge difference to how enjoyable the job is to do. Any aftermarket option worth its salt should be precision bent to suit the Van beneath which it flows, especially over the rear trailing arms, but it’s still worth asking around for recommendations for a particular model as not all exhausts are made equal. When the time came to fit a replacement exhaust on this 2.5 TDi, SWB T5 we turned to the good people at VolksAutos in Sutton for…

What the truck? Never mind break the rules, this custom T5 chassis cab almost broke the ’net Black Friday Well, it was shot on a Friday Full ABT T6 The bodykit wearing wonder Van Low and slow But what a way to go Plus How to: gas install The safest way to hook up your stove and hot water supplies VWt show guide This season’s must-attend events Don’t miss it! Issue 65 (March 2018) on sale Friday 16 February To subscribe visit here: http://shop.kelsey.co.uk/subscription/VWT * Due to the, er, unique way our Jimbo approaches time management, we can’t guarantee any of the above. He’s been out on the piss for a month over Christmas and, during the occasional bout of lucidity, has only gone and qualified…

Yellow fever Paul Croisdale, West Yorkshire When we needed a daily for our three dogs, I just knew I’d end up spending big on something suitable and good looking. I already had a heavily modified Audi A4 sat in the garage, but when this popped up with Marc Jarvis at TUK Customs, we made a deal and I went straight over to pick it up. I know it was bought and not built – as I keep being told – but does it really matter when it’s mine and it’s such a good looker? Things I’ve done since taking it on are have the previously yellow wheels refurbed and diamond cut, have the roof painted black to make it look lower, upgrade the door speakers for better sounds and have…

Ferrari wheels, brakes painted with Bananas in Pyjamas and a sound system fit to make your ears bleed. Just another regular VWt feature ride, right? Of course not, what do you take us for? When Dutch VW importer, Ben Pon, threw down the sketch that went on to become the VW Transporter, nobody could have imagined, 70 or so years later, that someone would be fitting alloys from what at the time was an up and coming sports car builder – that’s Ferrari by the way – to the humble box on wheels. But that’s where we are, and what a time to be alive. As with most great ideas, this one came about in a bit of a right moment, right time kind of style. The man at the…

One of my biggest bugbears in life is people who take life way too seriously. You know the type. They’ve just built or bought their dream vehicle but then they never use it. They agonise over every mile, worry about every little spec of dust, stress out over the tiniest stone chip and fail to get any fun or enjoyment out of it. What’s worse, they often think they deserve recognition because of the amount of money they’ve spent, and think that means trophies will instantly cascade into their laps from the heavens. That’s not what these Vans are about. These Vans are all about personality and attitude. If someone comes to us with a unique story, an interesting build or a hook that totally grabs us, we often find…

“It’s all about the comfort and cruising inside, so I had to have some good quality sounds to boot” Those of a certain age will undoubtedly remember a scene in the film Human Traffic where a young actor by the name of Danny Dyer is on the blower to his mate (John Simms) while sitting on a toilet. He’s holding a tin of lager in one hand and being his stereotypical cockney self with a string of infinitely quotable, “nice one brother” exchanges back and forth. It’s as I’m chatting to 46-year-old David Fairbrother on New Year’s Eve that this scene springs instantly to mind. It’s one of my favourites in recent cinema history. Not because it’s a cinematic masterpiece with Spielberg-esque special effects, far from it, but because it…

“There’s just something about this show that works” If you’ve never attended Grill-n-Chill, you’ve been missing out. This family-friendly weekender has a unique atmosphere, which is partly due to the team behind the event (the Paintscrapers VW Club) and partly due to the format, which blends VWs with retro rides and even a few hot rods, too. The dedication of the team shines through and it’s clear from the moment you enter the site that this is not about cramming them in and maximising revenue, but ensuring people have a great time, and putting on the very best show possible – something the club are very proud of. The Hop Farm itself provides excellent facilities, including a petting zoo and a collection of fairground-style attractions, which are always a hit…

Ask a broad cross section of people what the most daunting aspect of camping in a Van is and the answer will always be the same – toilet facilities! We’d hazard a guess that a fair number of people are happy to go a weekend, maybe even a long weekend, without a shower or bath, but the toilet situation? Well, that just can’t be ignored. Based upon personal experience at Glastonbury, Download and Reading festivals, no amount of Imodium can truly plug the gap, as it were. But enough of such things, onto matters more civilised, eh? When Dan Cooper and the good people from Custom Camper Solutions (CCS) started thinking about adding to the company’s range of conversion options, he didn’t have to look far for the perfect candidate.…