Date:         Mon, 23 Oct 2000 19:42:15 -0700
Reply-To:     Daniel Schmitz <djs@GENE.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Daniel Schmitz <djs@GENE.COM>
Organization: Genentech, Inc.
Subject:      Re: 1st SF Bay Area tail gate party
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Did I miss this event?

Oh sure! It figures! The one time I take off for Europe on vacation and there's
a Vanagon tailgate party in my absence! This is the kind of thing that only
happens to me! While I was stuck in the south of France, oppressively forced to
choke down the local cuisine such as foie gras, various cheeses and fine
Bordeaux wines, you people were actually enjoying yourselves! And my van just
sat in my driveway the whole time I was gone, when it could have been making new
friends!

Oh well. I just signed back on to the listerve after having been out of town for
the last five weeks. I know Phaedra was planning to work on this event before I
left, and it looks as though she did. I would be interested in the next event
like this, though.

Dan

PS: To cap off a pretty nice vacation, I ironically blew a coolant hose on I-5
on my way to San Diego last Saturday. In the absolute middle of nowhere! Now,
after fixing the hose and adding coolant, my camper runs hot on anything but
freeway driving, so I think I have some air in my system. A proper bleeding is
undoubtedly in order (of the cooling system, that is).


> Well, several people have given their impression of the event. I guess I
> should as well.
>
> The local weather forecasters predicted rain that day. Fortunately, they
> were
> accurate as usual. We got sun, sun, and sun.
>
> The drive from San Francisco across the Bay Bridge was a bear as usual. I
> took over an hour just to get across. Phaedra asked me to get there early at
> something like 11:00 am. So I made it a point to make it there ON TIME at
> around 12:45pm. I guess my clock is still on nightdark savings time.
>
> Looked like I was number 11 of the arrivals. BTW, the photo captions are off
> by one. In Ron's photo, I'm the guy immediately to the left of the first
> metallic beige van. Ken Herman is actually number 15 on the opposite end. I
> counted 15 vans by the time I departed at around 245pm. Somebody mentioned
> 16. Perhaps someone else came after I left.
>
> I've met a bunch of the guys before but it was great to see them again plus
> meet some folks from Northern Cali. I didn't really see anybody eating! Mike
> Miller from Sacramento CLAIMS he was eating across the street with Phaedra.
> Everybody else was just chatting away. I guess Juli Tallino was there (Hi
> Juli - Sorry I missed introductions).
>
> Let me try to clarify some of the photo caption on Ron's photo. Glen is the
> surfer guy with the Subaru powered white Westy (#2) next to me. Then there's
> Robert in the I-4 powered Westy (#3) (my apologies for forgetting Missus &
> youngin's names) from Folsom. Then there's Warren's dark silver Syncro Westy
> (#4) from Mill Valley. I guess that's Russ w/ his dark blue Syncro Westy
> (#5). I didn't get a chance to chat w/ him. IIRC that's Walter next to his
> light blue GL (#6). Then of course, there's Phaedra (#7). The fellow in
> green
> is Steve (Syncro.org) with his family in front of their white Syncro Westy
> (#8). Next is Roadcow himself Ron Bloomquist in his Vanaru (#9 -- he's far
> more serious than his online persona implies = ) ). Then there's Chris
> Radcliffe in front his surfwagen. I didn't get to see his ride. (#10). Juli
> Tallino (#11 - sorry I missed you). Ed Mckinley is next (#12 - Sorry I
> missed
> you as well). Tim O'Brien (#13 - I was lookin' for you buddy). Then there's
> that GRUMPY old man Mike Miller from Sack-o-tomatoes in front of his
> metallic
> beige Westy hotel (#14). He ate and ran. Last but not least, Ken just came
> in
> time to get to the line-up (#15). Was there really a #16? Sorry, if I missed
> anybody. To the best of my recollection, this should be the correct caption
> for Ron's photo.
>
> I'm looking forward to next one already. It was great to able to place a
> face
> to the online persona. Plus there is the added bonus of seeing what
> everybody
> else has done on their vans. I brought my "work in progress" 87 GL with the
> fat Porsche alloys and tires. Those are VR rated tires on them babies. Just
> wishful thinking on my part. I don't think my van can exceed the speed
> capacity of these tires even f I dropped it from a cliff. I did plan on
> bringing a bunch of mini projects (including my rear disc brake set-up --
> 50%$ complete). However, in my haste in packing, I loaded them on the WRONG
> Vanagon. It was still sitting in my Syncro at home.
>
> See you all again soon.
>
> BenT
> San Francisco
>
> Whatever happened to number 16