Date: Wed, 24 Aug 2005 11:07:56 -0700
Reply-To: Zoltan <zolo@FOXINTERNET.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Zoltan <zolo@FOXINTERNET.NET>
Subject: Euro Highness ...
Content-type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=iso-8859-1; reply-type=original
I share the same feelings and intention what Stan has. I also have to add
that between the older and newer van owners, the bread loaf, vanagon,
eurovan, I sense a kind of cast system. The new ones may look down on the
old ones and the old ones envious of the new. Now, this may not be accurate
and applicable to all, of course. But this is some natural reaction as it
is between poor and wealthy. I don't think, I am alone to have this
feeling.
As for myself, I don't feel envious of a Eurovan or a fancy Syncro Westy. I
know, how much trouble it is to keep it going. I feel emphatically. I love
to see a nice old well kept westy rather. My respect goes to that guy. But
I feel no envy to any. I often would like to ask them if they need help
with their upkeep.
As for giving help, I help them all.
Once I stopped with my old breadloaf to a '87 Westy that had the
transmission busted. I offered him to replace his with one I had but he
quickly said "I don't think so" and I stopped there and just took him where
he wanted to go. I did not like his manners. And the way he behaved and
said good bye was close to aloof. I kind of felt sorry for him and let him
be and be gone.
One other stands out in my mind still today; I was in Anchorage, parking
roadside when I noticed a newer Westfalia standing at the light on the other
side. He had to see me fifty yards away. When he started crossing, he just
kept on looking forward ignoring my hand signal to stop, pushing the
accelerator deeper, obviously not wanting to help. It was a white one, a
tall guy with brown short hair. Somehow, I thought, one expects help to be
given where help is the least available.
But not all of us are equipped with the nature of giving help, or wanting to
help.
When I was standing on the side of the road once, with my golf clubs on my
shoulder hitch hiking to the next town, I could not help noticing how
unwilling the people were. And who stopped? It was a Mexican with a big
smile and a big family. Coming back to camp the same way, standing front of
the golf course, hundreds of cars passed on that country road looking
stiffly ahead. And who stopped? It was a Mexican apple harvester with a
big smile and a big family with a beaten Honda. He would not take my money
either. Felt offended. I had to apologise.
So, beside it is the person behind the wheel, it is also the culture of the
nation, giving too much emphasis to economic differences and identifying one
without money as a dufus while one with one as a genius.
One reason we like to be in this online club is, we know that there must be
paupers and millionaires on the list, but we all have the same problems with
the Vanagon and we don't advertise our differences. And on the road we all
wave and wave back. The later and the earlier model owners may hesitate for
opposite reasons.
I just smile and be amazed how human we are with all our little but fixable
faults.
Vanagon or Mercedes, it is the same reaction between the owners.
The Euro owners may think they have every reason to be aloof it they think
the reason is the amount of money they paid for the car.
We pride ourselves in how little we pay for the car and the reapairs. And
we are the winners by being able to fix it ourselves, be safer on our
vacations by that, and never feel motherless behind the wheel when something
is wrong with the car.
Aloof or meek or not giving a rats arse is just the way humans react to
differences.
I guess, it is enough for today.
Zoltan
----- Original Message -----
From: "Stan Wilder" <wilden1-1@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, August 24, 2005 9:52 AM
Subject: Re: Traveller in distress (near Chicago) - UPDATE TWO
> Several years ago I attended a Pre Race campout event at a State Park near
> Texas Motor Speedway.
> Along with the thirty or so VW Campers, Ghia and Bugs there was one couple
> in a Euro VW Camper Conversion.
> They took the spot I had already registered and paid for when I left in my
> Westy to go get Ice and supplies.
> I didn't say anything to them about taking my spot, I just went back to
> the
> gate keeper and registered for another less desirable spot that didn't
> have
> a shade tree.
> The couple was about 40 years old and traveling with a dog of small
> dominion.
> By 7 pm everybody with Vanagons, Splitties and Bays had arrived and set
> tents, popped tops and in general milled around in a greeting mode.
> Nobody was drinking alcohol or behaving unruly.
> Several of us approached the EV folks and started a general VW oriented
> conversation.
> They were not the least friendly and we didn't press the situation. We
> just
> continued in our rounds meeting everyone.
> There were only three of us and every was dressed casual but clean and
> well
> groomed.
> Personally I don't care if the EV group are snooty or unfriendly because
> I've lived many years without a kind word from their type or their group.
> Would I help one of them if they had a problem?
> Yes.
> Would any of them help a Vanagon, Splittie or Bay bus owner in trouble?
> I seriously doubt they'd give us a second look or thought.
>
>
> Stan Wilder
> Engine Ceramics
> 214-352-4931
> www.engineceramics.com
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "jimt" <camper@TACTICAL-BUS.INFO>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Wednesday, August 24, 2005 10:21 AM
> Subject: Re: Traveller in distress (near Chicago) - UPDATE TWO
>
>
>> Personally I will help a "camper" regardless if splittie, bay, vanagon,
>> or
>> euro. However I have found that the vast majority of the euro crowd
>> looks
>> upon us all as "other" people. Here in colorado there are probably a
> couple
>> hundred of the euro camper models in the state but only about a dozen
>> "campers". Note the difference in size of groups there. With the
>> vanagon
>> here in the state about 80 percent will meet and greet. The bay and
>> splittie about the same. Wonder if that one year gap between vanagon and
>> euro had something to do with the split in relations?
>> jimt
>>
>> On 8/23/05 11:13 PM, "George Goff" <THX0001@AOL.COM> wrote:
>>
>> > In a message dated 8/23/05 6:11:47 PM, roadguy@ROADHAUS.COM writes:
>> >
>> > << Common on EV-update folks ... Surely you can put aside the "VW,
>> > DaimlerChrysler In
>> >
>> >
>> > Talks" discussion for a few minutes to help a fellow traveller.
>> >
>> > So far .... most of the help has come from the Vanagon.com folks. >>
>> >
>> > To hell with those people, Larry. They won't even help one of their
> own, yet
>> > they act like a Vanagon was the result of a drunken night spent with a
> hooker
>> > from the wharfs. Did you ever wave to someone driving an EV?
>> >
>> > Chicago? Call the Ghostbuster, or is that the Ball******?
>> >
>> > George
>> >
>> >
>
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