http://picasaweb.google.com/van.o.rama/VanORama2008#

Please send any pics to me if you took some so I can add it to these pics. I stop posting last names & email addresses on captions to help reduce "personalized spams". One exception is the already infamous Mike Miller. =)

We had a great turn-out today despite missing some of the usual suspects. We had more than a few newbies this year which was a welcome sight. This year we had Bill L. play ice cream man. He kept these frozen treats inside his fridge/freezer in his Syncro. He was especially popular with the little kids and doubly so with the bigger kids. Newbie Michael saved some of us from starvation by pulling a cool sushi plate. This was a newbie sushi-eater plate -- that's the kind most people can handle.=)

Stacy & Kim each brought their respective Tristars. These two similar trucks look to have separate missions. Kim's is a 2wd and starting it's mission of plushness with the addition of aftermarket AC. Stacy's truck is used for work and features a (Swedish) Vindic hard canopy. He also had this really cool custom made engine cover modified into a storage trunk. Think Honda Ridgeline except his is smaller, more practical and made for his Doka.

Marco from The Bus Lab came with his SVX powered van. He came with Paul G in his Tornado Red Carat 4-speed. Check out the pics of Marco's engine compartment. Make sure you put those sunglasses on before checking out the engine in person.

New to VOR Chester came with a nice Syncro Westy. Then there was SAAB driving Max whose Westy was in the shop. Randy came in his Wolfy Westy with kids Anni & Eli. Later his brother popped in with daughter Chloe and son (who shall remain nameless. see pic for caption).. Laura came with son Corwin in a Westy. Corwin is that 8-year old 6-year old who was talking Vanagons like he was 40. I see an outrageous Vanagon in his future. Michael who brought the sushi also came in a recently acquire Westy.

Mike Miller came with GF Linda in a Syncro Country Homes. He was joined by Dave in his own Syncro Country Homes conversion. Dave converts Syncros with both CH and Westy pop-tops. Both he and Mike had hybrid Westy interiors.

Tom E. who was having starter problems last week look to have licked his problems. He came in his bright orange Doka with canvas top. It's clear that is used for it's intended pupose. Tom installs high-end audio/video and this Doka is put to good use. I must admit that the brighter colored Dokas do really stand out in a crowd. My own white Syncro just looked like the other two with Dokas there today. The only odd one in the place was my 1976 LT35. It appears to lean on one side because I have it overloaded with office files being moved later.

Jeff V from San Anselmo was joined by Lagunitas Marinites Brent and Annette. Both were in Syncro Westies. Brent had a TDI in his. In fact, Brent and David R who came in an AAZ powered Syncro Westy were swapping rides in their respective rigs.

Christian P came without Persephone. That made him less interesting but we are happy to see his Syncro back. Just kidding. Great to see you back in a Syncro again Christian.

Hey Craig W came in his recently repowered Westy. His Subie engine was no longer in a box in back of a pick-up truck but instead in the back of his box called a Vanagon. He was parked right near Craig F who brought his 2wd Westy soon to be converted to Syncro. This will be interesting to see as we haven't had too many 2wd-Syncro in the Bay Area.

Last but not least, Kelly came with his buddy Kevin in a Zetec powered Syncro. If you showed up at Van-O-Rama, you could have had youe California registration questions addressed.

OK, that is it for now. Time for me to get some work done. I'm putting the LT35 to work tonight moving office stuff. Check the captions on the PICS as I am sure I forgot to mention somebody. Again, if you have any photos to contribute, please pmail them to me so I can add it to the ones I already have.

Cheers,

-- BenT