Date: Sun, 9 Aug 2009 09:13:09 -0700
Reply-To: Doug <shirewood@WILDBLUE.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Doug <shirewood@WILDBLUE.NET>
Subject: Re: Where'd dey all come from today? Bazillion vanagons around Mt
Hood..
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You might be able to simplify the categories by dividing all Vanagon owners
into two groups. Those who are aware and those who aren't. By aware I mean
aware of the uniqueness of the vehicle they are driving. For the most part
I think I can judge awareness by the condition of the van, but more
importantly by the response of the driver when they see another Vanagon on
the road. The aware almost always wave, make eye contact, smile, and
around here in eastern Washington I see alot of peace sign waves. The
unaware drive by with a blank look on their face, and quite often one hub
cap missing.
Raise a toast to the aware!
Doug E.
'84 Van-Go
'67 vw convertible Vert-i-go
> You've seen em..I'd guess maybe 2 out of 10 vanagons I see around belong
> in this category. Remember the types of vanagon owners mentioned a while
> back?
> 1. The Go Westy type: (not badmouthing anyone here, just casual
> observation from my perspective) These folks want a Vanagon because
> they're
> so cool.. so not mainstream, and they want them perfect. These folks
> are like people who buy 'perfect' older Airstream trailers rather than
> brand new Prevost motorcoaches.
> 2. The "round the world sailors".. These vanagon-eers always have some
> kinda project going, a couple of extra vans, an engine swap, a new solar
> power system...something that keeps them busy working on the
> vanagons..They
> love the 'process' of making it 'just right'. but they may never "leave
> the
> dock" because there is always just "one more thing that NEEDS to be
> finished..."
> 3. the All-rounder.(Probably the majority of Vanagon listers in this
> category).These have great vans, obviously well cared for and sometimes
> looking a little well-used...but as soon as they return home, they wash,
> repair, revise and then go on the road again, ASAP. I am sorta in this
> category except I keep my van looking pretty dowdy..
> 4. The 'Cripes, I wish I could afford a new Chrysler Van" but instead
> they " gotta drive a crappy old VW'...These vans usually have a somewhat
> downscale look (owners, too), usually a buncha dents and sit on their
> wheels(mandatory one hubcap gone) kinda crooked. Often see for sale signs
> in them saying..."Slight oil leak" or "needs work" These people would
> (if
> they won the lottery) choose a Toyota Sienna over a Sprinter or a 45'
> fifth-wheel trailer with popouts over an Airstream..They may live in
> mobile
> homes or manufactured houses and sometimes have lottsa tats and metal
> stuck
> in their eyebrows, etc.. Their other car is probably a Camaro or a primer
> painted Chevy SS..maybe a pickup..
>
> I'm sure there are other sub types or probably better more P.C. and
> 'sensitive' ways to describe *my* arbitrary ''groups' but when you see
> 'Bazillions" (that is a new number, Scott, since Trillions are now
> "chump-change" according to our government budget numbers) of Vanagons
> quite
> often, you start to 'classify' them in your mind..to lump them into
> 'sub-groups' by type rather than by what model they are..
>
> Don Hanson
>
>
>
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