Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2009 17:58:18 -0700
Reply-To: BenT Syncro <syncro@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: BenT Syncro <syncro@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Photos posted from Van-O-Rama #9
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Hello Folks,
My apologies to those on multiple Lists because this will crosspost.
I finally have the majority of the pics posted from the weekend. We weren't
able to get everybody but got pretty close to it. Many thanks to Mike
Miller, Paul Henderson, and
Werner Schink for helping take photos during the day. I do have a lot more
pics but these
are representative of what happened. It was clear who the star of the day
was. I have more than two dozen pics of Stephan White's Orly Blue Syncro
Westy with the 1.8T conversion. Not only was the engine well-executed but
Stephan had a SPARE engine on a carrier made to slide onto the stock seat
rails.
http://picasaweb.google.com/van.o.rama/VanORama2009#
This was the 1.8T invasion. Ed Brooks from Santa Cruz (Titian Red Westy) and
Werner Schink (light blue Westy) brought their own 1.8T rigs. Werner's was
the Guinea Pig that set Stephan on this road. Ed rolled his own with some
parts from Stephan and others.
The normally well represented Subie contingent had a couple. Both looked
like Savana Beige though Jon's might be closer to gold. Bruce Campisi & Jon
Slider had non-turbo versions in their respective Syncros. Bruce's rig is a
Syncro converted with a Country Homes poptop & IIRC a Westy interior. Jon
had his converted by Seth Harfield. His camper is a full Westy featuring a
nice assortment of self-recovery gear under the rear bench. Jon is a recent
transplant to Santa Cruz from New Mexico. Jon fired up a mini-grill & made
some Tandori chicken to share. Yummy.
Brent Harris brought his Titian Red Syncro Westy with the self-installed
TDI. His front license plate show evidence of trail rash though you wouldn't
his Westy has ever been off the beaten path just by looking at it. Brent
must have a good car washer or it's that nice GoWesty bumper hiding the
scars. =) Off the far end, Stacy Scheider and son Sam (not that's "Son of
Sam") brought Shaun Supanich's White Syncro Westy with a pumpe duese
installed by Tassi's. I believe, Claro Bermillo should get the credit for
most of
the work that went into that rig. The engine came from Overland but little
else did. In fact the one and only PD that Overland had ready to go gave up
it's wiring harness for replication so they can start selling their kit.
Yes, Shaun has a GW bumper too but with a Gary Lee winch mount. Note damage
to passenger side of bumper.
First on the ground was Ted Knudsen and his kids. They also had a pal along
in his Subaru Legacy wagon. He brought his daughter with him as well. He was
smart to park the Subie on the opposite side lest someone mistake it for an
engine donor. The kids were all so well-behaved and just picture perfect.
That was until their little tumtums started grumbling. Off to Costco they
went for pizza & dogs.
Karen Greenberg from Santa Cruz had the sole Adventurewagen on the lot. She
pushed that puppy over highway 17 even with a leaking headgasket. She gets
A+ for effort and extra, extra credit for the shrimp cocktail. She wants to
remodel her AW interior for a different reason than most. She said she can
fit sideways onto the bench so no need for such a space hog of an AW bed. As
far as camping goes, Karen is size-advantaged. He is to a typical Vanagon
driver as Vanagons are to Winniebagos. We know who comes out ahead.
Chris Shaul from the East Bay came in his Blue Wolfsburg Edition Tiico. As
the only Tiico in the event, his rig wins the best Tiico Blaustar award. =)
Parked next to Chris is Craig Forney's White Wolfy (or Whitestar in
Germany). Both Craig and Chris resurrected their Wolfies which had blown
headgaskets (REALLY?! bad gaskets in a Vanagon?)
Paul Henderson who hasn't been at a VOR since some 10 years ago for our
trial meet in Emeryville finally made it back. Since he was taking pics, it
now looks like nobody got pics of his Blue Westy. Paul stayed late and was
the one who got all the photos of the converted Sprinter that Paul & Dottie
Guzyk drove down from their Oregon trip.
I can't remember if Jeff Vickers blue Syncro Westy from Marin has a Subie
motor or stock. He has that blue Syncro with recovery hooks welded to the
stock inner bumper. His grill sports a bike sprocket around the VW grill
emblem.
Michael Hart's White Westy GoWesty bumpers made their introduction to the
parks lamp post. Fortunately, neither the GW bumper or the lamp post
sustained any obvious damage. That was a rather dramatic entrance as the
pole rang for a good 30 seconds after. Michael was Mr. Sushiman last year.
This year he brought some pastries to share. Apple for me and I don't care
what anybody else got. Yum.
Paul Federson and his doggie popped in from the East Bay. For those of you
who are not acquainted with Paul, he's one of those crazy yet admirable
people who are talented enough to convert their 2wd into a Syncro. His
maroon (?) Westy sports the 2wd gas filler hole. I had to do a double take
to check if the characteristic Syncro filler hole is there too. I forgot to
ask if the front is connected to a secodn tank or just sitting there.
Kim Springer and son Nathan came in Daddy's white Swedish 2wd Tristar. Note
the puddle of water under Kim's Doka is not from a leaky headgasket. It's
got a 112i Wasserboxer but not it is not leaking. That's condensation from
the custom AC Kim installed under the rear bench. It was so humid that day
that his Tristar was sweating like Mike Miller on top of a Burningvan
bonfire.
Let's not forget my buddy Mike Miller. That's him lurking in his Country
Homes Syncro with Westy interior. At first glance he looked like some sort
pigeon eater but he swears it was just chicken. Mike ran around writing
names and vehicle descriptions just in case he or I could not remember who
was in what van. As it turns out, despite lack of sleep, I was able to sort
out almost everyone who came to be introduced.
Last but not least, Paul & Dottie Guzyk deserves recognition was driving all
day from Oregon and coming straight to Van-O-Rama before even setting foot
at home. I'll let the pics speak for themselves. Paul normally drives in a
Syncro but have dropped in twice in the aforementioned Sprinter.
Come and join us next time. The 10th Anniversary of Van-O-Rama will be on
the Saturday after Labor in 2010. I will work on getting t-shirts made for
that event.
Oh yeah, I was there too.
--
BenT
ps: Mario, Ed was looking for you.
