Date:         Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:01:01 -0700
Reply-To:     phil zimmerman <philzimm1@SHAW.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         phil zimmerman <philzimm1@SHAW.CA>
Subject:      Re: Tom Hanks and his syncro Westy on Letterman
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

Edward Duntz <eduntz@HOTMAIL.COM> typed in part:
Tom Hanks is talking on Letterman about his Syncro Westy.

Bob Stevens <mtbiker62@GMAIL.COM> typed in part:
He got his van at Go Westy, beautifully done interior. All the
cabinetry was
redone and it has the usual Recaro's in it. Go Westy 2.3 or 2.4 motor.

"Peter T. Owsianowski" <pnoceanwesty@GMAIL.COM> Exclaimed!
(Phryday) If Tom Hanks and Terri Hatcher ('76 Sage Green Westy) had
children
- would they like the Vanagon or the Bay better?
-----------
Thanks Ed, Bob and Peter.
I caught the hole (sic mine) interview on Letterman on the West Coast
last night.
Always interesting to get some back-channel or independent information
separate from the interview (thanks Bob).
Letterman and Hanks for the most part, bashed the "tricked-out" Syncro
as: an old 70's Van with a big steering wheel, funky gas gauge, with
Air Conditioning that didn't work while crossing Death Valley.
Essentially, making the Syncro the joke of a Road Trip Hanks and his
brother took last summer. Hanks was as always, pleasantly affable while
describing this so called Road Trip. Letterman was his usual cynically
funny self.....

Pretty cool... our beloved Vans and a prim`er Syncro variant getting TV
exposure from a celebrity. Not so cool was the Van and its ancillary
systems not working very well. Perhaps the Syncro's new owner (Hanks)
was a newbie and not familiar with the Vanagon's quirks and
idiosyncrasies. Difficult to take away from the Letterman piece that
Hanks didn't like his Syncro? My take was: Hanks and his brother wanted
a quintessential road-trip. A Route-66 affair but, in a VW Syncro.

Go Westy provided the hardware, "trick-out" as Hanks described his new
ride! I read this as saying: sheezus, was that Van
eeeeexppppensiiiive.... looked cool but worked like crap. Sounds like
many of our own first road-trips in our new to us Vans as we worked the
kinks out of our Rigs. Good to hear, even a Celebrity and a Go Westy
prepared Syncro are no exception.

Now, to Peters question. If Hanks and Hatcher got together and hatched
a Van, what would it be?
Vana-Bay/BayVana is too cute.... A Tom-Terry Hatcherback.... too
convoluted..... heck I donno it's Fryeday!


Phil Z.
'87 Westie
Campbell River, BC
TV Critic