Date: Tue, 16 Oct 2012 10:58:06 -0700
Reply-To: Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Kens trip & can Westys climb mountains?
In-Reply-To: <8CF79CAFB488595-1E94-22A4@webmail-m092.sysops.aol.com>
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Yes, but slowly. Those guys in Colorado don't have anything over us in the
NW! I took my worn out '85 up to Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park
this summer. That's a 5200 foot climb from sea level in 17 miles. There
were a fair number of passing lanes and viewpoints to turn off into, but I
was in first gear for most of it. That's about 30 mph at 4000 rpm, and I
really could not get above that rpm. I was sub-consciously hoping it would
blow up so I'd be forced to replace it with a Subaru, but no such luck (I
have free towing, and that was the last trip of the summer.)
I saw a bumper sticker on the back of Vanagon (tin top with some sort of
engine conversion even) recently that read "Pass with care" and had the VW
logo on it! I need one of those. I have a photo if anyone would like to
reproduce it, or maybe I will with Café Press.
I've learned in 35 years of driving VW vans that it doesn't matter how much
power you have or how fast you are going, everyone wants to pass you, and no
one will let you pass them. Everyone knows we are slugs, just get over it.
It's just those **$%*## semi drivers 3 feet off your rear that I wish ill
upon. Oh, the James Bond Aston Martin fantasies I have!
Stuart
'85 Westy, auto
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Spencer Allen
Sent: Tuesday, October 16, 2012 8:35 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Kens trip & can Westys climb mountains?
After reading Ken Wilfords great trip report of his travels across the U S
of A I started thinking about the trip to some of the same areas my family
took in our then new 1985 GL. There were 4 adults and 3 kids with the van
packed for 2 wekks of travel. We flew across the flat lands but when we hit
the mountains of Colorado we were almost rolling backwards by the time we
crested some of the steeper mountain roads. We were in the truck lanes and
even they were honking at us to get out of the way. This was a manual trans
so I was constantly stirring the stick to find the right gear. I want to go
back to Colorado next year in my 85 auto trans Westy but am worried about a
climbing those mountains in a 1.9 auto trans. Can you guys share your westys
in the mountain driving experience. Thanks.
Spencer
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