Date: Tue, 16 Oct 2012 14:15:54 -0700
Reply-To: Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Kens trip & can Westys climb mountains?
In-Reply-To: <060a01cdabc7$cde5e650$69b1b2f0$@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
"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 outfitted my '71 bay window with a sticker that said "37 hp.
Tailgating will not increase speed."
--
Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott
1984 Westfalia, auto trans,
Bend, Ore.
On 10/16/2012 10:58 AM, Stuart MacMillan wrote:
> 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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