Date: Sun, 12 Apr 1998 14:44:21 EDT
Reply-To: KENWILFY <KENWILFY@AOL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: KENWILFY <KENWILFY@AOL.COM>
Subject: Demographics!
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
OK Here is my story. Grew up in a Christian home and trusted Christ as my
Saviour at age 8 and my life has changed for the better ever since. I also
grew up in a pro-Chrysler home until my Uncle bought a '80 Rabbit Diesel. He
kept bugging my Dad about how the thing got 50 mpg and that it never needed
work. This made my Dad decide to ditch the '78 Chrysler Newport (that got 9
mpg and my Dad worked on every weekend) and get a 85 Jetta diesel. They loved
it. When I got my first car it was a '81 VW Caddy or Rabbit Pickup diesel.
Looked like brand new. That started me on my VW journey.
7 VWs later I am now 23, have a beautiful wife of three years (that's not her
age) and a 5 month old daughter. My numerous VW's have taken me faithfully
through Bible College in Tennessee and now I am back home again in NJ learning
how to work on airplanes so I can be a missionary pilot. I have never owned
and operated any aircooled VW but usually only watercooled diesels. We love
the way they last, get great mileage, and very low maintenance. It was to my
father's chagrin that I started my adventure into Vanagon territory alittle
over a year ago. I bought the van for $25 from a college student that had
just driven it down to NJ from New York. Even though I never got this van on
the road, I somehow fell in love with the boxy shape and how it must feel to
drive one. When I got my first van on the road it has been love ever since.
Now even though they have problems and are quirky, I wouldn't trade my
Vanagons for any other vehicle. They are the most fun vehicle to drive and I
look forward to trips as much for the driving time as for what I am going to
do when I get there.
At the moment I am working as a roving Vanagon/anyotherVW mechanic and
studying to get my Airframe Mechanic's ticket from the FAA. I am also the
Youth Pastor at our local Baptist Church.
Nice to meet you guys/gals. Since the mechanic work started I have already
met a few more Vanagon owners in my area and hope to meet many more. So far
they seem to be a really good lot.
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
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