Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1998 09:23:25 -0400
Reply-To: John Olmsted <olmcons@NETINC.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: John Olmsted <olmcons@NETINC.CA>
Organization: Olmsted Consulting
Subject: Re: Demographics
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
I have really enjoyed the backgrounds of the list members; we are a varied
lot.
Here is my two cents worth:
I was born in 1952, my father must have gone out and bought that 1953
single-cab pickup to celebrate; it was the first in Canada. ( I still have
the canvas cover for the bed). This was the first vehicle I remember. We
had a succession of VWs (bugs, squareback, bus and campers).
My first VW was a 1971 superbeetle. I loved that car, and went everywhere
in it. I met and dated my future wife in the bug. When I was going to
college (Electronics Engineering) it needed a valve replaced, and she paid
for it! I just had to marry someone with the good taste to get a VW fixed.
We have owned a bunch of VWs (see the signature list). But the one that
made the difference was our 1971 van. We bought this old delivery van from
a used car lot, and it was really beat up inside. It turned out to be an
old plumbers van, but it also turned out to have a heart of gold. Hidden
in the back was a factory rebuilt engine - and it took us across North
America on a whirlwind camping tour. As our family grew, (to four kids) we
added a centre seat from a wrecker. But it finally succumbed to the rust
cancer that is common in these parts. When we finally let it go, the
steering gear had become separated from the frame. We were then van less,
and not happy about it. We went to the 1983 International Auto Show in
Toronto, and the Van Of Our Dreams was there - a Diesel Vanagon GL - two
tone brown, 5 speed transmission, factory sunroof; the works. We bought it
off the floor, and have been driving it ever since.
I seem to have diesel in my veins. I grew up with Caterpillar equipment
(my father had and earthmoving company), and I really like the way diesel
engines last. I have had several VW (and Audi) diesels, and they have all
been great.
We like to travel and camp (tent) and the VW van fits our life style
perfectly. A few years ago we discovered VW shows, and we try to attend as
many as we can in the Northeast as exhibitors. If you attend any shows in
the Northeast this year, look for the 'Smoking Tortoise', and please stop
by and chat.
____________
Diesel John Southern Ontario, CANADA
'83 Vanagon GL Diesel "The Smoking Tortoise"
'71 S-Cab Pickup "Ole Blu"
'83 Audi 5000TD
'84 Audi 5000 Avant
ex '71 Super Beetle
'71 Type II "Ole Red"
'76 Scirocco
'77 Diesel Rabbit
'78 Diesel Rabbit
Member LIMBO & VW CLUB
