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< What's up? ~ 'DON'T PANIC' (aka a vw newbies quest for long distances) |
| Brian |
 Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 9:59 pm |
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Joined: 28 May 2008
Posts: 137
Location: Perth
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DISCLAIMER
This thread will be my sordid account of the saga that has been (and will be) getting a 46 year old bus and a 37 year old driver from the West to East coasts of Australia and return without going out of his mind with worry that his choice of transport has no radiator, reclining seats, satnav, or radio.
I accept no responsibility that at the time of these blog style updates I'm not under any influence of liquid or prescibed medication, and that most of the stories will be embelished to make me look good or sound like I have a larger penis than I really do.
In other words, I'll probably ramble on a bit and get facts wrong. So be it.
Now don't butt in....I'll add to this thread as I can over the next month or so but considering I'm currently on a laptop with a total of twelve buttons missing (thanks Dell) and a 56k modem (you youngsters won't remember those.)
I've started this thread in Humpty's photos and art section because by the time we reach the end mate it'll be considered a f*cking masterpiece!
For now though I'm off to bed - it's almost midnight here and I couldn't be bothered starting this tale until I've had some sleep and unpacked some bags. So you'll have to eagerly await each new chapter with baited breath!
Now bugger off  |
Last edited by Brian on Tue Jul 15, 2008 9:34 am; edited 2 times in total
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| Humpty |
| Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 7:32 pm |
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Otherwise known as Kojak...
Joined: 28 May 2008
Posts: 4375
Location: Down Da So'Wessieed!
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Fuckin' funny bugger!
I can't wait for the next installment! |
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Calm a llama down...
Calm a llama deep down in the ocean blue... |
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| 66split |
| Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 9:15 pm |
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Son of Matador Man
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Posts: 326
Location: perth
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looking forward to some tall stories and plenty of pics brian. hope all goes well on your great adventure  |
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| splitty60 |
| Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 9:42 pm |
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Joined: 10 Jun 2008
Posts: 62
Location: wanneroo
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brian take plenty of photos on your trip and dont forget to
bring some parts back with you like a new engine 
patrick |
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| kinga |
| Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 10:50 pm |
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Joined: 11 Jun 2008
Posts: 204
Location: Perth, Western Australia
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Brian wrote:
Now don't butt in....
Is he gonna tell us off for chatting in his thread???
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| Brian |
| Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 10:17 pm |
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Joined: 28 May 2008
Posts: 137
Location: Perth
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kinga wrote: Brian wrote:
Now don't butt in....
Is he gonna tell us off for chatting in his thread???
Consider this an official finger-wagging!
Nah only kidding, bugger it, chat away...... |
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| Brian |
| Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 10:52 pm |
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Joined: 28 May 2008
Posts: 137
Location: Perth
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FORWARD
I was hoping to rope in Tim Winton or Salmon Rushdie to write an intro for me but neither could be contacted, and apparantly Henry Thoreau died in 1862 so he's obviously no help  Selfish bastard.
Anyway, here's the rundown in brief...
Young Brian grew up in Nambucca Heads (right next to Valla Beach) and every year watched the funny beetles roll into town and was amazed at their pretty colours and graphics (circa 1980's) - once when he was older he even entered the spear-a-spud comp in a 'thing' with his mate and couldn't find reverse so just drove around in larger and larger concentric circles until the crowd ran away and he declared himself the winner.
Around 1990 a golf from Sydney turned up to the Valla show with a JVC sound system and he thought it was cool. Also a beetle from Sydney painted in pearl and with a drop dead good looking blonde as a passenger attended and his interest in vw's grew ("that's what she said")
Fast forward to 2004 and while on holiday Brian did some feature shoots and stories on some cool dubs, thought Matt Raine's '55 splitty was nice (Telstra I've Been Everywhere Man fame') but heard the cost and thought money would be better spent on putting big wheels on a Commodore wouldn't it?
Reality kicks in and Brian, now back in Perth, borrows a bay window from a mate to go shoot a two day dirt drag and Crusty Demons festival in Bindoon. Soon he discovers that Kombi's are well respected amongst grommets, hard core bikies, chicks, and old dudes who surf Malibu's. Brian doesn't have many friends so equates that buying a Kombi will obviously help him pull chicks, or bikies (it was so long between beers that he was starting to not get fussy).
Ok, I digress.
Takes the plunge and buys a lowlight bay.
Gets two drives in.
Burns to ground.
A freeway full of commuters laugh and point. Someone on Nova radio hears about it and tells the city that a hippy must have dropped the bong water and it caught alight. How mean
With the help of new friends Humpty and brother Mark, bay gets stripped, scavanged, and all the crusty burnt bits float off into the wind.
Now, with nothing left but his pride, Brian's wisdom drives him to purchase a '62 splitty from someone named 'crazy dave' (don't ask)
Decides after a good lowering to attend the 2006 Valla event via a cross country trip with his faithful Newfoundland hound 'Rumpole'. The dog has other ideas and decides to get leukemia and a heart problem four weeks out from leaving. Trip gets canned and after twelve months of home nursing, dog passes away <cue sad music>.
(all single girls pay particular attention to that last paragraph - if that doesn't warrant a sympathy lay when I get back then nothing will! hahah)
Another year rolls on and the vw friends list keeps on growing and here we are in 2008. After many great cruises and a couple of campouts it's time again to prepare for Valla - minus one dog - so a memorial run it shall be, the Kombi is re-named 'Smiggins' in the dog's honour (his nickname), complete with busting champagne across the bow and the planning begins.
Stay tuned for more exciting history - I know you are rivited - it's now ten to one am and my fingers are getting cold so off to bed with all of you |
Last edited by Brian on Tue Jul 15, 2008 9:35 am; edited 1 time in total
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| Brian |
| Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 12:39 pm |
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Joined: 28 May 2008
Posts: 137
Location: Perth
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Here is above mentioned bay window.......flys love burnt metal....it sat in the driveway for a few days and was swamped with winged pests....can someone of scientific brain power please explain?
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| Brian |
| Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 12:57 pm |
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Joined: 28 May 2008
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Location: Perth
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| scotia |
| Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 1:22 pm |
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Joined: 10 Jul 2008
Posts: 33
Location: WA
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Aw Brian what a sad story (mainly the dog bit) hopefully this trip will result in lots of happy drunken memories.
And here was me thinking you were just a photographer (if there is such a thing?) who drove a cool car!!!!!
Kevin leaves with CEVA on Thursday, fitted the CB this morning and I am busy burning music to a DVD, can't live without music, so get the beers in ready for when we get there - two weeks to go and counting.
Also, first attempt at putting pictures on so if it doesn't work - sorry! This is from NoH2o 2004 just came across this bus - look familiar?
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| Brian |
| Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 2:08 pm |
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Joined: 28 May 2008
Posts: 137
Location: Perth
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| Humpty |
| Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 11:11 pm |
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Otherwise known as Kojak...
Joined: 28 May 2008
Posts: 4375
Location: Down Da So'Wessieed!
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Brian wrote: After it was pillaged - final resting place.....
Next installment will move on to happier times...I promise!
Nearly bloody killed myself rolling that sucka over!!!
Any news on your splitty Brian? |
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Calm a llama deep down in the ocean blue... |
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| Brian |
| Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 9:28 am |
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Joined: 28 May 2008
Posts: 137
Location: Perth
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CHAPTER 1 - ACHTUNG BABY
You just can't help some people! In the spirit of being a good Aussie citizen I emailed the Vatican a few days ago:
"Dear Papal People,
My name is Brian and I am not catholic so for that I apologise in advance. I do however sometimes read (slowly and with as many pictures as possible) and have noticed that your general manager will be arriving in our fair country soon for a bit of a heels-up.
Being of good Australian nature I did a little googling to see if I could play a small part in welcoming your head honcho to our shores. Turns out he is arriving in Sydney and plans to cut a few laps around the CBD of Sydney on Thursday arvo.
My Googling also tells me that he is of German decent. Well guess what! My Volkswagen may possibly be arriving in Sydney around the same time...and it is german too!
So, I would formally like to invite his holiness to either a.) come for a ride in my Splitty for a couple of hours (he may not be able to wear his hat though as my splitty is NOT a pop-top) and we can cruise the streets of Sydney. He may have to help navigate with my street directory though as I don't have a gps unit either.....or b.) I guess he can borrow it to drive himself while I go grab a latte. It's ok as it's insured by Shannons but I'll have to check if my policy covers foreign drivers. I reckon if we fax his drivers licence to them though they will be cool.
Anyway, please respond asap so it gives me time to give it a quick wash and vacuum out the dirt and old chips from the front seats.
Yours in faith,
Brian"
Anyway it's Tuesday now and the bugger arrived and didn't even give me a call or email. How rude. I thought these church guys were supposed to be all loving? (or is that just the priests? perhaps I should have said I was 14 and it was my dad's kombi?)
Oh well, I'll cut and paste the email off to Brad and Angelina and they can use it next time they pay a visit down under....although they'll have to fork out for some rear seats and belts to hold all their little tackers in safety!
Back soon... |
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| Brian |
| Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 9:58 pm |
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Joined: 28 May 2008
Posts: 137
Location: Perth
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CHAPTER 2 - WHEN IN ROME
Although it's still fifteen days away, I've been keeping an eye out around town for vws. My greatest 'spot' so far was a genuine dark blue 'Poraga' heading north from Sydney when I first arrived in NSW - complete with pretty girl at the wheel! Man I never thought I would see a Poraga kit again......love it!
Next I'm in Nambucca Heads and there's bugger all so far - a pop top bay with Qld plates (another young lady behind the wheel...I think I need to move back to the east coast) and a couple of beetles.
Then.....gold........distant relations/good friend Laurie rings up to tell me we are going for a run to other distant relations farm. He picks me up in his 150kph bay (tested AND confirmed on the return journey!)
and we head out to Luke's place. Five hours and a dead camera battery from so much photo taking and the results are here....just remember to wear the bibs so the drool doesn't electrocute you with your keyboard!
http://s114.photobucket.com/albums/n265/sneak_e/trips/valla08/?start=all
although here's a couple of teasers....
Barny, 23 AND dual cab!!!!!
second owner original notch - apparantly some sort of rare model with a fold down armrest in the rear seats? for sale for $10k I believe?
sweeeeet!
The dog house is a 23!!!! Lucky mutt
like an elephant graveyard
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| Brian |
| Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 10:00 pm |
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Joined: 28 May 2008
Posts: 137
Location: Perth
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By the way you folks coming to Valla
Last time I was here in 2004 - 270 entries
2006 - over 400
2008 - expecting 400 - 500
you WA guys....not too late to get on a plane!!!!! |
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