MT GAMBIER

[urkel1965]

Hi All,
Had a fantastic week down the Mount. Would recommend to anyone, providing you don't keep the neighbours awake at night!!!.....I lobbed in Sat arvo from Pinnaroo and set myself up. Then I was joined by 2 teardrops, Ray and Jeanette, and Kiwi Roger and Lyn. Mel (melanco) turned up in her Carapark. After some derogatory remarks about aluminium vans, I told her to join us. That made 2 teardrops & 2 'ali' vans. Mr & Mrs Firefighter and Mr & Mrs Cobber turned up in their bondies, with Craig and his tribe in their fibreglass. That basically filled our little area, but then Mr & Mrs Jailbar turned up and still found a spot to sqeeze in on the end.
I think one amusing time was after some had gone, and a family quietly drove in unaware we had just had our gathering. The problem was, they had a van made out of a plane fusilage. (picture below). They hadn't even backed it into a site, and we were seagulls to a chip. Poor buggers didn't know what hit them when we all turned up, cameras in hand. Anyway after their shock, we invited them to join us for fish & chips (fush & chups for you Roger!!!) on Good Friday night

Thursday afternoon, the media (Border Watch) turned up for a scoop story on vintage vanning. Lynelle (Mrs Ticko), Jeanette, and myself gave a bit of a rundown. When printed in Fri 23 Mar edition, we noticed some parts appeared to be lost in translation (I thought the journalist was an Aussie!!). However only those that attended would notice. Could be journalistic license. Anyway a copy is below.

I went home Easter Mon, via Hamilton (Mon night) and Ouyen (Tue night), arriving back home in Pinnaroo Wed lunchtime. Very uneventful compared to a lot of others. Am already looking forward to the next one.

Cheers
Urkel

[firefighter]

hi steve

its a shame 3/4 of the vintage van group had nicked off early
and missed seeing the plane land ( sorry van ) arrive in the park for a couple days the young blokes grandfather & father built it in 1952 in portland............... reddo you missed this one in portland
f/f ;D ;D ;D ;D

[kb3]

We also had a ball on our first Van experience at Mt Gambier, not knowing what to expect we were not really sure if we would fit in or not. As soon as we got there people were friendly and great fun. We will definitely do it again and drag more people along ;D

Thanks everyone that we met
Cheers
KB3+4

[Geoff & Jude]

Is it Marvin's big brother ?

Will he look like this when he's all grown up

G&J

[Deleted]

Hi There Urkel.
Have just spotted your post .
What a great looking van that fuselage is.

I often drive past a disused commercial airstrip at a town called Pelican here in the Lake Macquarie NSW District.
There was a fuselage from what appeared to be a 40 ( or thereabouts) seater. No wings or cabin but still had the tail.
I use to say to Trish "I would love to get hold of that and build a 40 ft alloy van"... She just shook her head and mumbled something about half baked hair brain ideas .

I noticed that it has gone missing now.. .. Perhaps there is someone out there building my dream van as we speak. Or maybe its going to be restored back to a chrome budgie ;D.

Ho Hum..... the dream continues.

Reddo

[Don Ricardo]

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed my time at the V V Nationals at Mount Gambier. I had the best fun, and it was just wonderful to meet so many people and connect faces and names. Unfortunately, I could only be there for 2 and a bit days, and even though I spent practically every waking hour socialising and visiting (apart from the time spent in town replacing a burst tyre on my car ), I didn't get to meet everybody I wanted to, nor to check out all the vans that I had hoped to. Nevermind - gives me something to look forward to in 2010.

Like KB3, it was my first V V event and I wasn't sure what to expect. But it was a blast! Thanks to everyone who welcomed me so warmly and showed such interest in my companion (the Don!). The van is still talking about it to anyone who will listen...oh, sorry that's me. ;D ;D ;D

Thank you also to those who invested time and effort in arranging the venue, arranging activities, preparing participation certificates, etc. Even though we're not a 'club' (wash my mouth out with soap) those things take time and are appreciated. Please accept a 'V V Kool' award

Regards,

Don Ricardo