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VANFEST 2004

Vanfest is a large gathering of Volkswagen Type 2, which is held annually since 1994 near the small British town of Malvern (Worcestershire) at the foot of the picturesque Malvern Hills.
2004 Vanfest celebrate, among others, the twentieth birth anniversary (almost!) of the syncro, our president decided to go in person and with syncro to represent Syncro-Club and "syncroïstes".
Therefore, Friday, September 10, accompanied by a sidekick Yves (and the latter's wife), he left Ouistreham for Portsmouth, in the late morning and under a bright sun. Easy crossing at 37 knots with a few friends and their Norman T2, and arrival at dusk at the expected camp.

But once the "Campers'entry gate" is crossed it's diving into another world, "the Volkswagenland" ... Spread over three lines, hundreds of various vehicles converge on the "General Camping" in a calm and perfect order.

After an uneventful night, we are hard at work to admire a pretty amazing spectacle over forty hectares, thousands of VW Type 2 all ages (old ruins to dashing T1 T4), all colors (the sober united with fantastic mural through mosaic "Sébastienne") and variously arranged (from simple to more heavy!) ... curious kites floating on some of them. Many are there to be sold, others for the parade, others, like ours, to delve into the type 2 atmosphere.

President and Yves stir: they run from one to the other, lie down together under bridges, plunge into the engine (not all standard!) ...
We finally arrive at the hangar provided specifically for the syncros. Panels will tell the story and video cassettes will boast performance. And this is what happens the historic meeting between representatives of our Syncro Club and Clive Smith, president of the warm «syncronauts» (that is to say british syncroïsts), accompanied by Jenny, blond and smiling, and some friends.
Kisses, photos and lengthy discussions around home pommel of Norman President that wake the dead! Then, as a shrill wind rises, visit the syncronauts encampment.
This is a fairly new club, which currently has a dozen members. They seem interested in the history of Syncro Club and tell us about their recent trips to Wales and the Isle of Wight. The day ends with a small circuit in the Malvern Hills, which provides a panoramic view of the motley swarm of Vanfest.

The next day, walk into the pits sellers of spare parts and memorabilia, contact one of the organizers of Vanfest, Simon Holloway, and new projects for meetings and exchanges, and that's the end of the festivities. Under pouring rain, we join Portsmouth (enjoying on many occasions the "fair play" British drivers) and spend the night on the pier waiting for boarding. But in the morning, we learn that because of the storm, expected catamaran can not sail. We then embark on a classic ship that transports us to Le Havre without difficulty.

And this is a radiant president who gets foot on French soil, and said: "Now that we have made ​​the recognitions we can invest Wales." Would he therefore, as William the Conqueror conquer Britain ? But no ... He think rather to one day follow our new friends in one of their Welsh circuits ? Or so he hoped that alléchés by its pommel, they join us soon at one of our in part wine meetings (the fact that the location of the AG 2004 is already in Burgundy seduced!) And transmit the UK Syncro Club mind ?
God and the Queen hear ! And vivid Vanfest 2005 !

Marie-Thérèse POISSON

http://www.vanfest.org/

Vanfest Info 2004

Vanfest 2004 (version pdf)