Air Monkeys Magazine Issue 12

Issue Twelve

Gary’s PicnicCal Look Drag DayPolo DerbyFueled SocietyVW Heritage Tour Viva Skeg VegasUSA Late Bay

Joe Eynon Editor

The Air Monkeys Crew:

Joe Eynon • Editor• Feature Writer• Photographer

Samantha Eynon• Deputy Editor• Feature Writer• Photographer/ Illustrator

Edd Thorpe• Feature Writer

Scott Savage• Photographer

John Hilton• Layouts

Richard Thorpe• Proof Reader• Feature Writer

Ed Kellas• Feature Writer

Nikola Woodhall• Layouts

Martin Cox• Photographer

Joss Ashley• Photographer

Henry Powell• Photographer

Magazine

Contributors:

Dunk Aston, Sasha Brierley, Holly Booth, Hazel Buller, Raf Carrera, Chad Chadwick, Tim Easley, Brett Elesmore, Neil Godwin, Stephen Hill, Vince Hutchings, Peter Salter, Wai Man Shin, Sam Smith, George Taylor, Adam Walker, Sam Wookey,

The most

exciting part about doing what we do at Air Monkeys is releasing our new magazines. We always try to build them up to create an amount of excitment for them. We can spend weeks doing this but we’ve learnt over the last 11 issues that the readers will create the excitment themselves.

If you want a magazine from us then we find you banging on the door of our cyber space house. This isn’t some attempt to blow our own trumpets here. This is a thank you to all our readers and fans.

We’ve got some pretty exciting stuff lined up for 2015 and we want you to be with us all the time to steer us in the right direction. We listen to what you want us to publish. You’ve told us to do more fringe articles and dip our toes into other scenes and worlds. Be prepared to see more air-cooled, water-cooled, hot-rodding, bobbers, steampunkers, track racers, salt flat racers, skateboarders, beer drinkers, muscle cars drivers, tyre burners, signwritters, paint brush wielders and photo snappers than ever before!

You’ve been warned!

What’s inside?

Regular FeaturesFeature Vehicles

Spanked!

Cool Sh*t

Tasty Tees

With Love Bakery

5

Technical Focus

Earworm

Show ReportsFueled Society

Perfect Polo

Viva Skeg Vegas

Gary’s Picnic

The Photo Bus

The Photo BusInterview by: Samantha Eynon Photos: Vince Hutchings

Feature | Photo Booth Bus

Most businessess that use VW’s tend to be some sort of

catering company, be it ice cream, cake, hot drinks or hot food, so when we heard about the Photo Bus we were intrigued to hear more.

Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Vince Hutchings, I’m 33 and work as a freelance photographer and owner of The Photo Bus

Where did the idea come from to have a photo booth bus?

As a freelance photographer my field is saturated with competition. I also have a passion for old dubs.

This gave me an idea to combine these 2 passions.

I’ve had numerous old Volkswagens over the years. 5 Bugs, Caddy, Mk1 Golf, Early Bay Westy Poptop, sliding door Split panel bus along with 2 T4’s and the vehicle before this bus, a T5. The T5 was ok and I had it branded with my logo etc and it was working as a good promo base but I was getting an itch for an old bus and was considering the photo booth idea. It then dawned on me I could combine the 2! (and maybe add on wedding transport also!)It’s not a new idea (photo booth in the back of a vehicle) but there were no photo booth campers that I could find down in the South West of England (arguably the


mecca for old VW’s?!)

What sort of events have you done and what type are your favourite?

I do a lot of Weddings as I can loop it into my own Wedding photography packages but I have also done a few Vintage Fayres and corporate events. Weddings are great as it’s quite a quirky concept, guests

love it! Although the booth is self sufficient I stand by to make sure it’s running smoothly, handing out print outs personally. I love interacting with people using it. It’s popular for any age, from 5yr-95yr can jump in and use it without any instruction from me

What sort of reaction do you get?

People are always surprised that there is a booth inside, I designed the booth unit to look part of the bus (and also removable) so when you jump in you have maximum room. I find there is always a handful of people at events that have “a VW story” either themselves or they know someone who had one. (and yes I get the “Porsche engines are easy to fit” story a lot!)

Tell us a bit about your bus

The bus is a 1968 and is a French import. It was imported into the UK back in 2005 by the previous owner. It was in reasonably good condition when it arrived, sadly the local council had other ideas! The bus was awaiting DVLA documents and was parked up outside the PO house. Some kids slashed the tyres over one

weekend. The council were called by someone who had seen an “old VW bus” on French plates with slashed tyres. They came round and took the bus away, but instead of nicely popping the bus onto a back of a lorry they slung chains around the body and lifted it on! (damaging some of the sills, roof and gutter in the progress!)

Luckily (to cut a long story short) it went to court and PO (with the help of her Insurance Assessor Dad) and they won. This meant the bus had a light resto and the at the same time all the damage was fixed.

The bus is now lovely and solid, it just needs a battery


tray doing, as the alternator was previously cooking the battery and making it leak (I’ve now fitted a new alternator!) It runs a 1600TP which runs great (touch wood!)

Apart from general tidying/servicing, the only things I’ve done is to fit the 15” slotted Split wheels with the big logo caps, had the rack made, fit a decent CD player and my Wife has tidied and re-trimmed the interior. She runs a vintage sewing business

(sewbloomincrafty.co.uk)

Pros and cons of having your own business?

I left a secure (well paid) job to start full time as a photographer, a massively nerve wracking, daunting decision with a family/mortgage that wasnt taken lightly. I was lucky that I left due to voluntary redundancy so I had a sum of money with me to support in the start of the business.

I’m now 16 months down the line and have no regrets at all! I have been involved in some awesome things. I remember someone saying to me that “if you have a job you love you will never work another day in your life” There has definitely been a few times where I’ve thought “woh, I’m getting paid for this!”

I freelance for some VW magazines which is awesome, taking photos and meeting owners of a scene that I love!

What would be your dream event?

It would be pretty awesome to do back stage at a big festival (Glastonbury etc) Get some music legends/bands in the booth!

Plans for the future?

I am completely re-designing the photo booth unit, I have some ideas but not decided 100% yet. As for the bus I will be soon fitting a new ply head

lining and eventually getting rid of the Westy bed/wardrobe set up and changing to a full width bed.

Any interesting stories from your business so far?

Nothing major, my very first booking with The Photo Bus there were a lot of Scotsmen attending the wedding. There are some photos of that night I’d be happy never to look at again! haha

Tell us about a typical day for your business

It can vary greatly as I am freelance I could be on location at a shoot, sat at my computer editing/marketing etc or designing/making bits for The Photo Bus. I’ve made the booth myself and I’m currently making some rustic old school surf board shaped signs for the side of the roof rack and a light up “PHOTOS” sign for the top of the rack when at events.


POLo and outWords: Sam Eynon Pictures: Sam Smith

Feature | Mk1 Polo

At the young age of 19 Sam Wookey is the owner of this head turning 1980 VW Polo L. We first saw it at Alive and Vdubbin’ and it was love at first sight for me! I

made a beeline straight to it, having a major soft spot for MK1’s, and this one has got to be one of my absolute favourites. I was practically salivating over it!

The Polo is a product of Sam’s determination, having his interest in VW’s roused by trips in his sister’s boyfriend’s Nevada beige mk1 golf on cookie cutters. He found the car in Bournemouth about 2 years ago. It was owned by an enthusiast and only had 7k miles on the clock, which made Sam desperate to make it his. He did wonder if it could be accurate, but the interior looked basically brand new.

Feature | Mk1 Polo

On chatting to the owner, he was told that the original owner of the vehicle lost his sight, but could not bear to give up his car. He kept the Polo in the hope that a cure could be found for his blindness. When he came to terms with his condition he sold the car on, and it passed through two other collectors. During this time it did pick up a few war wounds, but nothing that couldn’t be put right with some hard work, and a bit of money of course! This is where Sam’s determination came in again, as he got the work done on an apprenticeships wage, which has made him appreciate it all the more.

To begin with he drove the car around pretty much as it was when he bought it, just lowered and on ATS Classics, which were polished by ‘Mike the polisher’ and left bare. He even ran it on bike carbs for a while, but after a year he decided enough was enough and set to getting the Polo sorted. He took it to VW Antics, near Ipswich, who straightened the body work out and repainted it in its original colour of Lida Green. Two new front wings were sourced, a new front valance and new rear arches. Sam can not sing the praises of VW Antics higher for fitting it all, and thanks Lee for the amazing paint job.

He has it lowered by about 115mm at the front and slightly raised at the rear, and it is on TA technix coilovers which he has found to be the best and yet the cheapest for early polos. The engine and transmission are mostly stock, just cleaned up a little, though at one point Sam tried running it with cbr600 carburettors, but he soon realised this wasn’t right for the car, his decision aided by the callout of 4 recovery trucks! Now it runs on a single weber. The interior is all stock apart from the Mountney wheel and the Ghia centre console basket. Sam decided not to put any sound system in the vehicle as he didn’t want to begin cutting into it, and we think that is a brilliant decision as it looks all the better for it- clean, straight, simple and gorgeous!

< Sam’s determination was key to this project, as he got the work done on an apprenticeships wage, which has made him appreciate it all the more >

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Show Report | Bug Jam

Show Report | Bug Jam

Feature | Product Review

SWEDISH GRAVEL GUARDSThese gravel guards are offered by Aircooled Accessories and are identical reproductions of a very hard to find accessory that was produced for the Swedish market back in the 50’s and 60’s, but they will fit all years of Beetle.

They are crafted in stainless steel and then fully polished for a deep chrome shine - and the shape/design/pressings are all as the original and supplied with appropriate stainless steel nuts, bolts and washers.

Priced at £65 for a pair, they are fantastic value for money and being stainless steel they will stand the test of time, protect your paintwork from stone chips and also look absolutely stunning.

Head over to aircooledaccessories.com to place your order now!

Being fun to sleep in for the kids and at a cheaper price for the bigger kids it’s a win win! It’s also usable for extra storage for when that bigger adventure beckons.

The mounting kit fixes to the A and B pillars, and

the bed simply slots into the fixings. Quick and easy to set up, the kids will love the novelty of being able to set their own bed up as well as sleeping in a very cool bed indeed!

Usually priced at €85.20, it is on offer at the

discounted price of €69, which translates to around £55 depending on the exchange rate of the day. They are available in a whole range of fabrics so matching your interior will be a cinch but be quick! This bargain surely won’t last forever.

Check them out at www.kieftenklok.nl

As if going away in a camper isn’t exciting enough for all involved, Kieft en Klok are now offering a childs hammock for the cab of your ‘50-‘79 bus at a discounted price!

HAMMOCKCHILDS CABIN

Mango CoolerMost people only dream about owning an awesome bus like this late bay.

Most people only dream about driving a bus across the United States.

If you’ve done both of these what do you do next?

Import the bus across the pond and start enjoying it here in Blighty!

words: Joe Eynon

photos: Neil Godwin

Feature | US Import Bay

We’re all aware of that moment at a show when you spot that car. The one that

just makes you stop and stare for half the afternoon. You keep going back to it again and again hoping to see one more amazing detail on the vehicle. It’s the car the you would take home with you.

At this years Viva Skeg Vegas (read the show report in this issue), this bus was the one for me and everyone who was with me. We couldn’t take our eyes off it. I just knew it had to grace our pages as soon as possible.

I spent the afternoon at the show trying to find the owner but in the end we left a note in the sink (this was the only place where it wouldn’t blow away in the gusty wind!).

The week following the show I was just waiting for the email of the owner. I just kept thinking that the note we left was more than

likely decorating a hedgerow in Lincolnshire thanks to the wind. I placed a picture of the bus on Instagram and Matt Balls of Balls’d let me know the owner details and got in touch with him for me. He’d recently done some work on the car.

Thankfully the owner let himself known to me and was really keen to have a feature in Air Monkeys. Once again we were honoured by another super keen owner of an amazing Volkswagen.

The proud owner of this Late Baywindow is Dunk Aston from St Neots. The bus is a Westfalia Weekender model and Dunk purchased the vehicle from San Diego. He didn’t see it online and get somebody to ship the bus over- He actually bought it in person from

San Diego. The story he told us confirmed just why we needed this bus in the magazine.

Dunk was planning on traveling across the USA and looked into hiring a van for the 4 months he was planning on being there. The prices were crazy so Dunk looked into buying a bus instead. He got in touch with a VW company in California who knew of a collector in Mexico. With a brief of what Dunk wanted they drove from California to Mexico to buy a suitable campervan. This is what they found. After a good service it was ready for the trip of its and Dunks lifetime!

During the roadtrip Dunk went to L.A., Sequoia National Park, Grand Tetan National

Park, Yosemite National Park, Reno, Yellowstone, Salt Lake

City, Mount Rushmore, Minneapolis, Toronto, Niagara Falls, New York,

Washington, South Carolina, Georgia, Orlando, Tampa Bay, Miami, Key West plus loads of other place. As you can see this covers nearly every corner of the US and around 10,000 miles were completed during the trip.

Dunk purchased the bus in 2008 and following the roadtrip he set about making the bus the one you see here.

The bus got a 5 inch drop courtesy of some dropped spindles and slam shocks. The body is notched to allow more room andPorsche


brakes up front give better stopping power. Cosmic wheels finish the stance off perfectly and the retro wheel also suits the awesome original graphics on the side of the bus.

The Marino yellow paint is a popular choice but looks great on this van with is subtle patina and slight knocks and dents which just add to the character of the camper.The interior was renewed with new Formica units and looks as fresh as they day it was made.

The original 2 litre fuel inhected engine was

rebuilt to stock with the standard exhaust simply doing its job.

Thats what this bus does- it’s job. And doesn’t it do it well! This is a true “middle of the ballpark” model. A perfect example where practicality meets cool. The camper is still 100% practical and functional with the coolness and style of a slammed ride.The bus wasn’t purchased in the normal manner but Dunk has had way more fun because of that!


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Gary’s PicnicWords: Edd Thorpe

Photos: Scott Savage

Show Report | Gary’s Picnic

Gary’s Picnic Shakespeare County Raceway4th-5th July 2014

If there was ever a close call on what my personal favourite show at Shakespeare County Raceway

is then this epitomises it. Gary’s Picnic, incorporated into the Yanks Weekend and public track day, seems to draw such a wide variety of cars not normally present at some other more Volkswagen-prominent events.

That’s not to say that VWs were sparse on the ground – far from it! A real eclectic mix of street driven hot VWs and club cars from the likes of the Outlaw Flat Four championship and SAS Rennwagens were out to play. This makes for some spectacular flat-4 vs V8 battles that must have been de rigueur back in the day when VWs were competing for such as the NHRA Drag Racing Championships in the U.S, alongside homebrewed

factory backed Chevrolet and Ford race cars. We are incredibly lucky to get a glance into what the past must have been like, recreated in the sleepy town of Stratford upon Avon among the beautiful English weather. Yeah, about that..! A team of 4 of us made out way down the M1 from Air Monkeys HQ in a complete downpour and hurricane force gales – not normally associated with Saturday 4th June esque weather really is it? Delaying pitching the tent to allow the ground to dry off a little, we made full use of the open pit access to scoop some of the stunning machinery around, and had a good catch up with the SCR crew. They were understandably nervous about the weather situation, although the rain had ceased, the track was aflood and a noticeably large puddle had formed in the shutdown zone at the top end of the strip – far from ideal! The guys worked their butts off to dry off the strip and had set to implementing a drainage system in the shutdown zone o deal with that problem.

Eventually racing managed to get underway around 2:30pm, by which time Air Monkeys camp had been set up and cameras were at the ready trackside having signed on. A few tentative first passes were put in before the sun finally broke though and some impressive times were being laid down! This show is certainly one to tickle the fancy of Hot Rod and American Muscle cars, and VW’s alike. Few things can prepare you for being stood

between two Supercharged Outlaw cars in the burnout boxes as it’s not only the noise that pummels you but that ground is literally shaking as multiple thousand horsepower is trying to dig 22” slicks through solid concrete!

Some truly bonkers cars come out of the woodwork here, and whilst on our pre-race walkabout we caught up with one chap who had built a pro-mod style Triumph Herald! A

2 door, street legal, door slammer pro-mod, built on something you’d expect to see on Heartbeat – mental! We were lucky enough to be shown around the small-block Chevy powered behemoth, complete with roll cage, ally race seats and harnesses, yet with a tax disc in the windscreen..! When this came down the fire up lane our lenses were firmly pointed in its

direction that’s for sure.

The racing made way for the night around 6pm as an extension had been set allowing for the severe delays, and we watched as the atmosphere changed from race day to party time! Kenny’s Bar provides a great place to unwind post-race and with beer at a reasonable price you can’t go


far wrong. We however headed off site for a meal first off, into the centre of Stratford as it’s only 5 mins away from the strip – I thought I’d done my homework and hooked up a really nice looking pub but figured it was a chain and wouldn’t be expensive, right? Wrong! Cheapest steak in the house - £25! Oops! Once we’d severely dragged down the tone and etiquette of the regular clientele we headed straight back to the strip in my ’67 bug to down some beer at a price that didn’t involve one of the Queens larger denominations of currency! Working on a Sunday to the sound of V8s firing up is a rare and beautiful thing! The sun was firmly out and we headed straight strip-side to make the most of the gorgeous weather on offer for the day! Again more machinery had turned up, especially with the prospect of continuing racing onto the Bank Holiday Monday many had written off the Saturday and

made their respective treks down to the track for the Sunday and Monday.

A day full of street legal muscle cars, out n out racers, Rail dragsters and altered fuel supercharged outlaws with little humble bugs thrown in for good measure makes for a spectacular sight indeed! An oil down incident from one of the retro Ford fraternity saw an early and extended lunch break, but that aside the day ran smoothly and without a hitch! A credit to the SCR track crew. If Gary’s Picnic is something which you haven’t done before be sure to make the dates in 2015 free! There is something for everyone, with affection for Yank metal to Wolfsburg’s finest – a stone’s throw from Shakespeare’s’ town what could possibly be better than that?

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Derby Dazewords: Joe Eynonphotos: Adam Walker

Feature | Polo Derby

One of the many fun things we do at Air

Monkeys Magazine is pick winners for our Air Monkeys Choice Awards at shows and festivals. Earlier this year we were at the Cumbria VAG Show and Shine Festival (read the show report in this issue), and had a difficult decision to make- which car amongst hundreds of amazing cars was our favourite. The one we most wanted to take home. This car had to really “float our boat!”

If you’ve already flicked forward to read our show report from CumVAG you’ll appreciate how tough our choice was. We ummed and arghed for an hour or so and finally decided that the Polo Derby LS you can see on your left should be our worthy winner! The lucky winner and even luckier owner is George Taylor from Warrington and he’d only owned the car for a few months and was so suprised to win. Our reasons for choosing George’s Derby were simple. It was just right. The car stood out from the crowds of other water-cooled cars at the show and ticked quite a few mental checklists. Awesome colour, great stance, different but perfect wheel choice, superb accessories and a humble owner!

Let us tell you more about this rad little Polo....


I’ve always been a fan of early water-cooled Volkswagens. Ever since I had a very short ownership of a Polo LWB bread van. There is something about the simplicity of the cars. VW deliberatly didn’t make them over complicated and that just makes the simple bodylines and uncluttered dashboards appeal to so many people.

George got his Derby LS, (which he fondly calls Deirdre), in May 2014, a mere 2 months before winning our prize. The car had already had a far amount of work done to it but George still needed to put some final touches to it.

The cars stance is created by custom Spax coilovers on the front and Blisten Sport rear shocks with some rather

unique wheels finishing the look off. You’ll not see another Polo at a show this year with these wheels on. The Oz racing wheels were originally off a Formula Renault race car and required a bit of simple redrilling in order for them to fit the Polo’s 4x100 stud pattern. Sat behind the wheels are a set of G40 discs and callipers for maxium stopping power.

The engine bay has been smoothed out so you can see the 1.3 single port engine in all its glory. Moving the washer bottle and battery to the boot finished this look off. The exhaust is a 4-2-1 manifold with a custom stainless system.The gearbox is a 5 speed unit from a MK3 Polo.

Yet again the colour is an unusual choice with it not coming from the VW paint pallet. It is, in fact, a Nissan paint called Lapis Grey from their cute and iconic Figaro. George however is planning a full resto this winter and is contemplating putting the car back to its standard shade.

Keeping its occupants entertained from show to show is a sound system comprising of a 100 watt Audiobahn amp and some 6x6 280 water speakers in the custom cut door cards. To finish the system off George has fitted a fully functioning vinyl record player in the boot! An amazing idea but makes bringing the shopping home a challenge.

George has his Dad to thank,

(like so many of us), for getting him to buy the Derby as his first car was a Mk1 Polo too! George plans to do plenty of work during the winter on the Derby to put the car back to its standard colour and give the car some more personal touches. We can’t wait to see it when it is done. George has always been a VW fan but loves early water-cooled and air-cooled cars and dreams of owning a notchback at some point. If he does that’ll be an exciting day for sure and we’d want to see every step!

words: Joe Eynon photos: Holly Booth

Show Report | Fueled Society

Fueled Society. 2014. Nostell Priory, Wakefield.

Ever since 2013’s Fueled Society I have been looking forward to 2014’s offering. It really is

that good. Our involvement with Fueled Society has grown and developed much like the show has. In 2012 we went to the first Fueled Society as a day visitor and wandered around the small but eclectic mix of cars and marques. We knew the show could be one of the best so we kept an eye out for the 2013 show. This time they had camping and more entertainment but the show could still grow into its large venue. From the very beginning of 2014 we have been promoting the show and hopefully you came along. There certainly was more air-cooled cars there this year and we hope you enjoyed it. If you didn’t come along then this is what you missed!

We started the weekend off on Saturday morning with the Air Monkeys cruise to Fueled Society that we organised on Facebook and on www.airmonkeys.co.uk. We took the drive slowly from the East Midlands to Yorkshire stopping off along the way. Martin Cox even drove his bagged turbo Caddy up to the show. With oval Beetles to Golfs in our convoy we certainly made a spectacle on the road. Once we arrived at the show we set up camp

near the show field entrance and sat and watched the cars drive in. The camping field was directly behind us so that evening before it got too dark we took a walk around the campsite. A lot of show cars do arrive on the Saturday and camp over so this was well worth it. There was a lot of German water but within the tents and gazebo’s there was some true gems such as Renault 5 GT Turbo’s, MK1 Mexicos, Bagged 740’s, Race prept MK1 MR2’s and early Corollas and Starlets. We stopped and chatted to a few people and even had fun at an impromptu foam party!!

As the night set in we made our way to the entertainment areas. There was live music early in the evening and then two separate dance/DJ tents. The nearest one to us played dance and house music with some spontaneous break-dancing and the furthest one played punk and rock- any Earworm readers would know this is more to our tastes. We danced the night away, sometimes in the rain, until we had got so wet they stopped the music. Electricity and water do not mix well!The rain was the only negative from the Saturday and no one can do anything about it, so you might as well just dance in it!


We went to bed full of beer and with our ears ringing. It was perfect!Saturday arrived and so did the sunshine! The past two shows have been on red hot days and the sun made its presence known once again. As we woke up and cooked our bacon sandwiches we sat and looked at the cars stream into the show field. The natural bowl shaped field was already filling full of amazing modified vehicles of every genre, year and style. Hot Rods, Air-cooled, Jap, Classic, Race, Rally, American, Commercial and more flowed into the grassy field ready for a fuel filled day at an old fashioned car show. Everything goes and even people who had just come for the day to park in the day visitors car park were sometimes directed into the show field because there car was interesting enough.

We set up stall amongst the traders which was bigger than ever this year. There was something for everyone. The cars are lined up in a relaxed set up with clubs able to form their own circles and line ups however they want to. This made it a much more enjoyable show to walk around. There was a surprise around every corner.

Yet again the food vendors did themselves proud. There was a great selection of well cooked food. No crappy burgers here! The burritos were particularly awesome.

The Rollhard Crew were here in force with their cars and parts as were The Lower Class VW Club from Leeds who made the short journey, as they have every year. I left the show feeling my mildly lowered bus was a moon buggy. Low is certainly the way to roll when at Fueled Society. Next year the Fastback will have to make an appearance!

With new entertainment throughout the day this year you could always find something to do, whether it was chill out listening to live tunes or take part in the Tour de Fueled bicycle event.

Previous years have had problems with people starting their cars up just to rev them very loudly. Whether the organisers have done anything to stop this or not, it didn’t happen this year. People however did appear to be driving around the show field throughout the day. This was in no way a problem as everyone was being sensible and just having fun. The entire weekend had such a relaxed atmosphere- I didn’t want to leave!

With the show welcoming all types of vehicle it made the event have a different atmosphere to other shows we go to. When the show is a VW show or a American car show there is always a degree of car-snobery. With a mixed car show everyone is welcome and your car will be very unusual to somebody, even if it is common place to you. This allows you to view your little world or bubble through someone elses eyes. This will always give you fresh ideas and plans for your car.

The date for next years has been released and we’ve already put it in our diary. Be at Nostell Priory on the 11th June 2015!

The show organisers would like to thank all the show sponsors and contributors as listed below:

Air Monkeys Magazine, Novaks Kustom Industries, Simmy Photography, Christopher Western Design, Gala Tent, Rollhard, Fueled Logistics, OCD, Mark Redshaw Photography, Studio Incar, Auto Finesse, Impact Bodyshop, Slammedia, Niche Customs, Inspired Automotive, Crisp Tuning and Fitted UK.

See you in 2015!


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We take a closer look at VW Heritage’s brand new premises and warehouse and find out how they work...

Shop Tour | VW Heritage

words and photos: Edd Thorpe

Well, have you ever wondered what goes into making the

UK’s (if not the world’s) largest importer, distributor and supplier of genuine and aftermarket VW parts and accessories? We dig deep behind the scenes of VW Heritage after their recent relocation to find out! The decision of VW Heritage to move location from Burgess Hill to Shoreham on Sea was one that was not taken lightly. The upheaval of some 60+ staff and thousands upon thousands of products for all models of VW was a task which required significant coordination. At the time of my tour, the new warehouse and distribution centre had been up and running for approximately 3 weeks. With full time operation in swing there was barely a clue as to the gargantuan task that was laid before the staff.

This new headquarters is approximately 2 and a half times the size of the Burgess Hill depot, which better suits the needs of the growing and developing company, with a solid reputation for delivering a wide variety of products, swiftly and dependably over its 25+ year history. The new headquarters offer many improvements over their previous location, not least the fact that the loading bay is now undercover, something which Andy Gregory, my tour guide, assures me will be a welcome addition when the colder weather appears. Unloading the vast shipping containers that VW Heritage receives regularly is a task that must be completed as quickly as possible in order to incur minimal delay to the haulage firm. The covered area allows the container to be unloaded into the sorting area inside the main building without fear of inclement weather damaging any packaging in this process.

Once inside the main building products are arranged in the large open sorting area on the main floor. This allows quick and easy access to the vast array of stock. Adjacent to this area is the dedicated returns and exchange department,

which is where I met Christian, the proud owner of a stunning ’67 Beetle (which was even present in the staff car park!) Having this department in close proximity to the loading bay allows for rapid stock replenishment and re-delivery - a vital service if a missing part is holding up your restoration project!

From here parts are allocated into the huge racking area, which stretches as far as the eye can see and many times taller than me, making the use of tele-handlers an absolute necessity. The use of integrated technology in this area is a sure sign of modern times, keeping the link between stock control and distribution tight. Hand held terminals are carried by the warehouse staff in order to scan off parts once they are placed in stock (with barcodes present on each rack, shelf and storage bin) and recording them once


removed from stock as they are ‘picked’ when an order is placed.

The layout of the warehouse is crucial to the swift flow of products in and out of the business. This is something which has required a great deal of planning, according to Andy. For example, like-parts are actually stored a significant distance apart, such as Nearside and Offside Bay Window rear corner replacement panels, to ensure no mistakes are made during the picking process. Glass products are stored safely out of harm’s way on a dedicated rack at the rear of the warehouse to prevent accidental damage, with even more glass stock available than at the Burgess Hill depot. The process of guiding the ‘picker’ through

the warehouse in the most efficient way is managed by the hand held terminals, which plot the picking route based on their warehouse location, not necessarily the order in which they appeared in a customer’s online basket. A large area is dedicated to smaller parts, based over two floors, in which case the aisles run in two different directions, allowing the picking staff to ‘snake’ their way up and down aisles in order to save them backtracking and wasting time. VW Heritage handle both very

large, and very small components, such as those hard to find and specialist fixings and fastenings, all with the greatest of care.

It is upstairs on the upper storage floors that the scale of the warehouse really sinks in. A very clever forethought was to deliberately leave an area of this racking empty to allow for further future expansion, without the need to move parts from their existing location. I was also fascinated to learn that VW Heritage and Meyle products share warehouse space, with a dedicated storage area for these parts, and even their own ‘helter skelter’ for boxed components to slide down to the packaging department down on the main floor.

To complete the cycle of the product journey, we headed to this packaging area where the staff carefully arrange parts into the most efficient parcel sizes possible in order to satisfy either the customer or trade order.

A lot more goes on besides the warehouse side of the business, including order handling and finance, and an in house purchasing department dedicated to sourcing the best quality parts available from all over the world. Even the servers dedicated to running the superb VW Heritage website (the main source of their orders) are in-house. I was personally fascinated to see the process of gathering product photos for use on the website, with dedicated equipment set up in a white room as an in-house photographer painstakingly works their way through the long list of products required to be featured, before referencing this to their relevant

part number before adding the VW


Heritage Watermark. I even had a go at capturing my own product photo on a Bay window flywheel! (What do you think?)

Another huge benefit of the new headquarters is improved office facilities for telesales, marketing, dedicated trade sales and even an international sales department. The offices are a very welcoming environment and here I was introduced to a very special member of the team indeed – Poncho the chocolate Labrador! Poncho is not alone in canine staff at VW Heritage, which only adds to the homely feel of the business, an impressive feat given the sheer scale of the operation.

Besides the huge online trade focus, VW Heritage is firmly placing focus on creating good interaction between the customer and the business on a personal level too, as I was shown around an area being transformed into a welcoming reception area and lounge, which will play a significant part in the monthly ‘Heretics’ meets held during the summer months.

I would personally like to take this opportunity to thank Andy Gregory for his time on my guided tour, and extend thanks to all of the staff I was fortunate enough to meet, having been made to feel very welcome.


This One Summer- Jillian Tamaki and Mariko TamakiReview by Stephen L. Holland

Bathed in bilberry blues so beautiful that you could swim in them all summer, this is exquisitely drawn!

Rose is lithe and light, standing up straight, at the crossroads between girl and young adult. Her friend-since-five Windy is still enjoying a little puppy fat but has even more energy, dancing out beats across her living room floor - you could say she likes to parade. Windy subconsciously makes as much body contact as possible, although she is never clingy. Rose's mum shares her shape but you can tell that she's a little worn down: she's wan, removing her glasses and

rubbing her eyes. Windy's mum looks nothing like her - it's no secret that Windy's adopted.

From the creators of SKIM, this is another of those heartfelt graphic novels perfect for Young Adults which will be relished and revered by those of us for whom family holidays are but a distant memory or seen from the other side of that vital generation gap. I'm reminded very much of LOST GIRL by Nabiel Kanan who illustrated our website, though this is much gentler for Rose is a little younger. It is not, however, without its tensions.

Awago is a remote coastal village so tiny it has only one store. Its beach isn't what you'd call crowded. Rose's outgoing dad drives them to Awago every year, waving embarrassingly to its youth as they arrive, while Windy's stooped grandmother hires a similar cottage for the three of them just down the road. It's perfect to have a playmate for summer.

The store is manned by a local lad around eighteen-years old. He's lanky, quite kindly (he called our Rose "blondie" and she liked it!) but distracted by his friends who have a tendency to hang out there too. Sarah's his girlfriend, it seems. One's a bit boisterous and crude. He called his girlfriend a slut as a joke.

"Oh my god those girls are sooo loud. I bet you they were drunk. They're, like, drunks. They’re all like, WHOOAA!”

… says Windy, acting out a big doolally wobble in front of Rose.

“And like, EEEEEEE! Noo!”“They love screaming.”“They’re sluts!”“ROSE!”

It’s at this point that their mums arrive back at the cottage and Rose is instantly mortified and ashamed to have been overheard regurgitating that word. But that’s what you do when you’re young and

Page 45 review some of the best comic books out there for us. Head to their website www.page45.com, or pop in to their Nottingham store.

impressionable, and an age group you don’t yet understand acts up like that. It’s a perfect piece of writing.

“Who’s a slut?”“No one!”“Bit strange calling someone you don’t even know a slut,” says Windy’s mum, eyebrows raised.“Oh, well, these guys who knew these girls were calling them sluts,” says Windy, tentatively, before reaching out to hug her mum for reconciliation.“Well, how is that okay?”

Brilliant.

It’s a process Rose mimics on their way back home, clinging on to her Mum’s elbow but she’s rebuffed.

“Rose! Don’t hang!”

Yes, there’s definitely something raw bothering Rose’s mum. Her dad can’t seem to shift it.

That sequence is indicative not only of the quality of creativity shared by the Tamaki sisters who function fully as one, but also of the areas being explored: comprehension, communication, bodies and behaviour. More than once it feels a little dangerous. Also, our friends aren’t immune to falling out. Windy has a habit of teasing her friend then attempting to negate it: “Just kidding!”

It doesn’t negate it; it simply abandons responsibility for it. Conversely Rose, a little older, manages to embarrass Windy for “krunking” without inhibitions by

laughing. Their friendship is resilient, though. They’re quick to move on.

There are some glorious woodland and subaquatic landscapes as the girls explore a slightly seedy abandoned camp site - by which I mean a nocturnal fire and local drinking spot - and revel in their play. This is a book you can certainly judge by its cover.

What it won’t prepare you for is the central tension between Rose’s parents which threatens what was evidently a hitherto idyllic annual experience. It’s quite specific and will be reflected in what happens around them this year.

I’d like to see this taught in schools. So many mistakes in childhood are made through lack of information, lack of empathy and in the realm of a deafening silence. Communication is all, and I can think of a dozen subjects raised by key moments here which would make for ideal classroom discussions.

Let me be clear: I would like to see this graphic novel used as an officially set text. How even is it that no graphic novel has been used in a national curriculum to this date? All education should be entertainment and this graphic novel will have young adults absorbed, meaning that they will engage more thoroughly with the subjects at hand but also with the key literary and visual skills used to furnish us with a graphic novel that should win every award under the sun.

Zaya- Jean-David Morvan & Huang-Jia WeiReview by Stephen L. Holland

“Please, sir, perhaps you should stop drinking...”

Pick a page, any page, and I promise you will lap this up.

A tonic for tired eyes, it is a sublime fusion of European science fiction settling into steampunk in places, with plenty to please more mature manga readers too in the form of the Chinese protagonists, antagonists and subaquatic, aerial and upper-atmosphere dogfights.

The architecture is exquisite, from Zaya’s countryside getaway - an ornate, gabled mansion with white wooden and stone features overshadowed by trees - to the early morning marina with its Venetian towers and baroque clocks in what is evidently a very rich quarter of a very rich city. You should see Zaya’s hotel room -

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and just wait until you book into the saltwater resort of Estrella del Mar whose hotels, each competing to outdo the others in opulence and originality, sit right on the immaculate beaches, their balustraded stone steps rising from the sands.

However the art is actually composed, it looks like good old-fashioned pencil and wash with exquisite figure work and a fine eye for fashion. Zaya’s black waistcoats, miniskirts and cocktail dresses could not be more chic; her hair, blouses and battlesuit too.

The palette, for the most part, is pure Arthur Rackham: sepia, creams and muted greens which makes the rich blue skies of Estrella del Mar all the fresher and the minimally deployed reds stand out a mile.

As to the steampunk aspect, there is a charming mix of the antique, antiquated and futuristic from Zaya’s mail box, country house and classic car pimped with rocket pipes to the giant floating liners, airships and spaceships and Zaya’s spaceship bathroom with its pumps, plumbing and small generator only partially hidden by chain-linked metal mesh! Also, coming back to the architecture, we’re not on Earth but a colonised planet so everything has been built afresh. When we do reach Earth you’ll discover the modern sits atop ground-level conurbations far more familiar. I love that either the writer or artist has thought of that.

This isn’t created in shorthand, either, so you won’t feel short-changed: plenty of extended scenes so you can soak in the eye-candy.

It’s opening night at Zaya Oblidine’s holosculpture exhibition. The centre piece looks like some tumour-ridden mammoth to me, but it’s being very well received. An over-entitled nitwit being pleaded with by the waiter is getting drunk and obnoxious. Zaya steps in. The drunkard “steps out”.

Meanwhile, a family car is being targeted by a top-heavy mutant of a man or machine that looks like it could have been designed by Zaya herself. With gigantic jetpacks armoured and weaponised to the max, she/he/it prefers an aerial assault and it’s devastating. The first strike takes out most of the mother’s face and only the father manages to crawl from the wreckage and scramble for cover. Pursued to a dead end, the man cuts off his own hand with a circular saw and jettisons it into a garbage chute so its signet ring can transmit into space, there to be detected by Spiral. Oh, and space has another useful property too…

It transpires that he’s not been the first former agent of Spiral to be tracked down. It also transpires that

sculpture wasn’t Zaya’s first occupation. After twenty years working for the top secret agency called Spiral (she joined very young, as you’ll discover) she retired six years ago when she fell pregnant and has since raised the two daughters she dotes on as a more than capable single parent. Her younger sister Carmen visits often. This is not irrelevant.

Now Zaya’s being reactivated for what Spiral claims will be such a low-risk, safe and simple assignment that she won’t even need a gun: she’s to work for one day as a hostess on a yacht moored at Estrella del Mar. But if it’s such a low-level mission, why are there 341 other Spiral agents acting as crew members too?

So there you go: a summary of Act One. As you might infer Act Two goes postal with the most monumental all-out action you can imagine before Act Three takes a completely unexpected turn at the transdimensional traffic lights leaving Zaya confounded, distraught then devastated. Readers will be tearing their hair out under a deluge of dramatic irony. You know what’s happening: Zaya hasn’t a clue.

A final note on Estrella del Mar that made me laugh:

“Many beaches of the central island are clearly separated for naturists and other groups of religious thought, so that everyone can relax without having to face the gaze of others.”

Plus:

“”Sorry” is really the last thing you should say to a woman after sex.”

My friend Cath found “Thanks for that” pretty shoddy too.

Dark Times- Robert M BallReview by Stephen L. Holland

“In the end it was quick at least.“He’d not been right for weeks.“Another ‘accident’.”

That happens as you grow older.

“Some young men took him away for tests.“He put a brave face on it but I could tell he was scared.“They kept him in for the night.“And I came back to a stranger’s home.”

Sometimes you notice what’s missing more than you notice what’s there. A gap in your familiar landscape can prove haunting.

I once had a cat that would race to the door. I was worried that whenever I opened it he would rush onto the road. I used to open the door gingerly, carefully, cautiously; and for weeks after I had Felix put down I would open that door in exactly the same tentative manner, expecting a cat to dash past. He didn’t.

Composed of six shorts, four of them silent, this is one of the cleverest comics of the year. I’m not even going to tell you the title of that one for fear of giving its game away, yet here is a clue: what you have read up above is but prose. Read the same sequence as a comic and you will realise what Rob has done. Read

the same sequence as a comic and it is, as they say, a very different story!

‘Dump’ is its reversal, in which some unusually accommodating bin men take care of some no-longer-desired, discarded property and boasts two terrifying panels whose power lies in the implication of what will happen off-stage. A chisel is involved.

From the creator of WINTER’S KNIGHT, then, comes an assortment of mysteries – yes, that’s what they are – for you to decipher and devour. All of them are surprising and each is composed in a markedly different style, one of which unexpectedly as a tribute to Frank Miller’s SIN CITY. But then Frank’s SIN CITY was all about the shapes, just like Robert’s main output.

In ‘Jack’ our modern, spotty teenager in a tracksuit acquires some magic beans. From a supermarket. As per tradition, Mum is unimpressed and lobs those bobbins beans out of her council estate’s high-rise window. Jack will find treasure all the same.

‘Nest’ boasts two of the most blinding pages of all here: a double-page landscape of urban buildings stacked up a very steep hill, looking just like the back end of Nottingham’s Lace Market seen from the London Road roundabout. Their sloped roofs gleam brighter the closer they climb towards the full moon. In it a husband declares that “We can’t go on like this”. Why? His wife has an over-acquisitive nature, her objects of desire even curiouser than her means of obtaining them.

DARK TIMES opens with ‘Animal’.

“He’s here again” is the uh-oh signifier, coupled with the Indian waiter peering anxiously through a narrow, horizontal window at their recurrent, difficult diner whose take on their menu is perhaps wilfully misconstrued. He has… unusual appetites.

The wit there lies upon wordplay but even without that I would relish Robert’s art. It’s all about the shapes and the colours. In terms of shapes, the waiter’s face appears between a snapped-in-two poppadom, as crisply delineated as those thick wooden segments were sawn from then slotted into our Early Learning jigsaw puzzles. In terms of colour, the waiter is all greens and browns just like the curries he serves, while the diner is composed of cold, cold blues with top teeth protruding predatorily through saggy-jowls and a wan, worn, elongated face which screams “take this social-skills loser away”.

I’m thinking Norman Tebbit. It’s enough to make you queasy.

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e - m a i l

Aircooled Accessories air freshener

As well as stocking some sweet parts and accessories for your VW, Aircooled Accessories have just come out with this awesome air freshener, which will not just look good in your ride, but make it smell great too, coming in either cherry or apple.

There is also a matching pin up sticker to match, so why not get both while your at it?

Head to aircooledaccessories.com to get yours.

Cigar pen

This fountain pen is made from a real cigar! The actual pen body was handcrafted by an artist named Don Vann. He took the time to take a real cigar band from a Trilogy cigar and cast it in clear resin so it could be handcrafted on a lathe.

The pen parts are of the highest quality, only using durable jewellery grade plating so that this pen will last a lifetime.

Each pen is one of a kind, so get in quick.

Available from etsy.com/uk/shop/CastleInkPens

Regular | Cool Sh*t

Personalized Ceramic Mug with Engraved Bamboo Lid

Ceramic mugs are great for camping or for out in the garage, always reminiscent of childhood camping trips when all you had was a piece of canvas between you and the elements.

This one comes up with its own lid to keep the contents warm or to use as a coaster, and can be personalised with any text, logo or image you want.

Available from etsy.com/uk/shop/TealsPrairie

Fred- The Obsessive Chef chopping board

A gift for all you folks out there with a bit of OCD. With this chopping board you can precision cut to your hearts delight, as it’s covered in measurements and angles that tell you exactly how big a batonnet or a jullienne is.

It is made from strong, hard-wearing Beechwood. Plus it’s naturally anti-bacterial so no need to wash it 10 times to make sure it’s super clean!

Available from amazon.co.uk

Aviator leather Travel Mug

A beautiful handcrafted product, independently made to order. A product built for those who take pride in their early morning habits, this leather mug couples a handmade leather wrap and handle with a glass mason jar. As you pour in your hot beverage of choice, you are greeted with a great scent as the leather warms up. Great for a commute as well, as you can just screw on the lid.

Available from scoutmob.com/a/loyal-stricklin

Soldier doorstop

There’s not much to say about this really. A door stop that is an enlarged toy soldier.

A solid and heavy product, as you’d expect. Will stand there guarding your door, and holding it open or closed until ordered otherwise.

Available from firebox.com

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If you want your product to be featured contact: [email protected]

Poppy 3D

A really interesting product for iPhone that was funded through Kickstarter. Basically it uses a series of perfectly-positioned mirrors and lenses to capture photos and video from two slightly different perspectives. When you look into the viewfinder, your eyes see two different images and your brain seamlessly merges them together into one striking 3D picture.

As it is just mirrors, no batteries are required. All that is needed is for you to install a free app on your iPhone.

Available in the UK through firebox.com or through poppy3d.com in the US.

Death by Burrito cookbook

A cookbook that suggests it is not one for the faint hearted. Death by Burrito is full of delicious recipies from the revolutionary Mexican eatery based at the Catch bar in the heart of Shoreditch.

It gives you a real flavour of Mexican food with an emphasis on fresh ingredients and vibrant flavours that is a far cry from the cheese and mince offerings we’re used to.

Available from amazon.co.uk

Tim Easley is a self-taught creative based in London. His work is bright, bold, and eye catching. He is quite prolific on social media,

and when we saw his tweet inviting people to interview him we jumped

Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Tim and I’m a designustrator. Essentially I design things and draw things.

You describe yourself as self taught, so what stage of art education did you get to, and do you think going to uni would have been useful, or a waste of money?

Well, I got through high school but that was about it. I did go to college for a year but had to drop out for financial reasons, and I studied maths, computers & physics. So not much drawing involved there!

I think going to uni would definitely have been useful when I was younger, but maybe not now. It would have been good to meet people and spend a few years solely concentrating on creating things, rather than having to worry about the real world, which does tend to get in the way quite a lot. But I think not going to uni has given me a different perspective perhaps, so I like to think of it as a good way, even though if I had a time machine I’d go back and study. Actually that’s not true, I’d just cheat at the lotto.

Did you know you always wanted to be creative?

I used to draw a lot as a kid, and I liked art in school, but I never really wanted to do it as a career. I kinda ended up falling into it, being forced to go down the freelance path in a way since I don’t have any formal qualifications to speak of, and it’s not working out too bad so I’m cool with that. Although if I had my own way I’d be doing astrophysics or something right now and drawing for fun!

Describe your style to us, and how has it evolved?

Hmmm. I’d describe my style as bold and bright. I never really learnt how to draw properly so I’ve always just

Interview | Tim Easley

done things in my own way instead. I never used to think I had a style, but over the years people started to tell me they recognised my work, and then I started to recognise it myself, if that makes sense. It came as a little bit of a surprise to me, but after a while you start to enjoy doing things a certain way and drawing certain subjects. Right now I really enjoy doing hand lettering, so I think that ends up showing in my work, and creates a certain style.

Do you prefer to create work by hand or digitally, and why?

I do a little bit of both. I prefer to work by hand initially, mainly because sketching ideas out then tracing over them to do edits etc feels a lot more tactile and it’s a lot easier for me to do, and secondly because it’s bad for your eyes to just stare at a computer all day. Then I scan things, tidy them up, and get them coloured. That way I think my work gets a hand drawn feel to it but it’s scalable, which is better for clients and easier to print.

What’s the best job/jobs you’ve been given to do?

Basically anything where I’m given free reign. I like to have a specific brief, but then be left alone to do my thing. I did some lettering pieces for Etsy recently that were for their offices, and they let me do pretty much whatever I wanted, with a few small edits thrown in. It makes the project really fun because it feels more like doing a piece of work for yourself than someone else, and it’s also really satisfying when a client trusts you enough to just get on with things.

You’ve had some pretty big clients (Nike, Adidas and the BBC to name drop a few), how have you gone about getting yourself out there?

Mainly I just stand on street corners and flash some skin. But when that doesn’t work I just spam the Internet with images. I find that most of my work comes through social media; people who follow me and who happen to be in a position to commission work. I do some direct contact as well, but most of my work for big clients comes from people randomly finding me online, or through word of mouth.


What would be your ideal job?

I used to work in streetwear, so I’d love to do a range of tees for one of the bigger brands like Stussy, or do my

own sneakers at some point. Other than that if I could be an astronaut that would be great.

Describe a typical day for us?

I’m terrible with routines, so

I generally get up when my body will allow it, attempt to eat some breakfast, then check my e-mails to see if I’ve won the Nigerian lottery. Next I get down to work, try to get any client stuff out of the way so they have time to look over it

and give feedback for me to look at in the morning, and then work on some of my own stuff. The thing I like most about being freelance is that you can make your own hours and your own routine, so if I have no work on I’ll often

see if I can bum a ride to the countryside and go for a walk or take some photos. At night I go to sleep.

What value is there in social media, which platforms do you use the

most and why?

Social media is awesome. It lets you connect to people in a way that I could never have imagined as a kid. I use Twitter, Facebook & Instagram mostly, but I have a presence


on a few other platforms. I like Twitter the most because it’s so “live” and it’s possible to connect with people you’d never meet otherwise. Also when you work from home like I do, people in your social networks become your replacement work colleagues.

You’ve lived in Tokyo and Seattle, what was it like, and do you think your work has been influenced by it?

I loved living in both places. Tokyo was crazy, and Seattle definitely lives up to its name of the emerald city. But out of the two I think I enjoyed Seattle the most. They’ve definitely both influenced my work, I think Seattle gave me an appreciation for all things green, and Japanese design and illustration is so much different to what you get over here, so it was great to look at and take in.

Any exciting things in the pipeline?

I might be planning my first solo exhibition soon. That’s exciting. Well for me anyway! I’ve never really done one before, mainly because of the hassle of organising it, plus I’ve never really been that interested in exhibiting. I’ve been in plenty, but always group shows. It won’t be anything big, but I thought I should pop my exhibiting cherry.

To see more of Tim’s work head to his website timeasley.com


Best Quality T25 Inner SillVW Heritage

There is no denying it, the T25 has an unfortunate habit of attracting rust. It’s just as well then you can rely on parts specialists VW Heritage to supply the best parts to fix them when you find it. The latest in their T25 rust busting range are these inner sills, complete with the front jacking point attached. Produced in the UK from 1.5mm mild steel, as per VW’s original specification, they are sure to get the strength back in your sill and get your bus back to its best.

If your T25 is suffering from a metalwork malady, then have £175.50 per side at the ready and point your internet browser towards www.vwheritage.com; you’ll also be able to check out their full range of restoration repair panels while you’re at it.

Alternatively send them an email to [email protected] or give their team a call on 0845 8737241 and they will be more than happy to talk T25 with you to your heart’s content.

Regular | Tech Focus

A round up of the best products for your VW from around the world.

Bay Window DigitalSpeedometerVW Heritage

Yes, you read that right. Following a range of cleverly created modern gauges for the Beetle and Split, VW Heritage are pleased to now offer Bay Window speedometers from the same stable. Equipped with modern digital internals, they offer a sensible solution to sourcing a replacement; what with second hand units being a similar vintage to the one you already have!

A faithful copy of the original design, only the subtle LCD screen hints at some electrical

trickery behind the stock looking face. Self-calibrating, different wheel and tyre sizes can be overcome simply by driving a set distance. A hidden button is supplied for the driver to access a built in mileage and trip display.

Priced sensibly at £215, this is a modern addition that won’t spoil the look and feel of your classic camper. Available for ‘68-‘73, ‘74-‘75 and ‘76-‘79 models, you can spec your speedo in either

KMH or MPH depending on your requirements.

Available online at vwheritage.com or from their helpful sales team on 01444 251270, or drop them an e-mail to [email protected].

Solve your sloppy shifting!

Here we present what may be just the solution for your Bug’s sloppy or difficult shifting issues! Our Edd suffered recently with trying to change from 3rd down into 2nd gear in his ‘67 Beetle, an annoying problem at best and sometimes downright dangerous.. This type of problem usually results from a worn or damaged gear shift coupling, and here is an updated, heavy-duty version available from LimeBug to not only cure this issue but provide the very best shifting feel available for your Beetle, Type 3, Trekker or Ghia.

CNC machined from 6061 T6 Aluminium, this coupling offers the very best build quality available on the market, having been purpose designed to not only cure shifting issues but improve the overall feel and ‘action’ through the shifter. This part was even X-Ray’d to check for machining stresses, particularly in the tapped thread,

in which none were found!

Particularly useful in application for the drag racers among you, helping to transfer shifting action directly to the gearbox, as this coupling does away with any of the rubber (in stock form) or Nylon (in some aftermarket products) bushings, meaning there is no flex at all through the coupling. In a street bug this translates to a solid, consistent and dependable shift pattern. The coupling does, however, require the use of the original ‘pinch bolt’ or grub screw to secure the coupling onto the

gearbox nosecone, and it is essential to re-lock wire this in place after fitting as the loss of said bushings does transmit a little extra vibration through the coupling. I am assured that the cost of providing a new pinch bolt was not economically viable in a satisfactory quality. However the new main bolt is of excellent quality, with Allen fastening head, and is referred to as a ‘stripper bolt’ with a ground finish held to a much higher tolerance in surface finish and dimensional accuracy than a conventional bolt and even comes complete with a Nyloc nut.

Fitting of this product should take no longer than 10-20mins max, depending on how stubborn your original coupling is! The Allen head of the securing bolt does make fitting a little awkward due to the confined area of a Beetle shift rod tunnel, and the fact that you have to dig out your imperial (English) Allen keys! I would strongly recommend a good clean up of your original grub screw, and even apply a little grease such as a white lithium product in order to prevent an electrolytic reaction between the steel grub screw and the aluminium coupling.

Available through limebug.net at a cost of £49.75, this is a serious investment, but if you’ve just spend say £200 on a gear stick, why on earth would you not make it work to its full potential?

Regular | Tech Focus

Bavarian Crono dedicated to the Mk1 Golf40 years of VW Golf I - 1974 to 2014

We are all well aware of the impact the Mk1 Golf GTi had on the world. The Bavarian Crono Clockmaker has dedicated an appealing wristwatch edition dedicated to the VW Golf 1.

In 1974, Volkswagen presented a completely new model design that initiated an ongoing history of success. In 1976, the GTI - 110 PS caused a revolution that made the world of automobiles spin on a different axis. Bavarian Crono has always shows its special skills by the specifics of its watches. The exact replication of dial and pointer is self-evident. The colour-painted inner rings refer to the respective car. The facia was introduced to the Golf 1 clock in 1974 in colour. The inner ring of the Golf 1 GTI 1976 imitates the characteristic red rim of the grille. With the Golf 1 GTI Clock of 1982, Bavarian Crono managed to replicate the shape of the

dashboard enclosure exactly, and the watch crown is shaped like the distinctive tank cap.

All watches are made in Germany with a Swiss made quartz movement and are priced at €185 onwards. They also have a fantastic range of watches dedicated to others in the VW range, and to other car manufactures too! Head on over to the UK dealers website - www.classiccarspeedometerwatches.co.uk to check out their entire range!

Surely this is on all of our christmas wish lists!

Product | Bavarian Crono

words and photos: Joe Eynon

Show Report | Cumbria VAG

Cumbria VAG Show & Shine.Westmorland County Showground.

On the run up to our first visit to the Cumbria VAG

Show and Shine we were a tad aprehensive to say the least. We are mainly an air-cooled magazine that likes to dip his toes in the water every now and again. Making the trip up to Cumbria from

the Midlands for a water-cooled show was a step into the dark.

The show does attract a fair few air-cooled cars so we weren’t completley alone but I’d hazard a guess at it being 95% H2O.

The water and air guys do shows very differently. It was great to see it from a different perspective for a change. The show was extremley well organised and once you were through the


gates you funnelled to the right into the camping fields.

We however headed into the traders area and pitched up our stall. This was fun! We ended up being right next to the drum and bass tent. It was very very loud but not unbearable.

The show planners had managed to get some top headliners to perform at this

years show including Matrix and Futurebound.The live music was great and although the tent was rammed full of party goers the atmosphere was great and we saw no trouble at all. The food vendors stayed open all night and made the most of those late night hungers we all get.

On Sunday we woke up to bright sunshine and a full show arena. The standard of cars entering the field

was very high with all ages of watercooled VAG cars coming in. It was mainly organised in clubs and forums so you could really get a sense of how different groups of mates built their cars.

The atmosphere at the show was so relaxed and we got such a great reception from everyone in the scene, even though we were there in our bay-window! Thanks

for that!

When it came to choosing our best of show we made a decision to pick a water-cooled car. This was mainly because we felt the show had given us so much so we felt it was only right to do so. Another reason was that we had become totally smitten by George Taylor’s Polo Derby,

(which is featured in this issue).

Thanks to everyone involved in Cumbria VAG especially Stefan Duff and Scott Mitchell for making us feel at home.

We will 100% be making the trip again next year. We hope

to see you there!


As a kid brought up on American comics, Mad max,driving off road and all thingsAmerican the Fugative wasthe coolest thing I’d everseen, I even owned a roadgoing one for a short while,But that, as they say, isanother story...

The 80’s, Action at Stoneleigh...The first Bug Jam at the Pod...Beetles were cheap motoring and no-one wanted a bus...Hilly dons the ol’ rose tints and goes

The Thump Thump bug, at the time this was cutting edge, losing the pillars, funky material, cleaning all the lines, featured in every magazine...

Not bad even today... I seem to remember it hailed from somewhere near Hoddesdon where I worked at the time so maybe it felt closer to me...

A look at some old leftfield stuff at VW shows...I wonder what Calvin might have thought... ?

Back in the day...

As a kid brought up on American comics, Mad max,driving off road and all thingsAmerican the Fugative wasthe coolest thing I’d everseen, I even owned a roadgoing one for a short while,But that, as they say, isanother story...

The 80’s, Action at Stoneleigh...The first Bug Jam at the Pod...Beetles were cheap motoring and no-one wanted a bus...Hilly dons the ol’ rose tints and goes

The Thump Thump bug, at the time this was cutting edge, losing the pillars, funky material, cleaning all the lines, featured in every magazine...

Not bad even today... I seem to remember it hailed from somewhere near Hoddesdon where I worked at the time so maybe it felt closer to me...

A look at some old leftfield stuff at VW shows...I wonder what Calvin might have thought... ?

Back in the day...

Feature | Retro Report

Vinyl frontier: no paint, no worries!

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As seen in Classic Car Weekly, product of the week section. Big fan,I owned three in a row

before going VW...

If you need a Bespoke gift for someone who loves VW’s. Cars or motorbikes then get in touch.Framed car portraits or large Wall art on canvas,board or direct to your wall...All commissions welcome affordable prices happy to discuss anything...

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Back Issue BargainsIf you’re missing an issue just ask, I might be

able to complete your collection. Just £3* each sent out 1st class in an indestructable mailbag

[email protected] Just send me a message asking for the list...*£2 if you’re happy to collect (from Hertfordshire)

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Making logos and laser cuts since 2011

PERFORMANCE

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Custom paint | refinishing | welding | metalwork | wheel refurbishment | body repairs

Based in the Midlands

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PAINT SHACK

Cal Look Drag DayWords: Edd ThorpePhotos: Scott Savage

Show Report | Cal Look Drag Day

Cal Look Drag Day. Shakespeare County Raceway.June 7th-8th 2014

The Cal Look Drag Day has now become an absolute must for us, held at the fantastic Shakespeare County

Raceway again; the Stratford upon Avon venue provides the perfect mix of hot VW’s nostalgia and a stunning

backdrop to boot. There’s just something about the gritty, down-to-earth vibe that the place oozes which suits the drag day down to a tee. Moving the event from early April to the weekend of June 7-8th should have made for some better weather conditions, right? Hm, well thunder, lightning and a large dollop of rain looked like it was going to block proceedings come the Saturday morning but luckily this was soon turned on its heels by late morning, with the ‘Shakey’

crew working their backsides off to get the strip in user friendly condition.

<There was some serious machinery in said pit areas> The friendly nature and open pit layout of the raceway makes for some great anticipation as you can wander freely among the drag cars as they make their final preparations before heading to the fire up road. This year all VWs were centrally located in the pit area, which gave a great feel to things, almost in the way the NHRA drag racing events of the 70’s were run stateside (I imagine). There was some serious machinery in said pit areas too, what with Russell Ritchie, of The Gasser

Garage, even bringing down the infamous Tar Babe race car all the way from Aberdeen to put in what transpired to be the UK’s first ever run of the car – something pretty special to witness you’ll agree, not least the fact that Russell even packed in a personal best and scooped Cotswled Race Cars quickest N/A run of the weekend award. What made this event even more special for me was to see Tar Babe running with Bernard Newbury running 9’s with Stitch Up, earning the Top Gun quickest ET award, simultaneously with Tar Babe. Those that know me know that I am a serious Nostalgia Gasser nerd, and that these two are among my choice all-time favourite race cars, so to see them run head to head was pretty damn special to me!

As the Saturday unfolded yet more records and expensive

parts were broken alike, with the not-so-coveted Autohaus Dolby and Bears Fail Award going to Clarkie Hillyard, who I witnessed destroying his gearbox on what was meant to be his very first run of the day – unlucky dude! I hope it’s fixed by the time you read this! Of the records smashed over the weekend, Matt Dolby (of Autohaus Dolby) took the Quick ET award, earning himself a set of custom built cylinder heads from Brothers VW Shop in California. The Quickest Street Car Award, sponsored by Reichspeed, went to Jo Clifford.

One of the nicest awards to pick up is the Spirit of Drag Day award, for those who go above and beyond to make the event what it is. This was duly presented to John Saxton, who even sacrificed his own racing to help out others. Sponsored by Aircooled Performance and

Kraftwerk VW, this award is the only one that is a complete surprise right up until the prize giving and makes for a really special presentation, showing that good deeds do not go unnoticed.

The Cal Look Drag Day is set to return to Shakey in October for Cal Look Drag Day II, which also marks the DKR birthday party, held over the weekend of 11th-12th October.

Check out www.facebook.com/callook.dragday www.shakespearecountyraceway.co.uk


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Full CircleWords by Edd ThorpePhotos by Edd Thorpe and Sasha Brierley

Feature | Ghia Vert

I love it when a good story comes full circle!

It was at the Mallory Park reopening way back in March that I first spotted what turned out to be

Dick Lewis’ stunning ’67 Karmann Ghia Convertible. We were blessed with some fantastic sunshine that day which made the deep metallic red paint really pop so I just had to photograph it, grabbing my iPhone as quickly as I could. Later that day, once back home with a good cuppa I uploaded a few pictures of the day onto Facebook, among them this gorgeous ‘vert. Within minutes someone had tagged Dick, and we instantly struck up a conversation – I knew then this HAD to grace our pages.

<and what a beast it is with 180BHP on tap in something weighing approximately 840kg..!>

Due to the nature of our magazine sometimes there is quite a lead time between gathering a feature car up and getting it onto these hallowed pages. So come mid-September I was delighted to be able to return to Mallory Park to run a dedicated photo-

shoot of the Ghia, again in fantastic weather and with an amazing backdrop to suit! That is no small achievement to be able to commandeer a live racing circuit on a public track day in order to run some static shots, this took some serious string pulling, to which an immense thanks is extended to Geof Wilson of Machine7 and to Chris Hewgill at Mallory Park.

As it turns out, the Ghia has quite the story to it too – having been owned by Dick’s wife’s boss

(are you keeping up?) Apparently he had done all of the hard graft in getting this left hand drive U.S import example restored and the ‘vert was just awaiting paint when funds and time ran out, you know the part when ‘life gets in the way’? Well, that is when Dick stepped up and scooped the entire car for what must be tied up in the engine alone! Said engine being none other than a full race-spec John Maher built 2110cc rated at roughly 180BHP now, breathing through monstrous twin 45 Webber carbs.

Feature | Ghia Vert

The choice of colour is a very interesting one- the eagle eyed among you will have noticed that it is not a standard Volkswagen hue, but it takes more thinking to get your head around the fact that that gorgeous colour once called a Toyota home. Yep, this is in fact Mica Garnet Red, and not a House of Kolor creation as I presume it must have been!

Of course, a killer paint scheme is nothing without a purposeful stance to compliment it, this being duly taken care of with a narrowed and adjustable beam, teamed with CSP 2 1/4” dropped spindles, with the front end riding on Bugpack short shocks. Complimented with a back end that’s been lowered by 25mm (1”)

on the original torsion bars, this Ghia gives a useable but hunkered down look. A set of original, fully polished, Porsche 2.0ltr 914 alloys now tucks up inside those arches to finish off the package beautifully.

Inside the cockpit you’ll find a full tan leather interior by Bernard Newbury from which to pilot this beast - and what a beast it is with 180BHP on tap in something weighing approximately 840kg..!

Out back a Gene Berg 1 5/8” match length header with home brewed, tucked, twin quiet pack mufflers really made that motor sing through the Leicestershire hills as we moved around the circuit on our shoot. Luckily those

stock discs up front and rear drums are amble in stopping this animal due largely to its lightweight nature of being a convertible.

What Dick has managed to achieve here is something quite out of the ordinary, with a car that most would expect to see on the plinths and stands of a high end U.S show yet be equally at home on the ¼ mile highway yet still Dick uses this as it was intended – for pounding the street! “There’s nothing quite like this when the suns out, the top’s down and those 6x9 speakers and 8” sub are drowned out with the noise of those carbs gulping air in” With nothing between your ears and the deck lid vents, Dick is quite correct when he says those carbs take over the soundtrack with this ride, if not those twin quiet packs roaring away

this is quite

the assault on your senses!

Well if having an immensely enviable car isn’t enough, Dick really tops out the charts by being one of the nicest guys you could ever wish to come across in the VW scene, which is superbly reassuring just what can be done with a home build, without letting the end result run away with itself. After all, it would be a shame to be scared of driving something so awe inspiring, wouldn’t it?

A huge thanks must go out to Mallory Park for the use of their track for this shoot, reinforcing their stake as The Friendly Circuit. If you haven’t, check them out at www.malloryparkcircuit.com and be sure to get to one of their events- they cater for bike and car fans alike, running public track days and even holding a Cycle Mallory event too!

Feature | Ghia Vert

We’ve long been an admirer of his photos so we thought we’d

introduce you to the man behind SqueakyThinger, Raf Carrera.

Tell us a little about your background?

I am completely self-taught. My professional life has very little, to nothing, to do with photography; which may be why I enjoy it so much. Not to say that I haven’t spent hundreds of hours watching “how to” videos and talking to friends about techniques. There have been many hours spent on facebook messaging friends like Julianne Karr, Greg Keysar and Dan Crosley with “hey, how did you do that?”. Please check them out. They are each very different photographers, which is why I very much appreciate what they do.

Squeakythinger is an interesting name. Where does it come from?

Having owned a few aircooled vw’s, some of my favourite subjects are cars… old cars. So when I decided to play around with creating a watermark, I came up with our logo, which, if you haven’t noticed, is made up of 4 hearts and 4 wrenches, to signify our affinity. Anyway, when putting together one of our first videos, it was for Central Jersey Society’s All Aircooled Gathering, I thought the static image of the watermark was a bit boring so, I had it spin… and that was cool

Interview | Squeaky Thinger

but, it was when scrubbing through footage of buses arriving at the show, it all came together… one of the buses had really squeaky brakes. So imagine, there is my watermark, spinning about, with the squeaky brakes as the soundtrack. A friend asked what I was going to call the watermark and I said “you know, the squeakythinger”… and there it was.

What inspires you to do what you do and inspires you to carry on?

It’s fun. I sit in an office in the middle of the city for my day job. Photography is an opportunity to capture

moments we wouldn’t otherwise notice. This has been particularly important for us, as our family grew 1 member larger, with the birth of our William past summer.

What makes the good picture stand out from the average photograph? How do you make your photos different?

That’s easy light and processing. With good processing, you can make an awesome picture incredible but can never make a bad shot good. This is why I am in absolute awe of the guys that only shoot film; so in tribute of those

guys… #filmisnotdead

What does photography mean to you?

I’ve been into the math of photo/video as long as I remember. It started with a Kodak instant camera my parents got me when I was about 8 and continued to shooting friend’s birthday parties. I distinctly remember sharing photos and videos and specifically their reactions. The majority of my family is back in Peru, where I was born, so being able to share life’s moments and the feeling of pure joy is simply incredible. That’s what photography means to me.

What do you feel about the world of photography at the moment and what do you like to use when capturing the best images?

I’m currently a Nikon shooter. We are living in such an incredibly awesome time for photography. Starting with your very basic, inexpensive point-and-shoot cameras, to mobile phones shooting 4k, the arrival of great mirrorless cameras; this is really a great time to pick up the hobby. I have a D600 and a few prime lenses. My favourite lens at the moment is a 50mm manual Nikon f1.2. It’s simply a thing of beauty. I also like a nice Russian-made Zenitar 16mm f2.8 and Nikkor’s G line (28, 50, 85mm).

What motivates you to continue getting the best from your photography?

It’s a pure and utterly selfish need to show them off, especially to my wife.

What are you trying to get across to your audience with your photos?

This is going to sound a bit ridiculous because I swore

I wasn’t going to be “that guy” but, it’s more about what I want people to feel. To put it simply, my goal is to capture feelings.

Which photographers influenced you, and how did they influence your style of photography?

There are so many styles I enjoy. There are a handful of photographers and videographers that have this film noire style that I really like and have influenced my “look”. I enjoy the balance between the richness that darkness brings with the vibrancy of light. I’ve actually been taking screen captures from video footage lately with great results.

How do you get the thing that is in front of the camera onto paper/screen in just the way you want?

It’s a deliberate goal to spend as little time processing images/video as possible. Thanks to the magic of RAW images, it doesn’t take very long to get my images the way I want them. My images, for the most part, are purposely white-balanced incorrectly. I much prefer a warmer tone to my photos so that is the way they’re typically edited. There is

just something about the warm glow of a sun-kissed subject.Locations and weather conditions seem to be a crucial aspect to a successful picture. How do you handle these unpredictable factors? I am blessed to live in Northern NJ. I am 30 minutes away from Times Square, 15 miles away from beautiful mountains, an hour away from NJ’s famous beaches. We have full sticky summer, snow and everything in between. So to answer your question, I don’t “handle” those factors. I simply “go with them”.

Colour vs. Black and White.

Why one over the other, and is the photographic process different? Truth be told, there are very few situations where I opt for black & white photos. And typically, it is because the colour version sucks. There, I said it. There are many times, especially with candid photography where the background sucks. This is a perfect opportunity to kill the colour and go nuts with your contrast slider.

What is your favourite thing to take photographs of?

Family. Either of my wife


Amy, son William, our fur baby Lady (#pupdelux on IG). After all, they are the most important aspects of my life.

Last photograph on earth? What will it be of?

One picture… it would have to be a boudoir session with the creator of AirMonkeysMag. #callme

Where do you see your passion for photography taking you in the future?

We know that cars and photography can be quite expensive hobbies. I purchased my first aircooled (70 type 3 square) about 8 or so years ago on eBay (it was in one of the first issues of Air Monkeys). I was fortunate enough to make a little money on the sale. The sale funded my second project (67 type 4 fasty) and managed to make a little money on that sale. This resulted in a small “fun fund”. I used some of the fund to purchase my very stock, triple black, 1970 Mercedes 280 SEL but I also had enough to buy some photo equipment. This is when I promised my wife that I wouldn’t put any “new” money into the habit; any and all future purchases have to be drawn from


my “fun fund”. I’ve been lucky enough to have progressed in my photography/videography to have landed a few paid jobs. Whether it’s show coverage, portrait session or auto feature, I honestly didn’t expect things to progress as much as it has. I still very much consider myself a hobbyist with very much to learn. Looking back, there aren’t too many people that have a self-sustaining hobby. This make me (and my wife) very happy.


Our favourite vehicles from the past few months...

Regular | Spanked!

Regular | Spanked

S E R V I C E M O D I F I C A T I O N R E S T O R A T I O N P A R T S A C C E S S O R I E S

Ob1 have got to be coming out with some of the coolest and original tees around at the moment, highly influenced by tattoo and VW culture, we caught up with the guy behind the brand, Brett Elesmore, to find out a bit more.

Company Profile | OB1

I graduated from the University of Central England with a BA (hons) in Fine Art in 2003 and followed this by gaining a PGCE in Art and Design in the following year. This has led to a career in education passing on my knowledge and skills to future artists. During this time I have continued to keep my creative juices flowing through different artworks, exhibitions and projects.

Screen printing has always been a process that I have found fascinating and an extremely enjoyable medium to work with. I had been screen printing tees and other clothing for friends and myself for several years and always had good feedback from them. This got me thinking, if I could create good quality prints with a small amount of equipment then what could I produce with better equipment?

With lots of ideas constantly flying around my head and with the skills I had gained over the years I decided it was finally time to sort myself out and concentrate on taking things a little more serious.

I started researching to find suppliers of high quality screen printing equipment, inks and consumables. It was coming up to Christmas and I decided to treat myself and buy the

equipment I would need to start producing prints to the quality I would be happy with.And that’s basically where ob1 started.

Trial prints were made and

wash tests were done. I knew I would only be happy with a product that I would buy and wear myself. Geometric patterns and op art were something I was very keen to develop into my designs and

create an ongoing theme.

Then at the end of January 2014 ob1 was ready to go into production. It started on a small scale with just two tee designs to gauge people’s

reactions and gain some much needed feedback. The response was very positive and it was at this point I knew I could develop the brand and produce a range of products I could be very proud of.

Inspiration for the next range of tees came from a world I have been involved with for a long time. The VW community and scene has been a second home for me and my closest friends and has introduced me

to a huge amount of awesome people.

As a member of the RSVP I spend a vast amount of time surrounded by, talking about, living and breathing


VWs. It is easy to become lost and immersed in the history, lifestyle, creativity, development and details within the VW scene and VWs themselves. Hours have been spent working on each others cars, looking at cars, discussing cars and the age old wheel choice saga. It is the details that really inspire me and wanting to try something different I started to create

a range of designs based on VW parts with a twist. Continuing the geometric theme I introduced patterns to my illustrations to create a range of designs that are both recognizable and abstract. These have been put into production and can be found at www.theob1.co.uk

The future for ob1 is looking bright. New designs, products

and collaborations with other artists are being developed as we speak. I am really enjoying and excited by the development of ob1. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of the process to where I am so far, everyone who has bought a tee and to the VW scene.

http://www.burtsboyzspeedshop.wix.com/burtsboyz

http://www.burtsboyzspeedshop.wix.com/burtsboyz

Viva Skeg Vegas

Words and Photos: Joe Eynon

Show Report | Viva Skeg Vegas

Viva Skeg Vegas, Lincolnshire.15-17th August 2014.

It’s that time of the year again- our annual Viva

Skeg Vegas show report. The show is held towards the end of August each year and really is one of the best events on the air-cooled calendar. Few shows match it for quality of cars, atmosphere, entertainment, traders and venue.

The show always seems to be at the end of my summer holidays so it is perfectly placed for me to arrive already super chilled and relaxed. As soon as you enter the show field and pitch up camp you can tell you’re somewhere pretty cool.

Friday night this year played host to another opportunity to see the DTA limbo competition. A great chance to finally see who’s car is the lowest!

The weekend is full of entertainment in the big top tent and different show and shines throughout the Saturday and Sunday. On Sunday we were honoured to hand out an Air Monkeys choice award to Max Edwards German looker from Lime Bug. The trophies are one of the best bits of the show with loads of leading clubs and companies making custom trophies for the weekend.

The show and shine is free to enter. Just roll down the hill from the camping fields to the arena and park up. VW only though not MK1 Escort as someone thought!

The Ministry of Bicycles were there with their Wall of Death and Seaside Neil was there on hand to pinstripe anything you wanted!

The rest of the trade didn’t disappoint

with yet again brilliant stalls and food vendors to enjoy. No tatt here at Skeg!

Camping is relaxed with only a small amount of fences and fire roads to obey. You are able to park how you want with your friends to make your own personal little space or your own display if you wanted.

BBQ’s and beers were enjoyed well into the night with the fairground lighting up the sky. The dodgems got plenty of action all weekend!

PJ Gibbons debuted his latest “The Video Volks” film of Pete Townley’s Fire Bus baywindow in the big top with a big crowd there to enjoy it.

Each year this show sets the standard of how to run and organise an event. Keep it simple and the show will sort itself out. A recipe for success.

For more information check out the shows website:

http://www.vivaskegvegasvw.co.uk


Alive and VDubbinWords and Photos: Joe Eynon

Show Report | Alive & VDubbin

Alive and VDubbin 2014. Jimmy’s Farm, Suffolk.

This was our first visit visit to the Suffolk Bugrs own show that has now become a

strong fixture on the air-cooled calendar. Alive and VDubbin prides itself on being a family friendly VW show with activities all weekend long to keep you entertained.

We took the long journey to one of the most easterly points of the UK with anticipation. The weekend was even more special as we were making to most of the aclaimed family friendly show by making a weekend holiday out of it with my sister and her family

joining

the Air Monkeys ranks for the weekend.

On arrival to the show we were strictly directed into our camping plot. Intially this felt a bit authoritarian but it soon became clear this allowed no arguement on whose space is whose. The spray paint was on the grass and it did not lie!We set up camp and enjoyed what was left of the evening with a BBQ and some drinks.

Saturday arrived and so did the rain. Being in a tintop Baywindow during a horrific thunder storm was not pleasant but it soon passed and when it did the sun came out. The whole weekend was so hot. Blue skies and wall to wall sunshine. The sun cream certainly was used in copious amounts.

The show itself was brilliant.


The show and shine gathered some amazing cars together and it was huge. Infact I’d happily say it was one of the best show and shines I have ever been to.

The trade area was also fantastic with plenty of autojumble stalls to rummage through as well as bigger companies making an appearance during the weekend such as Hayburner and T2D. It was very easy to come away with no money at all.

If you camped at the show like we did you would have agreed that the facilities were very good and clean. Plus the evening entertainment throughout the weekend was super with live acts and bands for you to go and enjoy in the marquees surrounded by some ace food vendors including The Splitscreen Bakery and a great milkshake bar.

The show not onlyexcelled on making the weekend fun for everyone and attracting some top motors, it was also one of the first shows I have been to where there appeared to be no trouble all weekend. The hot sunny weather put everyone in such great moods that everyone just relaxed and enjoyed themselves.

We’ll be sure to return in 2015 and we hope to see you there too!


Music that has been doing the rounds at Air Monkeys HQ

Alt JThis Is All YoursSamantha Eynon

Alt J met at Leeds University, which helped form part of their sound, as due to having to rehearse in Uni Halls they had to try and keep the noise levels down, so they didn’t use a bass guitar or bass drums. They emerged shrouded in mystery in 2012, with a ungoogleable name, and initially their faces were obscured in all photos released of them. Soon they were being heralded as the new Radiohead, a comparison that they never encouraged, but one that follows them about none the less.

In early 2014 their bassist, Gwil Sainsbury, left the band, after he struggled to enjoy the life of being in a touring band. The departure doesn’t seem to have had any negative affect on the band, as the release of their sophomore album delivers.

It sees the band in a more playful mood, such as on ‘Hunger of The Pine’ which starts off quietly, and moodily, building slowly, and then they drop in a sample of Miley Cyrus from ‘4x4’. 2 artists that on paper you would definitely not put together. ‘Left Hand Free’ is a very enjoyable. bluesy, curveball on the album, that proves Alt J are not a one trick pony. We also see another side to the band on the track ‘Every Other Freckle’ with it’s sexy, and also at times down right creepy lyrics, like, “I’m gonna turn you inside out and lick you like a crisp packet”The album is like a forest that you disappear into, and get lost in for 55 minutes, and you emerge into the lazy sunlight of their excellent and unexpected cover of Bill Withers’ ‘Lovely Day’

Standout track: Left Hand FreeRating: 9/10Sounds like: Radiohead, Glass Animals, Foals

Regular | Earworm

Death from Above 1979The Physical WorldPeter Salter

Reunions with loved ones can be incredibly emotional affairs. So after the best part of ten years, to be back in the strong, loving embrace of Messrs Grainger and Keeler – aka Death from Above 1979 – is comforting, exciting and satisfying all at once. Picking up exactly

where they so abruptly left things with 2004 debut, ‘You’re a Woman, I’m a Machine’, latest offering ‘The Physical World’ has been well worth the agonisingly long wait. Possessing the same distinctive swagger and powerful sound that was synonymous with their first outing, but with a few additional electronic embellishments, this is everything fans of the Canadian duo have been crying out for, for over the last decade. If you were into this stuff ten years ago, picking the new record up is a no-brainer. If you’ve never heard DFA before, put down whatever you’re doing and go out to get both albums, RIGHT NOW. Seriously. Do it.

Rating: 10/10Sounds like: Blood Red Shoes, Royal Blood, The FaintStandout Track: Always On

Every Time I DieFrom Parts UnknownPeter Salter

After a few years of trying out different things – none of them particularly bad – it’s great to see Every Time I Die return to what they do better than pretty much every other hardcore band out there. The seventh studio album from the New York five piece, ‘From Parts Unknown’, is the closest thing to the excellent ‘Hot Damn!’ since, well… since that album came out in 2003. Full of frenetic energy, absolutely filthy guitars, relentless drums and some of frontman Keith Buckley’s best lyrical work to date, this is a great punk rock record that picks you up by the lapels, and shakes you into submission. Guitarists Jordan Buckley and Andy Williams have ramped up the complexity of their riffery (not a word) once more and their work is only equalled by the incredible drumming of Ryan Leger. From Parts Unknown isn’t even ETID’s best record, but it’s still better than a lot of punk rock out there and it’ll definitely please long time fans.

Rating: 8/10Sounds like: The Bronx, He is Legend, The ChariotStandout Track: The Great Secret

Mad CaddiesDirty RiceJoe Eynon

I have been a fan of Mad Caddies for many years now and when reviewing an album you become more and more critical each time. With a 7 year gap since their last album you could be forgiven for thinking they had long gone. Fortunately they haven’t fallen into the pre-mould for many ageing ska punk bands of relying on covers, and they have released a full self composed album.

The band have moved away from their traditional skacore roots and have become…well…Mad Caddies! The band hit about every note and musical genre possible with a big influence seeming to come from big band music and jazz and a dwindling reggae effect unlike previous material.The album is a huge melting pot of funky jazz infused ska with some brilliant lyrics throughout.

Fingers crossed that this is a new beginning for Mad Caddies and they continue to make great music once again.

Stand out track: Shoot out the lightsRating: 8/10Sounds like: Streetlight Manifesto, Mustard Plug, Big D And The Kids Table

Jamie TCarry On The GrudgeJoe Eynon

Jamie Treays, known as Jamie T, is well know for his lazy, multicultural, hip-hop vocals and mashup music styles, but has yet again surprised his fans with this latest release. It has been a few years since his last offering and now he approaches his music along with his age has matured. This latest album is a

different sound. The pace has dropped and the melodies have endured allowing the sound to be more thoughtful and less youthful. With this there are key moments in the album which harken back to Kings and Queens, 5 years ago. Vocally the album is stressed and Treays sounds like he is on the edge of his range but with this he portrays a certain desperation with what he is trying to develop into.

The album begins with the self-analytical ‘Limits Lie’. This sets a precedent for the LP as the reflective mood continues throughout. Jamie T picks up on what people in their late twenties are feeling all over the world. He is trying to find the balance in his life between work, friendships, love and himself. This battle is clearly audible all through the album.Jamie T has matured just enough but not too much. The album is a fantastic, melodic and tuneful barrage of excellence.

Stand out track: TroubleRating: 9/10Sounds like: The King Blues, The Cribs, The Libertines

Karen OCrush SongsSamantha Eynon

Karen O’s debut solo release ‘Crush Songs’ was recorded, in the most part, between 2006 - 2007. It is a very low-fi recording, and despite the fact that it has 14 tracks, the whole album is only 26 minutes long. This means nearly every song is under 2 minutes, giving the effect that many tracks feel like they’ve only just started by the time they’re finished and

we’re on to the next one.

As the title would suggest the songs are mainly laments on previous loves, and perhaps the length of the songs help give the feeling of a fleeting romance- the immediacy of it, and how quickly it can fade, she herself said “When I was 27 I crushed a lot.” The album is a very intimate recording, and feels like it was done for herself, almost an audio diary more than anything else, and it’s not always an easy listen. However, there are enough charming moments to keep you listening, ‘King’ is one of these, a whimsical, lullaby written about the death of Michael Jackson, with the lyrics ‘…with his single sparkling glove/ He blows us kisses, shows us love’, it is a good reflection on the childlike ways of Jackson himself.

An album that’s worth a listen, but you can’t help but wish some of the songs had been expanded on a little.

Standout Track: Come The NightRating: 5.5/10Sounds like: Moldy Peaches, Kimya Dawson, Alvvays

Regular | Earworm

Johnny MarrPlaylandSamantha Eynon

It took until 2013 for the former Smiths guitarist to release his first solo album ‘The Messenger’, a good 25 years after band mate Morrissey, and he must have enjoyed the experience because 18 months later he’s back with another offering. It is very much in the same vein of the first record, delivering exactly what you might expect from a Johnny Marr album- driving guitar, with a bit of swagger. The leading single off the album ‘Easy Money’ is an ear worm on the evils of money, that recalls ‘Dashboard’ from his Modest Mouse days. There are nods to The Smiths, and Marr’s trademark jangly guitars in songs like ‘The Trap’, and ‘This Tension’ but not in a way that feels laboured. It’s not breaking any boundaries, but is an enjoyable listen none the less.

Standout track: Back In The BoxRating: 7/10Sounds like: Miles Kane, Paul Weller, Savages

WeezerEverything Will Be Alright In The EndSamantha Eynon

‘Everything Will Be Alright in The End’ has been described by many as Weezer’s comeback album. Fans have waited with baited breath for years to see if the band could deliver on the promise of Pinkerton, and many have felt that each release since 2001’s ‘Green Album’ (if not earlier) has steadily got worse. For this album they reunited with Ric Ocasek, the producer they worked with on Pinkerton, an indication of the fact Weezer were eager to return to form with this release. They also make that pretty clear on their first single released off the album ‘Back to The Shack’ with lyrics that talk about them returning to their roots.

So obviously the big question is, have they done it with this one? Well the answer is largely yes. It seems that Cuomo has decided to focus more with this album, rather than skipping around wildly from one musical experiment to the other with limited success. It feels like a very honest album, and Cuomo has said that the album can be divided into songs about his relationships with others, his relationship with women and his relationship with his father. A

few songs grapple with his relationship with his fans, and express a desire to please them.There a number of Cuomo’s trademark perfect pop rock songs showcased here like the sweet love song ‘DaVinci’ with it’s catchy whistling, and ‘Cleopatra’, a song about growing old.Everything Will Be Alright in The End is a nod to Weezer’s past thats bodes well for their future.

Standout Track: I’ve Had It Up To HereRating: 8/10Sounds like: Pavement, The Rentals, OK go

M U S I C

M O N S T E R

words and photos: Wai Man Shin

VW FestivalHarewood House, Leeds.

One of the most established shows in the UK, VW Festival, is in its 10th year

at the picturesque Harewood House in Leeds. Held over the weekend 15th to 17th August, it is a show that caters for all the family.

A true family friendly show, with so many activities to see and do for all. Kids could not have been more entertained, with a treasure hunt, fairground rides, face painting, kids entertainer, karaoke competitions, illusionist, kids disco, dog training performances and Animal Antics showing some cute and not so cute little animals it was very hard to get bored!

This years theme was Superheroes and many took that opportunity to be in fancy dress and on the Saturday evening Harwood house was all about Superheroes, some great costumes as many got into the spirit of having a good time! The live bands proved a great success also and the big performance stage/marquee was virtually full to maximum. (I saw more than a few ‘dad dances!!)

<amazing Watercooled and Aircooled on display>There was an area of BMX and free Running demo, and despite the wind, some spectacular tricks wowed the spectators. AutoGraf Graffiti were spraying a few rides up live! the Ghostbusters piece was very cool that was on a VW T5. Food stalls were in abundance and had a huge variety, Curry, Roast Hog, Pizza, Pasta etc etc could easy gain a few pounds while losing a few £!

Show Report | VW Festival

But not to forget what the show is about.....

Cool cars, this year there were some amazing cars both Watercooled and Aircooled on display, even the trade vendors had some cool rides.

Great variety of car clubs attended showing their pride and joy, the 40th Anniversary Golf display was a great bonus.

Along with the usual show and shine on the Sunday, there was a Rat Look display on the Saturday that was very popular.

As the event drew to a close, winners were paraded in front of Harewood with the chance to see the rides drive slowly up from the car park, the raffle draw for a 1970 Beetle was done after the show and shine presentation, restored by the Herbie Hospital with funds going to the Dogs Trust, one lucky winner took home a very nice Bug.

The weekend was a little windy weather wise, but as with previous years, it was a great success and all who attended had a great time… Here is to the next 10!!!

Show Report | VW Festival

N.E.W.S. 2014

Glossary:N.E.W.S. – a yearly affair for all buggers to meet at from the north, east, west and south.Buggers – silly individual who chooses to drive a beach buggy.

“What is this N.E.W.S. event of which you speak?” Well it’s a chilled out, exclusively beach buggy oriented weekend to bring like-minded people from around the UK to camp, cruise and

undoubtedly get a little silly together.The date was set, the second weekend of July aka a Buggers Christmas. The location was set, The Gate Hangs High in Oxfordshire – a very quaint public house with a generous landlord who was brave enough to let us take over the site for the weekend. The food was top notch and the guys were even happy to

cook for latecomers on the

Friday night despite the kitchen having officially closed. The facilities were great, nice showers, loos, good camping area, nice beer gardens and plenty for the kids to do safely.

Typically the Gibb’s arrived on the scene first, despite having to travel 150 odd miles from the south east coast, they’d arrived and set up camp before many had even had the chance to check work emails on the

Friday morning before the expedition. For those lucky enough to skip work on the Friday were greeted by Major and Nelsonv, two stunning shire horses from the Hook Norton Brewery bringing us the supply of some great local beer that we could also indulge in. The Brewery itself houses some of the old equipment that has been used across the years at Hook Norton, alongside many fascinating records and photographs from the era.

After missing most of last year’s events busily building their beautiful buggy, the Crowey family trumped the Gibbs’ by trekking almost 300 miles successfully from ‘oop norf’ with near open top for the weekend. Over the weekend the Crowey’s completed nearly 800 miles - that’s no mean-feet in a buggy (well done guys)! Not everybody’s journey to N.E.W.S was without fault though; Jayson and “Jayson’s Dad” had a bit of trouble only about 15 miles from the destination due to oil being blown out the breather pipe, which meant a quick call to the guys at the

site and off went Shaggy and Snoopy - the self-proclaimed buggy rescue team (is it just me or does that sound like the start of a cartoon series).The morning of the cruise was a hive of activity: some buggy meisters were tinkering on those who had problems on the way up/down/all around (par for the cause, everyone looks after each other), others discussing how to make improvements, or reminiscing

as this is the 50th year of the buggy (cheers Bruce!) while preparing for the day ahead. Furthermore a couple more buggers had arrived on the morning of the cruise, meaning there were now total of 20 buggies the trip!This was the fourth year for N.E.W.S but only the second time my buggy would attend (sometimes air-cooled projects take longer than expected) and it was to be the first time I’d actually lead

the 70-mile cruise. Some of us do have CBs in our buggies; I however do not and was worried about losing the naughty buggers on route. Thankfully the Daddy of the Doon brought up the rear collecting the lost sheep and together was able to communicate with Peter Gibb behind me with the CBs, giving an encouraging thumbs-up every now and again. Number one rule: ‘If you can’t see the person behind you, stop and wait for them to catch up’. We only need to stop once, not bad for a display of 20 buggies.Sally Gibb went as far to say it was the best cruise she had ever been on, and that’ll stick in my mind when organising the next one.

Setting the tone for the day the Red Arrows flew over us on our first leg of the voyage, which of course was planned. First-stop: Bourton-on-the-Water (the Venice of the Cotswolds), we arrived and took over the car park there. Some indulged in pub grub others savoured the local fish and chips oh and a battered Mars Bar or two. It felt strange to see the Midlands Buggy Club sharing a picnic on the green rather than our usual home The Red Lion, Earlswood. We then made quite a stir, making sure none of the tourists filling this little village missed us leaving in our brightly coloured, noisy buggies! Some would say the buggy folk are mostly a group of middle aged

men keeping the hippy notion of VW’s alive, others would say we are a bunch of hooligans – it’s all good fun, and totally acceptable when you see that these quirky cars bring more waves and smiles per mile than any other car.

Fish Hill was howl, despite being a struggle to Flark Flyer (the 3rd Doon to leave the Doon mould) with its little 1300 engine but not the previously mentioned hooligans who gave it some beans even flying past us! Unfortunately their speed meant they missed their turning for our photo stop. Their excuse - one of their throttles stuck open, the other guys were chasing after him to slow him down. Yeah, yeah…

“It was real special treat being allowed so close

to Broadway Tower, after making a stir driving through the middle of the Broadway summer fate.”The N.E.W.S. cruise would not be the same if Fran Hayes actually arrived on time, seems a bit of a tradition that he catches us up on the cruise. He perhaps stole the best view of the gleeful string of buggies on route back home from Broadway since he was doing the route backwards to catch up.

Perhaps unknown to other Vee-Dubbers but to the buggy family this was the fourth, and best year yet and it can only

get better! It is not about the forums or online clique but being out with friends having an

amazing time together!

Quotes:

“It was our first N.E.W.S. and by far the best buggy weekend we have ever attended. The cruise was epic and the company brilliant.” Crowey.

“The best cruise I’d ever been on and I can’t think how it would possibly be beaten” Sally Gibb

Thanks:

Cheers to Alistair at ‘The Gate Hangs High’ for having us. Thanks to ‘Spencer

Signs’ for printing our commemorative decals (which you can find at: http://beachbuggybrummies.co.uk/) together we raised £50 for the Alzheimer’s Society. And last but by no means least, a mahoosive thank you goes to everyone who came, up down and all around, to N.E.W.S this year - it wouldn’t have been the success it was without any of you and the support you give will ensure it continues to out do itself each year!

For even more photos head on over to http://beachbuggybrummies.co.uk/news/news-2014/news-2014-gallery/ and have a look! All photos credited and belong to Hazel Buller and Chad Chadwick.

Tasty Tees! Each magazine we try to bring you the freshest T-Shirts by cool brands and independent artists and makers.

If you want to be featured contact: [email protected]

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Regular | Tasty Tees

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1- Safe Hands- burnthefleet.co.uk

2- Pretzel tee- newyorkskateboards.com

3- Bison Baseball tee- strangeclothingco.bigcartel.com

4- Pizza Division- Lazyoaf.com

5- VW range tee- aircooledapparel.com

6- Carhaart Play Plastic tee- Urbanoutfitters.com

7- Deus ex Machina Piston Script- hardcloud.com

Air Monkeys 2014

Keep a watchful eye on:www.airmonkeys.co.uk and www.facebook.com/airmonkeys formoreinformationontheAirMonkeyscarsandwhatwe’reupto.

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Air Monkeys Magazine Issue 12

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