Issue Fourteen
• Lowlight Ghia • Volksworld Show • ‘65 Squareback • Cal Look Beetle • Waboo Automotive • Freddyfiles
M a ga zi n e The Air Monkeys Crew: Joe Eynon • Editor • Feature Writer • Photographer • Web Editor Samantha Eynon • Deputy Editor • Feature Writer • Photographer/ Illustrator Edd Thorpe • Feature Writer • Photographer Scott Savage • Photographer John Hilton • Layouts • Website Designer Richard Thorpe • Proof Reader • Feature Writer
Without sounding too philosophical and complicated I’ve come to realise in recent months, that most of us take life too seriously. Lets face it, we are not going to come out of it alive at the end so let’s enjoy ourselves whilst we are here. This isn’t an excuse to be selfish as I believe it’s who you’re with that makes the journey all the more interesting. I have made some brilliant friends over the years just because 8 years ago I decided to take the plunge and spend all my money on a VW Bus. I haven’t regretted it once! This summer I’ll be driving across Europe in my bus with my best friend. Meeting others at le Bug in Spa and making the most of having our bus. What’s the point of keeping it wrapped in cotton wool? Make the most of what you’ve got. Enjoy who you’re with and you’ll be just fine.
Martin Cox • Photographer Joss Ashley • Photographer Chloe Lemmon • Photographer Ed Kellas, Henry Powell
Joe Eynon Editor
Contributors Richard Booth, Marc Cartwright, Abbey Creed, Chris Creed, Fab Gore, Rob Hogg, Stephen Holland, Jonathan Rigby, Claude Schaub, Terry Settle,
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Budget Build
Words: Sam Eynon Photos: Abbey Creed
Feature | ‘65 Square
Feature | ‘65 Square
W
e came across this beauty of a squareback when the guys from Forty Horse Apparel got in touch with us. We had a look at their website, ( fortyhorse.com.au ) and there, in the about section, was this stunning 1965 squareback. We instantly emailed them to say, ‘yeah your t-shirts are awesome, but who owns the car?’ It turns out the owner was Chris Creed, the Graphic designer and screen printer at Forty Horse. He first got into VWs as they were an affordable classic (ahem, maybe not so much now!). He always dug the styling and simplicity of them, and as coincidence would have it, after being born he was brought back from the hospital in a Beetle! The Type 3 was bought in 2002 from Chipping Norton NSW, but it originally hailed from rural Canberra, which is quite a dry area, meaning it was a nice, solid, virtually rust free car. Chris had looked at a few other Type 3’s before this one, but says in hindsight, he sort of wished he’d gone and got himself a Splitty, with the way their prices have sky rocketed. Having said that, he says his dream VW would be a Type 34. In 2003 he started work on the square, and began to strip it down. However, as quite often happens, work and family got in the way, and the project had to go on the backburner. It remained that way for quite a number of years, until in early 2011, Chris’ daily’s engine
blew up. Instead of spending a load of money on a replacement vehicle he decided to throw it at the squareback instead, and about a year later it was back on the road. As Chris was working on tight budget, (or pretty much sweet FA!), he did the majority of the work himself. As is the case of most of us, he hasn’t exactly kept track of what he’s spent on the square, but would put it in the ball park of $10$12k, in over 10 years, including the orginal purchase of the vehicle, which can’t be bad, coming in at about £6000 here in the UK! He lowered the vehicle back when he first got it (priorities!), so can’t remember exactly how much he lowered it by, but reckons it was about 4-5 inches on drop spindles and by turning the rear spring plates. It is still running with wide five drums, that have been completely rebuilt with an added dual circuit master cylinder, and he hasn’t had a problem with them yet. One of the reasons he wanted an early square was because of the wide 5 wheels. He had decided he had to have BRMs, albeit replicas, we’re on a budget remember! Chris loved the look of white letter tyres, so “faux Firestoned” the rears by sanding off the exisitng lettering, and spraying rubberised paint through a vinyl mask. None of the panels needed replacing, just some light dent hammering and a skim of filler here and there.
Feature | ‘65 Square
Feature | ‘65 Square
Chris did the paintwork himself in L380 Turquoisethe car’s stock colour. He did it all with a cheap compressor and a spray gun on his driveway, having to wait for sunny windless days. He descibes it as a 10 foot finish, but he has won a few trophies with it including 1st in the Modified Type 3 and 4 Category at the VW Nationals in Sydney. The car has lots of shiny accessories, as Chris wanted to give it a Resto-Cal look, with headlight eyebrows, rain shields, mesh sunvisor, fog lights, and curb feelers, which are a bit of a nod to his grandfather, who used to use them all the time. He also has a cool roof rack he uses when he feels in the mood, that was in line with his budget, costing him $1.20 on Ebay! Chris loved the look of the Empi GTV special edition Beetle, so added some badges and some longer C-Stripes to suit the type 3. We think they look spot on. Like the exterior, much of the car is original including the seats, but he has re-done the carpet, again on a shoe string, using some hardware store carpet which he has trimmed down to fit. Getting the engine re-built was one thing that Chris did outsource, handing the job over to
Stephen Muller, of VolksMuller at Annangrove NSW. He describes it as a top end rebuild, with new barrels, pistons, heads (off an army industrial engine, almost new), and Chris rebuilt the carbs and repainted the tin. The bottom end is still original, but he has had no problem thus far, with over 20,000km put on it in the last 18 months. The wiring has been completely redone with a Watsons Streetworks kit. All the fuses are now modern blade type and along with all the relays etc are all on one unit under the bonnet. Chris had said that he wouldn’t restore another car again. He now has a ‘62 Beetle and a ‘72 Bus in the garage, though he stresses that both will be staying with their patina’d bodies, so no painting! The Beetle (Gollum) is destined for his eldest daughter Abbey. The Bus (Ron Burgundy) will be the hauler for his T-Shirt business – Forty Horse. The plan is to take the shirts to VW (and other) events in the Bus as a bit of a promotional tool. All sounds good to us, and hats off for showing us how good a budget build can be!
Show Report | CLDD
Cal Look Drag Day
Santa Pod Raceway
words: Edd Thorpe photos: Chloe Lemmon
I
simply cannot explain in words just what it is that has drawn me back to the UK Cal Look Drag day for the past 3 years on the trot. Something about the heady mix of flat 4 performance engines and a no frills approach to the venue, which incidentally changed this year from Shakey to Santa Pod, just ‘does it’ for me. No rave tents, no stalls, no bands, not a cry of “Alan, Alan ALAANN..!!” to be heard anywhere. Nope; just straight up no nonsense, no nonsense racing from some of the best examples of VW race cars. With the term “Cal-Look” celebrating its 40th year of existence, having first been penned in the February issue of Hot VW’s in 1975, it seemed even more appropriate to show my dedication and support to the UK Cal Look scene. Those of you that know me know that this is my niche in the scene. I think there really is something for everyone in this hobby of ours, if you’re willing to go and find it. This fold feels like ‘home’ to me and maybe, just maybe this is why I will always make to effort to support the UK Drag Day. Effort is definitely the keyword for me this year, as it was a fleeting glance into the event on my behalf due to a number of other, and inevitably clashing, commitments. Still what I did see of the Sunday, the main day itself, was truly spectacular. Full credit has to go the team behind the Cal Look Drag Day for organising such a great event and establishing a kind of comradery unique to this section of the scene. A facebook post by one of the guys shows everyone gathered under the huge UKDD marquee sharing a barbecue breakfast, cars neatly organised around the pit, with simply the words, “mates, cars and BBQ, that’s what it’s all about” and truly it is.
Show Report | CLDD We used the opportunity to grab Rob Hogg’s stunning U.S spec ’67 bug, which you can read all about in this very issue, for our photoshoot right among the pit area, which made for one of my favourite shoots the magazine has ever pulled off. Rob managed to show his bug isn’t just all show and no go with a very respectable 15.8s pass over the weekend, his first time at a drag strip! Huge thanks to Chloe Lemmon for her photography skills for that feature, and of course the show report photos to accompany my waffling here!
Show Report | CLDD Racers and fans alike were graced with some fantastic weather for the Saturday, which saw personal bests smashed and new records set, and amazingly over the weekend Richie Webb managed to put in a blistering pass of 8.47s at 170MPH, which is his fastest pass yet! A sight that has to be seen is a clinical 10s pass of O/ FF member Pete Shattock in his amazing 1776cc 6 speed sequential gearbox equipped ’63 bug. That thing ripping through the gears has to be seen to be believed! It was great to meet Graham from Rawspeed Tuning, of Plymouth, as they tested their freshly built slingshot racer at the event. This awesome creation sees the driver straddling the rear diff as they sit over the rear axle, with the 2176cc 194hp type 1 engine sits in front of you gulping air through those infamous 48IDA carburettors. Unfortunately their testing ending with a broken hub spline, meaning the slingshot could not transmit power. Stephane Spéelman is truly a gentleman I shall never forget for the fantastic opportunity I was given to actually sit in the Muppet Racer oval window gasser – this was such an inspiration for me, and I can only dream of building such an incredible racer. It was great to talk about the European Bug Ins and the collectable i-cans, featuring iconic gasser livery, before I was very, very kindly given a Hangarz Belgium club can to add to my collection, which proudly stands on display in my cabinet! Plans are already afoot for the 2016 event, which after much discussion with the Rennwagens and Santa Pod, we are very pleased to announce our official media support for the event again, and will hopefully gain full Press Passes, allowing us access to areas off limits to general public. Formerly this is something we have simply not been able to gain with Santa Pod, so we look forward to further stepping up or event coverage. Many thanks go to Jamie Palmer and all of the Rennwagens crew for our media partnership and making us so welcome at the Drag Day.
Find upcoming Volkswagen N O E sHows europe-wide. W UR SHO
For more details please visit the event section on www.bUGbUs.nEt
BE YO INSCRI NET FOR BUGBUS. TO BE DISPLAYED.
FRE
If you want us to promote your Volkswagen event in this section, go and enter it for free on bUGbUs.nEt’s Volkswagen show calendar.
JULY
AUgUst
16th – 19th
| Alpvolks - sommerfrische
St. Wolfgang / Wolfgangsee | www.alpvolks.at 16th – 20th
| Balkan Bus Meeting & Beetle Club serbia
The mountain of Zlatibor | www.balkanbusmeeting.com 17th – 19th
| Bug Jam
Santa Pod | www.bugjam.co.uk 17th – 19th
| Dubs at the Castle
Caldicot Castle | www.dubsatthecastle.co.uk 17th – 19th
| Bullitreffen Ostfriesland
Ottermeer, Wiesmoor | www.bullifreundeostfriesland.de 17th – 19th
| 21. Int. Volkswagen
Mannheim | www.vwclub-rheinneckar.de 17th – 19th
| 2. grossglockner VW-Käfertreffen
Kals am Grossglockner | www.käfertreffen.at 19th
| KCN Zeeuwse Keverdag
Goes, Grote Markt | www.keverclub.nl 24th – 26th
| Picnic on the River
Karlovac | – 24th – 26th
| gH5 génération Hoodride | super VW Festival
Le Mans | www.supervwfestival.com 24th – 26th
| Dub Odyssey
Hooton Lodge, Rotherham | www.dubodyssey.com 24th – 26th
| Chilli Farm festival
Dover, Kent | www.chillifarmfestival.com/ 25th – 26th
| Bug-Biss
Bissendorf bei Osnabrück | www.bug-biss.de 26th
| Int. Kever treffen
Aartrijke | www.baja-keverclub.be 24th – 27st
| 20 Jahre MtM-Käferschmiede Nbg.
90478 Nürnber | www.mtm-kaeferschmiede.de 1st – 2nd
| Kustom’n Classic Days #1
Parisot | – 1st – 2nd
| VW Bugshow
SPA Francorchams | www.vwbugshow.be
| tatton Park VW show
2nd
Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire | www.vwnw.co.uk
| gr. Oldtimertreffen mit teilem.
2nd
91347 Aufsess | www.V500.de
| Volkswagen Northwest
2nd
Knutsford, Cheshire | http://vwnw.co.uk 7th
| VWeekend Denmark
Vallo Camping | www.vweekend.dk 8th
| 9. tagestreffen am Hafen
20457 Hamburg | www.vw-bus-stammtisch-hamburg.de/14.htm 9th
| Beach Bugg
Southsea Common, Portsmouth. PO5 3AA | www.beachbuggin.co.uk
Manade du Rhône Gard | facebook.com/groups/515823155219663 24th – 26th
1st
| Kent VW festival
Headcorn aerodrome, Kent, TN27 9HX | www.kentvwfestival.org.uk 30th – 2nd August
| VW Festival Vintage Vans
Corroios | www.vintagevans.com.pt 30th – 2nd August
| Le Bug show
Ciruit Spa Francorchamps | www.vwbugshow.be 30th – 2nd August
| VW Whitenoise
Euston Park | www.vwwhitenoise.com 30th – 2nd August
| Volksfest Wales
Carmathen, Wales | www.volksfestwales.org.uk 31th – 2nd August
| Keep on Rollin
Sabac | – 31th – 2nd August
3rd – 9th
| Dub Vacation
Stonham Barns, Suffolk | www.dubvacation.com 7th – 9th
| Blackpool Breeze
Blackpool | www.blackpoolbreeze.co.uk 13th – 16th
| Let’s Bug together
Airport Lesce, Bled | www.lets-bug-together.com 14th – 16th
| scandinavian Cal-look Classic
Gardermoen, Oslo | www.sccevent.com 14th – 16th
| VW Festival
Harewood House, Leeds | www.vwfestival.co.uk 14th – 16th
| Viva skeg Vegas 9
Revesby Lincolnshire, PE22 7NU | www.vivaskegvegasvw.co.uk 14th – 16th
| scandinavian Cal-look & Classic
Gardermoen Raceway - Oslo | www.sccevent.com 16th
| VAg Paradise - 4nd Edition
Thirimont | www.vag-paradise.be 16th
| Retro Cars Expo
Auvillers-les-Forges | facebook.com/events/1537637203174187 16th
| Endless summer VW show
Basingstoke | www.endless_summer_vw_show.com 16th
| 25. Kaefertreffen Wattenscheid
44866 Bochum | www.kfw1988.oyla17.de 21st – 23rd
| VW Action
Santa Pod, Wellingborough | www.vwaction.co.uk
| Deichboxer Ostfriesland
Berumerfehn | www.deichboxer.de
In cooperation with bUGbUs.nEt
21st – 23rd
| Monkey tree Buggy Bash
Cornwall | www.beachbuggy.info 21st – 23rd
| 9. Bugnic für Luftgekühlte VW
92723 Gleiritsch | acc-oberpfalz.de
AUgUst
sEPtEMBER
| 1st Ionian VW Meeting
22nd – 23rd
Kefalonia Island | facebook.com/events/1442043142759556/1444020355895168
| Aircooled stars on Wheels
22nd – 23rd
Antwerp Expo | facebook.com/pages/Aircooled-Power-on-Wheels 23rd
| Free’s Benzinparty an der tanke
Wiesbaden | www.pasion.de
| 19ème Meeting de Château-d’Oex
28th – 30th
Château-d`Oex | www.coccinelle.ch/meeting
| VW FAB Festival
28th – 30th
Strumpshaw Steam Museum, Norfolk | www.vwfabfestival.co.uk
| Volksfling Mk2
28th – 30th
Biggar Agricultural Showground, Scotland, UK | www.volksfling.co.uk
| Beach gathering
28th – 30th
Budle Bay, Northumberland | www.beachgathering.co.uk
| great Britsh Campout
28th – 30th
Peterborough Showground | www.thegreatbritishcampout.co.uk 30th
| 13 VW Classics Meeting
Gasthuisvest, Lier | www.vwclassicsclub.com 28th – 31st
| Cornwall Volkswagen Jamboree
Stithians Show Ground | www.cornwallvwoc.com
25th – 27th
| Retro Dub suffolk
Mid Suffolk Showground, IP14 6AT | www.retrodub-suffolk.co.uk 27th
| Vintage Waasland show & Cruise
Sint-Niklaas | www.vintagewaasland.be 25th – 28th
| Dubs in the Forest
Lytton Lawn Touring Park | www.dubsintheforest.com
OCtOBER
| the Elite & Just Clean VW show
1st – 4th
Town Square Mall | – 3rd
| Einfach Deutsch Annual BBQ
4820 Quailty Ct. | – 2nd – 4th
| Brighton Breeze VW Festival
Brighton | www.brightonbreeze.co.uk 2nd – 4th
| Oktoberfest
The River Dart Country Park, Devon | www.oktoberfestuk.com 10th
| Flat 4 Hazards Halloween Drive 10
Kruishoutem | www.f4hazards.be
| t2 Campermeeting
Camping Can Coromines | facebook.com/T2campermeeting?fref=ts
| Retro Event Dikkelvenne
Dikkelvenne | facebook.com/events/319095058214525 5th
| summer Picnic
Apeldoorn | www.summerpicnic.nl
10th – 11th
sEPtEMBER 5th
18th – 20th
30th – 31st
| Lincolnshire showground
Lincoln LN2 2NA | www.hermannshalloween.co.uk
| Meet & greet WPg 2015
Saintes-Tubize | www.ilovewpg.com
| 11. - Bullys auf Rügen - 2015
metrographen.ch
4th – 6th
Juliusruh | www.bullisaufruegen.de 4th – 6th
| Busfest
Malvern Showground | www.busfest.org 4th – 6th
| Hills Race #12
Rivanazzano Dragway (Airport) | www.hillsrace.it 5th – 6th
| Kronenbus (oval édition)
Leyviller | kronenbus.free.fr 6th
| 18. Käfer & Co. treffen
Elmshorn | www.beetle-maniacs.de 12th
| Air-Port Nr 2 / VW & Porsche
Etzgen | www.facebook.com/AirPortNr1 11th – 13th
| the VW Aircooled Festival
Budel | www.beautifulbudel.nl 11h – 13th
| Back 2 Basics 7
Birdingbury, Warwickshire | www.vwshow.co.uk 11th – 13th
| Field of Dreams - Aircooled VW show
Escrick Park Estate, York | www.classicvolks.com/vwfieldofdreams.ht
| totally V.A.g show
THe sign oF THe european
Royal Cornwall show ground | www.totallyvagshow.com
classiFieds markeT and eVenT calendar For all TYpes oF classic Volkswagens – Free oF cHarge To use and seT up.
11th – 13th
18th – 20th
| VW submarines
Sazava | www.vwsubmarines.cz/index-english.html 18th – 20th
| First n Last VW show
Cornwall | www.firstnlastdubclub.co.uk 18th – 20th
| Vdubs In the Valley
Bridgnorth, Shropshire | www.vdubsinthevalley.co.uk 18th – 20th
| Dorset Dub Fest
Herston Leisure, Washpond Lane, Swanage | www.dorsetdubfest.co.uk 18th – 20th
| grill-n-Chill
The Hop Farm, Paddock wood, Kent, TN12-6PY | www.grill-n-chill.co.uk
Visit bUGbUs.net On facebOOk WitH mOre tHan 100’000 fOllOWers.
Feature | Lowlight Ghia
Ever Evolving words: Joe Eynon photos: Joss Ashley
I
have been waiting to write this feature for what feels like forever. The wait is finally over and we can speak about how awesome this car is! Many of you in the UK will have seen this car at various shows and events but of course we have readers from around the globe so let us introduce it properly. The car belongs to Terry Settle and we have been working towards getting this car on our pages for over a year now. We first saw the car when he asked if he could debut his new build on our Air Monkeys stand at Stanford Hall in May 2014. All we saw was one photo but I fell in love with the car, the paint, the stance and knew it had to be a part of our set up at the show. Terry is not a stranger to building quality cars. He’s had 7 air-cooled VW’s including a ‘59 Beetle which was on Volksworld’s pages and a ‘64 Notchback which our friends at Hayburner liked so much it
adorned their pages. Terry first got into VW’s after a trip to a Bug Jam show about 8 years ago and that led to a beetle project with his Dad, Ivan. Terry was looking on thesamba.com at Ghia’s and came across this lowlight 1957 model in Long Beach, California. At first he thought buying a car from California was too much of a stretch but after he showed it to Katharine Snowden she encouraged Terry to dig a little deeper and get the car. Terry reached out to the seller, a guy called Tony Lopez, and the car was Terry’s. 8 weeks later the car arrived in Southampton and it looked great. As soon as Terry got it back to his home in Lincoln he started work on the iconic VW. A 6 month restoration later and the car was debuted at Stanford Hall amongst some other fine rides. This all makes it sound very simple but I assure you that it wasn’t. Let us explain how Terry got the car
looking the way it does today.
Feature | Lowlight Ghia
Before the car had even arrived in the U.K. Terry had a pretty good idea of what he had planned for the Ghia. What else do you have to do when you’ve sold your Notch and Beetle to fund a car you’re not getting for weeks. Sit and make plans! Terry started on the rear pans and flattened them. One thing was clear with this car: it was built to lay. Some floor was replaced and some heater channel and inner wing work was required to make the car sound. All the metalwork was custom shaped by Terry and he had a plan to make to car look new and shiny underneath and keep the “ratty” appearance on top. All the running gear was replaced with new if necessary and painted gloss black. Then Terry started on the suspension work. He used a Volksprojects kit from the guys in The Netherlands. Erwin van Sintmaartensdijk gave a lot of advise and this helped the car get equiped with a quality rear air bag and shock setup. A custom front beam was fitted at 5 inches narrower than a standard setup. This allowed the body and inner wings to remain un-chopped. Volksprojects air shocks and dropped spindles from Limebug bring the car closer to the ground with assistance from a tie rod flip kit from Buttys Bits making this more comfortable when the car is on the floor. I’ve been driven in the car when it’s low and it is seriously comfortable. The front brakes needed to be swapped for early 1960’s brakes which fitted better plus they’re larger so assist with the stopping. One of the reasons that this feature took so long to happen was that Terry could not decide what wheels to fit to the car. He rolled on steels for a while but always wanted something different. In the end he picked 17 inch BRM rims with 185/35 front Nangkangs and 205/40 rear Nangkangs. His choice is perfect. The car sits so well on them and gives it just enough chrome
without looking overpowering next to the flat paint. One issue Terry had once the wheels were fitted was horrific bump steer. After a chat to the guys at Limebug he sourced a Pitman arm extender which made the ride much more comfortable. All the cars rubbers were changed for new “water tight” ones and then we move onto the interior. As you can see from the two photos above and below this text the interior has changed alot. This was actually between photo shoots. The trim was done by our friends at Waboo Automotive and the job they’ve done is amazing. The attention the detail is stunning and the hours spent didn’t go to waste at all. It turned out the car actually had two passenger seats so Tom Booth at Waboo needed to modify one of the seats to make it correct. Then Austin Watts transformed the car into a plush, comfortable and enjoyable place to be. Many people told
Feature | Lowlight Ghia Terry to keep the worn out, weathered interior but it was destroying all of Terry’s and Katharine’s clothes so comfort was chosen and who can argue now? It’s transformed the car. The car is powered by a 1600 type 1 engine. Terry coverted it to 12 volt after a top end t8rip down and now it runs sweetly. There isn’t really anything else I can say about this car, except that I Love It. It really is one of my favourte VW’s in the world and I don’t think I’m alone in saying that. The best thing I can do is let Terry have the final words:
I have spent a hell of a lot time trying to get this car to drive the way it should. I kinda got fed up with having a static slammed car as it would never go in a straight line and it seemed like I was always repairing the bottom of the car from it eating tarmac. People might call me a pussy but air ride is definitely the way forward. This car was built to drive, turn heads and do some mileage. Which is exactly what it does! I knew from the word go I needed to treat this car with respect, therefore I had to install the air ride to achieve the look I
Feature | Lowlight Ghia
wanted. I couldnít bare to drag its arse down the street everywhere I went. I have covered about 4000 miles in this car going all around the UK and tripping to Belguim. I can honestly say this is the best air cooled vehicle I have ever driven. I can cruise at 70mph in torrential rain on the motorway and still have the biggest smile on my face. I’d like to say a massive thanks to Joss Ashley (Wide 5’s Photography) for coming down to
Lincoln twice and letting me get involved with the shoot! A great big cheers to you Joe for doing this write up! I know you have been waiting pretty much a year to do the write up. Thanks for being patient and letting me get the car the way I wanted. It’s great to be asked to do this feature, even better to have gained a friend. Funny story or not so funny. My first outing to Stanford Hall was great until I started the car to go home and the car filled with smoke.
Feature | Lowlight Ghia
Katharine, our dog Coco, and I were in the car and we absolutely shit ourselves. Scott Swinburn was luckily near by and we both grabbed a fire extinguisher. I opened the deck lid and managed to pull the live off the battery. An irate Katharine arguing with the recovery guy who tried to refuse Coco and a 7 hour wait later we were home! It all went wrong when I installed the air ride system, and mocked a few things up, I didn’t put a rubber bung through the firewall! Lesson learnt! I won’t ever do that again!! I honestly couldn’t have done this without my friend, Scott Swinburn who came round at weekends and late nights in the garage, helping out with everything. Adam Wintersgill with no experience of car wiring got the air ride working when no one else could, it took 12 hours straight, packs of cigarettes and head scratching but we finally got it to lift at 10pm. Also helping with all sorts of struggles were my girlfriend Katharine Snowden, dad Ivan Settle, and friends Tom Feltwell, Al Speight, Liam Andrews, Brendan Chambers & Peter Snowden.
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Freddyfiles words: Joe Eynon photos: Samantha Eynon
Show Report | Freddyfiles
Ninove | Belgium 14th-15th March 2015
A
days show in Belgium may seem a bit crazy for many UK drivers but not for a small number of idiots who decided to make the annual trip to Freddyfiles in Ninove. Ninove is a small town near Anderlecht in the Flanders. For all but one weekend a year it is home to shoppers and people quietly enjoying the bars and cafes. On the 14th and 15th of March the town became over-run with air-cooled
Volkswagens and Porsches. Sounds like heaven? It was for us. It was even called 67 Heaven this year as each year is themed and this year was the turn of the “one year only” 67 Beetle. Before we could enjoy heaven though a certain amount of pain was endured. We decided we’d set off from Coventry at 11pm on the Friday
Show Report | Freddyfiles
night and sleep when we got to the Channel Tunnel terminal. The journey however took longer than we thought and we didnt get any sleep until 4pm on Saturday! Massive respect to Dan Smith who drove us there in his 15 window bus. Not sure how he did it, but he got us there safe and sound! Our first stop was at the Slaghmuylder Brewery
where all the UK guys met, as they do each year, and enjoyed the first of many fine local beers. If you ever get the chance to enjoy their Witkap Pater beer you’ll love it! After Dan had had a kip in the bus, whilst we chatted to friends old and new, we headed to our hotel. After a bit of well needed sleep it was back out again
Show Report | Freddyfiles into Ninove to sample the night life it. We didn’t stay long but we still got to enjoy a rather upmarket kebab house and witness some interesting scenes in Roxy’s where the party went well into the night. I think next year we will get more sleep so we can enjoy it more! We woke up Sunday fully refreshed and ready to see what Freddyfiles can offer us. We drove into the town, paid our €10 fee and parked up. The amount of cars was unbelievable. We couldn’t see the shops and pavements anymore. Plus there was pretty much every type of early VW there. Every corner we went around there was another street full of cars. There was a bit of a swapmeet but the day was all about Europe’s finest aircooled
Show Report | Freddyfiles VW’s and Porsches. The 67 line-up on the main street wasn’t huge but was top quality and had 67’s of all styles. There was a fair few stock ones too which was great to see.
Infact overall there was a lot of stock cars there ensuring that the show catered for everyones taste. My personal favourites of the show were both silver, both immaculate and both Karmann Ghia. One was a lowlight Ghia and the other was a Razoredge. This was my first year at
Freddyfiles, ran by the shows patron and organiser Freddy Peeters, and it will not be my last. It was the perfect start to 2015 for me and my only regrets were the lack of sleep, (down to stupidity), and that my own VW didn’t make the trip. This will be changed for 2016! Why not join us for Freddyfiles 2016?!
Show Report | Freddyfiles
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Feature | 67 Cal Looker
One Of A Kind
words: Edd Thorpe photos: Chloe Lemmon
“I just built the car for me, never thought about magazines to be honest.” words by Rob Hogg & Edd Thorpe. photos by Chloe Lemmon. “I got into cars by reading Custom Car in the late 80’s the Boyd Coddington coupes were in vogue, and it was all about building mad customs. Anyway Keith Seume started Volks World and I, at the tender 13, decided to spend my pocket money on that instead. So I ended up reading about Run to the Sun, the Thump Thump brother’s Billabug, instead of reading about high end custom cars, Jag IRS rear ends and CNC’d unobtanium. However, one beetle
Feature | 67 Cal Looker that captured my imagination was a feature on Hector Bonilla’s DKP car. I loved its rake, the interior, the simple colour, the BRM’s. So every feature they did on the DKP club I made sure I bought the mag, and immersed myself in magnesium BRM’s and 48 IDA’s…” “Anyway, role forward about 20 years, and I had owned a string of modern, reliable cars to cope with driving from Scotland to Newcastle every week. However once the wife moved up I ended up fulfilling my dream and bought a ‘71 bug. It was a wrongun, with early panels on a late body but I loved it. I did a bit of tinkering on that and fitted dual carbs. One day I was hoping to save up and fit a bigger engine. However things took a bit of a turn and I found myself in the position to be able to build the car I wanted. After a bit of persuading of the wife (who knows I have the attention span of a gnat) I started to do some
research and found that Russell Richie was selling some ‘67 Beetles that he had imported as project cars. I went up and had a look at them, as well as a few of his other Gasser Garage cars, and honestly came away thinking “I’m not sure I’m going to be able to do this”. A few weeks went past with
me still pondering if I’d be able to see the project through if I bought it. Out of the blue Russell mailed me asking me whether I wanted it or not, I took 5 minutes to think about it and replied yes.... what had I just committed to.” “So, I picked the bug up
Feature | 67 Cal Looker
from the Gasser Garage, arranged a sandblaster for the body, Limebug for the pan, and Drop the Hammer to do the body, with Deadline Paint to do the....ermm paint..! Right then, so it was the simple task of stripping it down. In 2 weeks I had the lot in pieces, I pulled my back from lifting the body off by myself as my wife, Sarah, pulled the floor pan out from underneath (helps if you remove the gearstick when you do this!) So a mate came round and picked up the body, took it to a guy who is a bit of a perfectionist.....though 3 months to do it was a bit long...at least he
didn’t warp anything. Limebug changed the rotten ‘pans for some Wolfsburg West heavy weight ones. The pan was powder coated black, a 2” narrowed beam fitted, gearbox rebuilt and then sent back up north.” “Meanwhile the body had made it out of the sandblaster and Donald at DTH started on the repairs. Nothing major: C pillar, radio slot, rear parcel shelf repair with a NOS panel, wing captive nuts, and the spare wheel well.
Apparently it was a nice change to a UK car with the bottom 6” not needing to be replaced. During all this Richie Webb had been asked to build the engine.” It might seem at the moment that apart from strip it down, and a bit of project managing, I had done sweet FA. You’d be right. So I headed down to DTH’s, fitted the new CSP discs to the front and helped get the body on. Then, it was off to paint....... well it would have been if I could have found some rear wings!!! Currently I have the world’s supply of genuine OEM fake rear wings! Karmman Konnection had been able to supply me with some original fronts, but each and every supposed genuine rear set of wings I got turned out to be rusty pattern parts. This was solved by the generosity of one of Donald’s other customers who allowed me to buy his pair of Day Mouldings rears. So onwards to paint, Jerry at Deadline...handily just next door to DTHs had steered me away from a few of my choices. Then I hit on Agave Green (L240) and that was it. I was away at work when Jerry was prepping and painting, and when the first pics of it came through I was worried I had chosen the wrong colour, until Jerry pointed out it needed its lacquer coat put on. Jerry put the hours in, prepping, sanding and getting the finish he wanted. His work is great, despite my best efforts to undo his work... more of that later. So Richie was building the engine and finding a fair amount of bits I had forgotten to buy, and in some cases bought completely the wrong bit. I had bought a set of CB Performance Los Panchito heads with port matched manifolds… IDA manifolds, I had 40 IDFs... now you will remember that I have a short attention span! When Richie pointed out I would have to wait a few weeks for a new set of manifolds to come over from the states, or I could buy a set of 48 IDA’s he had on the shelf and get the engine finished that week. The IDAs were bought. The fact that he called on a Friday night and I may have had a drink could have influenced my decision. That and the fact both Donald and
Richie pointed out that I would have done it later anyway, so I might as well do it now.” “Once the engine had the Cam broken in, Richie dropped it in the van, and it was dropped off at DTH on his way north. The Tinware was painted up, and then fitted. During my time off, I was heading down to DTHs when I could, to fit bits and pieces. Then it was time to get the bug delivered to mine so I could do the wiring, fuel hoses, and get it ready for MOT.” “I almost forgot...the interior! Now the colour of the interior was causing me a headache, I spent ages (ages for me is about 2 hours) with Scott Rigby of Phoenix Soft furnishings, looking at swatches before eventually choosing a leather biscuit tan. He had done the interior for Donalds ex-DKP car and after seeing that, Scott got the job! I’m very pleased with the outcome.” “So it was back to mine, and the simple task of re-wiring it, or it would have been if the loom was actually the American spec 67 one I wanted, and not the Euro 67 one that the loom maker had decided I actually wanted! So one was ordered from The States and, armed with a print out of the loom, I got to it! Once that was done, it was onto the fuel system and a pile of JIC fittings, braided hoses later I had it sorted.” “When I started this build, I had a budget. By now that was out the window. I had started thinking that repo parts would be fine; however the radio aerial was the last straw. When I fitted it, the chrome looked thin and didn’t match the standard of work everyone had put into the build so far. So I started googling, and found a great site - it’s been great to be able to get a hold of NOS period parts that have kept the standard of the bug up (things like the Hirschmann aerial, Happich window wiper switch, NOS front indicators). I’ve read threads where people are sanding off the makers details and here was me buying original parts so I could have the makers names on them, I seemed to have turned into an anorak!” “The final bit was to get it started, that in itself was a bit of a mission. The help I got
Feature | 67 Cal Looker
Feature | 67 Cal Looker
from Donald and Jerry was awesome, with th em coming up to whip the engine ou t, to check the clutch and put it back in. But sadly we could n’t get it to run proper ly. It looked like a Herbie film with it try ing to shake itself to bit s on my drive way. A message to Rich ie Webb led to me adju st the clutch stop, which hadn’t been touched since the new pans had been fitted, and RESULT, it started, and ran!!!” “After that it was time for an MOT, which it pa ssed first time, and then get ou t and drive it! Since th en it’s had an oil change, and at the sa me time a CSP filter he ad fitted, along with the rubber hoses being changed for braid ed lines and JIC fittings to match the fu el system. This winter a Dogback beam has been fitted to solve the wheels rubbing on the return lip of the front wings.” A Cabrio deck lid has be en bought and will be fitted soon afte r a bit of love from DT H and Deadline. “Future plans include taking it out to 2276cc , there are some Steve Timms heads wa iting on a shelf, along with an 82mm crank. However that’s way in the future, this summer is about driving and enjoying it! “I just built the car for me, never thought about magazine s to be honest.” One word of warning, when you buy a one ye ar only car, finding parts for it can be a pain, especially ele ctrical parts. If, like me, you find most of the electrics are shot , be prepared to trawl The Samba to get what you need. If yo u find two of what you want, buy th em both. Oh and putti ng a car back together with the paint ers saying “don’t fucking scratch it” really makes me nervou s. Other than that, build ing this has been a gr eat blast, I’ve met and become friends wi th a great group of pe ople, and I have a car I love out of the process, win win all ro und.
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Fab Gore Q & A
e discovered Fab Gore’s awesome sculptures on Instagram when perusing the feed of one of our favourite tattoo artists, Susanne König, as one of his pieces was based on one of her beautiful tattoos. We had a chat with him to find out more.
I’m Fab Gore, and I make sculptures that evoke the bold and classic beauty of traditional tattoos. I also make powdery illustrations when I have some time. How did the sculpting come about, why and how you started? I think at some point I started to feel the need to make things that I can hold, and turn about in my hands. I’ve spent my life drawing, painting and writing - which I love - but you can’t really experience those things in a truly physical way. Sometimes, just weighing one of my sculptures in my hand is a special feeling. I started sculpting in quite an arrogant ‘I bet I can do this’ kind of way, but then I realised that actually I take it very seriously. I get on better with clay than I do with most people.
Interview | Fab Gore What is your working process? I used to take the standard route of drawing a lot, then making rough maquettes and so on. But it’s just not me. At heart, I’m an improviser, and I love to see what happens. I love to let the piece change from my original intentions because of a slip of a tool, or a wayward stroke of the paintbrush. It feels more like a relationship like that, rather than me barking orders at my hands and at the materials. As for bringing tattoo flash to sculpture, I’ve had a lot of fun so far trying to make my pieces as true to the style and methods as possible. But actually, methods like spit-shading don’t work well on a 3D surface, and colour-matching to artist’s inks doesn’t always translate well. I do however begin by coating each piece in a ‘flesh’ tone, so that all colours on top will have that behind them,
What are your favourite tools and materials to use and why? I use Super Sculpey and some of its variants. It’s a miracle material, really. I bought a set of dentist’s tools long ago, which still prove the most useful now. I decided recently to invest in ‘proper’ sculpting tools, but frankly they spend very little time in my hand. Water-based hair pomade is perfect to keep your paintbrushes in a fine point while you’re not using them. Emulsion paint testers from a hardware shop perform better than specialist crafts paints. Do you feel your illustrations are an off shoot to your sculptures, or a different entity altogether? Which do you prefer? They used to be, but the two are starting to mix. I’m making a picture book - something I’ve been planning for years - and my sculpting style has become my illustration style, too. I’m very happy about that. I’m not sure which I prefer.
Interview | Fab Gore
What are your influences? Apart from the obvious (old school tattoo flash) I am obsessed with the art and styles of the 1920s through the 1950s. I have a lot of source material at home that I frequently consult or just gaze at in wonder. I don’t think the world has ever been more beautiful. The packaging, the fonts, the colours. I want to capture that special feeling of innocent adventuring in my work; something I will be focussing on more as I go on. Also, the Dark Deco world of Batman the Animated Series is a huge influence on me. I look at some of the faces in my work and basically see the Joker, Poison Ivy... or I look at the powdery shading in my illustrations and see the buildings of Gotham. That series is a masterpiece. Turner, my most loved painter, is also a big part of my life. The master of the vague. Do you have a favourite sculpture, if so what and why? It might be Astaroth. I think he is a good example of improvisation. He was meant to be quite different. Blue-skinned, with a top-hat, for a start. I don’t quite remember why he changed, but I’m glad he did. I think I’m most proud of the stars on the inside of the mask. They were a lastsecond decision.
Interview | Fab Gore Who would be your ideal client and why? Anyone who is willing to let me play with them. I won’t be ordered around. Favourite music to listen to while working? You know what, I had to stop listening to music whilst working because I really get into it when I’m listening to my favourite stuff, and then my hands become really unsteady and unfocused. So, now I listen to audiobooks of some my favourite writers of the weird and supernatural, or to radio comedy. What books/ magazines are on your bedside table? I can see The 1930s Scrapbook, a couple by Virginia Woolf, some Batman comics, a big book of J.W. Waterhouse. Sherlock Holmes. Your work is quite theatrical, which isn’t a surprise, given your training. Would you like to work on stage or on a film? I will, one day. Top 3 films? Hunger (2008), Jurassic Park, Blade Runner, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, Picnic at the Hanging Rock, Star Wars, The Innocents, Tree of Life. I can’t choose. If you didn’t do this, what would be your ideal job? I’d be a writer of strange fiction. Anything exciting in the pipeline? The picture book, which people will know about eventually, and some more collaborations with amazing people. I’m proud to say that my work sits in the homes and studios of some of my favourite tattoo artists. Check out more of Fab Gore’s incredible work on his website www. morefabgore.com
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. to the existence of countryside beyond, right at the start rendered in a Gaugin-esque cacophony of non-local colour, before the tranquil misty blues, salmon pinks and creams herald the start of our tour round a city which has much to show us if we stop to look carefully and much to make us muse if we use our mind’s eyes. There’s a lot of imagining of what lies within and what lies beyond.
The Spectators Victor Hussenot Review by Stephen L. Holland A book of reverie and rumination, this is a serene experience with plenty of space for you to stop and think for yourself. It’s full of curiosity and questions, about one’s own life in the grand scheme of things and the lives of others - strangers you’ll never know or whose paths you may only partially, temporarily insect. As such there are a lot of silhouettes and shadows seen from afar, perhaps against the light of city windows at night. And it is very much another city book, but a far less frightening one than FLOOD. There’s a nod
City transport features heavily. Early on Hussenot reflects on the contrast between the familiarity of one’s surroundings every day - the actual train or bus - and one’s fellow commuters who come and go. Some may reappear from time to time sitting in different pairs, others may never been seen again. But this was one of my favourite sequences as an actually playing card held up in one panel becomes instead a passenger on a platform seen through a subway car window. “Arriving at a new station is as exciting as drawing a card in a poker game. “A new platform appears... it’s a new deal of the cards... “Some leave the game; others join it... but not always the one’s you’re expecting. “Each is full of promise, but is the one we really need still hidden in the deck?” Accompanying that third line is a page of six panels, roughly playing card shape, in five of which a commuter catches the narrator’s eye, their panels lighting up in different colours while the one who is oblivious remains in the figurative dark. The unexpected one is a bloke, for the narrator’s a bloke, but he doesn’t make it onto the lamp-lit drawing board of possibilities whose
Regular | Page 45 face cards are all women! There’s another devilishly clever page after two men who’ve been sitting inches apart on a bench surveying different aspects of the cityscape in front of them are shown to have largely parallel lives as well - give or take a musical influence. I won’t give the game away but there are elements of Ray Fawkes’ THE PEOPLE INSIDE. That’s one of the rare instances that any word balloons appear in this graphic novel. Predominantly - if there are any words at all you’ll find one or perhaps two sentences above, between or below a full-page spread or two or three tiers of images. There’s a morphing motif which runs throughout, kicked off as our narrator discovers a clothes rail from which four bodies hang with differently coloured clothes. He tries one on for size (and sighs) before selecting another later on. Further down the line he’ll be clicking a remote control for a similar but quicker effect. I’ve been referring to him as our narrator because I couldn’t work out what else to do but he’s not really. Let’s call him our constant companion, even though the body swapping means that constant is the last thing he is!
“When I revisit certain places, painful memories resurface: In find myself back in that moment.” Sure enough, as our narrator/companion walks onto set, there’s a differently coloured, former version of him sitting at a cafe table with a girl he quite evidently is not longer going out with. But - and this made me sit up and think for I’d never considered it an option - a red-hued future version of him now appears chasing a new girl across the page before they make merry with the drinks and the dancing. “The only way to erase these memories is to return, again and again, to these same locations and fill them with new moments... Which in turn will become memories, which will renew themselves again... and again...” I’ll leave you to discover how that is portrayed! With debossed silver foil on the cover, it’s another Nobrow looker and a dreamy affair with some imaginative framing from which I was abruptly awoken, unnecessarily, by the legal gubbins being printed between the prologue and the main body of work. That was a bit daft, wasn’t it?
The Art of Flying Antonio Altarriba & Kim Review by Diamond Previews Sometimes, as with people, things are not always as they initially appear. A first glance inside this hardcover revealed what appeared to be a relatively primitive art style, wordily lettered in a somewhat jarring font. I persisted with it though, for three reasons. Firstly, Random House / Jonathan Cape have published some rather good graphic novels over the years so I thought they at least deserved some benefit of the doubt! Secondly, I was aware this work has won six major European comic prizes including the Spanish 2010 Best Comic Prize. Finally, I do have an interest in that particular era, WW2 and the run up to it.
The Spanish Civil War, though, was not something I knew a great deal about, other than from accounts by people like George Orwell etc. who had volunteered to go there and fight against the rise of fascism in the form of General Franco. So I thought it would be an interesting historical primer if nothing else. This work is narrated by Altaribba, recounting the entirety of his father Antonio’s life, beginning with his decision, aged 90, to leap from the top floor of his nursing home, freshly shaved and dressed to go out in style, which presumably inspired the title. Once we’ve seen that denouement revealed, we then go back to the very beginning, to his crushingly austere and rather brutal childhood in the rural, agricultural Spanish heartlands. As biographies of a life go, it’s extremely well told, the child’s clear desire to escape what was tantamount to penal servitude and spread his wings, thus, inadvertently at first, getting caught up in an incredibly turbulent period of Spanish history. Antonio’s teenage and early adult life was certainly also one of struggle and strife, those he never really truly escaped. After the rather chaotic years of partisan fighting, sometimes of an internecine, factional nature amongst other elements of the Republican resistance, as well as against their main enemy the fascists, things took a considerable turn for the worse when the Republican forces were finally defeated and driven from Spain. Rather than being welcomed by France, the losers were forced first into internment camps, then indentured labour. The squalid conditions of the camps killed a number of gallant fighters and their families who had already given so much in their doomed support of the cause. Eventually, seizing his chance to escape, Antonio tried at first to settle in France before eventually admitting defeat and heading back to Spain, where he found a number of his former comrades, now trying to get by in Franco’s Spain by keeping their heads down and their mouths shut about their pasts. For a brief while you could actually say he thrived, being reasonably successful in business, but his latter days were spent once more in comparative poverty, having been financially betrayed by one
of his business partners. Sadly, he then found life in the old people’s home which he entered relatively early - simply by dint of being unable to afford anything else - a rather strictured, unpleasant and ultimately demoralising experience. In many ways, no different from most of his life. So, when you reach the point where the ninety-year-old Antonio is preparing to make his final escape, you can fully understand his decision to depart this world entirely on his own terms. This is a very moving book in many ways, with much to say about how life less than a century ago in what we now perceive as stable, civilised Western European was anything but, with widespread poverty, violence, political instability and corruption, large scale movement of refugees, discrimination. We do have it easy these days in comparison, there’s no doubt about that. I think it’s testament to Altaribba Jr.’s narrative skills, plus the fascinating details of Antonio’s life, that very quickly I didn’t notice the art too much. It’s not bad, it’s just nothing special. Frankly, in some ways, the art isn’t actually that important in a work like this, it’s the story which is always going to be the star. I should note, aside from the fact I can’t draw at all, apparently Kim is a highly regarded cartoonist responsible for a hugely popular humour strip in Spanish newspapers called MARTINEZ THE FASCIST, though having googled that it seems far more Robert Crumb / Gilbert Shelton in style than this work. Meanwhile, I did realise that the lettering would obviously have originally been in Spanish, possibly in a different font, so I guess I shouldn’t be too critical on that point. Neither remotely spoilt my enjoyment of what was ultimately a fascinating and highly illuminating biography.
Regular | Page 45 what to put in versus what to leave out. As before, this issue follows the pattern of two very different longer form stories. The first, in Adrian’s new usual art style, covers the excruciating, budding comedy career of Jesse, a rather introverted young lady with a debilitating stutter. Her parents - having seen many a new obsession come and go with perturbingly repetitive frequency - fall into their typical roles and cycle of enthusiasm / pessimism / argument, before letting nature run its ever-turbulent course where their daughter is concerned.
Optic Nerve Adrian Tomine Review by Jonathan Rigby “Hey, did you see that [censored] gave you a shout out on twitter? She used some of your art for her header image and said your drawing of her in The New Yorker was ‘a teenage dream fulfilled’.” “Really? Wow, that’s nice!” “So why didn’t you respond? You could’ve at least re-tweeted and said thanks.” “Yeah... I’m actually not on twitter. I’m kind of... morally opposed to all that stuff.” “Well, her two million twitter followers aren’t.” “Haha... to each his own, right?” “Made you look like kind of a dick, actually.” Heh. As ever, the single-page autobiographical strip, once more tucked away right at the end after the letter column, steals the show even after the two brilliant stories that precede it. It is a mere three brief scenes of absolute perfection in terms of how to tell a story: chock full of drama, humour, plus Adrian’s trademark curmudgeonly angst, of course, with a belting piece of misdirection for the punchline that made me laugh out loud. I would say LOL but I know that is precisely the sort of modern day acronymical shennanigans that would make Tomine weep tears of despair. How he manages to pack so much into a mere twenty panels should be a compulsory lesson for all budding creators, that less really can be so much more when it comes to
What follows is another shot of Tomine’s classic blend of wince-worthy humour. I was practically peeking through my fingers when I got to Jesse’s first stand-up gig, as her parents sit in the audience waiting in a state of near hyper-tension for the inevitable car crash to occur. It doesn’t, for reasons of not wishing a spoil a great joke I won’t elaborate on but, rest assured, it’s a merely the metaphorical mother of all multiple car pileups deferred... The second story, told in a somewhat looser art style, with lots of black shading and a single secondary light olive tone, tells the story of a divorced military veteran, living out of cheap motels, who unexpectedly bumps into a girl who house-sat an apartment he and his wife were renting when they were on vacation. Having recently cleaned out her car, she finds a set of keys she’d forgotten to give back to them. Pulled, perhaps in equal part by memories past, the curiosity of who had replaced them as tenants, and the thrill of doing something illicit, he stakes out the apartment, making note of the coming and goings of the occupant, and when he finally feels safe, let’s himself in. It might be breaking and entering more on a scale of adult hedge-hopping, no maliciousness intended, however, again obviously, it’s not going to end well. But that’s the thrill with Tomine: bracing yourself for the moments the characters well and truly splash down in the fire, often before even realising they’ve even been daft enough to leap from the comparative safety of the proverbial frying pan. As always, one comes away from an issue of OPTIC NERVE feeling a strange mixture of sadness and relief, the latter being purely for not having such a sad life as a Tomine character!
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Candylab Toys Candylab are childhood friends Vlad and Florin. Their project began as a Kickstarter campaign, and their aim was to “revive the glamorous 50’s and 60’s American modernist vibe and carve it into awesome contemporary wood toy designs.” They wanted to create toys that were heirlooms, virtually indestructable and beautiful to look at too. A sure fire hit with children and adults alike, and they have a particularly cool Woody surf wagon currently in the works. Available from candylabtoys.com
Race Track Coasters These awesome coasters are made from flexible silcone, so are easy to clean and non-slip. They come in a pack of 6 connectable pieces (though I think we might have to purchase a few packs, so we can build a bigger race track!) The fact they are silcone means they are also heat resistant, so can also be used as a trivet. Available from thefowndry.com
Swedish f ire steel This nifty tool was originally developed by the Swedish department of defence as a reliable firelighting aid for army use in often arctic conditions. When struck with the back of a knife or steel blade this steel generates showers of sparks of over 3000°c, to ignite gas flames, camping stoves, fine dry kindling, or wood shavings with ease. It is approximately 8cm of a steel magnesium alloy set into a figured masur birch handle. Simple, useful and beautifully made. Available from objectsofuse.com
Cold Brew Coffee Pot People have been cold-brewing coffee for hundreds of years, but it’s only recently that this has started to become more popular. So if you’ve not tried it yet, why not get yourself one of these pots and give it a go? All you need to do is pour coffee grounds into the filter pod, add cold water and put it in the fridge to steep for around 12 hours. Ok, it’s a long wait, so forward planning is necesary, but it’s worth it! The process preserves some of the flavours that can be destoyed by a hot brew, and it will stay fresh in your fridge for up to 3 days. Available from firebox.com
Regular | Cool Sh*t
Campf ire Cooker This cooking system originally came from Hungary, where people use it widely. The tripod is made of steel with an easily adjustable chain, to allow you to place the enamelled steel bowl closer or further away from the flames. It is easy to use, easy to clean. A hardwaring bit of kit, that is elegant and efficient. Available from pedlars.co.uk
The Stellarscope A lovely pocket sized scope that is easy to use, meaning you can reveal a highly detailed celestial map in no time at all. Match the calendar to the time of day, align with the poles, and aim toward Polaris. With the included Northern and Southern Hemisphere maps you can find your location in the universe from anywhere in the world. The Stellarscope is designed and made in Italy. Available from bestmadeco.com If you want your product to be featured contact: samantha.eynon@airmonkeys.co.uk
W
hen I found myself short of a pair of kickpanels recently, Richard Booth came to the rescue at the last minute. Richard Booth Designs is based in the Midlands and he creates bespoke camper-van interiors for all models of transporter. His kick panels are CNC cut from MDF which create a perfect fit and a flexible board. All I did was glue some black vinyl onto them and waterproofed the backs and they slotted into place. The fit was that good I haven’t even screwed them in place! Find him on Facebook or look for his advert in this magazine.
Richard Booth Designs
Regular | Tech Focus
A round up of the best products for your VW from around the world.
M
y previous roof rack was fine. It worked perfectly well and allowed me to transport surfboards and coolboxes around the country safely. There was just one problem with it. I always felt it was too tall. The NLA Parts roof rack solves that issue. It is a much lower profile rack with it sitting a lot closer to the roof of the bus. The clamps are also slightly different with a “one bolt” fastening clamp making it easier to secure it whether you’re on your drive or on the move. Made from stainless steel and beach wood slats the rack is built to last. All you need to do is assemble it yourself. It takes about 30 minutes. It fits Splits and Bays. Available from NLA Parts: www.nlavw.com 1.8m rack- £349.50 0.6m rack- £249.50
Feature | Beetle Watch
The 1960’s VW Beetle is celebrating 55 years of success Almost everyone knows the classic VW Beetle. A motoring icon for decades, celebrated in a famous movie or two, this little car still has thousands of enthusiasts worldwide who are passionate about their Beetle. With VW launching a new model of the Beetle, owners and enthusiasts will be delighted to hear that Bavarian Crono now have a 1960 Beetle watch to add to their portfolio of VW wristwatches. Bavarian Crono manufactures its Beetle speedometer watches exclusively in Germany, using quality Ronda Swiss Made quartz movements. The detail of the dial and the hands of the watch correspond exactly with the car’s original odometer, and the watch crown is an exact replica of the original oil filler cap. Each watch is assembled by hand and is of the exceptional quality you can expect from something made in Germany. A real head turner and something that will last a lifetime. Price: £150 Available from www.classiccarspeedometerwatches.co.uk
RestoRation & FabRication GeneRal RepaiR seRvice & Mot WoRk ModiFication & UpGRades inteRioRs & conveRsions paint & cUstoMisinG
Newbury, Berkshire
01635 276044
www.voodoovw.com
Show Report | Volksworld
The Volksworld Show words: Joe Eynon photos: Joe and Samantha Eynon
Show Report | Volksworld
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n March we made our trip down to Sandown Park in Surrey for The Volksworld Show. Every year this show brings the best out of the VW scene. This weekend show is the season opener for much of the world. People make the trip from all over the globe to see some amazing cars and enjoy some good times with friends. The cars are picked from submissions by the Volksworld Magazine team and his allows them to gather the best cars from around the world. Everyone makes their way to the town of Esher on the Friday night, although the show only opens its doors on Saturday and Sunday. The Friday night can be used to either prepare those show cars or visit many of the great bars and pubs in the town. Guess what we did?! The show doesn’t change much each year so I can safely say you know what you’re getting. Amazing cars spread over two large show halls, massive club stand areas surrounding the indoor show halls and an exciting swap meet full of uber rare parts upstairs. All around the show halls are our scenes biggest companies with some bargains to be found. The cars this year were amazing with a special display of Karmann Ghia prototypes making peoples jaws drop. There was also
an interesting display of drag racers downstairs. Dotted amongst these displays were some truely amazing cars. If you are currently doing a project or wanting to buy a new VW then this is the only place to go for inspiration. Not wanting to take anything away from the spectacular cars and buses inside the show hall, I have to mention the club stands. The usual suspects were there such as RSVP, DTA,
The Lower Class, Deadhaus and Rothfink but the stars were the individual cars themselves. Mark Barrows Adventure Wagon, built by Evil Ben, was one of my favourites. Matt Dudley’s Notch was great to look at and Sam Trigg’s Mango Splitscreen bus boasts one of the nicest interiors out there at the moment. Plus his bus is all the better for the extra bullet holes going in one side and coming out the other! There was something for everyone at this show. Stock to slammed and Resto-cal to Patina monsters. Never been to this show before? Do it in 2016! Many people don’t even come to the show for the cars. Of
course they enjoy the vehicles but for some people it’s all about the food, beer and friends. I love the fact the show has a real social vibe to it and you see so many people that you’ve missed over the winter. It really is an air-cooled lovers dream! The cars seen and the event itself are great but friendship and the good times enjoyed beats all of that! See you in 2016! Our hotel is already booked!!
Show Report | Volksworld
Music that has been doing the rounds at Air Monkeys HQ
The Vaccines English Graffiti The Vaccines can never really be accused of selling out, as they literally came out of no where, being signed up after playing just a few shows. Their first album ‘what did you expect from the vaccines’ had a title that suggested a certain confidence and swagger. A feeling they’ve been keen to carry forward. With this album they are perhaps showing more confidence, as they have not been scared to try new things, rather than stick with a tried and tested formula, something they pointed to with their EP Melody Calling. There are definite echoes of other bands on this album. The Strokes instantly sprang to mind, when the synth chorus of ‘Minimal Affection’ kicked in, and ‘Dream love’ certainly seems to borrow some of the Arctic Monkeys swagger. You can also hear the influence of Flaming Lips producer Dave Fridmann, especially on tracks like Stranger and Miracle. It hops about stylistically at quite a pace, and you certainly couldn’t accuse it of being boring. The bands frontman Justin Young has been quoted as saying “we wanted to make something that sounds amazing next year and then terrible in 10 years!” On the surface this seems like an odd thing to say, but really he’s just explaining they wanted to make music that felt right at the time. They want to have fun,
and not think too much about how the music will age, and they certainly take the listener along for the ride. Rating:7/10 Sounds Like: Arctic Monkeys, Drowners, The Strokes Standout Track: 20/20
Regular | Earworm sometimes a bit scrappy and angry, but there is a sense of calm to this album. The Good Fight is a sun drenched hip hop album, though he plays with a number of different sounds, some which work more than others, but it doesn’t feel like he has stretched himself too thin. Oddisee creates songs that speak of real life, and they are explored with a sense of modesty and wisdom, with lyrics like ‘Don’t judge a book by it’s cover if you don’t even read, there’s no shame in admitting that you’re not up to speed, oh you’re just scared...’ Hopefully this album will lead to wider recognisyion, as it is fully deserved.
Oddisee The Good Fight
Rating: 8/10 Sounds Like: Trek Life, Diamond District, Yu Standout Track: That’s Love
Sam Eynon
Oddisee has been creating music for a number of years now, releasing his first studio album in 2008. This album feels like one where he has really hit his stride. Previous work was style but the album has darker and more sombre mood to it. Gibbard’s marriage split and Walla’s leaving have had a noticable effect on how the band write music. The album is an evolution away from what DCFC fans know and love and it feels like the band need some time to adjust to life without one of the founding members of the group. There are some highlights to enjoy but overall the record is a lesser son of greater kings. The now threesome still have the ability to create a great album but this is not it. Its just a good one.
Death Cab For Cutie Kintsugi Joe Eynon
This is Death Cab’s first album since the departure of the very influential Chris Walla. Ben Gibbard continues to write in his unique
Rating: 7/10 Sounds Like: Band of Horses, Pinback, Rilo Kiley Standout Track: Black Sun
many years. Does Drones change this pattern? Nope. I’m sorry to be blunt but the album just sounds like Muse are really trying too hard to fill a Muse shaped gap in the market. The record just sounds like no development has occured. I always want to grasp that a band has moved on from the last album. The talent of Muse is obvious. No-one writes stadium filling rock anthems like them and the album is enjoyable enough to listen to if not very predictable. You just know when the key changes are going to happen three or four bars in advance. Muse Drones Joe Eynon
Muse are a band of my youth so everytime a new release comes out from the Devon neo prog band I get excited. I’m not sure why though. I haven’t enjoyed a Muse album for
Their ability to write iconic music is undeniable. I’m just wanting more than the Muse that Muse can offer right now. Rating: 5/10 Sounds Like: Royal Blood, 30 Seconds to Mars, Soundgarden Standout Track: Reapers with a look on the ever more right wing U.K. and the violent and passionate lengths individuals go to become somebody. The most amazing achievement is how 4 middle class white boys are able to generate enough empathy to create sympathy to make them appear marginalized in the modern world.
Everything Everything Get To Heaven Joe Eynon
Manchester based quartet Everything Everything return with their third album in what is now obviously a trilogy of modern day idealistic punk albums. Art-poppers with punk hearts the band conclude their three album narration of modern Britain
As you would expect the lyrics are shocking and the vocal strengths of the band get their message accross in an unique style. The toetapping although reflective sound of the band make the album enjoyable however you wish to listen to it. You can use it to charge your politcal emotions or you can enjoy it as an excellent record from a top British band. Rating: 8/10 Sounds Like: Bloc Party, Mystery Jets, Foals, Standout Track: Distant Past
Regular | Earworm Django Django Born Under Saturn Sam Eynon
Django Django formed in 2009, and burst on to the scene with their self-titled and Mercury prize nominated album in 2012. After such a well received first album the follow up was always going to be tricky. It was recorded at Netil House in east London and Angelic Studios in Banbury and was produced by drummer Dave Maclean. It doesn’t have the same impact, but that is not a reflection on the quality of the music, but the eclectic and distintive sound they have engineered could not possibly sound as fresh second time round. But having said that, the album is bigger, and even more experimental, though it doesn’t always hit quite the right note.
? r e p m a C t c The Perfe
Feature | RSVP Westy
The Westfalia inte rior is regarded a s the best available for many people.
Buller holes. You dont get character like it w ith a t4!
Feature | RSVP Westy
Safari pop-outs m aking sure you’re kept cool during those summer cruises!
Feature | RSVP Westy
Marc has built a really cool bus! We love it.
of all Trades
words and photos by Edd Thorpe (unless stated otherwise).
T
his is a subject which has come up a lot this year. Maybe it’s because we have been specifically building this topic into Tech Focus that we have noticed, but it does seem that now more than ever people have been asking on Facebook “can anyone recommend a decent jack..?” or posting topics on forums to similar effect. When you think about it, a jack is a pretty damn important piece of kit. Without it, even the most basic of tasks becomes a nightmare, or simply impossible. Perhaps, with this year being a particularly good one for European road trips, more and more have further asked specifically about lightweight, portable jacks in order to carry it with them as part of their toolkit. The market nowadays really is swimming with jacks, everything from a fancy ‘aluminium racing jack’ to a basic £30 ‘starter kit’ Hopefully in this feature we will help you to navigate your way through some of the jargon used in describing jacks and their specification, and peel away some of the myths surrounding some of the more expensive jacks on the market. So let’s start off with a bit of ‘safety first’ talk, because, well, it’s important. And more so because then you can’t sue. A trolley jack should never be used alone when working under a vehicle. They’re a lifting tool not a supporting one, so I strongly recommend the use of at least one axel stand under the area of the vehicle you are working, or ideally a pair under a solid section of the chassis or axel, depending on the task in hand. A strong word of caution when considering the surface on which you are using your jack. Pea gravel is a massive no-no, as is any form of sloped driveway. Jacks have a tendency to want to flip onto their side if used on rough or uneven ground. Simply, jacks are longer than they are wide, added to that fact that the rear
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Tested | Trolley Jacks most wheels tend to be solid, parallel wheels, and the front two swivelling castors, then you have a recipe for jacks falling onto their side by pirouetting over the solid rear wheels. However, by reading this feature we are going to take some presumption here that you are a relatively competent person and will therefore exercise your own common sense and caution with respect to these tools. So, before entering into our shakedown of some of the more readily available jacks from wellknown national retailers, we shall attempt to bust some jargon!
Some important terms to help you chose a jack most suited to your needs: SWL or Capacity - Safe Working Limit, or the Capacity is the safe amount of load that can be lifted with the jack. Usually given in Tonnes ( 1 tonne = 1000kg or roughly 2200lbs) this is not the total vehicle weight, as remembering that a jack can only lift up to half of the vehicle at any one time. We have given a rough guide that a 1.25t jack should be adequate for a Beetle but a minimum of 1.5t for a camper, depending on load and interior and the task in hand. Entry Height – this is the height of the jack in the fully lowered position, so for example this would give you the ground clearance underneath, for example, the lower beam rail of a beetle and the ground. A ‘low entry’ jack (generally below 100mm) is more suited to lowered vehicles, but for extremely slammed static rides, you’re still going to need wooden blocks or something under your wheels to increase your ground clearance to get the jack under to even start! Lifting Range – This is the full sweep of the lifting height available from the jack. This is usually a good figure to cross reference to your choice of axel stand to ensure that the jack will lift the vehicle enough to use them safely. Valve Type – Generally speaking there are two types of jack available on the market. Those with a fixed handle, which rotates to release the valve, to lower the jack, and those with removable handles. The valve on this type of jack is remote to the lifting cylinder, so using the end of the handle to release the valve and lower the jack.
Weight – not to be confused with the SWL, this is the item weight of the jack itself. Useful to know if you’re planning on carrying the jack with you as part of your kit. Here is a small selection of jacks we found among our Airmonkeys fleet, as well as consulting with The Wheel Specialist, Burton. These guys use and abuse jacks day in day out. If anyone can weed out shoddy overpriced jack hype, these can! First off this cheap and cheerful 2T low entry jack from Halfords is the one I regularly use on my ’67 Beetle. A snip at just £35 it suits my needs well, having a removable handle type valve release makes it ideal to pop in the bonnet area on a road trip. With an entry height of just 90mm it’s well suited to getting under the front beam of my cal-looker. The only downside I can find to this jack being the ‘hump’ around the lifting arm pivot has a tendency to catch on the valence of my bug, if this was designed with a smoother curve this would not be a problem. However some great features include the curved lifting handle for bodywork clearance, and the swivelling stock at the lifting valve, enabling the jack to be positioned at any angle available under the vehicle yet get a full sweep of the lifting handle. One jack causing quite a stir on the market is this 1.25T Strong Arm Aluminium jack from Clarke, Machine Mart’s own brand. Weighing in at just over 11kg it is one of the lightest jacks on the market, granted. BUT the low capacity of just over 1 tonne makes this only really suitable for race weight beetles with no interior. Besides, this jack boasts about a super low entry, but in reality is only 5mm lower than the Halfords jack previously discussed. And at a cost of over £100 including VAT, I personally don’t consider this to be a particularly good value jack. Also some concerns have been raised to the structural integrity of the jack itself, with some aluminium jacks deforming when used on uneven surfaces. My verdict – great in a full semi-pro pit setup at a drag strip with your race car, not so much for the home mechanic and pricey to say the least..! Higher lifting capacity jacks are available in this range all from Machine Mart in store or online. One thing worth noting for those of you considering this as a good road trip option
© Machine Ma
Tested | Trolley Jacks – the release valve is operated via rotating the handle, so as such this is non-removable, or at least requires the grub screw to be removed from the base of the handle. Long story short, there’s a bit of faffing involved with making this portable!
© Halfords
art 2015
One particular jack which has come with great recommendation from the guys at The Wheel Specialist is this 2.25 tonne Clarke Strong Arm Jack. With an entry height of just 80mm, its actually LOWER than the low-entry aluminium jack (yep go figure..!) So the lowest entry jack discussed here so far! This should be adequate for the lowest of vehicles..! This jack also features a profile more suited to getting under the valence of Beetles, for example, a significant improvement over the Halfords jack that I use… By having a remote release valve, the handle has to be removed between lifting and lowering operations, making it easy to dissemble for transportation, therefore making it ideal to keep in your vehicle too. One the single best features I have seen on a jack is the unique way this lifting handle doubles as a breaker bar, in order to release the initial torque from wheel bolts before raising the vehicle and removing the wheel completely. As another further bonus, this jack comes complete with 2, two-way sockets in 17, 19, 21 and 23mm sizes for most common wheel nut sizes. Unbelievably, this jack is just under £50 including VAT. This I feel is the answer to that inaugural question, “Can anyone recommend a decent, portable jack?” This is quite a curveball in our research, and goes to show you that expensive is not always best..! Honestly, I feel that this is the best all round jack available on the market, in terms of Entry Height (the lowest here) Lifting capacity (the highest too..) and in terms of usability, with a swivelling lifting stock, and removable handle. The fact that this also doubles as a breaker bar is simply fantastic! An ideal piece of kit on the road or for the home mechanic, as a sturdy steel construction should mean this jack never lets you down (no pun intended...)
© Machine Mart 20 15
Bond Bug (1200 x 900mm)
As seen in Classic Car Weekly, product of the week section. Big fan, I owned three in a row before going VW...
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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...
01707 377583
TOONED
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Prices from £50
Get in touch 07586 774210 or hilly@btinternet.com
Issue Bargains Vinyl frontier: no paint, no worries! Back If 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
stephen@hillcreative.co.uk
Just send me a message asking for the list... *£2 if you’re happy to collect (from Hertfordshire) more discounts for multiples...
Specialising in recreating damaged, missing or old graphics, Retro race graphics, or bespoke ideas... call to discuss anything you want: 01707 377583
Making logos and laser cuts since 2011 www.facebook.com/TrintEastwoodGrafix
PERFORMANCE
/BuddysPaintShack
PAI NT S HAC K
Custom paint | refinishing | welding | metalwork | wheel refurbishment | body repairs Based in the Midlands
Email. enquires@buddyspaintshack.co.uk or call. 07952 448353
Feature | Waboo Open Day
Waboo Automotive Open Day words: Joe Eynon photos: Joe and Samantha Eynon
I
n March we headed off to the Waboo Automotive Open Day. Unsure of what we would find, mainly because the weather was so bad, we arrived to see the car park full of awesome classic and retro cars. The company opening their doors to the public are specialists in everything from one-off repairs to full restorations. They also do interior trimming to a very high standard. You can see their handywork in Terry Settle’s lowlight Ghia in this issue. This company is a true homegrown start up venture between friends. You can see how popular it is by seeing the response they are getting on social media. They are getting some great reviews. The workshop is a small compact affair with an office, complete with Commer desk, a bodyshop and unpstairs they have the trimshop. It may be small but they have everything they need to change your vehicle for the better. Give them a shout on Facebook or give them a call to see what they can offer you. 01531 640168 wabooautomotive@gmail.com
Feature | Waboo Open Day
Our favourite vehicles from the past few months...
Regular | Spanked!
Regular | Spanked!
Regular | Spanked!
Regular | Spanked!
Show Report | Stanford Hall
Stanford Hall
words: Joe Eynon photos: Joe and Samantha Eynon
S
tanford Hall is always one of the highlights of the Air Monkeys year. Only about an hours drive from Air Monkeys HQ it is a “must do show” for us. The distance isn’t the only reason we go. It is also a fantastic day out. The best thing about the day is that it is a no-frills kind of event. It’s basically a field with cars parked in it. That makes it sound simple and un-organised. It’s quite the opposite. The day is organised by the Leicestershire and Warwickshire VW Owners Club and the money generated from the day funds the club for the next year. It’s a worthy cause! They pride themselves in their concours d’elegance displays. The cars are split into models and years and then displayed. It is one of the only shows on the scene where you’d get 10 stock beetles in a row! It make a refreshing change. This year there was a Karmann Ghia display with some fantastic models on display. The display included a Type 14 Brazilian Karmann Ghia TC. This was the first time I had ever seen one in the metal. The car is stunning and uber-rare in the UK and Europe. Those of you that saw it will agree on its beauty. The show is not just about the perfection of some owners cars but it also focuses on clubs. The show has doubled in size because of the large club areas and the displays they put on. These are great to walk around
and allow you to meet up with friends from around the country too. We once again joined the club areas with an Air Monkeys stand with some great cars on there including a few feature cars. Thanks to everyone who popped over for a chat. We really enjoy the show and it is made all the better for the ever growing traders area. Many major players were present this year and bargains were to be found. The only negative we found from 2014’s show was that
the entrance road did not suit lowered cars at all. This year this had improved and we were mainly on tarmac unitl we entered the field. Camping is available on the Saturday night if you wanted to make the most of your weekend. Then you can enjoy some beers! We hope many of you join us in 2016. Each year this show gets better. Small simple changes every event but they add up to make a better day for everyone.
Show Report | Stanford Hall
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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...
TOONED
01707 377583 hilly.moto@btinternet.com
Prices from ÂŁ50
Get in touch 07732 51 15 26 or hilly.moto@btinternet.com
Keep a watchful eye on: www.airmonkeys.co.uk and www.facebook.com/airmonkeys for more information on the Air Monkeys cars and what we’re up to. Also if you want to be considered to be featured in a future issue email info@airmonkeys.co.uk