sussex vw festival 2009
Bearing in mind the trashy report the Sussex VW Club did on our own beloved show… we decided that we were not as low to retaliate. Instead we have an impartial report from club member G Costello, which speaks for itself…
Firstly I will get the moans out the way. Signs! There was only one small sign that I noticed and that was when you were nearly on top of the Pub, which was in quite a remote location. My fault really as I should have printed a map off before we left, but I knew the area and thought there would have been SIGNS to help me out when I got closer.
The next thing that really unset my day was not being able to enter the ‘Show n Shine’ even though we arrived at 11.30am when we was told that the Show and Shine was full. Not happy as I had got up early that morning to polish my Beetle and drive it down, had I have known I would not be able to display I would have chosen a faster car to do the journey in.
What was even more annoying was that when walking round the show there was a huge area that wasn’t even being used that could have housed the additional Show n’ Shine or just anyone wanting to display.
Right moans out the way, it was a nice show and plenty of top class cars were on display. There was a good selection of Buggies, Vans, Beetles old and new and a good variety of Water-cooled too, a very nice old Porsche, a Kermit-green Karmann Ghia and the pinkest bus I have ever seen. Mk1 Cab’s seemed to be getting very popular this year at shows and there were some great examples on show. I don’t think my Beetle would have stood a chance against the competition but I would have still liked it on display and not hidden in the car park, it’s my baby and I am very proud of it.
The weather held out and there was a BBQ on offer and very good food from the Yew Tree Pub. The band was a nice touch and in between a DJ spun some tunes. There was only one trade stand (Mega Bug); I did find this a little disappointing, as I do like a look around the trade stands. There was auto-jumble and I managed to buy some bits to add to the heap in the garage!! Well, it wouldn’t be the same if I didn’t come away with something. The kids were well catered for with ‘Make and paint a bus’ and games such as ‘Tug of war’ and ‘Giant egg n’ spoon race’.
All in all a pleasant show, which had grown since I last attended some years ago, and in a very pleasant setting. It was well worth the effort. I did notice that some people must have camped there Saturday night, maybe that was just for club members, there was definitely the room to camp and I would have taken that option had it been available.
G Costello
2008 events
Volksworld VW Show
Sandown Park, Surrey.
29th-30th March 2008.
VW's @ Stansted
Stansted Mountfitchett, Essex. 12th April 2008.
Manningtree Classic Vehicle Show
Manningtree, Essex. 20th April 2008.
Battlesbridge Classic Vehicle Show
Battlesbridge, Essex. 11th May 2008.
Battlesbridge Volkswagen Show
Battlesbridge, Essex. 17th-18th May 2008.
Enfield Pageant of Motoring
Enfield, Middlesex. 23rd - 26th May 2008.
Plymouth Volksfest
Plympton, Devon.23rd - 26th May 2008.
Stonor VW Show
Stonor Park, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. 1st June 2008.
Weald County Show
South Weald, Brentwood, Essex. 15th June 2008.
Camper Jam '08
Weston Park, Shifnal, Shropshire. 21st - 22nd June 2008.
VW Expo 08
Paddock Wood, Kent. 28th - 29th June 2008.
Peppercorn VW Show
Nr Leeds Castle, Maidstone, 12th - 13th July 2008.
London Volksfest
North Airfield Weald, Harlow, Essex. 13th July 2008.
Bug Jam 22
Santa Pod, Wellingborough, Northants. 19th - 20th July 2008.
West Bergholt Classic Car Show
West Bergholt, Essex. 26th - 27th July 2008.
Jaguar Show
Battlesbridge, Essex. 2nd - 3rd August 2008.
Sussex VW Festival
Chalvington, East Sussex. 10th August July 2008.
VW Festival
Harewood House, Leeds
16th – 17th August 2008.
Cornwall VW Jamboree
Stithians Showground, Cornwall
22nd – 24th August 2008.
Knebworth Classic Vehicle Show
Knebworth, Nr Stevenage, Hertfordshire. 23rd – 25th August 2008.
VW Action
Santa Pod Raceway, Wellingborough, Northants.
30th – 31st August 2008.
Bishop Stortford Classic Car Show
Windhill, Bishop Stortford, Essex. 13th - 14th September 2008.
Battlesbridge Grand Mobilia Day
Battlesbridge, Essex. 27th - 28th September 2008.