Day of the Volkswagen 2009
Dec 29th, 2009 by Jeff
The annual Day of the Volkswagen was held again at G.O. Edwards Park in Perth again this year. There was slight change of venue this year with the event being held at the causeway end of the park rather than opposite Burswood Casino. This, I think turned out to be better location than last year, as parking and traffic can be quite busy around the popular Riverview Church on Sundays. In addition, it seemed to get more exposure from passing traffic along the Great Eastern Highway of which no doubt many dropped in out of curiousity. The event was free to enter for anyone.
Turn out of vehicles was bigger than the previous year’s event. The entire park was jam packed full with Kombis, Beetles, Golfs, Karmann Ghias of every type and model including a few interesting vehicles not seen before.
Weather was quite warm, and by 11am we were frying…some of my team referred to Men At Work’s song “Down Under” lyric “..Travelling in fried out Kombi..” which seemed appropriate.
Pictures from The Day of the Volkswagen:
Volkswagen Kombi Samba
1964 Volkswagen Kombi “Splitscreen”
Another Kombi Splitscreen.
Kombi peacewagon. Groovy paint job eh? After seeing this we remarked on “…travelling in fried out Kombi…”
Red and black Kombi.
1978 lime green Volkswagen Kombi.
1990 4WD Volkswagen Syncro.
1960 Karmann Ghia.
A mean looking Karmann Ghia dressed in black.
Also at this event was a display by the Formula Vee Association of Western Australia. These “Vees” are single seat open wheel racers based on Volkswagen engines, gearbox and suspensions. In full race trim these cars can reach up to 200Kph and engines can do 7000rpm. Regular race meetings are held at Perth’s Barbagallo racetrack.
One appealing aspect of Formula Vee racing is the low cost to get into and compete in this class. You can enter this sport with as little as $10,000.
1971 Lamborghini Espada. The event was open to all vehicles owned by the parent company Volkswagen of which Lamborghini is part of. This Lambo has a 3.9 litre V12 engine, 5 speed gearbox and can do around 250kph.
Rear view of Lamborghini Espada.
1971 Blue Beachbuggy
1965 Manx Beachbuggy
Countrybuggy. More information about the Countrybuggy here
VW parts for sale. A few people were selling their old VW parts, including this complete VW engine.
VW E type wagon “squareback.
VW E type “notchback”.
1990 VW Golf GTI Mk2
1994 VW Golf.
2007 VW Polo.
1952 Volkswagen Beetle standard.
1969 Factory Beetle Cabriolet.
1968 Volkswagen Beetle with Rolls Royce front grill.
Volkswagen Beetle fitted with turbo charger.
1959 Volkswagen Beetle standard.
1971 VW Beetle.
Black Volkswagen Beetle.
Norax Volkswagen based 2 seater Roadster.
From the information sheet:
“Built on VW type1 floorpan by Lance Ridgeway in Adelaide in 2002 as a prototype for a kitcar production run. First registered in Adelaide in 2003. Sold to Darwin buyer early December 2007. Badly damaged in a road accident in Darwin December 2007. Obtained by current owner for $2000 in January 2008. Fibreglass body repaired by Lance Ridgeway and Tony Morris(Western Star fibreglass) in 2008. Fitted with replacement 1600cc engine and Formula Vee gearbox(supplied by Anthony Lees) by Karl Lang Motors in April 2008. Lowered replacement front end supplied and fitted by Bernie Blix(Pure Engineering). Outstanding work involves aluminium panelling in engine bay and painting of repaired body. To be painted in Porsche silver with 1960’s style Shell Racing Stripes. Expected completion and road registration by mid 2010.”
Volkswagen Sticker: It’s not just cool it’s air cooled!
Links:
- Volkswagen Club of Western Australia
- Formula Vee Association of Western Australia
- The Australian CountryBuggy Story
