August Meeting. And, Oh Yeah, The Classic!

Where to start? How about: It's Club Night! No? You're right. I should have typed this up a week ago, maybe posted it over the weekend. Sorry. Went to the bustling metropolis of Hurricane last weekend for my niece's baptism. The drive was fine, the service was swell, the visit was great, but I missed driving my car. If only I could convince my wife that a lack of air conditioning on a 100-plus degree day isn't such a bad thing. That and her Jetta has a bigger trunk than my Beetle. Oh, well.

So, I guess the first order of business would be last month's club meeting on the 13th. July 2011 was one of those "low numbers but we had fun anyway, so there" months. At least the regular meeting was. We missed a few of our regulars, but got to meet some new friends (Hey, Buddy, Jenny and Charles!) Just to shake things up, it was decided to cruise south, last month, to the La Casita Restaurant in Springville. There we enjoyed some dang good eats and a chance to ooh and aah a little early over Tony's freshly minted 15-window. Charles brought along a photo album of all the work he's doing on his Bug, since he couldn't bring the actual car (can't wait to see that!). And Buddy and Jenny amazed us with their 1971 Autostick Super Beetle.

Three days later, on the 16th, we hosted the 13th annual Wasatch Classic VW Show. Can I just tell you how great you people are, driving so much farther out of the way, dodging so many traffic cones to get to the park and make this year's Classic the biggest one on record? The number of registered cars this year was a good 30% more than either of the two previous shows. Special thanks go out to Kranky Franks and Frosty Frog, who kept us all from starving or frying. Both proprietors said they enjoyed the experience and would be happy to come back next year, and I must say it wouldn't hurt my feelings to have them back! I'm sure you noticed the Channel 5 truck that showed up. Also, I want to thank all of our sponsors, new and old. Local businesses like Parts For Imports and Ken Garff Porsche Audi VW take up a lot of slack that the clubs can't carry on their own. Of course, if it wasn't for the awesome people who come out and participate, there wouldn't be anything to sponsor, now would there? So, thank you, too! If you missed the report on the news (the next day, tacked on after a bit about the Keep On Rollin' Charity Show), I've got it saved on my DVR and just need to get it transferred to where I can post it. There are a bunch of photos uploaded to the WVVW Facebook page. Check'em out!

A lot of people have asked why this year's Classic wasn't in the same park as it's always been, and there's no short answer. The Farmers Market, most of you know, contracted with the Mayor to have Pioneer Park all to themselves. North Park, which is just north of Pioneer Park, was reserved in February but was denied us by the Parks Department because of changes in the rules for special events in Provo. Specifically, Provo will no longer allow cars to park on the grass. Between that and some other events that were going on at North Park on that date, our Special Use Form was denied. Other venues were suggested, and I'm sorry that none of the ones outside Provo were given greater consideration. In visiting locations that the Parks Department suggested, I quickly discovered a sharp contrast between what one hears about a venue at the Parks Office and what one finds when he visits that venue in person. So the need to inspect the venue directly and the dwindling availability of what locations there were left me picking the best place I knew we could get without moving the date. I think it's safe to say, the hunt for a 2012 venue is already on.

Ours wasn't the only event of July to feature our favorite cars: The Volkswagen Enthusiasts of Southeast Idaho hosted the inaugural VW Invasion at Wackerli VW in Idaho Falls on the 30th. Those of you who couldn't make it to Idaho for the Invasion missed a great start to what should make for a killer annual trip. Kudos to our southeast Idaho brothers for a show well done!

Lastly, but certainly not least, remember to mark your calendars for the 20th (if you haven't already). This is the 6th year of the NO Show (Not your Ordinary Show), and the Ogden guys always do an awesome job. Make sure you can attend!

It's July! (And You Know What That Means...) - Take 2

And if you don't... Well, I'm sorry I haven't been using whatever social media you happen to follow. At any rate, I do hope you're ready to visit Provo's Bicentennial Park in seven days. The thirteenth annual Wasatch Classic VW Show suffered a couple of setbacks in efforts to have our show this year in the same location as the last twelve years. The Farmers Market (or, is "Farmers" supposed to be the possessive, "Farmer's"?) has waxed possessive with Pioneer Park to the tune of a mayoral contract, and the Provo Parks Department has chosen 2011 as the year they stop letting show goers park their cars on Provo Parks grass. So, for 2011, we'll be gathering at Bicentennial Park in south Provo, and we'll be parking on asphalt.

As I've started saying a lot, lately, Bicentennial Park is a nigh-perfect location for a family reunion. In addition to the obligatory park pavilion, Bicentennial boasts a duck pond, sand volleyball pit (anybody got a net?), and a wide expanse of well-manicured lawn. The trees don't cover the parking, but they do line the east and west sides of it, so the sun won't make its appearance until after the show starts. The playground equipment is mere feet from where the cars will be, and since the park isn't ringed with busy streets, those of you with kids can enjoy the show without your progeny asking to go play next to traffic. Like I said: great for a family reunion. Or VW Show. To boost the fun factor, and provide easy access to tasty grub, Kranky Franks of Springville (Home of the Danger Dawg) and Frosty Frog Shaved Ice have been invited to join us. Both Kranky Franks and Frosty Frog are on Facebook, so swing by and show them what they have to look forward to at our party.

Some things to remember about this year's show:

1. Location. If you drive to the park we used last year, you'll only find a Farmers Market. This year's Classic is located at 1440 South and 1510 East. If you're coming from out of town, it's probably easiest to take the University Avenue (Exit 269) and head east to State Street, turn left and look for 1440 South. It's only a half mile from the turn, and there's a sign that says "Bicentennial Park." If you're starting out in town, just head for the Juvenile Hall on the old road to Springville and turn east at the Sinclair station you'll see on the left.
2. Shade. Bring it. The club can cover a 20'x30' space and a 12'x12' space, but that leaves a lot uncovered. The park's lot has room for about 90 cars to park normally, and the more of that space we can shade, the better. Bring umbrellas, canopies, whatever.
3. Cash. We don't charge swappers to come to the show, but they'll probably balk at taking an IOU for that 1970 Karmann Ghia tail light lens you've been trying to find for months. There are businesses near the park, but none of them is a bank, so it will be a good idea to come prepared.

I want to thank all those who have preregistered on thewasatchclassic.com already. Last year, with one week to go, there were 16 preregistered cars. As of right now, there are 25. While that may not sound like a lot, the total number of cars registered for both WC11 and WC12 was 72. Both years, about 30 of those were preregistered, and most of those registered in the final week before the show. Compared to 2010, the number of preregistered cars seven days before show time is up over 50%. Preregistration really saves a lot of frayed nerves on the production side of this show, and helps in the task of getting what people are going to need. Plus, it can save you a couple of bucks on your registration fee if you pay it online.

Now! Since I had to miss last month's cruise, anybody want to get on here and give a report?

Mark July 30 on Your Calendars, Boys!

The Volkswagen Enthusiasts of Southern Idaho (VESI) are proud of their air-coolers, too! And they've been kind enough to schedule around the Wasatch Classic and NO Show, to allow us to come up and participate. Come visit the VESI Forum for more info!

New Photos on the Club Site - Club Night, March 2010

Sometimes holding the monthly meeting of the Wasatch Vintage Volkswagens Utah VW Club on the second Wednesday of the month kind of bites us in the butt. For example, March 10, 2010, was considerably colder than the previous Wednesday, and next Wednesday promises to be warmer as well. Actually, we do the whole Daylight Savings thing this weekend, setting our clocks forward an hour so that 7:00 p.m. next Wednesday will feature considerably more sunlight than did last night. So last night we got bit. Some would say frostbit. It was cold, to the point where a Billings native might even reach for a jacket...

In spite of the chill, we've seen something of a resurgence in attendance over the past few months that warms my heart. Some parts of the country may not get too excited over ten air-cooled VWs in the same place at the same time, but since the Wasatch Classic VW Show only comes around once a year I have to get my fix where I can.

The Wasatch Vintage VolksWagens Creed

This was originally on the OLD (2003) version of the WVVW web site, and was recently found and posted to WVVW's Facebook Group page by Laura Gilchrist:

We're not here to solve the world's problems with superior German engineering or march toward global air-cooled domination.

Whether you are a Volks-Nut convinced that the Creator of the Universe drives a '63 ragtop (and that nothing water-cooled is worth spitting on...) or you simply can't escape the shackles of I'd-buy-something-else-but-I'm-stuck-with-it-till-it's-dead-and-it-JUST-WON'T-DIE, or anything in between, our "agenda" is simple:

This car is part of our lives.

We get together and whine about clutches going out. We get together to laugh about getting clocked doing 60 and being genuinely amazed about it.

We get together to drive.

And although it's the old Volkswagen we love, we won't turn you away just because you're not fortunate enough to have one. If you can show up and bring a love for classic, German aircooled automobiles-for-the-people, we want you there.

--I found this in my dad's incredible paper stack of doom (a place where you can't find anything you need). Not sure who wrote it, but I thought it belonged here.

Utah County's 2010 Car Show

Mark your calendar: July 17, 2010 will be the date of the twelfth annual Wasatch Classic. As always, we'll be at Pioneer Park on Provo.

New Photos on the Club Site

Pictures and commentary are now available on the Utah County VW club's web site (yeah; ours). I know what you're thinking. You're thinking, "What? Already?? Club night wasn't even a week ago!" And I'd deserve it. Nevertheless, club night photos are up.

I must confess, I was pleasantly surprised by the turnout. Given the extremely frigid (for Utah) conditions, I feared we'd see maybe one or two cars. Instead, imagine my delight when we hit double digits (in people, anyway). Only five classic VWs showed, but like I said, it was "frickin' cold."

On another note, the online option for payment of club dues has been updated to reflect the 2010 calendar year. For those of you who have already paid your 2010 dues (you know who you are), please DO NOT feel like you have to use the updated form. Your 2010 dues were received and are on record.

I Promise: The Newsletters Are Coming!

I'm really hoping that no one was waiting for their newsletter to remind them about club night on the 11th. If that description fits you I apologize profusely. The letters were late getting printed, and though they were available to anyone at the meeting, those that didn't get handed out are still waiting to be mailed. They should be in your hands this week...Well, they should have been in your hands last week, but...

Hopefully, it should go without saying that December's meeting is on the 9th. The last two years we've asked club members to bring non-perishable food to be donated to the Food Bank, and we've given away a prize to the person who brought the biggest donation. Once again, this year we're asking club members to bring a Food Bank donation. In fact, if you want to bring a friend, I think it would be fair to give the prize to whoever brings the biggest food donation. Granted, the prize we're talking about is not anything super-expensive like a television set. Mostly, I'd just like to see us make a significant donation. See the December 2007 meeting.

New Photos on the Club Site

In case anyone wants to see, the photos of the October WVVW meeting (on the 14th) are up and ready for viewing. A special "thank you" is in order for Dave Gilchrist, who not only served as photographer last month, but provided the witty commentary as well.

2009 Fall Cruise

While I don't suppose I'd call it a roaring success, I'd say that those who went weren't sorry for their trouble. The foliage along Hwy 189 in Provo Canyon isn't as spectacular as up the Alpine Loop, but it's still pretty, and in the end no one seemed to mind not being driven off the road by on-coming traffic. Deer Lake Reservoir looks lovely, and the food at Dairy Keen was enjoyable, too. I even stuck a quarter in the "Harry Potter Train" feature and we watched a toy train run back and forth (about a yard or so) for about 60 seconds.

Those of you who were not in attendance, the 2009 WVVW Fall Cruise would have been better with you there, and we hope to see you next time.

New blog for the club and the car show

Ok, hopefully this won't be a crash-and-burn idea. I'd like to connect this blog to the club and show sites, thewasatchclassic.com and wvvw-ut.com, and allow club members to post on here. Maybe it will work better than the current forum. If you found this blog and are not familiar with Utah County's vintage VW club, visit the Wasatch Vintage VWs site by clicking on the links herein provided.