I ran up to Quebec (from Boston) a few weeks ago for the Rallye de Charlevoix,
and was happy to see a number of vanagons up there.  There was one carat (or
whatever they are called in Canada?) in particular that was absolutely
stunning -- 4 Hella 4000's up front, lowered, nice rims and what looked like
mid-eighties M-series BMW side skirts.  But the definite crowd favorite was at
the other end of the spectrum: a rusty old rattletrap westy... serving hot
food and cold beer to hundreds of chilly rally fans, miles and miles from
nowhere.  I reckon the owners are paying off their diesel conversion, one
bottle of Molson at a time.

Isaac in Cambridge
irtaylor@post.harvard.edu

ps.  Anyone else here a rally fan?

----- Original Message -----
From: "developtrust" <developtrust@HOME.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, November 22, 2001 7:39 PM
Subject: The wonderful vanagon

I had a real"aha" yesterday. I was asking a friend to borrow his truck to
haul some lumber, then said "Wait a minute, I have a van. I can haul my own
lumber." I put down the seat, put a large piece of clean cardboard on the
bed and hauled home 12 foot long lumber with the back hatch even closed for
the trip.

What a wonderful vehicle. A cargo transporter, an every day utility vehicle
and people transporter, an office on wheels, a kitchen, bedroom, living
room, snack bar, and even a bathroom with the port-a-potty I am going to buy
at camping world which I plan to put a cushion on top for an extra seat.

I can see why so many of us are in love with this marvelous vehicle.
Imagine! Loving a car!

William