Hi all,

leaving for ENGLAND tommorow, just wondering if there are any good V.W. sites to see whilst over there?

cheers!!

p.s. Girlfriend flatly refuses to jump on a 'quick' flight over to the motherland of V.W.s (damn it!!)

where are u going in the uk?

and how long u staying there for?

London for 4 nights then down to Cornwall/Devon for 4 nights, 4 nights in Kent and then two 7 day tours. One tour up trough Scotland and the other over to Ireland.

4weeks in total. were abouts are you in England?

ciao.

First off buy Ultra VW from any newsagents, so that you have contact numbers for the following recomendations below.

If your in ESSEX (near London) go to the following as this is the main place for VW bits n pieces.

Karmann Konnection - Southend on Sea. Ritchie has an aladdins cave down there, and some rare stuff. As well as a few cars for sale. You may even be able to look over the museum if you give the shop a ring first. Again some real rare cars in there, including 356's, Ovals, Barndoors etc.

From KK head down the A13 to Thurrock (M25 Dartford Tunnel) head for the frogmore est behind the huge shopping complex. On this estate, you will find SSP and Big Boys Toys.

SSP - is again a VW shop catering for the main parts that you probably get over in Aus. Chrome bits, Bug pack zorsts, body panels, books, wheels, bumpers its not a bad place to have a browse around, and the staff are really nice as well.

BBT - been going for over 15 years, again like SSP. In fact it was a few from BBT that started SSP. Again a good place to browse around.

If you do go to these shops tell them that Back to 89 sent you, as Ritchie has my stock in his shop, and I know the others from old. Also you can drop your girlfriend off to go shopping or down the seafront for the day, while u get ure VW fix. Shes happy and your happy hahaha. Southend once was the mecca of VWs in this country. Mainly because all the major players in the UK are based in this county, including the shops, the bodywork guys such as "The Paintbox" coachtrimmers "Bernie Newbury".

Depending how long your staying but if your about on the 3rd Tuesday of the month, you may want to get yourself to the "Ace Cafe". In fact if you look on their website, you may find that theres meets on each week. However on the 3rd Tuesday is VW night. Mad VWs from all over the south of the UK meet here. The Ace has decent food and a good bar, and many of the cars you may of read in the mags turn up. Including Petes mad small Fiat with chequered roof, that normally has all 3 wheels off the ground on launching at the drag strip. Also Ritchie Webbs 10 sec Cabrio and his mates from the Barnstormers. Normally an exit of burnouts at 11pm..show cars include the Restowagen guys in their top Resto Cals and show cars, such as "Preacher" see last VW Trends. The ACE is located on the North Circular A406 at Park Royal near Wembley in London.

Apart from that, there isnt really anywhere else than seeing what clubs nearby will be on in the evenings to near to where u are staying. Most club nights are on everyweek around the UK, so try and get a feel to the ones which seem to be the largest and it maybe a good time to meet likeminded friends, and im sure that they will go the extra effort to make u really welcome.

You may want to try Volkszone on the internet to put a thread up and see whats on. As there are lots of enthusiasts from all over the UK on there, who will know something going on.

Enjoy your stay if you need to know anything else let me know.

Stu

[Edited on 27-2-2005 by Backto89]

[Edited on 27-2-2005 by Backto89]

Thanks Stu, will definately go and check out K.K.

I doubt I will get a chance to see any other of those V.w. sites, ace cafe sounds bloody good though.

Have printed you reply and is goin in the top pocket of my travel bag!

Cheers dude!

wow stu!

even that would be kool to do a trip like that, and i live here....

if u were staying longer, u could of gone to the volksworld show

When I was restoring Lemon Meringue, I used to always do the A13 trip. Back then there was VW Dream Machine in Thurrock.

Always remember going out to buy some Chromies, and instead of going straight to Thurrock, I went down to Karmann Konnection and ended up with some Fuchs lol. The other good thing back then was that KK was in Hadleigh, and German Car Company had just moved to Southend Airport, so there was Four places to visit.

It was pretty quick from KK to BBT and im only about 3 junctions round on the M25. Well worth the effort if the enthusiasms there.

The ACE was never about for VWs at that time, but there was always the Chelsea Cruise, and of course the Thurrock Cruise, whereby the whole of the carpark of Tesco was used full of Hot Rods, VWs and Concept cars done up. In the McDonalds at Thurrock it would be full of Show Cars from Hot Rods and VWs. Thump! Thump! would have Targa, Lemon Bav Resto Cal and the Lilac dads daily on show. Top times until some twat ruinned it for everyone, and the cruise was hijacked with Lax Power people.

So in someways its still as cool as it was back in the early 90s.

Tom did you buy that kustom bug from Roberto?

Stu

i should be picking it up in 5-6 weeks, as im moving house...

isnt the chealsea cruise now dead?
u kno the vw dream machine places, isnt there any left any more?

btw, on vz theres a few pics of the build up of outragous (that gull wing door bug):beer:

Dont frequent Vzi matey...forums not my bag.

I got the owner email me the other day.

Stu

ill save the pics and send them to u

whats his plan with it?
hope its gonna look the same

loadsa old nostalgia cars are making a comeback!
:beer

Oi you 2 this is "aussie veedubbers":kiss

maybe cut short your time in Pomgolia and slip across to Germany for at least a couple of days.
Spend a day at the Autostadt museum, you'll probably need two days to see everything though.
Also while in Wolfsburg, visit the Dieselstrasse Museum.
you'll be glad you did.

Actually when I had my KG and kept getting it broken into I had to keep making trips out to Ritchie King to get replacement door glass and I lived in Surrey. I wouldn't mind but the glass was worth more than the stereo and all they succeeded in doing was nicking the knobs as the stereo did not fall out from under the dash as they (the thieves) were hoping!! Bastards!:cussing

You could also try http://www.restowagenuk.com  and there are a few people who are always out and about at a few low key type things. http://www.dubaddicts.co.uk  a good bunch of people, no worries into dubs. tell them beerboy sent you ;-)

you could also visit just kampers.co.uk if you are into kombis.
Not sure if there is much to see just to buy. Thats near my home too Farnham surrey way.

I'd love to take you up on the offer re the DVDs but I left Blighty early '88 so the shows would bring back no memories whatsoever, cheers anyway

Bazza

thanks stu!:rudolf

what happened to warren g's bug?

Its in a matey's garden / Garage up north herts somewhere.
Nice bloke, I went to have a look after I think stu put me in touch with him, but needs some TLC and I was leaving for OZ. Ok probably needs lots of work. Could have been sold on for all I know. Would have been nice to save it. But I just didn't have the time :-( loved that car

Damn it...!!! Why didn't I see this thread when he 1st put it up...!!!:puke:cussing

i think warren g's bug is in B-B-B-B---BIRMINGHAM! (its from that thing on b3ta.com...):thumb

and its in a pretty bad way

Hi all, Here I am in the FREEZIN COLD heart of LONDON!!

Been on the ground for about 12hrs and yet to see a dub cruizin in London. If possible I will let you know of my adventures in Essex (K.K.) and beyond.

Ciao for now.

there was a post on VZi about it with me giving stu a little gentle stick about going halves on it.

BUSMAD yes please pictures and more info especially of M25 in the snow. feeling home sick, well maybe not.

have fun, let us know what you think. You in easynet cafe by charring (sp) cross. what tourist bits you doing in london.

there are some good pub and ghost tours that are good

Busmad - get on the tube and to TEMPLE come out the station and theres a big "Walkabout" bar full of austrailians!!! That should warm u up. Normally frequent that bar for lunch. Theres another Walkabout near covent garden plaza in Maiden Lane.

Warren G bug...Beerdude, has it been sold after the guy in Bicester got in touch with me? If its North Herts, thats by me as im in East. Or do u mean North Oxfordshire? Tom...not Birmingham, you didnt read the thread on Resto Wagen well!!! lol.

As for bugs in London...theres normally a yellow cab round the back of Dury Lane...just watch out for the "Muffin MAN". hehehehe.

If you wanna beer let me know Bus Mad...I work right by Covent Garden.

Stu

I can't quite remember I had a bit of a dub day and went all over the place in a transit. North oxfordfordshire I think, as the guy was a mate of botch and got it off them. Not bought by me, not too sure if he was actually actively selling it. I just wanted to put an end to a long story. might have been tempted if I had some space and time. same old story ;-)

Busmad get yourself to a old mans pub for a pint of bitter.
log fire, you don't want to be surrounded by a load of aussies ;-)

I'll get my coat