New member

My father purchased his 1991 VW Transporter-based Trident brand new and unregistered in 1992 (he searched allover the place for one as he wanted the "last of the rear-engined VWs"). He then babied it and spent all sorts of money kitting it out with extras (the van even has high-security Banham deadbolts on all doors). I never quite understood my father's love-affair with the vehicle. He had at the time, a Mercedes 500 SEC AMG, a Mercedes 250SL roadster, and an estate car for work, and I was permitted to drive any of those, but never was I allowed behind the wheel of his precious camper-van!

Sadly dad passed away in 2007 (by which time his fleet had shrunk to just the camper-van and a 5-Series BMW). By this time I was living in Canada and didn't quite know what to do with his vehicles. I gave the BMW to my sister but somehow couldn't bring myself to sell off his precious VeeDub. It was in fabulous condition, with low miles and you could wipe the door jams with your best shirt. I didn't need it, but I didn't have it in my heart to just sell it to somebody. After all, would they look after the vehicle to my dad's exacting standards?

I decided to take a week off and travel around the UK (Devon & Cornwall) in his van (now that I could!). Suddenly, it all seemed to make sense. I loved having the freedom to stop wherever I pleased. I loved the slower pace of life, and how the great visibility allowed me to take in the glorious passing English countryside. So right then and there I decided to ship the vehicle back to Canada and keep it, you know, "for dad's sake".

Good old dad, he left me a few shillings and I'd already decided to spend some on one of my life's great ambitions, to enter the Targa Newfoundland Rally, which is a week-long performance rally which takes place on public roads in the province of Newfoundland, Canada. Dad was a car guy, so I knew he would appreciate why I did it. That said, and as he was paying the freight, I decided to tow my rally car (Ford Escort Mk1) to the event on the back of the camper-van (oh yes, they say these things have no power but I towed the car & trailer nearly 3,000 miles there, and 3,000 miles back, and there's a lot of hills on the way!). It was just me & dad (I took some of his ashes with me, and he still lives in the van to this day!). Yes, we finally made a road trip together in his precious camper-van, and we celebrated together on the way back as I'd taken 3rd place in the fastest class at Targa! In truth though, I enjoyed the alone time on the road with dad and his van probably more than I did the actual rally!

Since then, I've decal-ed the vehicle up for work (I'm a Motoring Journalist) and we've traveled together to approximately 20 states and several provinces. I've vowed never to sell the vehicle (how could I, dad still lives inside his precious van!). But you know something, that should read "our precious van" now, because I've finally come to understand why my father purchased the vehicle in the first place. I probably love it just as much as he did now, and that's just as well as I swear I can hear him curse behind me when I occasionally mess up with that damn dog-legged 5 speed box!

Welcome to ASOF

Think you could well be our first Canadian member

Hi Crash.

Welcome to the forum from Nottinghamshire.

Cheers. Whisky.

I may well be the 1st Canadian on here, as I certainly haven't seen another one over on this side of the pond. I travel to quite a few VW shows, both in Canada and the U.S. and she always seem to draw attention as most here are Westphalia models and high-tops are extremely rare. Mine is still RHD and I've toyed with the idea of converting it as I also own a LHD Vanagon for parts. The only thing which is putting me off is disturbing what was dad's original, so as I'm fine driving on the "right side", I think I'm going to leave it as it is.

Thanks for the welcome guys, and I'm looking forward to making some friends on here!

Welcome from North-East Wales

Hi Crash
Welcome to the forum from sunny Bridlington
Boaby

Hi Crash

Welcome to the forum.
Great introduction

PB

Hi there,

Welcome from a sunny and cloudless Skegness!!

Best regards,