What do you like the most at SyncroFest?

SyncroChrick

I am writing a short article for our magazine (Overland Journal) about SyncroFest.

I was there again this year but I am curious to hear some other opinions/ideas to make sure I am not missing anything - what was your favorite part? What do you like the most about it?

thank you

Christian

slo356 · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 7:40 pm Post subject:

THE BEST: Site, people and organization.

THE LEAST: All the rolled Syncro's. I don't want this wonderful event to turn into WRECKFEST!
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photogdave · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 8:10 pm Post subject:

I like these events for seeing old friends and meeting people in person for the first time.
What really made SyncroFest unique for me was the level of participation from the vendors and how generous they were with swag, kegs of beer and their time. It was a good reminder that they are fun-loving people just like the rest of us and just as passionate about these crazy vehicles!
My summary of the event:

Link

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HoustonPhotog · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 8:21 pm Post subject:

In short. The people. The camaraderie.

I live in Texas and I'm a new vanagon owner as of last summer. the biggest vanagon meet i've been to here in Texas capped out at 12....

when I first heard about Syncrofest there were 70 or so registered. I asked here on the Samba if there was any tent camping available as I was considering flying to San Fran, renting a car and driving to Syncrofest just so I can hang out and learn about and see everyones setups.

I had a few members here on the forum whom i had never met before graciously offer to let me borrow their camping gear for the weekend so i wouldnt have to buy any. I was floored by the offers.... then someone mentioned I should just rent a Westfalia. Whoa... what?? You can rent a Westfalia? yea... so he gave me a place in San Fran to rent a westfalia from which was about $110 a day or so. Not bad... considering I wanted to fit in and not have to sleep in the backseat of a rented Ford Focus. lol.

My rental

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

I had such a good time at the event. Everyone I met was super nice and would talk shop about anything. A couple David/Diana offered to take us up to the top in their Subi powered Doka which was an amazing experience. The Gowesty guys made me change my shorts by insisting I go for a ride through the obstacle course in their trainer van. I had never seen a Syncro in texas let alone ever ridden in one. Wow. Was I surprised! Now I know what all of the buzz and hype is about... well deserved.

For me, not having a group or a club back home in texas to discuss these things with left me with having to do it online here on the forums. Thats not a bad thing at all but it was a welcomed treat to sit and discuss all things vanagon related in person... I can say after looking over everyones setups I came home with a to-do list a mile long! ha

I met a ton of great people and have made some new life long friends...

Next year, I will be there. This time I'll be driving my own 87 Westy from Houston for the event.
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16CVs · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 9:31 pm Post subject:

I like the fact that it is a short drive from home and it gives me a deadline to get things done on my van so it will make it there.
Last years show I had just done a Westy conversion to it and had it painted assembled. This year I had just done a Subaru Conversion , 3 weeks before the show.
Hanging out and telling lies and bench racing isn't a bad thing either. Plus I get no push back as my wife knows this is a yearly show and she knows I am going .

Stacy
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TequilaSunSet · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 11:28 pm Post subject:

All of the obvious that has been stated... along with the raffle, dinner, vendors, and the feeling that we all knew each other already.
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djsixbillion · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 9:17 am Post subject:

syncrodoka · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 11:31 am Post subject:

This is the first syncrofest that I have missed and I also attended the other event for several years. These wrecks aren't the usual deal and this is by far the most that i have heard of. The lack if rain and the terrain out there made everything worse than it could have been out there.
The rollover on the obstacle course was driver induced not particularly a vehicle issue. They overshot the turn by having too much speed and not taking the time to slow down and getting a new line by backing up if needed that is a issue for any vehicle. This is so obvious that the girlfriend immediately saw what was going to happen and said so when viewing the footage. Look at the speed of all the more experienced drivers in the film.

Jon_slider

kryptkat · Samba Member Joined: November 08, 2008 Posts: 236

shadetreetim · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 9:07 pm Post subject:

Personally, the camping location couldn't be better. But I think the biggest factor is that the Organizers are inclusive, allowing even us 2wd'ers to attend. That attitude seems to trickle down to all attendees. The result is a laid back 4 day celebration of all things Syncro, with an interesting mix of fanatics and their spouses, kids, dogs, and even the odd cat.

Of course the tri-tip is always delicious. Who doesn't like free nacho's, hot-dog's, and popcorn? Popcorn

This is not a paid endorsement, but I do expect some more nacho's, and maybe a cotton candy machine
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TequilaSunSet · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 9:10 pm Post subject:

^^ FREE BEER
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1972 Panel Bus- Gone
1967 Bug- Gone
1964 Euro Sunroof Bug- Gone
1969/72/63 Sunroof Bug- Gone
1975 Brazilian Bug in the Philippines 🇵🇭- New to me

Syncrozilla · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2014 12:05 am Post subject:

My favorite part by a long shot is hanging out with old friends and making new ones. My eyes may wander to other vehicles now and then but vanagon folks are the best, hands down.

Ok I'll chime in here just to set the record strait on a few things. I'm in complete agreement on the rollovers. Way to many. Here's the rundown,
1st one was the infamous Buslab "land hopper" trail toy. Is anyone really surprised about this van tipping over?? Nuf said.
The next two were both the ones that I was really scratching my head about. Both of these vans tipped over backing down a relatively easy section of trail where it appears the drivers did not keep their vans in the center of the trail and veered off to the side and the van back up a embankment on the side of the road until it tipped over. Both of these vans had street tires on them and were not aired down at all to my knowledge. I was involved with both recoveries. All I can say is that several simple errors were made by the drivers in both instances.
The last one was the white van on the obstacle course. That one was due to excessive speed IMHO. We talked at the drivers meeting about going very slow throughout the course. Luckily that van sustained almost no damage.

I'm just glad we have not had any injuries. One thing I think everyone should do regardless of how little you may intend on wheel'in your van is to properly secure EVERYTHING in your van. I opened the door of one or the vans we were winching upright and a fairly heavy toolbox fell out on the ground. If that thing had hit someone in the head it could have really done some damage. I also think it's a bad habit to be out on the trail with your arms out the window. I've been in a van that rolled (and a unimog Wink

). When they go over it happens pretty quickly.

I agree that it would be great to have someone do syncro university again. It was super cool that Tom and Adam were there this year. Perhaps they will help out with this next year. I don't know if that would have prevented the issues we had this year. I guess the take home would be that it's easier than you may think to get in trouble out there. One of the golden rules of off reading is this phrase- as slow as possible, as fast as necessary.
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SyncroChrick · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2014 7:45 pm Post subject:

thank you guys for all these comments!

check the next Overland Journal for a short write-up on SyncroFest

Type17 · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2014 8:38 pm Post subject:

TequilaSunSet · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2014 9:09 pm Post subject:

insyncro · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2014 9:34 pm Post subject:

Watching the videos Crying or Very sad

Some day I need to get out there and enjoy it firsthand.

There is no doubt in my mind the people are amazing...every year many offer me their extra van to use and camp in.
I promise not to roll it over.

Seeing that many Syncros in one place might send me into a fit of convulsions Laughing

I would love to take part in the Syncro University if it is brought back, sounds like fun.


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