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Sun Jan 08, 2006 9:53 am

As a few of you already know, back at the end of the summer, a mate rang me saying that he'd had en email from a Coventry based TV production company looking for an owner of a splitty in need of 'restoration', and he thought of me. I contacted them, and popped to see them on my way home from work one day to have a chat and see what the deal was. The production company, Skibbly TV made a series last year for Discovery Real Time entitled 'Kit Car Crisis'. The premise of the series was a 'non professional' would build a kit car from the ground up, taking it from garage to Race Track. The series went down very well at Discovery HQ, so they asked the Skibbly team to look at making another series, but this time with a Split Screen Van. To cut a very long story fairly short, after months of ‘screen tests' attending to various requests for information, ever changing goal posts and jumping through numerous hoops, this week we got the green light. With a working title of 'Camper Van Crisis' the hard work on the series is about to start

I've been keeping quiet about it simply because I was never really convinced that it was going to come off and I really didn't want to get my hopes up. Apparently, according to those who know at Discovery Channel, we, the Isted family, are the ideal 'Discovery' family!!!!! Go figure:-0

To give you some idea of what I've been asked to achieve, I've got to take my van from it's current condition to, if not a show winning van, at least one that could be entered into a show and shine. Not only that, but to achieve entry to BWA by running a sub 18sec Quarter Mile..... and all this by the AGM/Stanford Hall/Big Bang weekend. No mean feat, I'm sure you'll agree, especially if you've ever seen my van

Obviously, I've had to speak to a few (and I do mean a few) suppliers to see if the project is viable within the budget and timeframe available, and without their help, I wouldn't even be able to begin contemplating taking it on. M Restorations, Race Shack, Auto Craft Engineers, Custom & Commercial and Boxwagen have all offered help, and without them, the idea would be a complete non-starter.

Obviously this is a very exciting project, and I'll be keeping you all up to date on how it's going. To help this aspect, we've set up a Blog at http://www.ssvc.org.uk/blog/blog.html . Keep checking back there at regular intervals to see how it's going.

I'll no doubt be bothering you all for advice and opinion on various aspects of the project, scouring the 'For Sale' section and posting in 'Wanted' for the bits and pieces needed to complete. As mentioned above, this project wouldn't be viable without the help and advice from numerous sources, and I want to thank everyone who helped us get this far, and all those who will help in the future.

I don't know if this series will find its way out of the UK, but keep your eyes pealed just in case.

Wish me luck

Sun Jan 08, 2006 11:28 am

Good luck. (keith at FBI) :D

Sun Jan 08, 2006 2:30 pm

VERY COOL! Good luck with it, be sure to keep us updated so we can watch it on TV! :D

Sun Jan 08, 2006 3:26 pm

It's just like Pimp My Ride. Not!!! Good luck. I think the speed issue will be the hardest to deal with. You gonna lower the bus for better handeling?

Sun Jan 08, 2006 3:54 pm

Mildly lowered is the plan. Dropped spindles at the front and IRS to suit at the rear and see how it goes. For now :-)

Sun Jan 08, 2006 10:31 pm

Just read your blog, Nige. What a cool project! Keep up the notes and hopefully we get to see the final show over here someday! :wink:

Mon Jan 09, 2006 3:04 am

I'm watching the blog too Nige, great project, what a laugh!
Good job my bus isn't on this show, it would already have a 5 year run...

Best of luck!
Damon.

Fri Jan 27, 2006 10:06 am

There's a blog update at www.ssvc.org.uk.
Another one should hopefully be following very soon.

Sun Feb 26, 2006 6:19 pm

OK so the blog update didn't follow very soon, but it followed eventually :-)

Read the latest at www.ssvc.org.uk/blog

Mon Feb 27, 2006 3:37 am

when is this show set to air? looks like a pretty major project you got going on there! best of luck with it!!! :lol:

Mon Feb 27, 2006 1:31 pm

Pimp My Ride is a bad example to use. The old bus they "restored" had things done to it like patches over rusted areas, underbody untouched, and the left engine vent cut out and hinges installed, with a motor inside to open and close the vent, blocking the vent. It was a classic "quickie" restoration that won't last.

Fri May 19, 2006 9:03 am

I've finally had enough time to update the blog with news from the past couple of months. Have a look at the latest info at www.ssvc.org.uk/blog

Fri May 19, 2006 9:17 am

All I can say is WOW. Is there a picture diary anywhere besides the blog. I really want to see more pics

Sun May 21, 2006 12:59 am

I'm working on a gallery of all the pics I've got. When it's up, you'll be the first to know.

Mon May 22, 2006 5:14 am

Neat! I hope there'll be some way for the folks stateside to see this program when it's done!

Tue Sep 25, 2007 12:27 pm

So Nigel...what happend to the Bus?

I've watched the show on Discovery...

Tue Sep 25, 2007 3:43 pm

The bus is still going strong - It's approaching midnight here and I've just come in from having a evening playing with a few bits in preperation for Dipsy's last show of the season.

If anyone's interested, Campervan Crisis has been released on DVD in the UK and it's available on ebay (region 2 only, unfortunately).
If you're got a region free player, then happy days :-)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...ISSA:UK:11

Sun Jan 25, 2009 5:34 pm

How many episodes were there in total? Just curious. Congratulations on the fine work!

Sun Jan 25, 2009 6:05 pm

holy old thread batman :lol:

Sun Jan 25, 2009 6:46 pm

Old thread indeed! I thought that my eyes were playing tricks on me when I saw this one pop up!

There were 5 half hour episodes in all.

HTH