Why no Westys on the Tour De France coverage??

hiram6

So, I've been watching the Tour De France coverage on Versus, admittedly not everyday, but I've still seen quite a bit of it.

If you've ever watched the coverage of this event, you'll know that you see hundreds of cars/vans/campers lining the shoulders of the road as the cyclists wiz by.

So why have I not seen a single Vanagon or EV Westy?? I mean this seems like a perfect place to see Westys all over the place, but not a one have I seen. Lot's of Rialto-style campers, but it seems a Westy (vanagon or EV) would be perfect. Smaller, easier to fit into tight spots. Seems like a perfect TDF chase vehicle.

Is it European pollution controls? Have they legislated/regulated all of the older vehicles off the road over there??
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1985 Westy, 1.9L automatic (Daisy)
1996 Mazda Miata
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited

You can't lie around on the beach and drink rum all day.................unless you start first thing in the morning.

ChesterKV · Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 3:33 pm Post subject:

Dude,

I think the Vanagon Westfalia is simply too old and the same can now be said for a lot of the Eurovan campers. The Euros are also big into caravans (trailers) that they like to tow with their 1.2 liter n/a diesels..... and still get 29 mpg.

But... since I just made all of that up in my head......... I could be wrong.

- Chester
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1984 Wolfsburg 7-passenger stock sunroof
1992 Subaru Legacy EJ22 boxer motor installed.... van is now sold.... currently playing with a 1987 Toyota MR2 with 1.6 liter twin-cam motor. Better than the Subaru boxers....... I'm impressed. Well, okay, in an "apples and oranges" kind of way. Smile

Perales

vw_nick · Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 3:53 pm Post subject:

I think I've seen a few T5s though...
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Nick

whip618 · Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 3:57 pm Post subject:

I saw a Bay Adventurewagon in todays coverage on the second climb and a vanagon parked in a farmers yard.

Phil
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Wildthings · Samba Member Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 50353

Yellow Rabbit · Samba Member Joined: August 31, 2005 Posts: 1146

We used to watch Lance's TDF rides during spin class. With each passing year, fewer and fewer Westys are out there.

izzydog · Samba Member Joined: April 28, 2005 Posts: 665

I saw a blue, early 80s passenger van in today's stage - stage 9. Maybe more in the Alps?

floggingmolly · Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 8:54 pm Post subject:

Road Trip!
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'85 Wolfsburg Weekender

jackbombay · Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 8:58 pm Post subject:

hiram6 · Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 5:48 am Post subject:

Heh, heh. I saw the same one sitting in the farmer's field, and had a similar thought. "Bet that one doesn't run"

Izzydog, I missed the one in yesterday's stage, but still not a single Westy!!!!!!!
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1985 Westy, 1.9L automatic (Daisy)
1996 Mazda Miata
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited

You can't lie around on the beach and drink rum all day.................unless you start first thing in the morning.

izzydog · Samba Member Joined: April 28, 2005 Posts: 665

hiram6,

It was on the screen for about a nanosecond. Thanks to my trusty Tivo, I went back and ran it in super slo-mo to make a positive ID. It was on the first Cat 1 climb - the one before d' Aspin.

Jeff

oorwullie · Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 12:28 pm Post subject:

there's plenty vanagons, bays,splits and other ol' vw's in europe. not everyone who drves one is fanatical about 21st century bicycle technology tho. Wink

jackbombay · Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 12:35 pm Post subject:

There's even one Vanagon in France with one of my poptop shock kit installed on it Cool

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

Check out the insulated windows too!
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Gas struts to pop your top easily!
Pop Top strut kits now available for late Bay window Westies Smile

Samba ad here.

DIY artificial rain gutters (ARGs)

Zanza · Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 1:22 pm Post subject:

That's right, some people in Europa own trailers (Netherland guys love trailers for example...as we say in Europa: if you see a car with netherland license plates, but without a hitch, he's probably not a genuine netherland guy Wink

) but the vast majority use to own campers like these

More space, more convenient, with hot shower and the home confort in it.... and always parked on parking lots near the large road, but never on some rocky paths and in the wildlife nature.

But there are a lot of small Vanagon and EV likes on road too, probably not interested by the TDF... like me by the way Twisted Evil

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'92 Westfalia California full camper - 2.5l gasoline - 5 speed - 223'600 km

Moderator on Buspirit, the french speaking Eurovan forum

Visit my website, dedicated to the Westfalia California

hiram6 · Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 1:53 pm Post subject:

I think I watch as much for the views of the French countryside as the bike racing.

So, todays count was two, count'em two, Eurovan poptops. Couldn't tell for sure, but they looked more like weekenders than full campers.
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1985 Westy, 1.9L automatic (Daisy)
1996 Mazda Miata
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited

You can't lie around on the beach and drink rum all day.................unless you start first thing in the morning.

Zanza · Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 2:20 pm Post subject:

.... but were probably full campers Wink

There are not a lot of Multivan with Westfalia poptop (Weekender) in Europa: the vast majority are the Westfalia California (full campers poptop)
_________________
'92 Westfalia California full camper - 2.5l gasoline - 5 speed - 223'600 km

Moderator on Buspirit, the french speaking Eurovan forum

Visit my website, dedicated to the Westfalia California

70coupyel · Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 6:18 pm Post subject:

Dudes I just saw a round headlight Westie.Frickin cool

My g/f really laughs at me jumping up and down in front of the TV and then RUN to the PC. Razz

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K58 · Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 7:06 pm Post subject:

no Westy's?
why are there no Women in the TDF?

MrPolak · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 1:09 pm Post subject:

While I didn't see any Vanagons, I have seen a handful of Eurovan Westfalia campers, both Weekender pop-top and full-campers.


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Why no Westys on the Tour De France coverage??
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