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velokid1
Samba Member
Joined: December 22, 2004
Posts: 1161
Location: N. Arizona
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 Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 8:57 am Post subject: "Journey" (VW-related documentary) |
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Took MightyArt up on this suggestion and got "Journey" from NetFlix. It was a pretty inspiring film with only decent footage but very well done editing.
I wasn't expecting to be all that interested in the story, just figured I would see some good footage of a VW bus on the road. Which it had. Guy has a beautiful yellow '71 hardtop Westy. Bus was featured in the movie more than I expected. He talks a little about the VW community, how everyone waves, etc. He is rear-ended by an SUV whose insurance company insists on totaling his bus and giving him $800 compensation. (They end up giving him 10 grand!) They show footage from his four engine rebuilds in 9 months of travelling. Sound like a lot of rebuilds for 9 months? When you watch the film and see him meeting other VW people on the road and challenging them to drag races down rough dirt roads, you'll understand why his engines went kaput.
All in all, I would rec. renting it and giving it a look.
_________________
1976 Westy... almost there.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/210442.jpg |
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ChuxBus
Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2005
Posts: 297
Location: East Atlanta, GA
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| Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 1:47 pm Post subject: |
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I ran into the guy (Eric) at the pet store a few weeks ago. He couldn't be a nicer guy. I neglected to ask if he still had the bus (didn't see it in the parking lot). I don't think I've ever even seen the bus around town, so I suspect he doesn't drive it much if he does still have it.
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-Chuck
1978 Bus & 1969 Bug
"Don't make a fuss, just get on the bus" -Frank Zappa |
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velokid1
Samba Member
Joined: December 22, 2004
Posts: 1161
Location: N. Arizona
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| Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 2:35 pm Post subject: |
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At the end of the film they say the bus was refurbished and put under a tarp where it sits awaiting the next Journey, or something to that effect.
_________________
1976 Westy... almost there.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/210442.jpg |
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Bob D.
Samba Member
Joined: September 11, 2003
Posts: 613
Location: Chicago, IL
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| Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 3:14 pm Post subject: |
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I bought that disk a year ago. It is a great film I would recommend to just about anybody, especially those who see VWs as being as much about a life philosophy as driving.
_________________
1978 7-Passenger, 37K miles
Proud Member #1, SBS (Stock Bus Society)
*Enjoy and appreciate your good health*
We used to play for silver
Now we play for life |
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rsorak
Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2005
Posts: 2005
Location: Memphis
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| Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2005 11:43 pm Post subject: |
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I just got thru watchin this movie after readin about it here, and I think it's the best movie I've seen in a very looooong time! Thanks for such a great reccomendation.
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Rick '71 Westfalia & '73 Thing |
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DurocShark
Samba Member
Joined: April 05, 2004
Posts: 6624
Location: Crappy town in a crappy state. But the beach is nearby, so I have that going for me.
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| Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2005 5:44 am Post subject: |
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I don't have netflix... Can someone give me a link?
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No boom today. Boom tomorrow. There's always a boom tomorrow. |
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ChuxBus
Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2005
Posts: 297
Location: East Atlanta, GA
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| Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2005 7:03 am Post subject: |
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http://www.thejourneyfilm.com/
_________________
-Chuck
1978 Bus & 1969 Bug
"Don't make a fuss, just get on the bus" -Frank Zappa |
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Bajatacoma
Samba Member
Joined: August 05, 2003
Posts: 675
Location: the Great State of Denial
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| Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2005 7:51 am Post subject: |
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I saw the presentation a couple of years ago. They showed the film then Eric came out with his dog (now deceased), the red head and a couple of others that were now part of the crew. The bus was on a trailer in the parking lot behind the auditorium and I doubt most folks noticed it- they didn't mention it being there. It was being towed by a full sized truck.
I got a free T-shirt with the bus on it and a free hat.
Overall, a pretty good way to spend an evening. 
_________________
'78 Westy
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed?
Hunter S Thompson |
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hambone
Samba Member
Joined: July 09, 2004
Posts: 1617
Location: Portland, OR
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| Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2005 8:35 am Post subject: |
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| Good movie, thanks for the recommendation. That bus was WAY overloaded, and I'm sure it wasn't maintained properly....no wonder he kept blowin engines. |
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Bugman_Jeff
Samba Member
Joined: April 15, 2005
Posts: 103
Location: Salem, Oregon. AKA: Meth World
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| Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2005 9:06 am Post subject: |
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Pretty cool flick. It was much better than I anticipated.
As someone who'd had both, the T4 motor for the Bus is the motor to have. It's like a quantum leap in durability, performance and reliability IMHO. Especially in a camper bus. Just way too much weight for that little engine to be trying to push around.
_________________
71 Fastback (resting/rusting)
76 IH Scout 2 (Official Jeep/Hummer recovery vehicle)
81 MB 240D (the DD)
http://community.webshots.com/user/ihcguy |
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amishman
Samba Member
Joined: March 09, 2004
Posts: 3215
Location: California
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| Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2005 9:36 am Post subject: |
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I'm going to have to buy this. Looks cool!
tj |
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VWBusrepairman
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2004
Posts: 4726
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| Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2005 10:30 am Post subject: |
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Very cool movie and something I considered doing (on a smaller scale) on my own...just traveling in a bus with no clear destination would be great.
At one shot, his bus looked like a sunroof model? I'm definitely down with that! (gimme type IV though) 
Colin is the only one I've met who is doing something similar to this...traveling and seeing the world. Makes for a great story. |
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amishman
Samba Member
Joined: March 09, 2004
Posts: 3215
Location: California
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| Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2005 12:23 pm Post subject: |
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Anyone ever know what happened to that John Muir dedication video? Someone that knew him was creating a move about him and his affection for VWs. I lost track of that web site and wonder if this ever happened?
tj |
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Schmooey
Samba Member
Joined: October 19, 2004
Posts: 838
Location: San Diego
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| Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2005 2:17 pm Post subject: |
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Can'r find it on Netflix. 
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I don't got no steenking cell phone. |
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covelo
Samba Member
Joined: February 20, 2005
Posts: 825
Location: Fairfax, CA
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Schmooey
Samba Member
Joined: October 19, 2004
Posts: 838
Location: San Diego
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| Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2005 2:39 pm Post subject: |
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Thnks, I just addid it to my queue!
Must've had a frain bade.
Netflix is the greatest.
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I don't got no steenking cell phone. |
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canbug
Samba Member
Joined: March 18, 2005
Posts: 207
Location: Calgary
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| Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2005 2:40 pm Post subject: |
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That was a lot of fun to watch...........wish I didn't have so many responsabilities.
Perhaps when I am a little older and slower
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Water is for toilets.
Her 56 KG
His 56 KG
69 Single Cab, my new daily driver. |
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covelo
Samba Member
Joined: February 20, 2005
Posts: 825
Location: Fairfax, CA
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| Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2005 10:49 am Post subject: |
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I enjoyed it, although he didn't seem the nicest person in the movie. Makes me want to quit my job and get on the road with the bus for a year. I highly recommend the movie.
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'80 Vanagon Westfalia
'72 Bay Window Westfalia (with 2L AVP engine and dual solex carbs) -- sold in 2009 |
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jtauxe 
Samba Member
Joined: September 30, 2004
Posts: 5780
Location: Los Alamos, New Mexico
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| Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2005 10:53 am Post subject: |
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| covelo wrote: |
| Makes me want to quit my job and get on the road with the bus for a year. I highly recommend the movie. |
Another good motivator to do that (at least vicariously) is the book Blue Highways, by William Least Heat Moon. He was in some american van rather than a VW, but the spirit of the road runs deep in the book.
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John
"Travelling in a fried-out Kombi, on a hippie trail, head full of zombie..." - Colin Hay and Ron Strykert
http://vw.tauxe.net
1969 Transporter, 1971 Westfalia, 1976, 1977, 1976, 1977, 1971, 1973, 1977 Westfalias,
1979 Champagne Sunroof, 1974 Westfalia Automatic, 1979 Transporter, 1972 Sportsmobile, 1973 Transporter Wild Westerner, 1974 Westfalia parts bus, 1975 Mexican single cab *FOR SALE*, 1978 Irish 4-door double cab RHD
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velokid1
Samba Member
Joined: December 22, 2004
Posts: 1161
Location: N. Arizona
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| Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2005 11:11 am Post subject: |
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I heartily second that notion, jtaux! Excellent book for lovers of the open road. Especially people who appreciate the journey as much as arriving at the destination. No interstates for the chap in Blue Highways... it's all about taking his time, meeting people, tasting the true social undercurrent in each community he passes through.
In fact, I'm going to break mine out and re-read it this week.
~Greg
_________________
1976 Westy... almost there.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/210442.jpg |
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