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VWmeister Samba Member
Joined: July 10, 2004 Posts: 59
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Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2018 9:33 am Post subject: Possible 20th reunion of Return to the Fatherland Tour |
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Talked to Mike Malamut and we are thinking of having a reunion at his museum next year. Probably people only as many of the cars have been sold. Would appreciate any feedback about Bill Collins. Also have no email addresses of the participants. Please feel free to answer in this forum or PM me. Dick Christensen |
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peter schepens Samba Member
Joined: April 17, 2003 Posts: 1013 Location: belgium Caesars camp
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Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2018 12:33 pm Post subject: Re: Possible 20th reunion of Return to the Fatherland Tour |
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Whould be fun to meet you all in Bad Camberg With our without your cars. Just like in 1999, 50 years Hebmueller, now 70 years.
Greetings. Peter _________________ Zelensis, glassfibre body made in Belgium , disigned and built on a VW platform About 25 body's built.
Hebmuller info wanted for http://www.hebmueller-registry.com/home.html |
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johnshenry Samba Member
Joined: September 21, 2001 Posts: 9359 Location: Northwood, NH USA
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Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2018 7:43 pm Post subject: Re: Possible 20th reunion of Return to the Fatherland Tour |
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I discussed this idea last year with some pretty hardcore vintage VW owners and DRIVERS. We talked about doing the RTFT, starting in CA, driving across the US, then shipping our cars to Europe/England, and driving to BC. I'd be in, but it will take a good bit of planning and $$$... _________________ John Henry
'57 Deluxe
'56 Single Cab |
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mkbug Samba Member
Joined: October 12, 2004 Posts: 145 Location: Northern California
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Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2018 7:38 am Post subject: Re: Possible 20th reunion of Return to the Fatherland Tour |
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Count me in...
Martin
European Leg Return to the Fatherland Support Vehicle with Erich _________________ I'm Martin
My Build: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=667183 |
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VWmeister Samba Member
Joined: July 10, 2004 Posts: 59
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Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2018 10:32 am Post subject: Re: Possible 20th reunion of Return to the Fatherland Tour |
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Great you are in Martin. Fondly recall you and Erich having our back on the autobahns.
I will be 79 next June and feel too old to make such a journey. John go ahead and plan it and hope you get a good response. Still plan to meet at Mike's museum next year. Maybe you could start from there?
Would be fun for everyone. Dick |
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BulliBill Samba Member
Joined: July 09, 2004 Posts: 4561 Location: St Charles, MO
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Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2018 8:35 am Post subject: Re: Possible 20th reunion of Return to the Fatherland Tour |
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Hi Dr. Dick, Mike M., and Martin K.!
I still own "Martha", my 1955 original paint Deluxe Sunroof Beetle that participated in the original Return To The Fatherland Tour back in 1999. At the minimum I'd be interested in attending a reunion of those 1999 RTTFT participants. Who knows, "Martha" might be interested in an encore in 2019 if the right type of tour were conceived and planned... who knows? My co-driver back then (who was invited but couldn't get his '56 Denzel completed in time back in 1999) might be interested too and perhaps he might bring along his incredibly restored Denzel?
Bill Bowman _________________ I'm looking for these license plate frames for my fleet:
Coeur D'Alene - Lake Shore Volkswagen
Mission VW - San Fernando
Thornton VW - Stockton
Thanks for any help! |
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nlorntson Crazy VW Lady
Joined: March 13, 2004 Posts: 3776 Location: Twin Cities, MN
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Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2018 3:04 pm Post subject: Re: Possible 20th reunion of Return to the Fatherland Tour |
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This is interesting to me as well. I've wanted to do something like this with our 1949 |
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57roadster Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2006 Posts: 9
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Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2018 8:14 am Post subject: Re: Possible 20th reunion of Return to the Fatherland Tour |
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I am getting the ex-Bowman, ex-Slater black '55 Oval Speed Car ready...thinking hard about shipping the car over. 125hp Denzel powerplant. Notice the Denzel emblem being prepared for the top of the front hood. Someone needs to be going fast with Martin in his '57 black Oval, 1602cc Speed Car that just made 66hp on the dyno at the rear wheels! I remember in '99 we only went as fast as the slowest car (except Larry Mck!).
Planning this event is already behind the 8-ball if one starts the planning process right now.
I'll speak to BBT Bob when he's here at our house about guidance on shipping from L.A. or Richmond.
The fewer cars would be better, but 3 each per container. 6 to 9 cars max, but 6 would be easier to manage.
Sponsorship is key. It was expensive in '99, and will be more expensive today!
And, one of the cars and drivers needs to be Shin Watanabe to document the entire trip and share in an experience of a lifetime! (He has a "go-fast" 36hp (80+ hp) Beetle. He can ride up front with me and Martin!)
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Terry Gaudet Samba Member
Joined: March 11, 2004 Posts: 399 Location: New Brunswick, Canada
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Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2018 5:53 pm Post subject: Re: Possible 20th reunion of Return to the Fatherland Tour |
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If this reunion happens I might just attend with my newly acquired VW. I managed to buy the 1950 standard that Steve Hammond drove on the original 1999 tour. I just picked it up last month. It's still in the same condition as when I last saw it back in 2010. Can't wait to put some miles on this car. But will have to wait until the spring. There is this cold white stuff on the ground here in eastern Canada. Wish I was somewhere warm....lol _________________ Terry Gaudet
1950 Beetle Standard
1955 Canadian Custom
1956 Kombi w/SO23 kit
1965 Kombi walkthrough
1965 Double Cab |
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BulliBill Samba Member
Joined: July 09, 2004 Posts: 4561 Location: St Charles, MO
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Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2018 6:28 pm Post subject: Re: Possible 20th reunion of Return to the Fatherland Tour |
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Congratulations on acquiring Steve's beautiful standard split Beetle. Tom and I were often either behind him or in front of him during the 1999 Fatherland Tour and he's a great guy. As I remember, Steve helped to make hotel arrangements on the USA leg of the adventure. If you chat with him again soon, please send him our regards for a nice holiday. That's a beautiful car, and you'll have a lot of fun with it! Tom and I drove in my 55 Deluxe sunroof beetle during "the Tour".
Bill Bowman _________________ I'm looking for these license plate frames for my fleet:
Coeur D'Alene - Lake Shore Volkswagen
Mission VW - San Fernando
Thornton VW - Stockton
Thanks for any help! |
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drpete Samba Member
Joined: May 04, 2004 Posts: 773 Location: NorCal
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Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2018 9:30 pm Post subject: Re: Possible 20th reunion of Return to the Fatherland Tour |
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I'd be interested in finding out more about this trek. Probably out of my scope due to time commitments. Is there a thread discussing the last "Return..." trek? Pictures? _________________ Happy to be alive. Hey Dad, Mom, wish you were here to see all this.
Pete Keesling
Driving a VW every day..... |
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Terry Gaudet Samba Member
Joined: March 11, 2004 Posts: 399 Location: New Brunswick, Canada
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Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2021 10:17 am Post subject: Re: Possible 20th reunion of Return to the Fatherland Tour |
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I am reviving this post in hopes to have something put together for HO22. With an extra year to plan, it might be something we could organize. A trip across North America and then ship to Europe and enjoy our VWs there for a while. I am sure we will all be raring to go in our "post pandemic" I want to travel and have fun lives. _________________ Terry Gaudet
1950 Beetle Standard
1955 Canadian Custom
1956 Kombi w/SO23 kit
1965 Kombi walkthrough
1965 Double Cab |
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BulliBill Samba Member
Joined: July 09, 2004 Posts: 4561 Location: St Charles, MO
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Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2021 10:52 am Post subject: Re: Possible 20th reunion of Return to the Fatherland Tour |
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You'd want to start plans for that adventure now. I seem to remember that Bill Collin's serious planning started about 14 to 12 months from departure across the USA in May of 1999. Tom N. and I were approached about going in June of 1998. With few exceptions Bill invited teams of two people per car to co-drive and share the total expenses of their car on the trip. My personal opinion is to support Bill's original concept of all VWs being 1957 or earlier stock or era-correct performance engined VWs. That also fit into the general rules of attendance to either the B.C or H-O Vintage weekends. Kinda made everything a little more "special" and vintage. We might have to make an exception for Shin "if" he covers the entire adventure for Hot VWs in his Beetle? The original Tour routing was awesome and could simply be recreated. I doubt I'd change the route much if at all!
IMHO, no more than nine cars total. Search for a few sponsorships to help lower shipping expenses, look into trans-Atlantic round-trip container shipping as a group purchase through a reputable broker (two or three 53' containers with three Beetle sized cars in each container), allow at least a four week window for the shipping across the Atlantic (we only allowed three weeks) and narrowing down a select list of VW super-enthusiasts who can come up with the means to afford this kind of adventure within a years time, and who will actually follow thru with their commitment to go. A no-brainer would be to require a non-refundable one or two thousand dollar deposit from selected prospects which usually shakes out the big talkers and leaves you with a willing and determined group you can rely on to follow through with plans. Insist that every participant puts at least 500-1,000 miles on their invited old VW well in advance to shake out any mechanical issues. Lots of other things too, but that'll get things going...
Bill _________________ I'm looking for these license plate frames for my fleet:
Coeur D'Alene - Lake Shore Volkswagen
Mission VW - San Fernando
Thornton VW - Stockton
Thanks for any help! |
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Terry Gaudet Samba Member
Joined: March 11, 2004 Posts: 399 Location: New Brunswick, Canada
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Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2021 2:59 pm Post subject: Re: Possible 20th reunion of Return to the Fatherland Tour |
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Thank you for your thoughts Bill. I agree that keeping things the same and simple is the best way to go. I would be willing to head up the organizing of the event but would need some people to step up now and see if we can get a dozen cars/owners lined up. If anyone is serious, please message me. _________________ Terry Gaudet
1950 Beetle Standard
1955 Canadian Custom
1956 Kombi w/SO23 kit
1965 Kombi walkthrough
1965 Double Cab |
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rod_vw Samba Member
Joined: December 20, 2006 Posts: 416 Location: Shropshire, UK
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Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2021 3:04 pm Post subject: Re: Possible 20th reunion of Return to the Fatherland Tour |
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Love to see you all in Europe again.
Which event are you looking towards, Bad Camberg as the previous trip in 2024 or Hessisch Oldendorf in 2022? _________________ Rod,
Please visit http://www.historicvws.org.uk
https://www.facebook.com/historicvwclub/
1946 Beetle (Back on the road after over 50 years! Last major outing - Hessisch Oldendorf 2022)
2016 T6 Selfbuild Camper and a LWB MAN TGE in build. |
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johnshenry Samba Member
Joined: September 21, 2001 Posts: 9359 Location: Northwood, NH USA
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Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2021 8:35 pm Post subject: Re: Possible 20th reunion of Return to the Fatherland Tour |
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Very well said Bill. And virus withstanding, there has still been talk about this maybe in 2022 from VW friends in my circle. "Accepting" participants might be dicey, but true "drivers" would be a requirement. Also, maybe the "across the USA leg" might be skipped, in lieu of a "just get your VW here (east coast shipping port) by this day, and we'll all meet and spend and overnight or two watching our cars leave....
I think the "put up or shut up" deposit might go a long way too.....
BulliBill wrote: |
You'd want to start plans for that adventure now. I seem to remember that Bill Collin's serious planning started about 14 to 12 months from departure across the USA in May of 1999. Tom N. and I were approached about going in June of 1998. With few exceptions Bill invited teams of two people per car to co-drive and share the total expenses of their car on the trip. My personal opinion is to support Bill's original concept of all VWs being 1957 or earlier stock or era-correct performance engined VWs. That also fit into the general rules of attendance to either the B.C or H-O Vintage weekends. Kinda made everything a little more "special" and vintage. We might have to make an exception for Shin "if" he covers the entire adventure for Hot VWs in his Beetle? The original Tour routing was awesome and could simply be recreated. I doubt I'd change the route much if at all!
IMHO, no more than nine cars total. Search for a few sponsorships to help lower shipping expenses, look into trans-Atlantic round-trip container shipping as a group purchase through a reputable broker (two or three 53' containers with three Beetle sized cars in each container), allow at least a four week window for the shipping across the Atlantic (we only allowed three weeks) and narrowing down a select list of VW super-enthusiasts who can come up with the means to afford this kind of adventure within a years time, and who will actually follow thru with their commitment to go. A no-brainer would be to require a non-refundable one or two thousand dollar deposit from selected prospects which usually shakes out the big talkers and leaves you with a willing and determined group you can rely on to follow through with plans. Insist that every participant puts at least 500-1,000 miles on their invited old VW well in advance to shake out any mechanical issues. Lots of other things too, but that'll get things going...
Bill |
_________________ John Henry
'57 Deluxe
'56 Single Cab |
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Lind Samba Member
Joined: November 06, 2000 Posts: 9905 Location: idaho
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Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2021 10:00 am Post subject: Re: Possible 20th reunion of Return to the Fatherland Tour |
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johnshenry wrote: |
Very well said Bill. And virus withstanding, there has still been talk about this maybe in 2022 from VW friends in my circle. "Accepting" participants might be dicey, but true "drivers" would be a requirement. Also, maybe the "across the USA leg" might be skipped, in lieu of a "just get your VW here (east coast shipping port) by this day, and we'll all meet and spend and overnight or two watching our cars leave....
I think the "put up or shut up" deposit might go a long way too.....
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It's not like any of the potential participants only have one car. Simply drive one car across the USA, fly over the ocean and pick up another car that has been shipped ahead of time. _________________ .
Wanted:
Idaho VW license plate frames or other dealership items.
VWoA literature and early dealership or distributor literature/pictures/information
. |
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Zwitter UK Samba Member
Joined: June 18, 2004 Posts: 37 Location: Kent, UK
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Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2021 11:32 am Post subject: Re: Possible 20th reunion of Return to the Fatherland Tour |
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Same pub again?
What a once-in-a-lifetime evening that was. I was lucky enough to be there thanks to Robin Allen. Did anyone video it?
Unfortunately Major Hirst won't be joining us - bless him. He never did light that pipe did he?
_________________ Good day sir
Last edited by Zwitter UK on Thu Jan 07, 2021 11:59 am; edited 2 times in total |
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mkbug Samba Member
Joined: October 12, 2004 Posts: 145 Location: Northern California
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BulliBill Samba Member
Joined: July 09, 2004 Posts: 4561 Location: St Charles, MO
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Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2021 12:53 pm Post subject: Re: Possible 20th reunion of Return to the Fatherland Tour |
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Probably the coolest night of the entire 1999 RTTFT'99!!! Was he a cool guy, or what!
What a fascinating discussion of his time at the Wolfsburg factory and with Volkswagen... I saw at least two guys videoing with camcorders... and Major Ivan Hirst was gone about four months later. R.I.P.
Bill _________________ I'm looking for these license plate frames for my fleet:
Coeur D'Alene - Lake Shore Volkswagen
Mission VW - San Fernando
Thornton VW - Stockton
Thanks for any help! |
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