Auto Art #3: Progress!

Alas, a lapse in blogging and no doubt, general life and times has meant I have pushed on through the evenings with some more good ol' fashioned 'Bombing!

As you can see, I am starting to make some progress with the stickerbombing project and I am pleased to announce, the passenger's side is looking pretty decent with another hundred plus stickers added to the foray.

Have I created any particular pattern or design? Of course not. I prefer to go all out as that best describes me. Different. Left-field. Calculated madness et al. However, I want to commit to finishing this project as truthfully, there's no going back and there will be no going back!

Here is the latest update, but it is ever so slightly starting to take shape which is certainly pleasing.

Auto Art #2: Small Gains

I announced to my community that I am embarking in a project of automobile artistry. I am pleased to show you a few photo's of the first update in this frankly mad idea.



The 6n 'Bomber is starting to show its first signs into a transformation from a haggard daily driver, to a haggard daily driver with a few stickers on it's body. Come on, it's only the start!



I aim to finish this project hopefully around March 2015 and like I mentioned previously, the WHOLE car will be completely covered and stickerbombed with various brands, logo's and probable lawsuits along the way.

As the first few stickers went on, I knew it was the right thing to do, I couldn't turn back now. The journey of controlled madness has begun.

If anyone has any stickers, please feel free to get in touch!

Auto Art: What on Earth Is This?

A blank canvas.

Although Aircooled > Watercooled in my opinion any day of the week, I, as much as the next person prefers the warmth in the winter.

I am talking from experience after a frankly diabolical 2013/2014 winter series of drives to the next town along to see my girlfriend at the time, or for a 'leisurely' drive in the driving rain and floods to go with it and dressing light in a Liam Gallagher-esque parka, two pairs of gloves to drive in, and thermals was only just the start, but moreover spelled the end of trekking around rough winters in a Beetle as it destroyed my last Bug.

Nevertheless, in order to preserve my pride and joy(s), I turned to a watercooled 'wagen for the winter and I have a chance to introduce my next budget (I stress that) project and the latest introduction of what I like to call the SPECIAL FORCES team, as they are the servicemen and women that do the work behind the scenes to ensure the Beetle's are the best they can be when it comes to the camera, the next show, or even the following day trip to work.

As some may now know, I am an enthusiast in making a scene and inspiring folks of the world and I can assure you this project is going to be no different.

Meet Rolo the Polo, 'The Bomber'. Why is 'The Bomber'? Well, I am afraid I can't answer that just yet.

My boy is 18, legal, and easy. Mod Con's that I have not experienced since learning to drive such as power steering, heating, and an actual boot is a shocking development into the world of driving as I have well and truly leapt into the late 20th century for the next few months until the sun begins to show its face.

Automatic transmission means it will beat any car off the lights and the ability to left foot brake also prompts a welcomed number of points on my licence soon.

"It's Auto Art" they said. It will be. Will I ever be able to truly say it's a finished project? Not a chance.

Goodnight, Don't Let the Bedbugs Bite

Today marked the day where the Bugs headed in for hibernation as winter is well and truly upon the citizens of the UK, especially when on Thursday morning, it was just -2C. As hardcore and dedicated as I am as an aircooled VW enthusiast, it made the most sense with ultimate regret to call it a day and put my boy Lennon to bed, as well as our other Beetles in the five strong roster that I am proud to call a proper family collection. 

The move begins.

No doubt, I am proud to say that it's been an excellent year of VW restoration from starting the blog with just two cars and eventually expanding to a total of five with 8 Beetles gracing their character and presence on the driveway for what undoubtedly has been the best year of my life as 2014 has allowed me, despite the bad, despite the unemployment, to understand what I so wonderfully enjoy in life and who I am as a person. 

So this morning, my family and I finally put our toys away in the garden until the weather perks up and that meant arguably a stressful and painful experience as moving cars isn't as easy as you first think. It's a godsend that Beetle's are generally light cars and I am not lugging around large Land Rovers!

I would like to say a few words on behalf of every single person who has read and visited my blog. Firstly, I never expected to see this explode as big as it has. Over 80,000 times my blog has been visited and I concurrently say that I am touched that so many people have take the time to read and enjoy a small insight into my life with the Beetles, as they have been so integral in my young life so far, at the age of 20 to own 3 classic cars with a watercooled car that I am yet to announce, it's amazing to see that people are thoroughly interested in what I have to share and I think that deserves a moment of reflection and ultimately, a big thanks to all of you. 

The move. Complete!

This doesn't mean I will stop blogging just because I don't have my Beetle's running around to and fro work, as I have a lot of scope to be talking about over the winter and planning new material in the process for 2015 and beyond. 

Alive and well: Jake Bugg.

I can announce that although Lennon & Co. are in their cosy beds, the Jake Bugg hype has only just begun and I will share more on that later. Sting is slowly gathering dust but is now solid as a rock so I'd like to share his progress with you soon and also announce our new introduction into the Special Forces team, which are only reserved for the watercooled, modern VW's of this world. On top of that, I have some brilliant writing news to tell you that I am tightly lipped about until the new year. 

It's been a good run boys. Goodnight Bugs, see you again in the new year. Readers, I'll see you next week!

Lake Take Two: Lennon

It feels a very long time since I last took a Beetle down to arguably one of the best vantage points in my local area, the undisclosed, secret lake. I remember the days when my boy at the time, McCartney, who is still going strong albeit with another owner, looked the bogs' dollocks at this particular lookout, only for his clutch to snap five minutes later.




However, fast forward to the end of the year. A surprisingly mild November afternoon set the scene for Lennon and his first visit to the spot that McCartney strutted his stuff months earlier.



Sadly, as the nights roll in and the temperature significantly, it's time to consider about putting Lennon to bed. As I become wisened with this aircooled malark, I soon learned after suffering one of the harshest winters on record that it's best to preserve your pride and joys and mess around in something a little more, regimented, warmer, and modern.



However, I still have a few days left of enjoying Lennon before he heads into hibernation for the winter!

Here are some photo's from the lake and I must say that Lennon is looking fantastic, much like the weather.

Also, I managed to grab a girl's phone number after we got chatting at the spot which was pretty cool.

Hell on Earth: Slough Swapmeet - 2nd November

The Slough Swapmeet may have been revived from the dead by what must seem like angel's in the VW scene but the setting, which is not too dissimilar to your local rundown leisure centre, was hell on earth.



For the non-British readers, any town/outside setting in the UK is usually described by the following term, a shithole. Slough Town Centre was none other then a big pile of steaming brown liquid created by your Dog who looks at you lovingly, wagging it's tail like nothing happened. I thoroughly do not recommend setting foot in Slough.

'Cars May Appear Quicker Than They Seem'

Anyway, toilet jokes aside it was show time! For me, it meant that my brand new camera was taken out for its maiden event which was pleasing. For others, it meant that shots of people looking suspect, idiotic, and mental are now upscaled into stunning High Definition.

As for the show, an early start meant an early finish. After working on earlier shifts recently, I felt fully prepared for the 6:30am wake-up call and 8:30am arrival for show day, as the show's parking was basically a logistical nightmare (a bit like Slough then really...). However, we had arrived early enough to bag a decent space next to several other fellow VW's and annoyed, athletic, do-gooders who love swimming early in the morning and travel up to the event in their Vauxhall Zafira with their 2.7 children. It was great to ride shotgun in good ol' reliable Doris, something that is commonplace for many shows, but has been subject to some great memories this year, so it felt right to take 'Do' out one more time for 2014 before she heads to bed as well.

A small wait was all that was needed upon arrival and when the clock struck 9:32 because the attendants were just as hungover as the majority of the visitors, the doors slowly opened and the eager traders were greeted with a wave of tired VW enthusiasts which I can only imagine was akin to a scene out of Dawn of the Dead, with all the Halloween vibes still going strong in many of our minds and blood streams.

After a walk around and persistent haggling with traders, we managed to grab a couple of good deals such as a cylinder head for £10 which is VERY CHEAP plus rear lights and a grille for our rolling '67 resto, Jake Bugg who has been somewhat on the fringes recently but should be experiencing some limelight and first team football in the coming days.

In terms of the traders, a notable mention was the boys at Ultra VW who I had a good chat with and purchased the latest edition, which I highly recommend!

Also, the wittiest item for sale was at Hayburner. What was it? A limited edition Hayburner Halford's Sponge of course!



Outside where the cars were parked wasn't too bad, the organisers managed to kettle the rowdy VW's from tormenting much of the car park and visitors into one area of the car park, but other's were let loose as it seemed like crowd control for the VW's wasn't high enough and reports of Overflow and Over-Overflow car parks was rumoured as the naughty VW's were causing enough of a fuss as the pretentious and often hard to understand classic cars were a force to be reckoned with in numbers.

Overall, the swapmeet was actually pretty good! It may seem like from my musings that it was a really poor show, but I was impressed and I am sure to (unfortunately) grace Slough with my presence in 2015. Maybe it might perk up the dreary town, who knows? It was about as good as a small show could get in the beginning of November really and to be saved from the depths of Slough Council, which in my eyes really is a rock-bottom moment in anyone's life, to be revived with a solid amount of hype and traders behind it made for a good event.

Really I was just happy to have a cheeky wee in Morrison's on the way home...

Anyway, here are the rest of the photo's, some of which may go on Pinterest this week.

"She's left you mate."

VolksWorld were trading too, we were lucky to grab some stickers from them!

A fellow '67! Stock Rocks!

Type 3 Represent.

STICKERBOMB! More on that.

This one felt rather out of place with the VW's.

hNNNG.