BRIGHTON BREEZE

Dear Editor & Team

Congrats on the magazine, excellent so far and good to see such a wide variety of interests being catered for.

Thought I’d drop you a quick line about the Brighton Breeze, which I took part in last weekend. Hundreds of bugs and vans headed out from Crystal Palace at 9:30 on, the Saturday and a good time was had by all. It was all very friendly and relaxed, and there was even a kind of impromptu Vee-Dub show at Pease Pottage services on the way south, with lots of old grannies checking out the cars and reminiscing about their own air cooled days. (Everybody seems to have owned a Beetle or camper at some time or other). Anyway, well done to the organisers - good excuse for-a day at the seaside and even the weather was good; book me in for next year.

I did think of coming on the Booze Cruise but October’s been very busy and 1 can’t stand ferries. (Where do you fit all the beer and wine in a bug anyway ?) On the subject of possible future trips, I’ve always fancied the 24 Hour Le Mans race - how’s that for a camping weekend? I’m toying with doing this in 2000 (by Shuttle NOT ferry!) - anyone else daft enough ?

Mike James

PS - do we have any club stickers for my window - I felt a bit anonymous at the Breeze.

 

The Brighton Breeze II

Right, where to start….4pm, Friday, 8th 0ct.

Started out from Cambs, down M11 to London, 1hr’s drive-no problem! On Butchers Row, East London I saw one of our number from the Eclipse Run…"Are you coming on the Brighton Run?" "No," said he, "broken something or other"…and so myself, with the family, pressed on! 3 hrs worth just to get to Crystal Palace, so, 4hrs in total!

Nice view from the top of the hill in the park! A marquee had been erected for films and music but, having the kids, we decided ‘early to bed, early to rise!’. And thus, Saturday loomed on the horizon. 8am, loud hailer…we had 1 hour ‘till ‘Pull Away’. 9.30am…still there! 10am…still there!

There were just too many motors! From Ultra Clean VW Machines to the roughest old junkers – ours included! Anyway, we got out at 10.30am or so. Not great, as in, where to go to get through Croydon…there were VW’s every where! Going this way and that…Madness…It really was just so mad! A23 was eventually found and so we followed…wish we hadn’t! M23 next year!

1pm…we got outside Brighton, TRAFFIC everywhere! So, up behind the Racecourse, ‘round the villages, up hill and down dale…eventually Madeira Drive! Pulled up just in time to see a small shunt…a Marshal had reversed someone back into someone else – poor bug*er! Anyway, out we get…lovely day, a bit chilly but what do you expect? It’s October!
We got married there last year and so many people remembered us. It was lovely to see so many V-Dubs together, not dotted all over like camping, but proudly, in neat rows! 700 last year so they (SSVC) reckon. This year there were at least 1000, I reckon. Strolling around I found two other vans from the LTV VW Club and then I bumped into Fitz and Ellie, who had only come for the day, but who would stay on in the evening to see the live bands.
And so, to the Racecourse…On parking up it started to spit with rain-but only just. So we all went to see the Bands. 4 adults, 4 children, and the dog was left to look after our Vans.
Well, the area where the Bands were was too cramped for us so we came back after half an hour or so and waved ‘Goodbye’ to Fitz and party. We’ll see them next year in the Spring, hopefully.

Sunday…we had a good walk around the town and, well, I don’t think anyone wanted to go home because there were at least half the campsite on Madeira Drive!
We eventually pulled away at 1pm or so, and had a nice drive home in 3 and half hours…Brighton to Cambs. in less time than Cambs. to London (bad place London). Next year we will go straight to Brighton!

Anyway, have a lovely winter everyone! Hope those of you who are going to the Christmas Party have a tipple for me and mine as we will for you and yours!

Love and flowers Animal, Neat, Kids, Saxon and the Red Zeplin

PS. No photo’s, no camera

PPS. This was not meant as a criticism as a very good time was had by myself and my family, but as a statement of fact as I saw it...and I am sure
If any others would care to add their comments on The Brighton Breeze you may get a different account. But not from me…East London to SW London…3 POXIE HOURS!