Michigan Vintage Volkswagen Festival
Riverside Park
Ypsilanti, MI
May 2003
Click here to see the pictures.
Nick and I started our annual trip to the Michigan Vintage Volkswagen Festival with renewed interest on Thursday, May 15th. This year the Michigan Vintage Volkswagen Festival was moved to a new location, Historic Depot Town in Ypsilanti, MI. We also would be meeting up with several Vintage VW enthusiasts in Crandon, WI to caravan to the show together. We decided to drive Ralph, the 57 Oval window Beetle again this year. Ralph's pre-trip inspection didn't bring any surprises. After an oil change and valve adjustment Ralph was good to go. Nick did replace the brake line that runs along the tunnel because it was looking a little risky. Didn't want to have a repeat incident of losing brakes during rush hour that we had a few year's back in the 74 Sun bug.
We left the house around 10 am to meet Jon Lane (MN) (DKF Newsletter Editor), Howard Query (IA) (VVWCA Website Manager), Grant Reiling (MN), and Russell Cordell (AR) (VVWCA Membership Services Coordinator) in Crandon, WI. We didn't have to wait long before Howard's 58 Cabrio, 62 Karmann Ghia Vert, and Jon's 57 Oval with a non-VW support vehicle following showed up at the Copper Country Restaurant and Bar just outside of Crandon, WI. We had some lunch and were on our way. The plan was to reach Escanaba in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan before evening. We would overnight and then continue on the next day. We made it to Escanaba with no problems having a great time driving the roads of the U.P. and receiving the waves, peace signs, etc. that a VW caravan usually gets. The U.P. is a beautiful wilderness area and a great way to leave the stress of everyday urban traffic behind. That night an Eclipse of the moon was scheduled and Escanaba happened to be a prime viewing area for it. I have a picture posted on the picture page. Be sure to check it out.
The next day would be our long drive day. We left Escanaba early and drove most of the day to reach the host hotel in Ann Arbor. That evening there was a hospitality area at Frenchie's by the Sidetrack Bar and Grill (named for the railroad tracks that run by the building). This was located in historic Depot Town. The bar was in an old historic building as much of the town's buildings are. Most of the homes and buildings in Depot Town are on the historic register.
The next morning we were up early to help move the exhibits into the Michigan Antique Fire Museum, home to the Michigan Antique Fire Equipment Preservation Group. Joe Mond (IA) with help from Brian Holcomb (WI) (VVWCA Southern WI Chapter Rep) had brought his 1959 VW fire truck and 1954 VW fire truck trailer (featured in the February 2002 VW Trends), 1960 VW ambulance and VW based hearse to be on display in the fire station which was built in 1898. Nick and I helped get the vehicles off of the trailers and into the fire station. We had a little fun during that time driving the ambulance through Depot Town and down to the park where we found a split window bus on a trailer for sale in the park's parking lot. It was rusty but not beyond restoration. Ed Connery brought his 1956 VW ambulance as well to be put on display in the fire station. Ed drove his ambulance from Exeter, New Hampshire. Ed's ambulance was used as an airport ambulance on the Island of Aland (Finland).
After our morning of work, we decided to check out Depot Town and get some lunch. We stopped by Miller Motors, the last remaining operational Hudson dealer in the world. Yes, you can still get parts for your Hudson here! They had a wonderful museum of automobiles adjacent to Miller Motors, Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Collection. Automobiles and auto parts once produced in Ypsilanti are on display. The collection included the Tucker car used in the movie "Tucker". It was neat to see a Hudson Hornet and other cars on display as if time had stopped in this town. There were several Antique stores for the treasure hunter. We had lunch at the Sidetrack Bar along with a few beers. By this time, Volkswagens were starting to invade Depot Town in preparation for the weekend. It looked like they were taking over and it was great to hear the sound of air cooled engines everywhere.
In the afternoon, there was a national meeting for the Vintage Volkswagen Club of America. Peter Cook, President of VVWCA, spoke to us about the future of the club. It was a good meeting and a chance to meet chapter reps as well as members from other states.
The Vintage VW Banquet was extra special this year as we were allowed to dine by vintage Volkswagens. Imagine eating your dinner by Bruce Braun's Hebmüller or the new VW Touraeg! Volkswagen of America brought the new VW Touraeg. This was a special treat as these aren't at the dealers showrooms yet and there are only a few around at this point in time. The other Volkswagens on display were MVVC club members Dubs which included Ron Wenger's split window, Bob Ellis's Oval, Gretta VanBree's Ghia, and Tom Siligato's 412.
Many of the Ypsilanti and Depot Town city officials and business associates were at the banquet and recognized for their fantastic support of the MVVC's Festival. The MVVC recognized their club officers and members who had put in many hours into organizing of the Festival. Lynn Anderson (MVVC) presented the Common Gear Heroes of Antique Volkswagening Award for Matt Joy. Matt was the previous treasurer of the VVWCA and has been involved in the vintage VW hobby for many years.
Ryan Price, Editor of VW Trends, was a guest speaker at the banquet. His slide presentation and talk about how he has grown up with VWs and became the editor of VW Trends was fun and interesting. Volkswagen of America spokesman presented a slide show of the VW Touraeg and talked about it. It really is an awesome vehicle that will take the SUV market by surprise. Imagine air suspension that adjusts for whatever conditions you are driving on. After dinner, there was time to check out the VWs and to take another look at the displays in the fire station including Joe Mond's and Ed Connery's awesome display of VW fire and rescue equipment.
The next morning we were up early and on our way to the main feature, the Vintage VW Festival. I gave Ralph a quick bath in the host hotel parking lot with the water hose and buckets that the hotel graciously allowed our group to use. The show was held at Riverside Park by the Huron River. Depot Town is a historical town right by the park and has a lot to offer for shopping and exploring with several museums and shops to keep everyone busy. After breakfast, we were off to the swap meet. Nick found several items he couldn't live with out and I found a new pin for my hat. We parked Ralph with the Der Käfer Fahrer (DKF) group next to the Volkswagen of America's tent that was displaying Volkswagens through the Decades. The DKF had a nice display of early Beetles (split and oval window 36hp Beetles) and 2 Hebmüllers (DKF President Bill Collins' "Red Heb" and Bruce Braun's). The MVVC Festival was the site of the DKF's National Meet this year, as well.
If you have followed my reports from previous years, you know that the Michigan Vintage Volkswagen Festival is not a typical car show. Instead they take a different approach to recognize Volkswagens by having a "Pass In Review". A narrator discusses the changes that Volkswagen made through the years while a handful of VWs are driven up, pause, and then drive by the gathered crowd to illustrate the narrator's speech. It is a wonderful way to learn about the Volkswagens and it is an honor to have your VW chosen for this. This year, Ralph was one of the honored VWs that made his way through the Pass In Review as an example that antique VWs that have not been restored can still be found in fantastic shape. Joe Mond's fire truck and ambulance were featured in one of the Pass In Reviews as well.
During the show, the new Beetle concept clay model was being disassembled from its chassis as it had begun to deteriorate under its own weight. Engineers use clay models as part of the design process when designing new cars. Volkswagen of America was kind enough to donate the model to be cut up into pieces and sold at the show to raise money for Miller's Motors. The clay model was cut into pieces before our eyes and it was interesting to see that foam was used on the chassis before the clay was applied and molded into the shape of the Beetle. I have my own little piece of the Beetle Concept clay model to be kept for history's sake.
Toward the end of the day, we helped Joe load his fire truck, ambulance, trailer, hearse and display for the trip back to Iowa. We went back to the hotel and discovered that an electrical fire at the restaurant next door had caused the electricity to be shut off to the hotel. We decided to go to supper while it was out with hopes that it would be back on after we returned. We happened to run into Peter Cook, President of VVWCA, and his father who were going to dinner as well. We decided to join each other and had a lovely dinner. Upon returning to the hotel, the electricity was still out so Nick and I decided to hit the road and stay somewhere else that evening. We made it across the Mackinac Bridge into the U.P. around 1 am. Along the way we saw quite a few deer and raccoons trying to cross the road. Luckily we didn't hit any.
The next day we slept in a bit and were on the road by 8 am. We took our time getting home by stopping at some antique stores along the way. Didn't find too many treasures but had fun looking. A misty rain began about midday but cleared up later. Ralph was running great with no problems. Ralph was running between 30 to 35 miles to a gallon on this trip. Ralph traveled a total of 1,325 miles on this trip. Just a couple more hundred miles and he will have his allotted Der Käfer Fahrer (DKF) mileage for this year. Der Käfer Fahrer (DKF) is a driver's group for vintage Volkswagens (up to the end of model year 1957). The DKF believes in driving their vintage VWs and has a requirement that your vintage VW be driven at least 1,500 miles a year to qualify as a full member. Visit the DKF membership page for more information.
My heartfelt thanks to all who make the MVVC's Vintage VW Festival happen (Ron Wenger, Ernie Otter, Al Bulgrin, Ed Karmann, Bob Ellis, Dave Cook, and many others including the spouses who put up with us crazy VW nuts) and to those who take the time to support this great show. The hospitality can't be beat in my opinion. The Michigan Vintage Volkswagen Festival's new location is great and I am looking forward to returning next year. Hope to see you there!
Sherri Corrao
President/Northern Wisconsin Volkswagen Club - www.nwvc.itgo.com
Northern Wisconsin Chapter Rep. Vintage Volkswagen Club of America
Der Käfer Fahrer (The Beetle Drivers, 1945-1957)
Click here to see the pictures from our trip and the Vintage Volkswagen Festival.
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Copyright 2003/Northern Wisconsin Volkswagen Club