VW Spectacular at Nambucca heads [Valla Beach] 1-3 AUGUST 2008

[68autobug]

The largest VW event in Australia - held every two years..
is on again this year....

VWs take over the Main street of Nambucca Heads from 10am till 12 Noon on Saturday 2nd August 2008

then a show and shine and SWAPMEET on Sunday all day...

this IS the event to go to..
in Eastern Australia
VW owners from all over come to this Event...
and Most of the VWs are driven to the event...

I'll be going to the event in My beetle [first time]
a Round trip of 860kms...

taking My camera too..

Lee

http://community.webshots.com/user/vw68autobug

[68autobug]

Well, I'm booked in...
Looking forward to the greatest VW event in Australia
VWs take over the Main street of Nambucca heads from 10am to Noon on Saturday 2nd AUGUST
Its only held every two years...
The original organisers wanted the last one to be the Last One...
after so many years... [organised by a local Husband and wife]

but the Mayor of the town said the VW spectacular must go ahead..
and the same people are organising it again...
[maybe getting paid Now??]

not long to go now...

Lee

[Bookwus]

Hiya Lee,

Sounds like fun.

Make sure you take lotsa pictures AND post 'em up.  I'd like to see what a big shebang Australian style looks like.

[68autobug]

Here are a couple of pics Mike..
I took about 90...
over 200 Volkswagens... Type 2 Kombis were really out in force...

Lee

[68autobug]

I'm having problems with the pics being too large..

here's another until I figure out

what I'm doing wrong..

LEE

[Bookwus]

Hiya Lee,

I notice the Roo-Bars on the Busses.

Do you all really have that much a problem with kangaroos on the road?  Or is this mostly a "just for looks" kinda thing?

[volkenstein]

Mike,
       Not for looks. At least 4 friends of mine have had cars badly damaged by hitting 'roos. Even here, they don't call Canberra "The Bush Capital" for nothing. It's nervy driving home after pulling overtime when they are lined up on the roadside having a feed and at least once a week there's a mangled carcass on the main drags. In the Northern Territory & such places only the truckies drive at night. The next morning you find out why...steer/horse/roo carcasses all over the place.


Regards
Sean

[68autobug]

Yes, Sean is correct

You can hit a Kangaroo within 3 kms of Scone
and its the same at many country towns
I've heard of many cars locally hitting a Kangaroo just out of Town
and they can damage a vehicle so much it cannot be repaired..
they even can go thru the windscreen...

Lee

[Bookwus]

Hiya Guys,

Eeeeps!

We have something of the same sort of problem with our major wild herbivore, the deer.  Here in Oregon we have White-Tails, Black-Tails and Mule Deer.  Mostly White-Tails in our area.  They will wander around and hit cultivated areas at night.  They often cross roadways while they are wandering around looking for food.  And they have a peculiar reaction to headlights which some term the startle reflex.  When they see a headlight they simply freeze in their tracks.  Not a good situation if those headlights are coming down the road at 60mph.  Matter of fact, poachers use this reflex to their advantage and go spotlight hunting.

But I'm under the general impression that one cannot hunt kangaroos.  They are protected, aren't they?  That must make driving a bit dicey.

[volkenstein]

Mike,
       Our beasties react exactly the same, or worse "follow the leader". As Lee mentioned some are small enough that they come through the windscreen and that is a very frightening thing. They kick out madly in shock & pain and with their large claw middle toes can do some heavy duty damage.
Kangaroos are subject to various legislation across the states. Here in the ACT they are protected, but can be culled (the last one was an utter political farce) but driving is dicey stuff because of that. They aren't "gun shy". National park areas also have protection statutes.
Western Queensland and such regions they are in plague porportions and aren't protected.
Pet food can be 'roo meat and restaurants and butchers serve 'roo meat ("Skippy Stew" - from a popular TV series).

All that being said, I still don't fancy hitting any wildlife wherever it is! Been a long time since I've seen Deer. We do have them but very few are wild.

Regards
Sean

[68autobug]

A Nurse who worked with My Wife, was travelling with her husband driving,
She leaned over to get something off the rear seat
when the Car hit a Kangaroo which came thru the windscreen...
and She would have been killed if she wasn't leaning back...

As Sean said, its much better if they are killed in the collision
as the claws can rip You apart...

My Son hit one a couple of years ago, in a non VW and the radiator naturally
is the first thing to be damaged...
I went to pick Him up, and the Kangaroo was still alive
so I rang the Parks and wildlife and they came and shot it..

Kangaroos seem to jump as you approach them...
so. its hit the brakes when you see one....

Lee

[68autobug]

Aussie VW Show

Nambucca heads in the Main street

and at Valla beach

LEE

[68autobug]

Couple more pics

Lee