Show report: Big Bang Camper & Bus Show 2013, Santa Pod

We’re back at the famous Santa Pod drag strip and show ground again – where Performance Direct sponsors the left-hand drag racing lane – and this time we’ve got a nice ‘n’ juicy Motor-Vision show report for all you bus fans out there. And we don’t mean those over-stuffed red things chugging around London! The Big Bang Camper & Bus Show is all about everything VW van, bus and pick up that you can think of. Tons of VW trucks then, but also plenty of VW cars, some of the loudest drag racing cars I’ve seen this year so far, and seriously impressive show ‘n’ shine and car club areas.

First up, let’s take a look at the Performance Direct show stand, with the lovely Faye (blonde) and Hayley (brunette) in full red Lycra effect. Flanking our show babes are Olive, an olive green 1973 vintage VW camper and Bertie, a modern-day incarnation of the famous retro bus shape, built until recently in Brazil. We scored our sweet show buses from Classic Campervans in Hoxton where anyone can easily hire these classic vans and more, and both Olive and Bertie come fully equipped for life in the fun lane; with camping gear or road trip ready to rock.

Next up, let’s take a look around the show ‘n’ shine area – which, rather amusingly, was dominated by the kind of VWs that generally shy away from a good dollop of Autoglym. The rat-look rides were in full effect and looking just so tough. The rat-look is where you let nature take its course – or engineer the look yourself – with rust, dents and old school patina ruling the show roost, rather than big dollar pant jobs, bodykits and chrome engine bays. But, believe me, there is much effort, planning and commitment involved in making rat motors look the business, and I think the guys and gals that rocked the rat-look in their rides and personal style at this show absolutely smashed the rat-ball outta the park!

And to finish us off in speedy style, a few pics from the staging lanes – where the racers queue up to thrash the quarter-mile track – with some dB-destroying, big-bhp-beasties waiting to fire their VW badges to the horizon, at the green light’s command. This is where I went deaf! All in, a cracking show for everyone, with a really nice laid back atmosphere and friendly punters everywhere. I might love Jap turbo cars the most, but there’s a big, bug-shaped space in my heart for good ol’ Dub shows like this one.

 

Pics by Darren Skidmore

Words & pics by Dan Anslow