Well, what a time. For those of you who have not attended, why not? A great weekend of seeing some wonderful VWs and all sorts of modifications. Over 200 traders, plus people doing a little garage clearance. Plenty of bargains to be had, nice people to meet and the opportunity to put faces to, not only some of the names mentioned in this august publication, but also the dealers you are in contact with. Plus some wonderful scenery!

In short, three days of catching up and making wish lists. Or is it? (cue dramatic music) Well no, obvs! Despite it being a working showground some people were there 3 weeks before the opening day. Lots of jobs need doing. Firstly, we’re expecting something like a thousand people to camp. That includes tents, VWs, caravans, in fact anything you can think of including at least 2 tear-drop trailers! So we need electrical hook ups for some of those pitches, especially the disabled pitches. Then we need to mark out the rest of these fields, plus another 7 behind me.

Don’t think it’s all about the camping though! There are fences to build around the arena and staff only areas. Then there’s the traders’ areas. When we turned up there was about a week to go and there were already 4 or 5 club members there, plus Lynn and John the camping co-ordinators, actually they seemed to be everywhere 24/7!! I don’t know where they found the energy.

Sunday afternoon on of the hottest days of the year and we’re out on the fields marking out the first pitches. Gunther and family, denominated “The Northfield Crew”, where already working hard too having some 7/8 fields to cover. But as they’ve been coming here for 23 years (as I recall) they definitely know exactly what they’re doing, and novices like us will only slow them down!

Anyway, the next 5 days consist mainly of measuring 7m squares in the blazing sun. It didn’t take some of us long to go “continental” and start earlier, take a long lunch and get back at it in the late afternoon, and, in that heat putting up marquees meant working in the shade for about half an hour (such are the simple pleasures in life!)

This will become the traders’ area!

There was still loads of other stuff to do too, Laura was lucky enough to be given inside work that meant air con! Good but simple food was provided to the volunteers for three meals a day. But the most rewarding part of it all was watching it all come together!

The gates opened Friday morning and people came from ALL directions! Fields filled, families staked claims on adjacent pitches, but importantly, all fire roads were left clear despite our fears that some might become “private” gardens. One thing I noticed, that despite pitches being well marked, due to the heat people headed for shade whenever they could, including hiding the bus in the trees at the side of some of the roads!

The real benefit of all the hard work was being able to help people when difficulties raised their heads. As an example, Marina Reeves also volunteered, and she was approached by a lady and her young family who had found the pitch she had chosen was now next door to a group of young men being overly exuberant. Marina, having more knowledge of the site was able to swiftly find her a quieter pitch. This single act was enough to confirm the usefulness of volunteering and the benefits of marshalling.

I, too, was able to help later on when a chap approached me looking for a pitch. The field he was in had several “reserved” pitches in it and by quickly asking about I found not one but two pitches where all attendees were present but extra spaces where “baggsed”! When this was discovered, families involved were very helpful and apologetic about their oversight.

As I said earlier, the show itself was a great event, the traders seemed to have both enjoyed it and traded well, so it was worthwhile. The bands where great, at least two each night, plus the disco, VDub Radio, and fair adding to the atmosphere.

As Sunday evening approaches, everyone is packing up ready for the off, with most traders packed and leaving the site by 5pm. This means that the campers are also getting ready to depart by tea-time. So, by mid-morning we’re starting to pull up all the little pegs we so carefully hammered in! Winding up the tape that defined the edges and “no-go” areas, such as emergency gates that are closed.

We forget such things as the “fire stations” that need to be distributed and collected, the bins that were, pretty much, on every corner. Plus the marquees now need to come down and be packed away again! I can honestly say that while it was, at times, hard work it was also great fun. And personally, I found it quite a bonding experience. Would I do it again? At the drop of a hat!! Looking forward to next year, if Lynn will have me!!! and I hope to see some more of you there both as volunteers and on the club field!!

Editor Nick says – Thanks Bill for another great write up. Anyone who wants to attend Busfest during the build up week and work for their entry ticket, please contact Maggie on secretary@vwt2oc.co.uk who can pass your details to the Busfest team for inclusion in this year’s group.

On an unrelated note, at Busfest 2023 in the VWT2OC club field on Saturday evening, we were delighted to have our very own Lorna singing for us. Sadly, she was also talked into a duet with Editor Nick on the alternative lyrics to The Beatles’ “Help!”, dedicated to our wonderful Chairman and guru of all things mechanical, Mr Malcolm Marchbank. We hope that he is still talking to us after that.

We sang:

Help! I need a Malcolm
Help! Not just any Malcolm
Help! You know I need you Malcolm
Help!
When my van was younger, so much younger than today
She never needed anybody’s help in any way
But now these days are gone and we’re not so good at stuff
Now I find I’ve lost my mind, I’ve opened the engine door
Help me if you can, I’m feeling around
And I would appreciate you coming ’round
Help me get the circuit to hit ground
Won’t you please, please help me?
And now my van has changed in oh so many ways
My van it seems to vanish in the exhaust haze
But every now and then the steering is quite poor
I know that I just need you cos it’s never done that before
Help me if you can, I’m feeling around
And I would appreciate you coming ’round
Help me get the circuit to hit ground
Won’t you please, please help me?
When my van was younger, so much younger than today
She never needed anybody’s help in any way
But now these days are gone and we’re not so good at stuff
Now I find I’ve lost my mind, I’ve opened the engine door
Help me if you can, I’m feeling around
And I would appreciate you coming ’round
Help me get the circuit to hit ground
Won’t you please, please help me?
Help me, help me, oh no….