BEETLE MANIACS ARRIVE IN CONVOY FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY
One of the many attractions of Clarens that a new resident chatted to me about, is the unexpected fact that there is always something really cool going on in our beautiful village.
This last weekend was one of the most exciting events that we have hosted in our town in years!
We welcomed over 150 VW vehicles of all shapes and forms. 82 of which were the Iconic Classic Beetle. These VW lovers travelled in convoy from all over the country. The convoy from Joburg was the longest, consisting of over 50 vehicles. There was a convoy from Durban and one from Bloemfontein. The person that travelled the furthest was the legend named Louis Gouws in his unique hand painted Bay window Kombi, who drove 900 Km all the way from PE.
The event was arranged by Rudi Botha who is the enthusiast behind the BeetleManiacs Club. BeetleManiacs Club is an International Volkswagen Beetle, Air-Cooled & VW Classic Club. Founded in South Africa. Rudi’s goal is to link BeetleManiacs Clubs globally in connecting all VW Beetle, Air-cooled and VW Classics Owners and Fans World Wide.
Inspiring thousands of people to restore or buy their VW Classics, to Love them by Driving them, not parking them.
Rudi is astounded that not only has his BeetleManiacs Club grown to have over 3000 Members in less than 2 years, in South Africa, but it has also branched out into over 40 countries internationally.
Last week he hosted the Biggest VW Classic event that South Africa seen in over 12 Years. “Bugs on Major.”
And what a Major and Epic event it was!
The convoys arrived on the Friday 16th June 2023. They did the obligatory ride around the square to show off their magnificent vehicles, much to the delight of the onlookers, but VW’s are so cool – they had to go around twice, and some even thrice… after all it is tough to find parking around the square on a Friday afternoon and who does not like driving around waving at the crowds and paparazzi! There was a brief meet and greet on the square and then everyone went off to check into their various accommodations around the town.
On Saturday the VW’s gathered on and around the square. Some hard core enthusiasts, John in his 1975 Fleetline Split bus single cab, Pierre in his one of a kind 1966 Type 3 Squareback, Shane in his 1982 Autovilla Gypsy Van Delilah and few other loons, woke at sunrise, even though it was minus temperatures, to drive their special vehicles down to the square to ensure that they had a visible parking bay for the day. The ice took hours to melt off their cars.
At midday the iconic cars joined the Maluti FM market on the square, so that all could view and marvel at the variety of VW’s. Some of them pristine classics. Some of them works of art. Some of them customized to suit the owner. Some were 2 seaters, some were tiny homes on wheels.
One thing in common – they are all much loved VW’s.
CLICK ON THE BUTTONS TO WATCH THE COOL TIKTOKS THAT OUR DAUGHTER COMPILED
Here is a list of cars that took part in the weekend Beetles on Major event:
2x Karmann Ghai
9x Splitwindows (kombi)
20x Baywindows (kombi)
2 x BayWindow Autovillas
82x Classic Beetles
4x New Beetles
1x 718 Porsche Spider replica with all Beetle Parts, Suspension and engine.
2x Golfs
2x T3 Kombis
1 x T3 Autovilla – Delilah the Dreamer
2x Type 3 Squareback
1x Fastback
1x Notchback
That is 118 Classic VW’s in Total.
The Rarest VW Classics at Show were unbelievable.
1x 1989 Golf GTI Convertible (1 of only 8 made)
2x Splitwindow Beetles both 1952’s.
3x Oval Beetles.
1 driven by a Local in Clarens believed to be the first ever Beetle that came to Clarens back in 1956.
These are all museum examples and were the most valuable and rarest VW Classics.
Another reason this event is so great for Clarens, is the Club takes the towns people into consideration. He helped his members book local accommodation, and encouraged them to eat in the restaurants, to shop in the shops and to support the Maluti FM market on the square, as part of the weekends itinerary. All the cars parked on the square contributed to a sizeable amount to Maluti FM, which is local non profit community organisation. Rudi requested that everyone taking part to please bring a bag of pet food for our local charity Cluny Animal Trust.
Cluny received 300kg of pet food, 2 boxes of dog biscuits and 50 blankets!
How awesome are these BeetleManiacs?!
From my experience most VW lovers are also 60’s hippies at heart, if not in years, so what better way to celebrate the weekend, than with a dress up Hippie party hosted at the Clarens Inn. Our talented local musos were hired to entertain the crowd. The prize giving was very interactive, to say the least! Some brilliant trophies were handed out. Prizes were awarded for fun, like best dressed, and funniest VW and then more serious prizes like the BeetleManiacs Hall of Fame Trophy handed out to Roy Salswedel and a second Hall of Fame to Subylle Gu, from Germany, who never misses an event! The Wolfsburg Trophy for Best Original went to Roy Salzwedel with his stunning 66 Beetle. Then Rodger Dawson won the Best Beetle award. Jaco Du Toit won the VW Vintage Trophy for Oldest VW at the event. Louis Gouws won for Kombi Fan Favourite for his Woodstock hand painted 1975 Bay window. Johan Kahts won the VW Ruined Trophy for best Modified VW Classic. Karen Kenedy won the Clarens Trophy for Beetle Fan Favourite. The celebrations ran into the early hours.
As you can see the completion for the best dressed at the Hippie Party was intense!
Sunday was another early start to meet on the field to park in the VW emblem shape for a photo shoot.
It was an additional opportunity to meet the fab owners of these great cars. Car lovers, chatting to car lovers, about loving their cars! What a perfect start to the day.
Only 52 cars arrived yet Pierre still managed to arrange everyone in lines and a circle to complete the emblem. The drones went up. Cheese! All photo ops done.
Even though it was sad to say farewell to all our new BeetleManiac Friends, it was just as cool to watch the unique and iconic shapes drive off into the distance, with their unforgettable VW whistle lingering behind them.
This event was so hugely successful for everyone, it begs the question if it will become an annual event. In reply Rudi confirms, a long distance annual rally – defiantly. Destination Clarens – not for a few years.
Join his group to find out where next years destination is.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/beetlemaniacs.club.southafrica
Until then – Rudi and your fabulous BeetleManiacs, we will be inspired to buy and restore our own Beetle or Kombi that we have always dreamed of owning, and we will join you on your next epic convoy.”
We will love them and we will drive them.
We will park them with pride around the Clarens Square.
Author and Photo Credit : Sandy Gypsy Muller – proud owner of Delilah
CLICK ON THE BUTTONS BELOW TO WATCH MORE EPIC TIKTOK VIDEOS OF THE EVENT