BeachBuggin' 2003 - Review

By Roger Arnold

BEACHBUGGIN' 4 the wonderful annual summer VW extravaganza, took place on Sunday 29 June 2003 on a magnificent seaside site, Southsea Common Portsmouth, and attracted literally hundreds of VW fans from along the south coast and southern home counties. The sun shone all day, the ice cream sellers had a field day, and long queues formed for the public toilets! Last year's show, the first on Southsea Common, had been voted such a success that it was decided to stay put for Beachbuggin' 4.

The original Beachbuggin' was the brainchild of Jim Chambers & Rich Stannard, who were at that time at the Arts Institute in Bournemouth, as a project for their Arts & Events Management Course, and was held in 2000 at Honeycombe Chine at the Boscombe end of Bournemouth seafront, and attracted 200 plus. The second show was held by Bournemouth pier, attracted even more cars, but fell foul of Bournemouth Council, (not well known for their commercial foresight) who objected to a Swap Meet. Over 600 cars turned up for the first Southsea Show, and this year's total was approaching 1,000. Bournemouth's loss is definitely Portsmouth's gain, and Jim & Rich have no intention of returning their hugely successful show to the town that rejected it!

I arrived at 10 o'clock (one had to be in before 10.30am to enter the Show'n'Shine) and was efficiently marshalled through to the Show area. I immediate came across an impressive line up of Buggies and Bajas in lively seaside colours, and a selection of Type 2's, grouped as Splits and Bays, Original and Custom. Beetles were also classified as Original and Custom, with the Originals being further subdivided into pre and post 1968.

I am pleased to report that later in the day I learned that Blue my 1964 Beetle had won the honour of Best Original Beetle/Type 1 (pre 1968). No favouritism honest! Just a rather small field, the majority of "Originals" being post '68. Also included in the Show'n'Shine were categories for Karman Ghias,Type3/4s and Kubelwagen/Trekkers.

As always at these shows, the quality of the vehicles never fails to impress, and must present huge difficulties for the judges. I took photographs of vehicles that impressed my personally, and was delighted to see that the one I liked best, the Baja, built over a six year period to an incredibly high standard of finish by Mark Way won, not only Best Baja, but also Overall Best of Show, which brought Mark a generous voucher from German Swedish and French, one of the shows sponsors. Something else that caught my eye and appealed to me (other than the girls' summer fashions and tight white trousers) was a professionally produced sticker on one of the buggies that read "lay one finger on my car, you'll take your bollocks home in a jar". I was personally concerned about people, not all of them children, cycling around the showground, in and out of the cars. I ended up laying out a blanket and putting up a camp chair to create an "exclusion zone" around my car, as I could not risk the damage that handlebars or pedals could cause to my paintwork. Show organisers please note, and place a ban on the riding of bicycles.

The Southsea location provides ample space for a Swap Meet come Autojumble, with the chance of finding that very obscure or obsolete part. There was even a rolling chassis for sale for someone wanting to start a project from the ground up.

One of the show's sponsors Eastpack, had built a transportable Skateboard facility, which provided an almost continuous spectacle throughout the day. They also provided the PA system, the Sounds and BMX demonstrations. Testament Clothing, based in Southsea were the main sponsors of the day, and it was their suggestion two years ago that prompted the move from Bournemouth.

Look out for details of BEACHBUGGIN 5 in 2004, for you can be assured of a really super day-out by the sea. You could even bring the wife and kids! (optional).

Watch this space for news of next years show Beachbuggin' 6; alternatively keep in touch by visiting the website beachbuggin.com