Southern Cross Vans website

A preview of the new Southern Cross Vans website is now online.
www.infresments.com.au/SXV5

BATHURST
New format, new vision.
Fantasy Van Nats - can we make it happen?
Creating more van events, let us know what you're thinking.

Quick look through the site and i must say well done, keep up the good work.

Elegantly Wasted wrote:let us know what you're thinking.

Good to see your having another crack Peter.

To be honest with you, I don't think it offers anything that current web sites already do or can do.

I am very disappointed in your latests tactics of sending emails to certain people and not others that you know are part of the whole picture.

'Fres has left the building'.... who are you kidding?

'one contact from each club, group or vanning entity'... People take offence to this.

Stop trying to be the head of Vanning in NSW Peter, we don't need this political bullsh!t in whats left of the van scene in Australia.

Thats some of my thoughts
Jon

PS: I know you have the contact details of myself and the other person you seem to avoid talking to. Feel free to make contact and discuss further.

A big thanks to all who dropped in for a preview of things to come.
Great feedback for the "Bathurst Van Nationals" and our first VAN Survey - results will be published in our Summer update.

Kicking back with a few mates, enjoying a refreshing ale or two in the afternoon sun. Listening to some cruisey music from one of the bars - complete with pool, pinball machine and eight ball table. Suddenly there is bit of a comotion coming from the northern end of the grounds and a crowd of well over one hundred stand in awe of the creation that has parked just inside the entry gate. Its the 1983 Van Nationals and and a highly modified burgundy holden van with a V12 Jaguar drivetrain has brought the showground to a stand sill - Alley Cat has arrived.
It was my first Van Nats, after spending the last two Easters at the Grafton Van Show, and although my club (Pacific) had not made the trek, Chrissy and I travelled down with a rival Sydney club, Sundowners. It is a time that is still vivid in my mind and the "vanning bug" had well and truly bitten hard.
Although I missed the vanning peak of the 70's, when promotors were running the Van Nats and the manufacturers where pumping money into the new Sandmans, Sundowners & Drifters, (the HZ Sandman was designed after a meeting with van enthusiast to see what we wanted), the following year, 1984, is believed to be the peak in quality that all others are compared to. If it had not rained that year, the only van that Innervisions competed against but never beat would have been there along with the second place getter from 1985. A giant pothole on the Hume Highway took out the front end of Seducer and travelling with him was Wizrd. The Top Ten would have seen Street Legal in 10th Place. You don't read that in CV&T - you just had to be there.

I've seen the low time during the 90's where it was uncool to drive a van, which was half the price of the same model ute. The Victorians kept the Van Nats ticking over when all the other states had faded away. The judging changed in this time from the most modifications wins to the least amount of faults wins. Which made picking winners almost impossible from outside the display rope. With numbers declining during the late nineties (around 160 entrants 1997-98) some "outside the square" thinking was needed to renew interest with the vanning diehards. Myself, a vanning mate from Victoria, and far too much bourbon considered the alternatives during the '97 event. We initiated the change to move the event around the country instead of continuing on for the 18th year in the same region. With the average age now being around the late thirties, we transformed the event from a weekend blokefest to a family friendly holiday on the coast, halfway between Sydney and Melbourne. "Come for a Holiday, Stay for the Party" was the successful slogan for the new phase in Australian vanning (208 entrants in 1999, including Queenslanders for the first time since the 70's Since then, many entrants take eight days off for a 16 day break at Easter and arrive on the Wednesday after some touring around). The day after the event, I started a web design course which required a test site of your choice - the start of VANSw/SouthernCrossVans.com, a pictorial website that celebrated the past and promoted upcoming major vanning events.

In 2003, four years after their return and the reformation of their 1980's club, Sunstate Panel Van Club hosted the first Van Nationals held in Queensland. Great weather, a holiday atmosphere and over 100 vans on display during show day. The debate over the "new Sandman" was the hot topic and there were strong opinions on both sides. When the VCV wanted to accept opinions and get back to us next year with their decision, I thought this was not appropriate for them to decide on behalf of all the Easter entrants. I proposed a vanning summit to be held in a central location where a decision could be made over a weekend of discussions. The end result was that "in the spirit of vanning" if this SEDAN

was widely accepted as a van, than so must this UTE
.
However, it was agreed that this applied to the Easter event and not neccessarily to any other event. Since then State Van Titles have adopted the same policy.

In 2004, when NSW accepted responsibility to hold the 2006 Van Nationals, I arranged a van display at MotorEx in both 2004 and 2005 to promote the event. A total of thirty vans on display over the two years which included Innervisions on display in Sydney for the first time since our 10th Pacific Show in 1988, plus what can only be described as Australia's most famous unfinished van, Alien.

The 2006 Van Nationals was held in the Great Lakes area around Forster on the NSW north coast. Again as the entrants co-ordinator I wanted to promote vanning to a new market. The budget for a Nationals is around $25.000, but is funded by pre-entries and sponsorships - usually from $50 to $1000. With some unorthodox thinking a personalised sponsorship letter was sent to an obscure company in Far North Queensland that was expanding its business to other Australian states. To my surpise, a $12,500 cash and product sponsorship was received four weeks before the event. Prizemoney had returned to the Nats as well as a bonus for every entrant at the event. The location was eleven hours from the closest venue of a previous Nats and the number of entrants was a staggering 320 plus, including a minimum of 83 for the first time.The 2006 Hogs Breath Cafe Van Nationals was a rewarding, yet draining experience. I was told I would need a good divorce lawyer if I were to contemplate another... thanks to all those who offered to pay for one, but I like to keep my share of the house.

In 2006-07, time constraints due to work commitments caused the pictorial website to be closed down as it was quickly becoming outdated. However, a forum which came standard with VANSw website was stumbled upon by two van enthusiasts who conversed with each other for three months before a third joined them. It then grew fast, changing the website from one contributor to over 100 contributors. It was great while it lasted, but I was warned that it could not continue in its current form as it was similar to Victorian vanning in the 70's - one group, many opinions - a split was inevitable. The word "club" was mentioned and I wrongly started to evolve the site in that direction including the name change to Southern Cross Vanners. This transformation had the independent vanners believing that they were losing their independence. In a last ditch attempt to keep the independent vanners and the club vanners unified a Sydney picnic was arranged to sort out the differences - unfortunated it was too late for a reconciliation and Southern Cross Vanners ceased before it began. Majestic Vanners were formed by those wanting to go in the direction of a club and the independent site continued on under SouthernCrossVans.com where it continued to cater for non-club van enthusiasts but still welcomed opinions from all van enthusiasts. Shortly afterwards Majestic Vanners split again. Eventually the SXV.com forum succumbed to an influx of spam as the program was designed in 2002. Attempts were made to resuscitate it with the help of Rob Burns and James Ellis, but it was not to be.

The 2009, the Van Nats was going to be big, and we knew it before the event.started. I "practically begged" MV to attend as its not too often we can afford to host the event so close to a capital city and we had a professional promoter to make sure every van enthusiast knew that it was on. With 168 vans on entry forms + 73 more on the Sunday, it was the most vans in the one place, at the one time, since 1984.
Later that year, I encouraged a Sydney based van club that has been holding meetings every month since 1975, to host an old fashioned Van-Inn on the outskirts of Sydney. Six months planning and promoting around the state but expected numbers were down long before the weekend started. A Majestics van took out the top award (although I can't find any reference to it on this site - I'm sure it must be on here somewhere) and 38% of the awards went interstate. It appears that some clubs avoided the weekend because other clubs were invited. If vanning is a disease, this weekend almost cured me. It was at this point that I decided to stop promoting vanning in NSW and concentrate on finishing my long terrm van project, Elegantly Wasted.

2010 saw the the VCV put on the Nats in Phillip Island as NSW were unable to fulfil the once every four year cycle that the event seem to be evolving into. We simply just didn't have the numbers.

I must congratulate Rusty on his efforts to get so many MV's to the Victorian State Van Titles last month. The non-internet vanning community now know who Majestic Vanners are. So a bunch of mates travelled interstate, saw over twenty vans, had a great time and there was a controversial judging decision... sound like what I do every Easter with many more vans. Although, in 2008, the system "malfunctioned" and everyone believed the judging was perfect.
I don't always agree with the system but I am aware of how it works.The Van Nats has the traditional Top Ten, but organisers have the flexibility to create their own award list beyond that point. I believe their should be more categories so that vans outside the Top Ten have the opportunity to compete against vans of a similar standard or design. State Van Titles in VIC and QLD have their own styles and judges, whereas in NSW where awards have been on offer at MotorEx, a peer judging system is used and entrants choose the award winners. At the 2011 NSW All Holden Day in the Hawkesbury region in north-west Sydney, SouthernCrossVans.com put up three awards that where decided upon by only the owners of the vans that were on display. Best Custom Van, Best Sandman Style Van and Best Pre '72 Van.

Most controversial results have simple explanations, some don't.

I know
- why John H's GAMBLR was not higher up the list in 2006
- why Vandil missed the Top Ten at Geelong in 2009
- that a major fault, obvious from outside the display rope doesn't disqualify an entrant, they just drop down the order
-that if every completed MV van was entered in the 2010 event, four would have been in the Top Ten. I know, along with the Josh, that the FJ was the 3rd best van at Easter this year but I also know it is by far the best daily driver in the land as well as the most photogenic van since Street Legal. However, I am still scratching my head over the Lilac Escort.

I am looking forward to catching up with a few old skool vanners at this weeks reunion and listening to the views of the new skool vanners who have the passion for knowledge for what we did all those years ago and those who continue to do as we did.

Sundowner Van Club, along with the current Top Van in Australia, Red Baron. are putting on a display at the V8 Supercar final in Sydney on Dec 2-4. It could be the start of something bigger in the years to come as we are getting well looked after by the organisers. The last MotorEx display I put together showcased the best vans from around the Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong region. Alley Cat, Icepik, Gamblr and Invincible to name a few. In an effort to show the organisers what vans are within two hours of Sydney, while many top vans from around the country await an opportunity for a National Indoor Van Display. Sydney is well placed geographically to get the majority of the countries best vans together as it is only a days drive ffom the most populated areas. With three of the best four vans on display at the 2010 Phillip Island Van Nats coming from Queensland and a car transporter full of show vans travelling with SA & VIC vans to QLD in 2003, entrants seem willing to travel more these days for a major event.

Speaking of travelling, July 2012 will see fifteen vanners from down under heading over to the biggest van event on the planet, The 40th US Van Nationals. Vanning is still going on in at least eleven different countries and van enthusiasts are proportionate to the population of each country - so we're expecting about 600 vans at this event. Still time to plan a trip if anyone is interested. Checkout the FaceBook page where many US vanners are offering to assist anyone who is willing to travel that far for a vanning event. Recent news includes a large contingent heading over from Europe for the celebrations. Our 40th Van Nationals is on in 2015. Bathurst Showground Trust has us pencilled in and a decision to hold the event will need to happen by Easter 2012 so that it can be promoted in the US next July. It is still just a concept but we are receiving positive emails for us to push on. Many factors would have to fall in place for it to become a reality.For more info see Fantasy Van Nats

I hope Majestic Vanners from WA are encouraged to go to the 2012 Van Nats in Pinjarra, just south of Perth. It will be a unique opportunity for them and for those who have not been to the western state, will there be a better time to go than with a large group of van enthusiasts?

I hope Majestic Vanners will support Rhino as he plans to have Alley Cat at the 2013 Van Nats in Caboolture QLD, 30 years after winning the event in 1983. Almost every full response we have had to our first Van Survey has indicated that they will be attending - it might be another big year.

I wish Majestic Vanners every success, but hope you can all drop into SouthernCrossVans.com every now and then to see what else in happening in the vanning world.

Jonny James wrote:

Elegantly Wasted wrote:let us know what you're thinking.

Good to see your having another crack Peter.

To be honest with you, I don't think it offers anything that current web sites already do or can do.

I am very disappointed in your latests tactics of sending emails to certain people and not others that you know are part of the whole picture.

'Fres has left the building'.... who are you kidding?

'one contact from each club, group or vanning entity'... People take offence to this.

Stop trying to be the head of Vanning in NSW Peter, we don't need this political bullsh!t in whats left of the van scene in Australia.

Thats some of my thoughts
Jon

PS: I know you have the contact details of myself and the other person you seem to avoid talking to. Feel free to make contact and discuss further.

Since 1999, I have attempted to keep independent vanners informed as well as a reference to previous major vanning events. I published the info on my own until work commitments did not allow the time to continue - especially between mid August and mid November, plus mid January to Easter. I then threw it open to over one hundred contributors until the inevitable happened. So now another attempt to share the distibution of info with just a dozen or so enthusiasts from across the country.

Every van enthusiast should have the option to view what every other van enthusiast is doing, quickly and easily in one convenient location.

I respect the opinion of the son of a vanning legend, but I believe that any enthusiastic promotion of vanning should be encouraged. The enthusiasm may have returned after two years as during that time I have been invited by vanners from Majestic on two separate occasions for an informal talk about vanning in NSW. All present agreed that it was time to move on from the errors of 2007-09. I look forward to hearing any updates shortly.

If being the NSW representative for the organisation that is responsible for the Van Nationals, entrants co-ordinator for two Van Nationals and co-ordinator for three van displays at MotorEx, creates the illusion of being the head of vanning in NSW, it is by default. Vanning in NSW can not move forward with the efforts of one person, or one club, but a collaboration of all groups concerned. Maybe a weekend for ALL early next year where all views can be heard would help solve any perceived ongoing issues. After my research with the Bathurst Showground Trust, I know that the showground is available to us for camping on most weekends. Maybe a few laps of the track before we all head home.

Jon, I'm sure most of what you have mentioned can be put down to a misunderstanding or otherwise, as I sent you an email just after you completed the current SouthernCrossVans.com Van Survey and two days before your post above. I am more that happy to talk to anyone who wants to progress vanning and have made myself available at most Majestic events, the recent van cruises and dinner parties with enthusiasts from mySandman.com and if a 36 year old van club is putting on coffee, unlimited Tim Tams and talking van Woopsie every first Monday of the month, I'll be there.


Again, looking forward to seeing everyone on the weekend.

Fres

I personally would be interested why VANDIL did not place anywhere at the Van Nats, doesnt bother me in the slighest as I was not after a trophy but wanted to get back into vanning after 25 years away and believe my van was a breath of fresh air in a schene where lots of vans that had not changed in many years..
I'm afraid Pete that I was blown away by the attitude of some vanners to my van with exception of a few people, you came and introduced yourself to me and invited me for a drink which was good but you and one or two more where the exception.
I have since sold my van and I am building another as we speak but I'm probly never going to go to another Van Nats again as it is the most bi-as judging I have ever seen, When l went to the Nats with three of my mates and only 20 odd vans where there with over 40 trophys and we all come away with one trophy between us ( Which was picked by Vic Police not a judge) it was very disapointing.
I wish you well with your new site and hope it goes as well as the MV site does and hopefully we can all one day get vanning the same as normal car events.
Cheers Andrew ( VANDIL)...........

thanks for the good read fres, we will be at caboolture cheers andrew&kerri (serendipity)

Elegantly Wasted wrote:if a 36 year old van club is putting on coffee, unlimited Tim Tams and talking van Woopsie every first Monday of the month, I'll be there.

Who, what, where and wht time please

0488TINTER wrote:

Elegantly Wasted wrote:if a 36 year old van club is putting on coffee, unlimited Tim Tams and talking van Woopsie every first Monday of the month, I'll be there.

Who, what, where and wht time please

MMMM tim tams

Vanners

The phrase today is "moving forward " because it is a great shame all fellow Vanners can't agree but remember it is all about Panel Vans . To me it would be a great day to see, especially NSW, all the Panel Vans out there go on a cruise together, enjoy Vanning how it use to be and leave politics for Canberra.

Sundowners have attended many Charity shows, displays, cruises, picnics etc for 2011 and the interest in the Club has been amazing. Even Classic Restos has interviewed and filmed Doug's van, as the appeal in Vanning is still out there and can become greater.

PS Coffee and Tim Tams on the 1st Monday of the month has been very successful for our Club as the atmosphere is relaxing and we can all have a chocolate fix as we talk about our common passion PANEL VANS

twist wrote:
PS Coffee and Tim Tams on the 1st Monday of the month has been very successful for our Club as the atmosphere is relaxing and we can all have a chocolate fix as we talk about our common passion PANEL VANS

Sounds good and would be ideal for a one town based club, Majestic Vanners is an Australia wide club though, so the odds of getting the W.A., Vic, QLD guys etc to fly or drive in once a month for a Tim Tam just wont happen.
We have around 3 to 6 runs a year and they always get a good turnout our reunion last weekend was a good indication of what we're about.
As for everyone uniting....everyone is always welcome to attend our MV runs.

Cheers Rob

on ya fres...