Bathurst Van Nationals 2015 - Recap and Pictures

Well the 40th Australian Van Nationals have come and gone and certainly lived up to the hype! We had an amazing weekend, spent with an amazing group of people, saw some amazing vans and had experiences that are sure to stay with us for a long time. Massive thanks to all those involved in organising what what was truly an epic event. The amount of work that goes on behind the scenes to organise one of these events can never be completely understood and was a credit to Pete Fres, Russell Slocombe and the small army of volunteers that helped out along the way. Give yourselves a big pat on the back for a job well done, you should be very proud of what you achieved.
To all those Majestic Vanners that attended, wow, what an amazing group of people. We should be very proud of the club we have created and the awesome people that are involved and associated with it. We may not have been awarded the best participated club, but like Rob said it was hard to look around and not see a MV shirt, hat, beanie, jacket, flag, banner, sticker or van! They seemed to be everywhere and I am very proud to be a part of this awesome club! We will continue to grow and attract even more people, and even signed up a few more members at the event! A big thank you to all those members who continually put up their hands to help out, you are an asset to this club and one of the main reasons we are so successful. Plans and organisation of the annual Majestic Vanners Van-In will now begin to pick up speed and the main man Rusty (Russell P Smith), after working tirelessly behind the scenes at the Bathurst Van Nationals will need all the help he can get in ensuring that this year's event is even more successful than previous years, and I am sure that everyone will step up to the plate.
So now that we are home, and half unpacked, the task of reviewing all my crash cam footage and photos from the Nationals will begin...
So again, what an awesome event the Van Nats was, such a great event to be part of. Thanks to everyone involved and all those that joined us for the experience...
Bring on the Van-In!!

Van Nationals Show Class Results 2015

1st. Skid Row
2nd. Jaffa
3rd. Red Baron
4th. Brutle
5th. Jade
6th. Procs J
7th. Inervisions
8th. The Last Stand 'Ned'
9th. Iron man
10th. Crystal Wizard

Best Motor Drive Train: Skid Row
2nd: Brutle

Best Exterior: Mirage
2nd: Vantastic

Best Interior: Ned Kelly
2nd: Inervisions

Van Nationals Semi Show Class Results 2015

1st. Bradley Thompson 'MYTYME'
2nd. Neville Atkinson HQ Van 'NEVSTP'
3rd. Darryl Brunner HJ Sandman
4th. Gavin Callega?
5th. Michael Cox 'Wild Violet' XY Van
6th. Tony Smith 'Starlight Dreams' XE Van
7th. Joe Radings 'SANBOX' Sandman tribute
8th. Karen Davis Tuxedo Black HX Sandman
9th. Simon Major 'Disturbia' Chrysler Van
10th. Keith Penay VE Van
11th. Damian Butler Custom HJ Van
12th. Daz Launer 'Highway Menace' Ford Transit
13th. Gary Sack?
14th. Rowan McDonald XF Van
15th. Troy Byrne HR Van

Best Engine Bay: Bradley Thompson 'MYTYME'
2nd Best Engine Bay: Neville Atkinson 'NEVSTP' HQ Van

Best Exterior: Daryl Brunner HJ Sandman
2nd Best Exterior: Neville Atkinson 'NEVSTP' HQ Van

Best Interior: Bradley Thompson 'MYTYME'
2nd Best Interior: Simon Major 'Disturbia' Chrysler Van

Van Nationals Lifestyle Class Results 2015

1st. Darren Mchenry Camaro Van
2nd. Paul W. Concorde Van
3rd. Brett Ruby
4th. Susie Wilson
5th. Dean Seger?
6th. John Evans 'Freedom Roller' Bedford
7th. Troy Cutting 'DPANO' WB Van
8th. Bertie Loyd Jones VZ Van
9th. Grant Kelly
10th. Sarah Turner
11th. Todd Rutledge FJ Van
12th. Chris Dowton HJ Van 'Sweet Thing'
13th. Marilyn Morrison HZ Sandman
14th. Gary Pointon
15th. Troy Busi VZ Van

Best Exterior: Susie XC Cobra Van
2nd Best Exterior: Darren McHenry Camaro Van

Best Interior: Paul W. Concorde Van
2nd Best Interior: Dean Seger?

Van Nationals Results 2015 cont.

'In The Spirit Of Vanning Award'
Fres Award: Stuart Marshall

Vanning Legend Awards
Eddie Ford Award: Ian Sexpie HD Holden
John Evans Award: Bernie Loyd Jones VZ Van
Steve Abbott Award: Al Bennett 'BRUTLE'
Frank Lee Award: Russell Hulm 'Kameleon'

Australia's Most Beautiful Van: Troy Busi VZ Van

Best Ladies Van: Susan Kelley 'The Last Stand'

Van Nationals Results 2015 cont.

Best Big Van: Phil Lister
2nd Best Big Van: Kieth Everington
3rd Best Big Van: Cliff Parfitt

Best Small Van: Gary J Scicluna 'Skid Row' Escort Van
2nd Best Small Van: Russell Slocombe 'Red Baron' Escort Van
3rd Best Small Van: Steve Wright 'Mirage' Escort Van

Best Millenium Van: Keith Penay VE Van
2nd Best Millenium Van: Bernie Loyd Jones VZ Van
3rd Best Millenium Van: Tro Bussey VZ Van

Best Sandman Van: Marilyn Morrison HZ Sandman
2nd Best Sandman Van: Darryl Brunner HJ Sandman
3rd Best Sandman Van: Gavin Callega HX Sandman
4th Best Sandman Van: Karen Davis HX Sandman
5th Best Sandman Van: Greg Snape HQ Sandman
6th Best Sandman Van: Dean Seger HZ Sandman

Best Sundowner: Andrew Davis XD Sundowner
2nd Best Sundowner: David N. Escort Sundowner
3rd Best Sundowner: Denis Cefarin XC Sundowner

Best Chrysler Van: BJ
2nd Best Chrysler Van: Simon Major 'Disturbia'
3rd Best Chrysler Van: Peter Clifford

Best Other Van: Luke Moore 'Squaw'
2nd Best Other Van: Ken and Diane El Grande

Most Radical Van: Darren Mchenry Camaro Van

Toughest Van: Al Bennett 'BRUTLE'

Best Engineered Van: Paul Murray Ironman

Best Van Murals: Frits Pel 'Jaffa' XC Sundowner
2nd Best Murals: Susan Kelley 'The Last Stand' EH Van
3rd Best Murals: Tony Smith 'Starlight Dreams' XE Van

Best Van Graphics/Decals/Wrap: Harry Tonkin
2nd Best Van Graphics/Decals/Wrap: Troy Bussey
3rd Best Van Graphics/Decals/Wrap: Reece Savage

Best Van Paint: Russell Hulm 'Kameleon'

Best Restored Van: Phil Illfield NRMA Van

Best Unrestored Van: Brenton Wenham Escort Van

Best Individual Displayed Van Indoor: Frits Pel 'Jaffa' XC Sundowner
Best Individual Displayed Van Outdoor: Cliff Parfitt 'The Last Post' Transit

Best Participated Club: Sunstate Panelvanclub

Apologies for any spelling mistakes or missing information in the above results, they are all taken from my notes that I made on the night when the awards were presented. If you can add any detail to them that would be greatly appreciated.

our Nationals adventure started with Chris and Charmaine with their daughter Renae from Warnambool staying at our place ready for an early start on the Thursday morning.  We had Mully and Dmul meet us in the morning and we headed to Gary and Gill's place to meet up with them and Kane in his newly converted to V8 XF van.  Together we headed from there to Joe and Angelique's where Trish left our family car and her and the kids jumped in with Angelique towing the caravan.  Our convoy then headed out of the suburbs making our way through Yea to Benalla, joining the Hume and heading to our next rendezvous point, Glenrowan, where we met up with Sam, Brad and Brenda.



Thought we were in trouble for a little bit, but nope we were all good!



What it is all about, cruising the open road with mates:

We drove to Gundagai that day where we settled in for the afternoon having arranged a stay overnight to break up the trip.

Friday morning was another early start as we loaded up and headed back on the road to complete the rest of the trip to Bathurst. This was when tragedy struck for one in our convoy, with a loud bang and a puff of black smoke, Kane's XF made its way to the verge of the freeway. A call went over the UHF radios 'Man down!, Van down!' The convoy all pulled over on the side of the Hume, only about 15 kms out of Gundagai, and all the heads were under the bonnet trying to work out what went wrong.

After all theories were tried and tested, the mechanical minded were running out of ideas and resources on the side of the road. After a very frustrating extended phone call to NRMA, with all the details repeatedly given to them, the NRMA had finally worked out where we were located and was sending a mechanic and a tow truck to meet Kane with his broken down van. Reluctantly and with a bit of hesitation we left Kane with his van to wait for the mechanic and hope that he could catch up to us later in the day at Bathurst. It was just too dangerous for the group of us to remain on the side of the freeway, and there was little we could do anymore.

Wow karl well done what a write just awesome sounds like everyone had great time considering it was abit wet up there looks like you had snipper checking out the kool vans so skid row does it again hmmm street legal didnt get look in well thats judging as for the van in really looking forward to this one and to be part of it l will be bringing koolmint as usewell lm more than happy to lend a hand for van in

We continued on our way, a man and a van down, on our way to set up camp at Bathurst.

That was until we got to Cootamundra and Chris said 'I need to get some bolts, before my exhaust falls off!'

He had bottomed out a few times on a bumpy stretch of road and snapped all the bolts at the flange joining the Extractors to the exhuast! The problem with this was being Good Friday we would be pushing it to find anywhere to buy bolts from. But fate would have it that a service station in town was open and had the required bolts. So after a quick roadside repair we were back on the road again.

While this was all happening I was in contact with Reece who was traveling from Albury behind us, trying to work out if he was going to catch up with us. before the roadside repair we worked out he was only about 20 mins behind us, but when I called him once the repair was done his nav had taken him a different route and he was now on his way to Cowra in front of us! So we jumped in the vans to meet up with Reece in Cowra, which was the first time for most of the people traveling with us that they had seen the Sea Witch wrap that Reece had only just recently done to his van.

again an awesome write up and recap of the nats, thanks for posting the results on here, much easier to read than wastebook.
looking forward to the van in and catching up with everyone again, cheers

After a bite to eat in Cowra we drove the final stint to Bathurst. We had been driving through beautiful sunshine for the past two days but when we arrived in Bathurst we were greeted with rain, luckily it did ease and allowed us to set up camp at the showgrounds. Upon arrival we were welcomed by the Queensland Majestics who had done their best to save us position in the filling campgrounds. Quite a few people jumped in to help me put up the 'Thunderdome', they had all heard stories of it from Rod Barnes and were keen to give a hand to set it up.







After we were all set up we spent the afternoon catching up with everyone, meeting new people and socialising around the campsite. Some of us attended the VCV AGM in the afternoon, and everyone was fed from the food van that evening.

Saturday morning saw us assemble at Mount Panorama for a display before doing a parade lap of the circuit.



Here is Neil's you tube video of his lap of the track:

Great write up Karl, good to finally meet you and other Majestics also at the Nats.
Sorry I didn't get to spend more time with people. It was a go, go, go sort of weekend.

Fres has uploaded the results in .pdf format.
http://bathurstvannationals.com/BathurstVanNationalsAwards.pdf

Regards, Smooth

Well Karl, you've certainly outdone your yourself this time. You've not only spent hours driving up to Bathurst, followed by a weekend behind the lens, then the drive home and I'm vanned if I know how many hours at the computer compiling the trillions of photos you took and posting them both here and on Facebook but you've also written the latest Majestic Newsletter.

I couldn't have summarised our weekend better. I would also like to say a HUGE thank you to Fres, Russell, their wives and the band of volunteers that made this event such a memorable one.

I would also like to thank Sam and Joe for making Dmuls day and having him as passenger in your vans after I 'deserted' him on the side of the Hume Freeway.
Seriously though guys, he truly loved the experience and loved the ride down the mountain in SANBOX. Thanks Joe

Congratulations to all trophy winners. I personally think that we are ALL winners because of the VANtastic club that we are in.

See you all in Albury at the Van In.

Cheers Mully.

P.S. If I can work out how to download the video of the lap of the mountain on here I will (help Karl)

Thanks Mully, but I have only just started on my photos from the event and will start posting them soon. Rob Veihbock took roughly 2500 pictures that he shared with us on Facebook. I will copy some of them over here soon too. More of the story of Bathurst to come also.

Everyone else who attended feel free to add your bit!

Cheers.

Easiest way to post a video here is to upload it to you tube and then use the 'insert a you tube video' button on here, and copy the url to the video.

Bathurst Van Nationals 2015

10th Top Van - Show Class

'Crystal Wizard' 1973 HQ Holden Van - Steven & Paula Adnum







Bathurst Van Nationals 2015

9th Top Van - Show Class
Top Engineered Van

'Ironman' 1967 HR Holden Van - Paul Murray



















Bathurst Van Nationals 2015

8th Top Van - Show Class
2nd Top Murals
Top Interior
Top Ladies Van

'The Last Stand' 1964 EH Holden Van - Susan Kelley









Bathurst Van Nationals 2015

7th Top Van - Show Class
2nd Top Interior

'Innervisions' 1977 HX Holden Van - Kyle Ford



































Bathurst van Nationals 2015

6th Top Van

'Proc's J' 1956 FJ Holden - Colin & Annette Proctor









Bathurst Van Nationals 2015

5th Top Van - Show Class

'Jade' 1975 HJ Holden Van - James Ellis









Bathurst Van Nationals 2015

4th Top Van - Show Class
2nd Motor Drive
Toughest Van

'BRUTLE' 1978 HZ Holden - Al Bennett













Bathurst Van Nationals 2015

3rd Top Van
2nd Small Van

'Red Baron' 1974 Ford Escort - Russell Slocombe











Bathurst Van Nationals 2015

2nd Top Van - Show Class
Top Murals
Best Indoor Display

'Jaffa' 1977 XC Ford Van - Frits Pel



















Bathurst Van Nationals 2015

Australia's Top Van - Show Class
Top Motor Drive
Top Small Van

'Skid Row' 1978 Ford Escort Van - Gary Scicluna

Mully wrote: ...you've also written the latest Majestic Newsletter.

As yet I have not got to that Mully...

Far too much on my plate at the moment, and I must apologise for the delay in this issue but I simply don't have the time.

It takes a lot of time to put together the newsletter, which has turned into more of a magazine, and I have some things in my life that are taking priority the moment. Any volunteers that are willing to take on some of the burden and maybe contribute a few stories are more than welcomed.

More photos from the show and shine to come as I upload them...

Thanks heaps for the pictures and updates Karl. Hats off to all those who organised and ran the event with the assistance of many helpers who made it an awesome memory for all who participated. Six days spent in the Van smashing OUT THE KM's. It was fantastic to catch up with all the MV Regulars and meet some new ones. Hey Mully some one had to pick up the Orphan LOL. It was a pleasure to take him round the track, glad he enjoyed it.
BRING ON THE VAN IN.
VAN ON JOE.

I thought your write up and photo coverage of the Nationals WAS the newsletter.
People that hassle you for a newsletter need to understand that you have other commitments and you do this because that's the person you are.

I'm happy to help in any way I can to relieve you of some of the burden. I'll give you a call to see where I can help.