In addition to the customary vendor displays, tech seminars and the annual road tour, Funfest also offered special attractions for the kids, which included Bus painting and Hot Wheels races.
As part of an impromptu exhibition, 16-year old Dexter Foster from Tell City, Indiana, popped wheelies for the crowd in his coveted shortened Bus.
All registered Karmann Ghia and Beetle Convertibles including this 1971 Ghia Sedan owned by Karl Huckshold of Nashville, Ill., were grouped together in a special area in lieu of 100 years of Karmann and "Celebration of a Century;" this year's event theme.
Among the many Buses on hand included this cool '59 Panel belonging to Peter Knell.
Next year's event theme was unveiled, which will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the last Beetle Sedan rolled into the USA. The festivities will once again take place at the company's head quarters on June 1-2, 2002.
How now brown cow: The Real Source announced its winner for the "Beetle Cow Contest." Its winner Drew Johnson, a recent graduate of St. Anthony High School in Effingham, received a $1,000 check on behalf of St. Anthony High's Art program.
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Hometown Fun!
Over 700 VWs and 6,000 people descend on the tiny mid-Western town of Effingham, Illinois, home of the annual Real Source Funfest.
By Rob Hallstrom
Photography: Robert Hallstrom
The 3rd annual Funfest, sponsored by The Real Source (TRS) and VW Trends, once again proved a huge success. Thousands of die hard VW enthusiasts representing 41 states braved the weather to take part in the eventful two-day festivities.
In lieu of Karmann's 100-year anniversary, "Celebration of a Century" was this year's annual theme. And what a celebration it was.
All registered Karmann Ghia and Beetle Convertibles on hand were grouped together in a specific area to commemorate this special occasion. In addition, My Garage, TRS's own auto museum (aptly named after the company's self proclaimed Head Cheerleader Mike Yager), was filled with many rare Karmann coaches from various private collections, including Dr. Mac Jones'.
The bulk and remainder of the VWs on hand, which included everything from bone stock models to those fully modified, sprawled the facility's spacious parking. Unlike typical car shows, where critical and controversial point judging is the norm, Funfest incorporates a more friendly approach, using what they call "celebrity judging." Once a car has been chosen by one of several appointed celeb judges, a position I was privileged to hold (if I can be so bold to be called a celebrity), it is parked in its own separate display area, where the owner is also given a handsome trophy.
In addition to the customary vendor displays, tech seminars, road tour and special kids' events, Funfest for Beetle also included appearances by Bug Tales author Paul Klebahn and VW book author, Keith Seume.
For race fans, The Real Source-sponsored Karmann Ghia drag car was also on display along with driver, Eric Madson.
As if all this wasn't enough, the event also provided a forum to announce the winner of TRS's "Beetle Cow Contest."
Drew Johnson, a recent graduate of St. Anthony High School in Effingham, helped to unveil his winning design and received a $1,000 check on behalf of St. Anthony's Art program. The concept, which derived from the popular "Cows On Parade" exhibit in Chicago, was a big hit within the community schools. Drew's rendition, which features Volkswagen-inspired art, will stand proudly in front of The Real Source for years to come.
Funfest 2001 was presented at no charge to all pre-registrants, providing free T-shirts to each VW registered as part of the celebration. Next year's event theme was also unveiled, which will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the last Beetle Sedan rolled into the USA. Many more attractions are also in the works for next year's show, scheduled, June 1 & 2, 2002, again at the company's headquarters. We recommend you make plans to attend.
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