events

The C.O.V.V.C. 11th Annual VOLKFEST
Another Hot Time in the Old Town

By VW Trends Staff
Photography: VW Trends Staff

When I got to Watkins High School, just outside of Columbus, Ohio, I found out just how wrong I was. I remember coming in a little late, surveying the situation and wondering if I had brought enough film with me to cover the show and photograph some feature cars. This is one of those shows that is growing by leaps and bounds, not only in the number of spectators and show participants, but also in the quality of the cars there. Talking to some of the COVVC members this year, they told me that they had approximately 250 cars registered in the show last year, and, while that is a great turnout, they were hoping to get around 285 this year. Well, they got their 285 cars all right. When the car registration stopped, simply because there was no more room for the cars showing up, they had a total of 367 Beetles, Busses, 'Backs, kit cars and Watercooled VWs in attendance. They actually, according to informed sources, ran out of registration forms! I don't think anyone expected the enormous turnout that they had, but the COVVC handled it extremely well.

The COVVC is a very well organized bunch, and they had grouped the cars together with like cars; that is; Split Window Beetles with Split Window Beetles, Ovals with Ovals, Karmann Ghias with Karmann Ghias, etc. It made it nice to be able to walk through a lineup of a particular model of VW and watch the changes that took place throughout the years. There was also valve cover racing, which was a big hit with the kids, both young and old (and you know which one you are, Chris Lewis), and food and liquid refreshment available right on the premises. There was also a coloring contest for kids. One thing that was new there, was a booth for VW Trends Magazine, which was doing a land-office business all day. I even got hooked into signing autographs there, on the July issue, when my '57 Oval graced the cover.

The swap meet, for some reason, brings out parts that you don't ordinarily see, and at prices that you will usually never see. Here's a case in point, and "the one that got away." I had walked through the swap meet perhaps a dozen times, and I had noticed a gentleman selling sheet metal that he had brought in a trailer. Along with all the fenders and doors and hoods, he had brought a stack of decklids, and they were leaned up against a fender of the trailer, top down, so they would stand up. I looked them over quickly, and, not seeing any of them with rounded bottoms, decided that they were for 1967 and later Beetles, so I didn't pay much attention to them. Lo and behold, another fellow walks up, goes through the decklid pile, and all the way at the back, up against the trailer fender, he pulls out a semi-rough, but very fixable, 1967 convertible decklid. Now, many of you may not know, but that decklid is a one-year-only lid, and highly prized, not only among folks that have a 1967 Convertible, but also among the Cal-Look, high-performance crowd. The price? $5. Yep, I said Five Dollars. So, it pays to look through the swap meet at the COVVC Volksfest !

The show portion, as previously stated, is growing very fast, and this year, they actually ran out of room for the show entries. For next year, the COVVC is faced with a dilemma--either they need to acquire more of Watkins High School for the show, or they need to move the show location. That's actually a good thing, as it shows that the VW scene is growing in the Central Ohio region. If you are anywhere near Columbus, Ohio, during the second weekend in August, and you are even remotely interested in VWs, of all Types and engine cooling methods, you need to make plans to attend. If you are going to bring a car to show, then I urge you to pre-register, as this show is BIG.

As always, the COVVC would like to extend a hearty Thank You to their sponsor, Byers Imports, who help put on the show. Byers Imports continues to help the COVVC with their association. In addition, all of the C.O.V.V.C members are to be commended for their remarkable organization. Every one pitches in, pulls shifts, and makes everything go smoothly, no easy feat when you consider the amount of swappers, show cars, and spectators. As a side note, although this is a money- making proposition for the COVVC, a portion of the proceeds, just like previous years, was donated to Kids 'N Kamp, a local charity organization. Congratulations, to the Central Ohio Vintage VW Club, for a job well done, again. Make plans to attend next year, and I'll see you there.