Picnic in the Park
Orange Empire Bus Company's 5th Annual Spring Picnic
By Ryan Lee Price
We've said it before and we'll say it again: We like small shows, quaint gatherings of friends and family all interested in the preservation and celebration of our Volkswagens. More importantly, we like to relax. Who cares who has the best interior or the best paint? Trophies aren't necessary to merit out the great from the good (they're all great), and we can't remember how many times we've stood in front of a beat-up Bus or a well-driven Beetle and admired the years of wear and tear. Volkswagens are meant to be driven and this is no more typified than at OEBC's 5th Annual Spring Picnic held at Featherly Regional Park in Yorba Linda, Calif. That's not to say you won't find a host of beautiful cars at this gathering; it just means that the people who attend have a better appreciation of their cars as transportation rather than trophies themselves.
The event technically started as a campout the night before where a dozen or so Buses set up camp and got a jumpstart on the swap meet early the next morning. Erik Koplien was one of the many who scored great parts, taking home an NOS ribbed front Bus bumper for near nothing. As the day dawned, close to 150 Volkswagens lined the spacious tree-shaded park ready for the day's activities. Spectators lined the "raceway" for the slow drags, always a favorite among vintage owners. The $200 Wolfsburg West gift certificates were won by Oil Drippers-member Robert Ortiz in the Type I class and Charlie Hamill and Erik Koplien in the Type II class. Topher Dietrich, Eric Kasperbauer and Jesus "the Jebus" Grijalva took first-place honors in the water-balloon toss, certainly a distraction on a hot May SoCal afternoon.
"Corona" Ryan Ousley, president of OEBC, would like to thank members of his crew, Tiffany McDonald, Erik and Adriane Koplien, Kelly Cervantes, Rick Mushaney, Tony and Carla Moore, Topher Dietrich, Eric Kasperbauer, Mike, Alex and Michael Saucedo, Chris Smpkins, Charlie Hamill, Rich Morris, Paul Espinosa III, Dan Ross, Steve Hansen and "hot dog" Fred for providing the food. As well, recognition goes to the sponsors of the show (Wolfsburg West, OCTO, BFY, Hannoverwerks and Rustbox) and the donors to the huge raffle: Wolfsburg West Orange Empire Speedometer, OCTO, BFY, Rustbox, Hannoverwerks, Bill & Steve's, Wolfgang, Old Volks Home, Old Speed, West Coast Metric, Vintage Parts, West Coast Classics, Aircooled Unlimited, Rich Kimball, and Mike Saucedo.
For more information about next year's event, give "Corona" Ryan a call at (909) 272-1074 or email him at oebc@earthlink.com
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