Well, my recent article about white vans had some interesting responses, but karma has a way of biting you when you least expect it. For those of you who thought that I was, perhaps, being a little harsh, please read on and I may just be able to make your day.
Last Monday week (not this week, I have been down with the man flu), my WordPress guru and partner in internet crime, Chris Mundy, came down from Canberra on his beautiful GT1300 BMW and we did a lot of work on the blog site. Before we started work, however, it was necessary to have breakfast and, since this was a business venture, that entailed going out somewhere. No prizes for guessing my preferred location, the always-good Manning Street Cafe in Kiama. As well as the food and the service being tip-top, going to Manning Street meant that we could ride there and back by way of Jamberoo, one of my favourite bits of twisty territory. And it was on the return trip that things got a bit funny.
As you drop down into Albion Park on the Jamberoo Road you pass Mount Terry School (a favourite of mine, incidentally) and then, straight after the roundabout you pass the town’s unofficial car sales yard, you know the sort of thing I am talking about, rows of grey-porridge cars being sold for outrageously high prices by local people augmenting their ebay ad. And, at the back of the queue was a VW Transporter van, the one pictured above. I was riding by so I didn’t get to see the details but it looked clean and straight. What really attracted me, however, was a single A4 sheet on the back window with a price clearly listed on it. I was very surprised that it could be so low and my interest was piqued.
You see, for some time now, my wife and I have been working on a plan that might enable the both of us to go and enjoy all the wonderful places that I was privileged to visit on my many motorcycle tours pre-accident. And part of that research has been examining different methods of transport. A good mate has a Winnebago and travels all around Australia with it, but since the price of one of those is far beyond my means we have regularly checked out the second-hand motor home market only to leave discouraged at how big the gap is between our expectations and our budget. But the thought immediately occurred to me that, if this van was OK, then it might just form an effective base for a budget motor-home of our own.
As I was riding with Chris and there was plenty of work waiting for us at home, I didn’t stop but determined to go back as soon as I could and check it out. Late in the afternoon once we had fried our brains with WordPress, Chris headed back to Canberra and I went back to look at the van again. On closer inspection it appeared to be even more promising than it had looked at a passing inspection. I took photos and noted the phone number of the seller, came home and gave him a call. He’s a movie photographer and he’s used the van for the last two years hauling his camera gear around. Before that, it was owned by his brother who also used it as a van for his business. Mechanically it had a great, continuous service history, confirmed by the mechanic who had done the servicing, a very reputable Wollongong business. It had been an ambulance originally hence the heavy duty suspension, bull bar, high roof and tow bar. A test drive the next day confirmed that it was a very well cared for item indeed.
Bottom line? The chance sighting turned into a purchase. I am now the proud owner of a white van, the irony of which is not lost on me, so you may now start ribbing away. I doubt that I will have the budget to fit it out properly with cupboards and so forth and I’m not sure I want to do that anyway as it is cavernous and could also be used for all sorts of other van-like purposes as long as I keep the luggage area uncluttered.
In other news, the MotoGp silly season is in full swing as the teams arrive in Indianapolis for the first race of the second half of the season. Crutchlow has used his “get out of jail free” card and has left Ducati to go to LCR, with Lucio expanding to a two bike team for 2016. Stephan Bradl has paid for a lack of form by being replaced at LCR and, luckily finds a new home at Forward Racing (a BACKWARD step in my opinion). Crutchlow’s place at Ducati will be taken by “Crazy Joe” Andrea Ianonne, meaning that the Ducati team will have 2 Andrea’s racing for them. Lorenzo has signed on at Yamaha for another two years so all the top teams are now settled. Speculation (and it IS just that) that Jack Miller will be parachuted straight into MotoGP next year, bypassing the usual intermediate step of Moto2 continues and it is increasingly looking like Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Vinales will be the two riders for Suzuki in 2015.
As a long-time aficionado of the Land Speed Record, my mind will be on Bonneville this week as the Speed Weeks begin. It rained last night so already a day is lost. My sentimental favourite will be 64 year old Danny Thompson. son of the late Mickey Thompson. He will be attempting to break the wheel-driven LSR that his father missed out on in 1964, 50 years ago this week. I wish him well. If karma is on his side, he should do it.
dunc says
thats a funny part2 to the story
good luck with the adventures to come for you2 and the white van
Phil Hall says
Sure is! Thanks, mate.