MOST HARDCORE

So someone on here has called me out and I'm puttin up to everyone.And I'm gonn make a trophy and award it to the winner!List how many early vans u have and the runs,shows or club stuff you did this year and the most impressive list will get the title"HARDCOREST EARLY VANNER" then we'll pass it around every year!Show/run pics would be cool too!!

Like this:My 66 at Dazed & Confused van run.my 70 cruisin VanNuysBlvd. TRUCKIN MAGAZINES shot of my 69 at the Council of Councils.

Well I cant really compete in this contest, there are some old school vanners here

About the best I can come up with is back in 1991 my brother bought a 66 A100 window van at a garage sale for $50. It had a leaky /6 head gasket, he put a bottle stop-leak in it and we drove (and partied in) that thing for a couple of years at least.

We were in the service (aviation) so he painted it in black primer and put aircraft panel stencils on it in different places. It said "crash dummy" on the door

Don't belong to a club other than here, have 3 vans
My 69 chevy panel, 64 custom panel, and the newest Duanes (gp70) 70 GMC panel.

I have had the Baker's show the last 7 hrs and as much as I would like to take credit for that it would be nothing without all the great vanners who come to it.

Been to this year Nat's in OH and have to say if you haven't been to a Nat's with your van, your really missing a good time. Wasn't able to make Taz Fest this year (another great show and great people) Like slowflapper said I know there are some here that go to alot of events or car shows promoting there early vans.

I think it's important to add the vanner's that go to alot of car show may help us the best. Having these cool rides seen is very important to bring in new owners and the future of vanning is with the new owners.

Vanning events do help vanning, but everyone there is a vanner already. With all the ads on TV lately with early's now is the time to get back into the mainstream Hot Rod culture

vanishingbreed wrote:Chris is right and I am the one bc is talking about. A better way would be to see who's van has been in the most magazines, most TV shows, most commercials, most motion pictures, and most newspapers as well as who has been vanning the longest, who has been to the most runs and shows since he started vanning and who has been promoting vans the longest and who's vans are the most well known world wide. But then that would leave bc way behind.

uncalled for... let it be or I will have to lock this thread too... I don't care who called who out, enough is enough already... please... you made your points, now let it go...

So look at meeeeeeeeeee. lol

I'm the most hardcore. I purchased a van because I love it. I don't know how to fix the first damn thing. I just love it. I saw one, and I wanted one. I could care less whether someone spends $30,000 on a show van or $500 on a rust bucket needing full restoration. I have the most respect for the guy low on funds that busts his tail every week for a month of Sundays until his van is the van he wants it to be.

I came here to learn and get help and hopefully promote keeping these great looking vehicles alive. Hopefully one day I can help others like myself when I've learned all there is to know.

Like G-Man is trying to subltely say, it's about gettng new guys involved to continue the passion and appreciation. If I'd come on here new and seen all this crap 8 months ago, I would have had an entirely different impression. If you have to wear it on your sleeve, you ain't hardcore. Period.

This is a bit over the top...

Does that count me out because technically I dont own a Van, rather a van based pickup??

And I agree Chebby, there seems a bit too much banter lately. That is one thing I dont miss from the VW forum I used to belong to as well as a couple other smaller ones that I dont frequent anymore either.

Personally I think the whole concept of this award is ridiculous even if it was well intended. Everyone has their purpose and path in life to walk. Some people devote more time than others to vanning but those others are doing other things that Im sure have value also. Not everyones work schedule(like me) allows for them to just take off for a van event at the drop of a hat. I attend them when I can but I dont have the time or money to attend a lot. I work a lot of overtime to pay for my kids college and dont expect the "system" to pay my bills for me. I also sell a lot of van associated parts which in itself supports vanning. I've moderated at OldEconolines website for over 10 years. These are a few of the things I do in the little time I have. Basically I do what I can when life allows me the time to do so.
Thats just what I do but that makes me no better than someone else who devotes hardly any time to vanning but almost all their time to their kids activities,community issues,church issues,helps the disabled or poor,or some other worthy cause. Just because someone isnt a life long vanner doesnt devalue their input or opinion.
Im not trying to stir up a hornets nest but I think this whole thread is pointless. Couldnt we all be doing something better with our time? Perhaps working on one of our hobby vehicles???? Sometime I just get tired of the bickering. Let's all try and play nice:-)

I entered my van in a local car show last year....not wanting to get a trophy, not wanting to win anything, just wanted to hang out with the people that had an appreciation for old vehicles...these folks know what it takes to build and or maintain older vehicles...it was a great experience...yes my van was the only van there and the folks running the show didn't have a clue which category the van should fall into....I told them it didn't matter I wasn't here to win place or show...I was here to mingle and chat with some good folks who shared the same passion as I. Now for the best part....yes there were a lot of wonderful cars, trucks and rat rods there, but none of them brought back memories as the van did to these folks....." i can remember sitting on the dog house when I was a kid in my dads old van ( they didn't even know what type A,G,E ) man that thing got hot! " the memories that I heard that day just kept me smiling....keeps me stoked that I and we have something that people of our generation wish they had back! This site is about sharing those memories and helping others create those memories for their families. It doesn't matter if you can turn a wrench or if you have the means to pay someone else to turn the wrench it's about the PASSION we share for these old vans !

whopman wrote:I entered my van in a local car show last year....not wanting to get a trophy, not wanting to win anything, just wanted to hang out with the people that had an appreciation for old vehicles...these folks know what it takes to build and or maintain older vehicles...it was a great experience...yes my van was the only van there and the folks running the show didn't have a clue which category the van should fall into....I told them it didn't matter I wasn't here to win place or show...I was here to mingle and chat with some good folks who shared the same passion as I. Now for the best part....yes there were a lot of wonderful cars, trucks and rat rods there, but none of them brought back memories as the van did to these folks....." i can remember sitting on the dog house when I was a kid in my dads old van ( they didn't even know what type A,G,E ) man that thing got hot! " the memories that I heard that day just kept me smiling....keeps me stoked that I and we have something that people of our generation wish they had back! This site is about sharing those memories and helping others create those memories for their families. It doesn't matter if you can turn a wrench or if you have the means to pay someone else to turn the wrench it's about the PASSION we share for these old vans !

couldn't have said it better myself! 4 thumbs up!

Lazarusvan wrote:I'm the most hardcore. I purchased a van because I love it. I don't know how to fix the first damn thing. I just love it. I saw one, and I wanted one. I could care less whether someone spends $30,000 on a show van or $500 on a rust bucket needing full restoration. I have the most respect for the guy low on funds that busts his tail every week for a month of Sundays until his van is the van he wants it to be.

I came here to learn and get help and hopefully promote keeping these great looking vehicles alive. Hopefully one day I can help others like myself when I've learned all there is to know.

Like G-Man is trying to subltely say, it's about gettng new guys involved to continue the passion and appreciation. If I'd come on here new and seen all this crap 8 months ago, I would have had an entirely different impression. If you have to wear it on your sleeve, you ain't hardcore. Period.

This is a bit over the top...

Ditto! Well put, Lee.

Lets hear a ="whop-Whop" for whopman!! [i]

ive only had my van since march and went to 2 shows. can i still hang out or should i just give up?

WHOOOP _ WHOOOP !!

I wish I had put it that well !

Its funny people still dont get it!This is an ongoing award passed on next year(u cant win twice)I was hoping that If I offered a trophy it might get some people off their computer chair and in the game!And for pickup guys ask vanished breed if he considers yours a van we'll let him decide.But your invited to our shows and we provide a trophy for best truck at all our shows.If we could get more of you out we would add even more truck classes.

hey snoflapper any pics?

Thanks Lazarusvan for the recognition and respect and u guys who actually get still didnt even use this thread to throw up the show pics!!C'MON Show stories are way better with pics espesially roadtrip/caravan pics!

Actually JRINAMAN looks like u might win if ya only had your van that short a time and already hit 2 shows.ROCK N ROLL man!!NOW THATS A VANNER!!But I'm not givin out the trophy without pics!!

Oh hey snowflapper a secret hidden point of this thread is that your "HARDCORENESS" doesnt have anything to do with you bein old!Vannin aint a noun its a verb!!

Whopman pics from that show?!

Oh and for you Ca. guys our club is rollin vans out to the 91 Freeway Show in the Inland Empire pretty quick here.Lemme know if ya want more info!(or keep an eye on the comming events thread here where we post shows and runs regularly)

the wife proud to be a vanner! she has been in baghdad for the last last 4 months taking care of our troops..MAJOR WHOPMAN !!!!





69 rs/ss with a straight six factory







cool glove box




just a few pics....it was a great time !

this is a pic from day after i drove it home this is several weeks later these are from the nats couple pics of the hobo camp we made at butler. as a van owner (6 monthes) i have spent nearly everyday either improving the van or taking it on trips. if you dont see me here for a few days, i am off on a trip like last week. 40 degrees at night but i was being a van owner. i made my first trip on crutches but being a van owner, i didnt let it keep me home. i have done a ton of work since buying it and have parts piled in the corner for future work. i bought my van to use it, modify it, camp in it, take roadtrips and then modify some more. i enter my van in shows to share what i have done, not for a trophy. if you only looked at the last 6 monthes, i would be on the list of most hardcore van owners but not the winner. i always wanted a first gen chevy van and when i quit working and closed the bussiness i finally bought one. satisfies several passions, '60's vehicles, road trips, camping and freedom to go anywhere, do anything and have a place to crash and everything i need right there. i am not in compatition, just trying to keep busy and having a good time doing it.