Shanghai surprise

It was time for my annual trip abroad to broaden my horizon in the industry I’m in.
Yearly is a lesson in global awakening of how things are changing so fast.
Actually at times these changes are overwhelming as one discovers new things.
For starters going to Shanghai again, is an experience of ever evolving development.
It was not the same city, I’ve visited before.
Many more experiences are yet to be discovered.

First stop was the Hyatt Shanghai, one of the five tallest buildings in the world.
As an architect, it serves as a lesson in fusing the old and the new in one magnificent building structure.
It is an architecture masterpiece by I.M. Pei, akin to a delicate metal and glass sculpture.
Being able to go to its viewing level at the 88th floor up there @ 340 meters is one unforgettable experience.
The view is breath-taking and virtually all of Shanghai can be viewed from that height.
It is more like a view from a low flying plane, but much better.






Next is a blast of a ride in the world’s only magnetic levitation bullet train.
The SMT, Shanghai Maglev Train was built by the Germans, only for this city.
It is so expensive that even Germany doesn’t have this.
The train is similar to a Boeing plane on rails.
Even the interior is comparable to that of a passenger jet plane.
The most awesome part is that we were traveling at 431 kilometers per hour.
Now I know how it feels to travel faster that Schumacher and G-force on curve banks.





Of course for the Volkswagen enthusiast in me, Shanghai is VW heaven.
Fifty percent of the cars on the road are VWs, that is even excluding its Audi brethren.
Santana, Fox, Gol, Polo hatch & Classic, Golf, GTi, Jetta2, Jetta5, Bora, Touran, Passat, Touareg, name it they have it on the road. I really love this place.
My surprise find from my short VW collection hunt, came from TRU.
I wouldn’t pass this trip without a memento of a VW diecast model.
This little Golf5 has a story to tell in my collection
A reminder of 2007 Shanghai surprise.



By the way and not surprisingly so....Yao's shoes are really huge!

Third Career?

Doing a future fun VW pedal car as a hobby-biz is tops.
This would make for an interesting start.
So, why stop there?
Up another fun level, something ought to evolve.
But it has to be something along those lines too.
It must be VW based, light-hearted and creative endeavor.
At times, it can just give you that plain good laugh.

With the local scene full of creative talents, it will work.
Jolly men with skills are there for the picking.
I’ve seen them make Mustangs out of flat G.I. sheet.
Make chassis and custom fabricate works of pop-art.
I’ll be one of those that make sure their craft continues.
Call it a noble cause, call it grass roots fun, or call it both.
My third career is close to patronizing the Pinoy ingenuity.

Tri….cycle Career!
Aircooled Specialist and Custom Builder

Beetle bodied sidecars ....
....with custom surfboard roof.
What out….Orange Country Choppers!

Red hot

It seems though the cold mornings are over now.
Whew! It’s getting hot in here!
I don’t know why all of these are happening in February.
For some it must be St. Valentine’s Day, that’s causing things to get warmer.
For me though it’s a different reason for temperatures to rise.
This month I got hold finally of a long awaited passion!
That is the hottest diecast of the one and only ‘Hot Hatch’ in it's latest guise.

Now my Mark 2 VW GTi has got a hot pair.
Most articles would write about the 1:1 Mark2 model being the best GTi.
With the introduction of the Mark5, the formula is more potent.
Matchbox appropriately made the latest diecast model in potent red paint.
The result is one hot number!

My Second career?

Been busy making bucks lately, and been that for the last two months. While I enjoy my daily office commitments, one has to find some sort of escape from routine. Having hobbies surely adds spice to my life’s journey, making it more interesting.

Doing a quick run down of my persistent (read: incurable) hobbies, the top three are VWs, car toys and bicycles. With that in mind, if given an endeavor to create a fun business, it should have these three fav hobbies as ingredients.

The recipe?
1/5 size Beetle
It should start with a Bug, arguably the most recognizable VW.
4 wheeled Bike
Give it pedals, chain drive and sprockets. Recumbent single-speed.
1 adult toy
Tin body, white hot paint, red leather seat and spanking wheels.

The result!
My Second Childhood?

I’ll be a kid at heart, ALWAYS!

Green Peace

One of the well loved stories in VW history is how the British helped saved the marque from oblivion after WWII. Ivan Hirst, the British Army Major was regarded a prominent and very important figure in this period. He believed in the Beetle and this foresight eventually allowed the VW Bug to be what it is right now, an icon of peace and universality, totally turning around its infamous past. Incidentally soon after rebuilding part of the ravaged car factory, a Beetle was instructed to be painted green by Hirst for presentation to the British Army. This paved the way for the restarting and manufacturing of the vital orders of 20,000 Bugs, thus resurrecting the VW margue and the rest they say, is history.

By the way, a huge part of those vital first orders of VW’s were use for patrol cars and government use during postwar and peace-time Germany. Could this be the reason why the Duetsche Polizei cars are now in green/white combination? A British racing green on the VW is a testament to this? Maybe?

I do have a charming example of this VW Polizei car in this color combination. A good coincidence is that this is a ‘Corgi’ brand diecast. Made courtesy of the….British of course.

The front wheels steer via the ring hub around the blue siren light.

The trunk opens to reveal a par of boots. Two policemen are on board. Love those gems as headlights!

The 1200cc motor can be admired from the opened deck lid. A neat touch is that the mudguards have VW logos!

A Pig’s Year

This should be a good year!
They say 2007 should be very abundant in all earthly bounties.
Much of this optimism stems from this year being the Chinese “Year of the Pig”.
So what does this all mean for me?
Should I go fattening myself by gobbling up tasty gastronomic desires?
Will my wealth skyrocket to unprecedented heights?
Should I accumulate properties this year?
More cars perhaps?

It seems my new interest will jive with this year’s mascot.
Before you get into wild guessing, I won’t be in pursuit of boars.
Yup, they should make for some tasty steaks, YUMMmmY!
But then again, I should watch my health too on fatty galore.
Instead, I’ll start the year right and get acquainted with them “Pig’s cars”
If you didn’t already know, Police or Cops are known as “Pigs” in the USA.
I don’t know why they call them such. Are there similarities?
Maybe because adorable Pigs come in black & white too.
Oiiink!

My illustration of a Pig’s Cars, the ‘Pulis Matulis’

A English made vintage diecast, ‘Husky” VW 1300 Polizei

A dubbed Ford Mustang Highway Patrol Car

A year that was and a year ahead

What a year!
This will sum up my 2006 VW life.
This year, marked my joining a formal VW club, as I have been joining only informal groups in recent years. I have to add that the later is still something I’m always keen to be a part of. I always believe in addition, the more the merrier!
Momentous are the fun-runs I enjoyed with the different groups; from the formal club, my old friends, and the Waterwagen peeps. Those were blasts of clean fun!
This is the year I started “ECM VW life blog”, hope you read a few of what I am by this. The photos, images and drawings are my way of sharing what I’ve discovered and learned.
Met some really nice people in 2006. Some of whom are added to a growing yet select group of friends that I have, who share the real love of Volkswagen.

So what lies ahead?
No one certainly knows, yet for sure my wish is long and filled with enthusiasm. One of my fervent wish is that I’ll keep ownership of the Volkswagen car and enjoy the hobby on a daily basis. As to drive one daily truly keeps me happy! I always pray that I will not be on the same boat as some enthusiasts, who had given up their VW car for various reasons. I understand their predicament, for they wear the VW spirit still in their hearts and some of whom I know very well. I won’t make a new year’s resolution of sorts. I won’t promise to be ultra active in a club, although I wish it could be possible in my line of work. I won’t promise to learn a lot in 2007, yet I’ll be insatiable in accumulating more info about VWs. I’ll try to limit my VW toy collection acquisition this year, but as early as now this will be tough to do.

What I can forecast though, is that the coming year will be better. For I’ve learn to take things in stride and not to be overwhelmed with too much of everything. I’ve realized a VW hobby is something you should enjoy as much as possible in your own terms, without any pressure of sorts. It’s a lifestyle you live out of fun, not out of necessity. My wish is the same for all my friends, as I’ve been blessed to enjoy this hobby together with my family on a daily basis, with much joy over the years. You are part of the joys experienced this year, thus much thanks and best wishes are meant for all of you.
Health, wealth, peace and more happy moments to have this 2007!
Happy New Year to all!
God bless!

ECM”komenda” and “Boom-Trat-a-Bus” bringing you New Year’s cheers and good vibes!

Season’s Greetings

It’s again the season,
when there’s magic in the air.
A wonderful time,
that warms the heart and soul.
When everything,
seems happy and so right.
Then it must be Christmas!

Special wishes go to…..
family and friends….
colleagues and comrades….
….and all we hold dear.
Peace, Joy & Love….
be yours this season!

ECM"komenda" and T2 Santa ....bringing you cheers

Dubbed, Damp and Dandy

Rain showers are sometimes viewed as blessings from above. And judging by how much downpour Sunday got, it must have been overflowing with blessings. It was the perfect British weather for a Vdub meet, but the only problem is that this is the Tropics. The event shaped out to be a first for everything, partly due to the grey skies.

First time that the annual VWday, wasn’t held on the first Sunday of December, thus re-shaping local Vdub history. First time for me to experience, a much damped VWday, but nevertheless it was a soaking success. First time that I wasn’t able to capture at least ten images of the gathering, as my camera isn’t waterproof and so was I. First time to get a prize from this event. I didn’t join that day’s competition, but this is where I got to claim my prize from Ms. Joana, and from a previous “just for fun” VW toy contest. Surely the rains have brought blessings.

Seems as though, the Vdubs are raining down on my umbrella!
My favorite “take home” is this shirt I got! Hope Dopebeat Derrick wouldn’t mind me wearing this.
Thanks Ramjo, this Dandy VW Bus will put a smile on me and always remind me of VWday 2006.

Make my day!

A simple man begets a simple day.
I have already been celebrating quietly for days prior to this one. Finally it’s my birthday today and as always this day is and was spent, with simple but meaningful hours. A visit to the church and quiet time with the family is more than one can ask for.

I wouldn’t say that I haven’t had special gifts for today, for I did receive much loved surprises from my family. But this last gift I received came all the way from miles away, from Japan to be exact.

It arrived just in time for my special day, hand delivered by no other than the dynamic duo of TNT, (not ‘Tago n’ tago’, but it might also apply?) Tateng n’ Tintin.

Thanks Kuya Conrad for this wonderful present and gift! This really made my day!
Hope this will serve as a preview of a real 930 turbo to have….someday!

BTW,
Thanks for the greetings of Volks-friends; Nito, Ian, Dag and Gilbert!

Double Cool

The good thing about having a hobby is you get to enjoy life a whole lot more. You infuse excitement and adventure in an otherwise normal life. In the case of diecast car collecting, the thrill is seeking out for a particular model that eludes you. In collecting circles, they call it the “HUNT”. The ‘thrill of the hunt’ is what excites most, and is carried out as an enjoyable adventure. Mattel’s Hot Wheels even made special car models called “Treasure Hunt”, that embodies the excitement of searching for these miniature gems.

Most look for at least two pieces of a particular model. One to keep in ‘mint’ condition or in actual 1:1 cars, leave it as stock. The other spare to customize and this is where the real fun part begins!

If you remember the stock mint VW Golf Pickup or Caddy diecast, then you’ll surely see the difference of these customized gems. Again, these are awesome even in their small size. Trick paint job, tuner wheels and dropped stance really set it apart. Attention to detail that is way cool!

Double Cool by Don Croxton
Big Brod Caddy!

Cool Caddy

What an appropriate name it is; Golf Caddy. We all know what a caddy in the game of golf is. VW marketing guys must have pick this name out of fun or maybe pun.

The VW Golf Pickup or ‘Caddy’ is an elusive model, and it seems that there is only one in existence in this part of the world. There are sightings of a beige example and have seen it around ten years ago myself, in Project-7 Q.C.

It is a holy grail Waterwagen for one of my friends, and surely you can add it to mine. A few months ago, I was in the processes of importing one from Japan. Have a brod-in-law there to get it for me, but developments in car importation weren’t on my side. The painless importation of used vehicle from Japan, starting September 2006 was next to improbable, at least for a newbie like me.

Most likely it will come from another source, and I’ll be patiently exploring options to acquire one. I dreamt of owning this Caddy someday to load my bicycles on family trips, and this very nice diecast model of it is what I have right now.

A scale model that is becoming as rare as the real Golf Caddy.
A great companion of my white on white appealing pair of Golf Cabby.
Caddy Cabby

Annual Pilgrimage

It is a period of the year, much anticipated within the singular community. This is the ultimate gathering of the believers. A time of bonding built on common ground and a celebration through joyous brotherhood.

Is it the Christmas Season? Very close.
Is it a Fiesta? Sort of. Very festive. Friendly atmosphere.
Is it a Reunion? You can consider it as one. Seeing good friends again.

I started making this annual pilgrim way back a decade ago. Really can’t explain the force that’s pulling me to be there year after year. There was even a time that this celebration coincided exactly with my birthday and that really started my special day right. So will I be there three weeks from now…..d e f i n i t e l y ! See you December 10 Volkspeeps!

A preview of the VW pilgrimage....from previous gathering of the believers.

VW Parking....rows of Bugs, my Jetta and my Kid.

Line of VWs....and Komenda.

VW Fair....and my fair ladies.

The Razor Don

Customizing is a way of expressing one’s individuality in the cars we adore. It’s our stamped ID on wheels. More or less reflects who we are and our aspirations. In principle, a custom car is a deviation from the stock automobile that came from the factory run. It could be altered, improved and morphed from mild to wild. Again it’s an art of personalization with the car being the canvas.

On a much smaller canvas, the custom art has evolved to capture the creativity involved in actual cars. The canvas in this case is the miniature diecast car. If their 1:1 counterparts are labors of passion, then the 1:64 scale cars are labors of obsession.

Check these miniature masterpieces.
A Vdub treated as a “Don”, or a master. Basking in golden orange paint and shiny wheels, this VW T34 is a customizer’s delight. You can’t have this by-the-shelf, this is one of a kind.
This “Razor Don” is trailered and pampered by an equally special VW T2 Crew-cab, with custom done one-off body work.
Both feature the same color combination and style, making for a very special team.
Well, the creator of these custom diecasts, is a true master or a “Don”. He’s no other than Don Croxton, the Type3 master himself. Thanks Big Brother for these great miniatures.

The Lowboy

Remember the groovy 70’s when the VW Bug was altered visually in funky fashion. Some were treated with square headlamps, opera windows and ‘frenched’ anything. Others were given the George Barris look, full custom altered bodywork and pearl paintjobs. Most of the early models were intentionally updated using the later model looks, this practice almost a no-no today.

Going back made me remember the Beetle with a Mercedes Benz front nose. These became quite hot during that era. I know of a 2-liter ‘Webered’ hot motored white Bug from then LTO chief Mr. Vinluan, with this front conversion. Seeing a surviving example from a December annual Volkswagen gathering, a black beauty 70’s VW-Merc, brought some cool memories back.

Now given the Volksrod acceptance in custom VW scene, these 70’s creations are great basis of transformation. Capturing the ’32 Ford Lowboy stance and silhouette is by way of its channeled body and rod drop-front suspension. Roadster form is achieved via scratch-built Heb styled rear body and fender-less rod look. Recreate the Manalang-built 2-liter motor of Mr. Vinluan, altogether making for one hot retro seventies child.

Low DUBoy
70’s retro V-rod

Rare-Fest

Oktoberfest is a German tradition of "fun, friendship and fraternity". What better analogy to describe our favorite pastime and common ground, the lifestyle that revolves around our love for European cars.

Early in the day we start the ‘fest’ with a gas up of our cars and our stomach for a fun run. Meeting fellow gearheads, we haven’t got in touch lately and meeting new ones are more than enough reasons to be present. A rare blast on the road to open the throttle bodies of our engines, is the next obvious reason.

Picture this;
A rare two-door mark 2 VW Jetta, clean and fresh for its era. You don’t see much of this around in our part of the world.

A 40th anniversary version VW Golf 2 of which less than 500units of rare original left hand-drive made world-wide. click to view more of the 40th version VW Golf

A group of late 90’s VW Polo Classic, approximately 400units worldwide, being a Pinoy only model variant. There is no exact model like this outside of our country, thus making this a rare Polo model. I bet you, in due time this will be a real ‘classic’.
Thrown in for good measure is a Karmann made VW Corrado and a VW Transporter Crew-Cab.
A Ferrari as a sweetener of our group? Well this Italian must have noticed the Euro-cars' presence and we didn't mind it mingling.
Us admiring the Prancing Horse's rear motor.
A long double-line of classic Wolfsburg rear engined cars with a hundred gearheads in ‘fest’ mode, a rare fraternity of sorts. The fraternity of warm bodies, which doesn’t mind the slight drizzle to celebrate fun. A mingling of friends, old and new!
Indeed, a rare and perfect celebration of Oktoberfest!