Aircooled VW South Africa

MINCE wrote:The 'big thing' part, the second a beetle with white walls and inserts with eye lids features on the cover of Speed and Sound is an indication of a 'big thing'. Know what I mean?

Again, I could be overly critical.

Mince, you not over critical, maybe a bit paranoid!! Go with the trend....publicity of any form is a good thing, if the fad dies..demand slows...supply increases...prices come down, simple economics. Just be glad to be part of it!! It will certainly keep more of our beloved vehicles in SA.

The only person I know with skinny jeans in ACC is me. So seems like Im the only one that was at summer meet that you would not "trust".

I naturally move away from trends. It is just how I am.
Look what trends did to Von Dutch's name.

It is a big discussion and normally a personal one. Just airing my views is all.

All good.

MINCE wrote:I naturally move away from trends. It is just how I am.
Look what trends did to Von Dutch's name.

It is a big discussion and normally a personal one. Just airing my views is all.

All good.

Dont worry I can take stuff like that without hard feelings.
Come and meet the guys and then slack them off

Mince, you rock!! Your points of view always thought provoking and worthy of a chirp!! Good One

Splitz wrote:

MINCE wrote:I naturally move away from trends. It is just how I am.
Look what trends did to Von Dutch's name.

It is a big discussion and normally a personal one. Just airing my views is all.

All good.

Dont worry I can take stuff like that without hard feelings.
Come and meet the guys and then slack them off

I have met them all and had a good time in the process. I am naturally uneasy with trends, that is all. I know most are in it for the same reasons I am. Not all are 'hipsters'

PCee wrote:Mince, you rock!! Your points of view always thought provoking and worthy of a chirp!! Good One

thanks man. I am sure others would disagree with you

Hi Guys, thanks for the support and great comments!!!

I can honestly say that the people I have met, and those that I am now friends with because of "Air Cooled Culture" are truly amazing. Once again I can say that Air Cooled Culture is what it is because of all the supporters and fans both in Cape Town and Nationally, not just myself - and I am very grateful for that!!!

The birth of the brand "Air Cooled Culture" and the FaceBook page all started with no help from any others. It was one individual ( me ) taking a fat chance and testing the waters for the interest in such a group.
Surely I have met a couple of people in the ACVW circles ( Dave, Shawn , Es and Uncle Jurgen) and probably had four friends in CT with ACVW's, but before attempting establishing such a group I wanted to bring something to the table with a difference.

I have investigated in other clubs and groups but in my opinion they lacked something....the casual approach that Air Cooled Culture have.
It is not a club, it is a brand that ACVW owners and fans can familiarize themselves with and I co-ordinate the FB page, the emailing list and organise events / get-togethers for us with other events or as a individual group. As I have mentioned in my last email to those on the mailing list, there are some 520 likes on the Facebook Page which was achieved in 8 months, 244 are South African likes and 105 of that is Cape Town likes. What helped me achieve this was merely adveritsing on Gumtree , stopping people in traffic, petrol stations and the somewhat 240 flyers which I made which was left in window wipers of most of the ACVW's I have seen. The emailing list also consists of over 130 people. And i also need to phone or sms about five people before every event whom does not have internet facilities or smartphones.

I agree 100% with you Ron, there was and is ACVW groups/clubs locally and nationally, but change is good and so is a bit of competition! Im in Cape Town for only 10 years and own my own ACVW for almost two years now, so I have not had the privilege of being in the scene for as long as many others here! It took and still takes a lot of time to maintain both the FB page and emailing back and forth to people on the mailing list with inquiries etc, but I do it with pleasure and it is my hobby!

As you have seen, Splitz is helping me with posts for ACC on the ACVWSA forum as I have a lot on my plate already and he is happy to do so as he has been on here forever. Thanks DD!
I also have a friend in Paarl which is helping me with a website, so it is also with help from other committed fans that this big train is going foward!!!

Hope this makes it more clear......and please join the events - it truly is awesome!!!

PS: Ron, I was the guy at the Whale festival which Esme introduced you to.........
& Mince...you are very opinionated, criticize most of the time and do so without knowing me or any of us. Im sure you follow some trends or fall into some category called something, but that is you and not for me to have any opinion about.
ACC fans are not necessarily my friends ( as you have criticized me and my friends ), everytime I meet new people and some of those that join all the time are merely acquaintances....but we all get together for one reason and that is for the passion!
I can assure you that the minority of those who joins in are doing it as "fashion victims", if any that I have seen at our get togethers. I can assure you they all are there as petrol heads and ACVW fans. As for narrowing it down to the fact that its only the youngsters.....mmm...be careful - there are a lot of people above 40 and even 50 that join us and are awesome to have around.....

Anyone who wishes to be on the mailing list please mail me !!!

Kind regards;

Juan de Goede

Well said Juan

I have a question Juan:
You talk about competition & a website...
Do you intend to become competition for ACVWSA?

Hahahahha how can I ?! I see ACVWSA as the sort of mothership where all clubs, groups and individuals communicate! Its by far the biggest base that ACVW owners have in SA.
Air Cooled Culture is Cape Town based. I'm just saying, that here in Cape Town there tends to be the following groups / clubs in the ACVW circles. Please correct me If I am wrong:

-Phenomenal Bugz ( they've been here for about 15 years and have, before ACC came onto the map been very quiet and is a car club )
-Kaapse Kombi Kult ( Jason Furness and the like, and they cater for specific scarce busses..... )
- FFR Racing, basically the racing buggies and other racing ACVW's ( they are the group of friends that race / drag on Killarney often)
-Air Cooled Culture ( the informal, casual approach, not a car club but more a appreciation society. )
-Individual owners of ACVW's affiliated with other car clubs or groups. ( these are the guys with collecters items showing their gems off at carshows. )

In my opinion, it seems like the only two that caters for all ACVW models and owners are Phenomenal Bugz and Air Cooled Culture. That, as far as events etc go, is in a bit of a competition with each other.
Once again ACC is a open group and does not limit its fans ( or members ) to attend other car club or car show get-togethers, which is typical in the rules and regulations of car clubs.
I do, however wish that we can have an inter-ACVW event here in Cape Town to give everybody a chance to come together under their own t&c's

So No Eben, ACC proudly supports ACVWSA and love the work that has been done to create such a hub for us!!!

Oh.....just quick, the website will be for ACC and will show off photos of our events, cars of owners etc. just to promote who we are and what we do.
It will never be a forum or have specified discussions like your website. Hope that clears that one......

aircooledculture wrote:& Mince...you are very opinionated, criticize most of the time and do so without knowing me or any of us. Im sure you follow some trends or fall into some category called something, but that is you and not for me to have any opinion about.
ACC fans are not necessarily my friends ( as you have criticized me and my friends ), everytime I meet new people and some of those that join all the time are merely acquaintances....but we all get together for one reason and that is for the passion!
I can assure you that the minority of those who joins in are doing it as "fashion victims", if any that I have seen at our get togethers. I can assure you they all are there as petrol heads and ACVW fans. As for narrowing it down to the fact that its only the youngsters.....mmm...be careful - there are a lot of people above 40 and even 50 that join us and are awesome to have around.....

Firstly, I don't really have time to explain myself, as I am very busy. But I just want to clear things up.
I am opinionated, because i am not scared to share my opinions. Otherwise why have them.
I have met you before, at BigBay the one meet. We had a rad chat and got to meet everyone and saw how everyone was digging what was going on. I didn't walk out saying "what a bunch of posers".
Even if you do not remember meeting me, I can assure you that I didn't annoy you.

The minorities you speak of are the ones I am talking about, the people that are in it for a scene.
I am not critising everyone, I tried not to at least. All i was saying is that there are people that follow trends instead of leading them. They are quite happy to wear whatever is 'in', and those are the people i do not care about.
I have met Donovan (apologies if I spelt your name wrong) and he does not come across as a trend junkie. He got his bus and did stuff to it before anybody else did. He is of the group of people the lead and are passionate. The ones I do not like are the ones that see his awesomer than awesome bus and copy what he has done.
That is who I am talking about!

I never took anything away from you Juan, but I did say (as an opinion) that you were lucky. Most people tried to start something and often it didn't take off because the interest wasn't there. It worked for you and how you are taking it forward is brilliant. I am not criticising you at all. I am commending you.

There are youngsters coming into the scene, and those are the ones that I am worried about. A big percentage will stay with the ACVWs but a portion will just move on to the next 'cool thing'. I see this all the time in the music scene, I know because I have been in the music scene for a decade and seen how the 'music fans' move from one form of music to the next because of its trendiness. It is just how it is! That is not an opinion, it is what happens. As with a scene or trend that I subscribe to? I don't! I am not a 'follower'. Hence me being critical of why everyone has eye-lids on their cars for instance.

So, take a frikken chill pill! I am not slating you guys! I like you guys! I like Splitz! He helped me out with my bug, and we had rad discussions and I would dig to hang with him. Juan, you are a rad guy and I was super keen to get involved in what you are doing in whatever way I could. That is why I suggested what i did.

I am beginning to think that when people see a comment from me, they automatically put on the "I am Mince, and I hate everything and everyone" tone without trying to see my point of view! Damn it is annoying!

Just saying!

aircooledculture wrote:Oh.....just quick, the website will be for ACC and will show off photos of our events, cars of owners etc. just to promote who we are and what we do.
It will never be a forum or have specified discussions like your website. Hope that clears that one......

Cool... Just wanted to know if I should start planning my retirement in the Bahamas yet..

First and foremost: Being from Phenomenal Bugz, I agree with what Juan is saying. So much is true, and "competition" from ACC, for lack of a better word, can surely breath in some new found zest into our club as well.... at the end of the day, our aim is exactly the same.

For a bunch of guys not wanting to be like other car clubs, this post has quickly turned into the politics that turns others away from said car clubs. Well done on NOT following that trend Mince!

Another trend that you need to be reminded of that you also follow, is blurting out your opinion left right and centre.... there is also something called keeping your opinion to yourself if its not positive, and thereafter one that becomes apologetic. Well done for not following that one.

Well done also for becoming the foot in the mouth guy from the South.... taking over from another gent up north.... Well done for not following that trend either....

For a busy guy who does not have time to comment and post boost on almost every topic.... well done for not following that trend either.

At least you are starting a trend of people forgetting who you are Mince... well done.

Maybe you described your self best above..." I am Mince, and I hate everything and everyone"

Stop being so angry dude, breathe in deep breaths and exhale slowly. You are cool and likable... just stop trying so hard!

Muds