Bathurst Van Meet - New date - 3rd November 2012

Bathurst Van Meet - 3rd November 2012
...same venue and attractions as the postponed March meet, but without the flooding.

Well the year is almost into its last four months and after the success of the Pinjarra (WA) Van Nationals, the Albury Van In, the "Down Unders" trek to the 40th US Van Nationals, plus another 30 vans at the country's largest Holden display, we now look forward to warmer weather and an excuse to get the van out of the shed.

The Bathurst Van Meet is intended to be an informal, laidback gathering of van enthusiasts and their vans (show vans to pub vans). While a timetable for the meet is yet to be finalised between various vanning groups, there are plenty of activities to go with the pre-arranged cheap camping deal at the Showground. Track Cruise, Motoring Museum, Winery, plus a Twilight Park and Display so we can all see what you've been doiing to your van over the winter months. With the first weekend in November being a long weekend in Victoria, we have already had plenty of interest from south of the border. There is also a few enthusiasts from Queensland who took their vans over to WA for the Van Nats who now consider Bathurst to be "a short drive".

While the inland city has long been a popular location within a few hours drive of the Sydney/Newcastle/Wollongong region, it is also central to a concept that is being developed to hold a Van Nationals in Bathurst. In recent years, the event has been held at the furthest extremes in its history - Phillip Island to the south, Pinjarra to the west and beyond Brisbane to the north. An event in the central, and iconic, location of Bathurst, has the potential to exceed entrant numbers of Geelong 2009, or possibly Wodonga 1984.

The annual vanning pilgrimage every Easter is usually organised over an 18 month period, but an international event to celebrate the 40th Australian Van Nationals at Bathurst in 2015 requires a little more forward planning. The Bathurst Showground Trust has the event pencilled in and will be requiring a substantial deposit after Easter 2013 if the concept goes ahead. Vanning memorabilia is planned to be on sale at the upcoming meet to help cover this cost. The Bathurst 2015 concept also had a full page advertisement in the program of the recent 40th US Van Nationals that had entrants from all parts of the US, plus Canada, Great Britain, New Zealand, Central Europe, Scandinavia and Australia. Many enquiries were received including one couple from Chicago who can't wait and want more info on the 2013 event in Caboolture, QLD.

For the Bathurst 2015 concept to progress to a proposal, many attributes need to fall in to place. The most important of those is venue and enthusiasm. The Bathurst Van Meet will determine if the venue is suitable and your desire to be part of a laidback time with a few vanning mates this November will greatly assist in transforming a concept into reality.

Registration for the meet and more information can be found on:

I'm registered can't wait.

When's the pre-registered cut off date Fres????

Cut off date ? Agro, sounds way too formal a van meet...
However, the Showground Trust will need to know numbers beforehand.
All those pre-registered by the last Sunday of October will receive the cheap camping deal plus other inclusions.

8 weeks to go and the pre-registrations are starting to fill up the inbox.
60% from NSW, 13% from VIC, 27% from QLD
67% Holdens, 33% Fords
73% Club members, 27% Independent

Join other vans like this one,

by texting your name, van and club (if any) to 0434 350 407.
More details at SouthernCrossVans.com

hoping to go , just depends on another event i had previously booked to see if i can afford 2 interstate trips in October

I'm a 50/50 at the moment as i've got 2 things on that weekend. Just trying to see what i can do.

FRIDAY UPDATE: 7 weeks to go.
Over twenty vans have now pre-registered via SMS to 0434-350-407 - name, van and club (if any). Among those received this week is Australia's Top Van from 2007/2008, Phoenix. With its show days now in the past, it will cruise down the highways from QLD to join us for a lap or two around Bathurst.

67% from NSW/ACT, 14% from VIC, 19% from QLD
76% Holdens/Bedfords, 24% Fords/Transits
76% Club members, 24% Independent

4 weeks to go and everyone is talking about Bathurst...

FRIDAY UPDATE -
Over thirty vans have now pre-registered via SMS to 0434-350-407 - name, van and club (if any). There is no limit to the amount of vans that can meet in Bathurst, but our quota for the cheap camping has been reached. Add the word "waitlist" when you pre-register and we'll inform you if there has been a cancellation. Alternatively, if you have not pre-registered, its time to ring friends or relatives in the area, or click on the link below for reasonably priced motels - many within a one minute drive of the showground. - Bathurst Motels: - Wotif
We now have vans from Sundowners, Wasteland, Sunstate, BUGA, FE/HR ACT, mySandman, Majestic, East Coast Vanners, plus many more independent van enthusiasts from SouthernCrossVans.com
We've also had plenty of assistance and input from Sundowners, Majestic, BUGA and mySandman - thank you for your enthusiasm.

If our memory is correct, the Bathurst Van Meet should be the fifth time in a year where 20 or more vans will be gathered together - a feat not seen since the 1980's. From WA's Pinjarra Van Nationals, Majestic's Albury Van In, Sydney's All Holden Day, the VCV's State Van Titles (2011 & expecting 2012), all participants should be congratulated on their efforts to get vans back on the road again.

Unlike the last report, all six percentages have been updated, not just five. Although we're still continuing to put in 109% effort
77% from NSW/ACT, 10% from VIC, 13% from QLD
74% Holdens/Bedfords, 26% Fords/Transits
71% Club members, 29% Independent

Another update next week

Less than 2 weeks to go - Over 30 vans so far...

UPDATE:
After a generous offer from one of the club members, we are now providing a "sausage sizzle" at Mt Panorama Winery. For catering purposes, you need to pre-register before the end of October.
Preliminary schedule and more details on www.SouthernCrossVans.com

Bathurst Van Meet - less than a week to go.

Will you be part of the big picture next weekend...

Updates now available only on Southern Cross Vans FaceBook page
and on www.SouthernCrossVans.com
_____________________________________________________
For those attending the Victorian State Van Titles have a great weekend and travel safely.
Bathurst next weekend.
Majestics Re-union later in November
Sundowners "Invitational Van Display" at the V8 Finale, end of November

Vanning is like "porn & sex" - looks good online, but its great in real life.

The hq is all packed and ready to start the cruise up to Bathurst
at 8.00 tomorrow morning, with Cliff and his Transit.

hope you had a good time Craig, photos looked great?

That was a great weekend  Shame my van broke down but went in my 4x4