For those that missed the first ever Grill-n-Chill VW show at Exted Farm in Kent over 17-18 September, well it was  a corker! The grillin’ was provided by the burger flippers in the food tent and the chillin’ was definitely the laidback atmosphere created by VDub enthusiasts from all walks of life, including those that turned up in their trusty steeds from France and Germany.

Heavily supported by both the air and watercooled fraternity, there were a huge selection to suit all tastes from early splitties, (some modified and others left rat look), plus Bugs, Mk1, Mk2 and Mk3 Golfs and even an ’80s Audi Quattro! Other watercooled rarities that turned up included a 2001 modified Lupo GTI on rare ATS DTM rims (which won a Top Ten trophy) parked up alongside a very clean 1996 Vento VR6.

Best in Show went to a gorgeous 1967 splitscreen camper lowered on Drayton wire wheels, bought originally for £1500 and now worth a whopping £25k.

As well as club and happy camper areas, there were traders and plenty of activities to keep the youngsters entertained for the weekend jolly. Anyhow if they misbehaved you could have always put them in a Zorb ball or lost them on the camper-shaped bouncy castle…

We even found time to explore the venue as on site were Volks Farmers – there were plenty of old skool campers and Type 4s in varying conditions, some perfect for a restoration, although others had already been reclaimed by vegetation! It was an Aladdin’s Cave of aircooled madness and a mecca for happy snappers.

For a first show we think the organisers did well to try and accommodate a huge cross-section of the VW community and there’s promises of a bigger and better round two next year already. But perhaps they might consider better signage – Mk1 and Mk4 Golf owners Jake and Kieran got lost on the way and ended up camping at a hairy bikers convention down the road!