After visiting the Emerald Isle for Dubshed earlier this year, we were keen to get back; and what better excuse than a weekend’s racing at the 3rd Aircooled Drag Day. We sent James T over to check it out..

It is an absolute compliment to the Irish VW community that their scene is like that in England over 10 years ago. There are no ego’s, the shows are all about enthusiasts having fun, and a lot less about ‘who deserved what’ and other such politics.

James was kindly offered the use of a Late Westfalia van for the weekend by Dave Wheatley @ Bugbitz not just to sleep in, but to race in too. In fact he managed to get through qualifying and into the finals!

Having known Ben, one of organisers for many years, James was welcomed warmly; chipping in and helping to organise the pairing lanes, he soon became friends with the rest of the show goers too!

All of the racers just wanted to race, it didn’t matter what you were driving everyone was out to have fun and enjoy themselves. It is a proper grass roots race event which is refreshing and brings back memories of shows from years back.

“It was great to see a number of old skool British cars are now residing over in Ireland, and were on display at the Aircooled Drag Day. “Plain Lazy” and “Bugeyed” showing what they were built to do”.

The event also had a sizable show and shine, with both air and watercooled Volkswagens representing all corners of the VW community; all as welcome as the next and enjoying what this hobby means to them, and why a lot of us really got into Volkswagens in the first place. Check out more of our photos over on Flickr.

So, a great big thanks to the guys for putting this show, on. James had a blast. We’ll be back next year; and you can come too, but don’t tell everyone, it might spoil it!

Andy