Show report: Busfest 2012

With a name change for 2012, Busfest seemed to have lost none of the attraction of the Vanfests that have gone before it. Glorious weather for the three days helped massively and the camping, although well spaced out, seemed as busy as ever. The day visitors car park would have made a show in itself - it was huge! And the numbers of T4 and T5 parked up went to prove that late vans have become incredibly popular. Numbers of foreign visitors, both camping and trading seemed up too - surely a good sign. The whole showground had a lovely relaxed vibe to it (maybe the sunshine and lager helped there) and everyone seemed a little more chilled out than usual. I suppose the three-day format helps, there's no rush to see and do everything all at once. I'll let the pics do the talking:

Cool T5 from TransportersRUs - this was my van of the show

Nice details, well executed and different

Lusting over the Syncro line up

Nice front end options from Ultimate Transporters

Cool looking chin spoiler

Some sweet rides from overseas

Another truck for the dream garage

It wasn't all buses - this Ghia on air had me and many others drooling

Stock or slammed, something for all tastes

Not all VWs either - this cool Dodge had a Kustom tiki-inspired interior

More gorgeous classic buses

Plenty of early barndoor splits in attendance

The Sunday show and shine lineup was the only slightly disappointing bit (or have I just been to too many shows?). Firstly, half the 'usual' arena size had been given over to the Syncro driving display which is good to watch for 15 mins then a little same-y. There's only so much you can do with a 4x4 on a flat showground. This meant the show and shine was crammed into the other half. Cue buses and vans parked ridiculously close together that you couldn't take a decent photograph or get a good look at the vehicle. If my van had been in there I'd be really worried about bags, zips, BIKES! scratching my lovely paintwork.
Secondly, with hundreds of visitors turning up in T4s and T5s why are there hardly any in the show? And those that are there (and this is my own controversial opinion) are sometimes lacking in taste and subtlety. Where are the truly jaw-dropping T5s? They all seem to be on the stands of the converters and not in the show lineup.

That said, it is always good to have a nosey around other vans from any era. You can always pick up another 'ooh, that's a cool way of storing that' or 'that's a nice finish to the woodwork' regardless of how the van has been converted.

Busfest 2013 will definitely be on my list to visit again - who knows, if they can sort out that show arena size - maybe I'll put my money where my mouth is and get the Stone174 in there...