Vdub-ble the fun at fest
ONE OF A KIND: VOLKSWAGEN FANS EXHIBIT THEIR SOUPED-UP VEHICLES A three-day show where you can admire some insane car modifications.
Every February, African car enthusiasts flock to what is known as South Africa’s largest gathering of Volkswagens. This year was no different with more than 140 competitors going head-to-head to win ultimate bragging right for their modified vehicles.
The event is a weekend-long festival of camping, afterparties, revving VWs and, of course, the main attraction – the renowned show and shine that has been going strong for 14 years now, with thousands of spectators making their way through the gate.
There are various categories in which to enter your vehicle, such as best wheel, best paint, best boot install and best of show which is the ultimate honour at a Vdub campfest.
All the cars entered are judged over the two-day event by a panel which includes Jamie Orr, who is a VW enthusiast all the way from the US.
When the cars are judged they are scrutinised by the four judges from top to bottom. They look at every little detail and if it is not up their standard, you have points docked.
Only the best of the best are allowed to enter because show organiser Cum Laude Events screens all the entries. Entry requirements include photographs of your beauty, and even if your car doesn’t make the cut, you will still be able to show it off at the camp site.
The venue is in Bela-Bela at a resort named Warmbaths, and there are plenty of alternative ways to keep the family busy while you are busy admiring some of the world’s most insane car modifications.
This year, we saw some of the more unusual builds included a 2022 VW Tiguan R which was engine swapped with an Audi RS3; then there was the Polo Mk4 which had the electronics and mechanics from a Polo Mk8 – and these are just some of the crazy mods we see at campfest.
Two VW Golf Mk1s battled it out for best of show.
There was a green one named Emotion and a yellow one named Escobar – and I am so glad I was
not a judge because these two rides were the definition of perfection and perseverance.
No part of these cars was untouched, they were purpose built to compete.
Top honours went to Aadil Mohamed from a little custom shop called Street Crew Customs. They are not well known but the show gave them a platform to showcase some of the car customisation work they do.
Vdub campfest does very well at providing up-and-coming car builders the platform they need to put their shop in the limelight.
Organisers say up to 16 000 people make their way to the show over the three-day period, with accommodation in the vicinity of Warmbaths also sold out.
Among the people there might be someone looking for a custom shop to build their dream car, maybe just to redo the interior, or even fit a moonroof into their Golf Mk1.
The crowd favourite for the show was a VW Amarok double cab modified with air suspension, a new paint job, 16 subwoofers in the rear, a custom sunroof and interior – and to top it all off, it was towing the best VW Polo of the show on a trailer which was also modified with air suspension.
This is also the first show in South Africa to use a special 360 degree rotating stage for the show and shine.
Its certainly not the type of scene that all car guys are into but if you are South African and you love cars, you should at least experience Vdub campfest once in your life.
Even if you just go for a day visit, it will be worth your while.