Dozens of VW bus owners to share their classics and stories at “Buses at the Brewery”
Bradley Davis
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – The Ivywild School parking lot will be lined with classic Volkswagen buses Saturday for Bristol Brewing’s 19th annual “Buses at the Brewery.”
The event lasts from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. It’s free to show up and peruse the lines of buses. The event is German-themed (like Volkswagen) with footlong brats, strongman stein competitions (holding out beer mugs as long as you can), live music, Oktoberfest-style beer, a tie-dye station and a “cruise to the brewery” with all the buses.
“You get waves. People honk the horn, they give you the salute (the “Shaka” with your thumb and pinky). It’s just a good feeling,” Volkswagen bus owner Michael Gaboriault said.
Gaboriault is a member of the Pikes Peak Air Coolers. His bus looks in near-new condition, while fellow bus owners Eric and Robin Engelmann left the original coloring. Rust in all.
“That was by intention,” Eric said.
The couple found it sitting, rusting away in a field. During their 4-year restoration process, they tracked down the daughter of the original owner.
“{Her} daddy taught her how to drive the bus as soon as she could reach the pedals!” Robin said.
This weekend, she is traveling from Amarillo to see the restored bus (except for the original exterior) at Buses at the Brewery.
“We’re looking forward to her joining our community and the Pikes Peak Air coolers, and it should be an awesome time,” Eric said.