March 28, 2023 Booster Spring Car Care

Couple revive Volkswagen magic bus

By Murray Green Jen Brewer and Andrew Scott own a 1962 Volkswagen split window bus (van).

“We found it rotting in the bush with the glass all smashed in and all over the place. The doors were seized over. It was awful, but it was fun to restore. We drove all around the world with this thing,” said Jen.

“When we were kids, my two siblings and I, played in here all of the time. I showed it to him (Andrew) in 2019, and showed him my playhouse. His jaw dropped, but he said we have to get this out of the bush and in our yard, so a new generation of kids can enjoy it,” explained Jen.

“He said we will turn it into a playhouse and just salvage it a bit. However, it absolutely snowballed from there. The Volkswagen community got wind of it and Andrew’s family has always had Volkswagens, so his dad chatted up a few people and all of a sudden parts started to arrive,” shared Jen.

“What we thought was going to be a playhouse in our backyard, turned out to be our insured, registered driver vehicle. It was supposed to be a surprise for my siblings and mom. We were going to unveil it at our wedding. We had it out of the bush, all restored and it passed inspection in seven months. It was crazy,” said Jen.

“When I finished rebuilding it for safe and legal driv-

Andrew

The

bus

ing, I made sure she had the first turn (of the key to start it),” added Andrew.

“We winched it on to a trailer, hauled it two and a half hours to my mom’s place and with one turn of the key it started. It fired right up,” said Jen.

“The next day people showed up unannounced to

FUN FACTS

In 1962, a heavy-duty Transporter was introduced as a factory option. It featured a cargo capacity of 1,000 kg (2,205 lb) instead of the previous 750 kg (1,653 lb), smaller but wider 14 inch roadwheels, and a 1.5 L, 31 kW (42 PS; 42 bhp) DIN engine. This was so successful that only a year later, the 750 kg, 1.2 L Transporter was discontinued. The 1963 model year introduced the 1500 engine–1,493cc as standard equipment to the US market. Among American enthusiasts, it is common to refer to the different models by the number of their windows. The basic Kombi or Bus is the 11-window (three-window bus because of three side windows) with a split windshield, two front cabin door windows, six rear side windows, and one rear window. The DeLuxe model featured eight rear side windows and two rear corner windows, making it the 15-window.

The Volkswagen Type 2, known officially (depending on body type) as the Transporter, Kombi or Microbus, or, informally, as the Bus, Camper or Bulli, is a forward control light commercial vehicle introduced in 1950 by the German automaker Volkswagen as its second car model. As one of the forerunners of the modern cargo and passenger vans, the Type 2 gave rise to modern minivans.

help with the wedding and we hid the van back in the bush exactly where it was, thinking nobody ever goes back there,” recalled Andrew.

“The whole family got in the van and drove it out of the bush,” laughed Andrew.

“Everyone got to see it at the wedding. Unfortunately, I lost my mom shortly after that, but at least she had the opportunity to see the finished van. She wanted a girls’ camping trip, so we took her ashes and camped in the mountains,” said Jen.

“I had to fix absolutely everything on the van. It had no suspension, transmission, motor or much of anything. There was barely a nut and bolt left on it, just a carcass. The roof was crushed down, some dents and it wasn’t even in one piece because of so much rust. It was hard to keep it looking old, considering the amount of new parts that had to go into it,” confessed Andrew.

“We drive it everywhere and not afraid to take it down mountain trails. We want to use it,” he said.

It has a 1641 engine

that produces about 70 horsepower and can go 100 kph. Andrew re-geared the transmission to drive the actual highway speed limit. The stock motor produced about 40 horsepower and went about 75 kph.

“We are even going to leave the bullet holes in it. It

adds some character. A bullet went into the dash, so we are going to leave it,” said Jen. “I love to see and hear people’s reaction when they see and talk about our vehicle. We can’t drive down the road without someone giving us a smile, thumbs up or wave,” said Jen.

Are you the owner of Collector Auto, Auto Memories or Auto Memorabilia?

If you have a vintage ride (rebuilt or original), if you’re in the midst of a restoration, or if you’re building a “rat ” or a street rod, we’d lik e to hear from you. We may want to

MAGIC BUS

Murray Green, Camrose Booster

Scott and Jen Brewer decided to turn her childhood playhouse back into a 1963 Volkswagen camping bus.

restored

was left with paintless spots and bullet holes to reflect the character of the hippie age.

Spring Car Care Guide

Safe car washing

By Lori Larsen

As March moves out and outside temperatures get closer to seasonal warming, it may be time to consider washing your vehicle and ridding it of damaging grime and salt. But when is it safe to do so?

Generally you should avoid washing your car when temperatures dip below -10 °C and never when temperatures are below -20°C. If you do wash your vehicle in lower temperatures do so during daylight hours, better in the early afternoon when the temperatures are usually highest, and when it is sunny out.

After the vehicle has been washed, immediately and completely hand dry with a towel areas that are more susceptible to freezing conditions, such as wiper blades, rubber weather striping around the doors, windows, trunks and tailgates.

Hand dry all door handles, hinges, key locks and fuel door (including hinge) and in colder weather situations, spray some WD40 or lock de-icer into the keyholes or on hinges to avoid moisture buildup.

Where possible, use a commercial car wash that offers hand drying.

Apply a thick wax, carnauba paste is a good choice, to help repel snow and water.

Pay special attention to spraying out wheel wells and rims to prevent slush accumulating and subsequent freezing which can cause damage to tire rubber and in some cases the vehicle frame.

Take time to vacuum and clean the interior as well. Salt and other grime builds up over the winter months and can damage interior surfaces.

Spring Car Care Guide

Charge up your battery knowledge

By Murray Green

Car and truck owners should have an understanding of how their vehicles function so they can diagnose and address problems as they arise.

Car batteries are an important component of any vehicle. In addition to initially starting the car, the battery also keeps electric current steady to keep the engine running.

The battery also works in conjunction with the alternator to power the electronics in the car. While the car is running, the alternator reverses the current produced by the battery, recharging it

as a result. This happens during long journeys, so people who drive for short bursts of time may find that their batteries will not have a chance to recharge and may not have the longevity desired.

There is quite literally a lot riding on a functioning battery. No one wants to be caught stranded by a dead battery, so drivers may wonder if there are any indicators that may signal the battery needs replacement.

If a vehicle does not immediately start or if the cranking is sluggish and takes longer to start, it may mean the battery is starting to fail.

Drivers who make frequent, short trips may find their car batteries do not have time to fully recharge. This, coupled with overtaxing, thanks to a lot of accessory use, may cause the battery and the alternator to have shortened life spans.

If the fluid level is below the energy conductor inside, it is often indicative of overcharging and excessive heat.

Corrosion buildup, dust, dirt and grime on battery connections may cause performance problems. Inspecting and cleaning the terminals can prolong the battery life.

Battery leaks can produce a sulfur odor similar to the smell of a rotten egg. This can become problematic over time, and leaks may indicate an aging or damaged battery.

Most batteries have a finite life span. A well-maintained battery can last up to five years. Neglect can reduce that life expectancy considerably.

Replace the battery immediately if the case is cracking, as it could be because excessive heat is swelling the battery.

Spring Car Care Guide

Rubber to the road

By Lori Larsen

Winter roads can be harsh on your vehicle tires so in an effort to ensure you get the best wear out of your tires and improve the overall safety of your vehicle, be proactive with tire maintenance

If you are operating your vehicle with winter tires use the 7 °C rule as a guide to change back to standard or all season tires for the warmer months.

Inspect your tires for signs of damage, such as cuts, cracks, and sidewall blisters that may indicate it is time to replace them.

If the tires show signs of irregular treadwear, that could indicate a problem with how well a tire is bal-

anced on its wheel.

Irregular treadwear on your vehicle tires could be a sign that your tires are out of alignment or that the vehicle’s suspension has been damaged.

Prior to storing winter tires check them for any damage or unusual wear, clean and dry them and store them in a cool, dark area away from extreme heat direct light.

If you are operating on all season tires, make sure your tire pressure is adjusted to accommodate for higher outside temperatures. Improper inflation pressure can affect tire longevity and fuel efficiency.

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Camrose Police Service breaks down 2022 traffic statistics

By Lori Larsen

Upon review of the 2022 traffic statistics, Camrose Police Service (CPS) Inspector John Corbett reported a 5.7 per cent increase in the total number of reportable collisions from 2021 to 2022, with the total number of collisions in 2022, 4.9 per cent below the five year average.

The five year overview of collisions in Camrose reported 450 in 2018, 595 in 2019, 424 in 2020, 421 in 2021 and 445 in 2022 with one fatality overall, which occurred in 2019.

The number of injury reported collisions has decreased 21 per cent from 2021 to 2022, with 24 reported in 2021 and 19 in 2022. Over the five year period of 2018 to 2022, the number of injury collisions was 22 per cent below the five-year average.

“Despite the impact of the pandemic on traffic patterns in 2020 and 2021, collision trends have remained

fairly stable in 2022,” noted Corbett.

The report further broke down the demographics of collisions in Camrose.

The types of collisions in 2022 consisted of: six pedestrian collisions; one bicycle collision; one motorcycle collision; 75 hit and run collisions (which includes collisions with other property or vehicles); and 177 intersection collisions.

The ages and genders of people involved in collisions were as follows:

Male: 14-17 (25); 18-20 (15); 21-30 (39); 31-40 (50),; 41-50 (35); 51-60 (39); 61-70 (44); 71-80 (27) and 81 and over (22).

Female: 14-17 (11); 1820 (20); 21-30 (29); 31-40 (45); 41-50 (37); 51-60 (36); 61-70 (26); 71-80 (29) and 80 and over (20).

“Most collisions involved drivers aged 31-40,” said Corbett.

As noted most collisions continue to occur during the

winter months, with 35 of the collisions occurring in January, 36 in February, 29 in March, 63 in November and 69 in December.

Corbett said that the increase in collisions in November and December were most likely the result of significant winter weather conditions.

Fridays experience the most collisions with a total of 91, and historically, that was the case. The second day of the week for highest number of collisions was Thursday with 72, the day of the week experiencing the lowest number of collisions was Sunday, with 46, which was also historically the case.

The greatest number of collisions occurred between 11 a.m. (35) and 6 p.m. (34) with the highest amount at 2 p.m. (40).

Corbett reported that the three main causes of collisions were; backing up unsafely, following too close

and running off the road.

Other causes of collisions included: stop sign violations; fail to yield right of way uncontrolled intersection; fail to yield right of way to pedestrian; left turn across path; improper lane change; disobey traffic signal; improper turn; improper passing and crossing without right of way.

Corbett said that road and weather conditions also played a significant role in the number of collisions with the following road conditions contributing: slush/snow and ice (194); loose surface material (one); wet/muddy (12); other road conditions (30); and weather conditions that contributed: rain (eight) and snowing (42).

“Road conditions were a factor in 53 per cent of the collisions and weather played a factor in 11 per cent of the collisions,” said Corbett. “But snow is the most common contributing

factor present in collisions.”

With regard to where collisions occurred in Camrose in 2022 the intersection of 48 Avenue and 68 Street experienced the highest with 18, notably no injuries; the intersection of 48 Avenue and 66 Street with 13 collision and two injuries. While 54 Avenue and 53 Street only experienced four collisions, three of those involved injury.

Other high collision intersections were 48 Avenue and 50 Street (nine); 48 Avenue and Grand Drive (nine); 48 Avenue and 53 Street (six); 48 Avenue and 73 Street (six with one injury).

“The 48 Avenue and 68 Street intersection continue to be the top intersection for collisions in Camrose,” noted Corbett. “However, this was the first year in the past five years that there were no injury collisions at this intersection.”

Spring Car Care Guide

CPS 2022 Traffic Statistics

Continued from page 21

Further analysis of collisions at the intersection of 48 Avenue and 68 Street revealed that collisions were most prevalent on Wednesdays and occurred between noon and 2 p.m. Ten out of the 18 collisions occurred in November and December, and the most common cause at this intersection was the result of vehicles turning left across the path of traffic.

In 2022, Camrose Police Service traffic enforcement included the following:

Criminal offences: impaired charges (two); fail to provide/refusal (three); disqualified driver (nine); dangerous operation (10) and fail to remain criminal (two). Corbett noted in his report that all Roadside suspension through the Immediate Roadside Sanctions (IRS) program are now captured in the new Provincial Contraventions Program.

Impaired Driving Activities included: IRS- fail (38); IRS-warn (seven); IRS-zero (four); IRS-24 hour suspension (six) and there were 49 checkstops conducted.

Provincial offences included: hit and run (nine); careless driving (10); suspended driving (21); no insurance (60); member issued violations (2,787); photo radar-mobile violations (3,506) and intersection safety device violations (2,853).

“Similar to other public safety strategies implemented by Camrose Police Service, prevention is the key to mitigating road safety concerns and keeping our roads safer for all users,” said Corbett.

In an effort to continue educating the public on the importance of road safety, CPS conducted several prevention and education initiatives in 2022 including:

• Bike Rodeo–Focusing on bicycle safety tips for youth.

• Electronic Speed Sign–posted at various locations throughout the city.

• Implementation of six traffic sensors throughout Camrose to monitor traffic flow and speed.

• Posting several road safety articles on the CPS Facebook page and The Camrose Booster.

• Partnering with the RCMP and Sheriff Traffic units for integrated traffic safety initiatives.

• Participated in the National Road Safety Week and Operation Impact traffic projects during May and October long weekends.

• Conducted public survey.

• Presentations to schools and City of Camrose staff.

• Radio advertisements during holiday season.