Billo - the 1960 truck-art beetle from Pakistan

[nmshaikh]

There are many Christmas traditions that were started centuries ago but continue to exist today in one form or another.
Many families enjoy Christmas traditions that focus on community events. Attending a Christmas parade is one festive way that many families celebrate the season. The Toronto Christmas parade is one such grand tradition. Since 1905, thousands of people line the streets of <st1:city><st1:place><font color=[/IMG]Toronto</st1:place></st1:city> to take part in the annual Santa Claus Parade. People begin lining <st1:address>Main Street</st1:address> early to ensure they get a good view and to chat with neighbors and visitors. The parade route spans several blocks, so there is plenty of room for everyone. You'll find handmade floats, at least one marching band, dancing garden ladies, dogs that amble more or less in formation, fire trucks, Smokey the Bear, classic cars, horses, local politicians, and, of course, Santa. It's not uncommon for the parade to draw over 80 entries. This year (2008) the VW's were invited to attend too. I don't know if there is another car that offers an equal or better, smiles per mile average as the humble Volkswagen beetle so it was just the right twist to the old tradition. <o:p></o:p>

[chaudri]

wow.... looks amazing with her siblings

[nmshaikh]

The Christmas Parade was the last major outing for Billo in 2008. I did drive her to work a few times and around town on weekends but it was time to park Billo for her long winter sleep. I took her to a coin wash for a wash and waxed her finish. Several items that we had assumed lost were recovered from under the seats where they had fallen or rolled to..the mats were vacuumed, the old fliers advertising various shows were retrieved, even some parts I had bought at the shows and stashed away behind the rear seat (and forgotten all about) were removed to be stored in the garage. The oil changed while warm and the gas (petrol) tank was left with just a few liters of fuel. The carburetor was drained of fuel, the battery disconnected and Billo was parked for the winter.
<span style="font-family: Arial"><font size="2"><o:p></o:p></span></font></span><br><span style=[/IMG]These are a few pictures I found that we took in 2008 at community events, my daughters graduation where the teenagers went crazy when they saw the car and were delighted to be able to sit in the drivers seat for their picture, I am sure there were a lot more but I have lost a whole bunch of pictures when the hard disk crashed (yet again) However I had most of the pictures backed up so all was not lost.<o:p></o:p>
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We'll start with 2009 next week.<o:p></o:p>

[kn_khipk]

Another dose for the BUG that we've caught...
Anxiously waiting for Billo to wake up from her hibernation.

[mehran]

Had another great read! Thanks nmshaikh for sharing your interesting experiences with us. Eagerly awaiting your next post!

[nmshaikh]

Almost just as I had prepped up Billo for her sleep, we received the first dumping of snow....<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com<o:p></o:p>
These pictures are of my daily driver Nissan. (junked in 2009) and our family minivan Toyota Sienna. <o:p></o:p>
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We only have a single car garage which is devoted to Billo and storage of various auto related items (mostly VW). This is one area in the house that Begum is not allowed...no, that is not the correct expression so lets try again...This is one area in the house that Begum chooses not to interfere in. It is my Man Cave! I choose to keep it as untidy or as organized as i want. I had it 'ear-conditioned' with a Sony sound system and 4 speakers for when I am working in there. Now I even have a flat screen TV on the wall! Just a microwave and a few other bits and it would be a perfect shelter for when Begum is not in a good mood.<o:p></o:p>
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See you in 2009..<o:p></o:p>

</SPAN>

[omer1982]

Well done Shaikh Sb...great job!!
Thanks for sharing....very interesting thread indeed

[reezvaan]

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[reezvaan]

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[nmshaikh]

Is it for real or is it just me? I can see most of the VWs from early to mid 70s in the parade and Billo seems to be the only early VW on the parade. When did VW start its distribution in Canada? Was it in the late 60s/early 70s?

But even if it was in late 60s or early 70s but I am sure there would be lot of early VWs there in Canada as the border b/w USA & Canada has always been pretty open for transit for such early beauties to crawl into Canada, so there ought to be lot of early VWs there in Canada.

VW started marketing cars in Canada somewhere in the mid 50's. Maybe the reason you don't see other early beetles is because by this time of the year most bugs crawl in for hibernation...Most owners of early bugs don't drive them as much and right after the show season is over they return the cars to heated garages.

[nmshaikh]

Billo spent the entire winter in the garage as I hardly got any time to do anything car related. I was looking forward to 2009 with big plans to attend the biggest show in the American Midwest "Funfest" at the Mid America Motorworks. Last year (2008) I had to rent a tow dolly from U-Haul when I went to attend the Border Bash in Windsor and not only was it expensive but rather inconvenient to first go, rent the equipment, bring it home, load the car, drive to the show, and repeat the same sequence in reverse order upon return. I found someone selling an almost brand new tow-dolly in <st1:place><st1:city><span style=[/IMG]Hamilton </span></st1:city>Ontario</st1:place>. The seller and I exchanged e-mails, he sent me pictures of the dolly and a deal was struck. I drove to <st1:city><st1:place>Hamilton</st1:place></st1:city> and towed the dolly home behind my minivan. The price of a new Tow Dolly is about $1900. I cannot disclose the price I paid for it as I don't remember what I told my wife and not only does she read this thread, she has a very good memory.

[nmshaikh]

Getting ready to leave for what my wife calls the Annual Raiwind Convention for Veedubbers... pictures and story coming up!

[PuNk]

@nmsheikh
Thanks for the invitation. This was the weekend to be in T dot but I am pretty stucked up. I will see you between 10-12 !
Have fun at the event and take lots of pics

[nmshaikh]

What a day!
<FONT face=Arial><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com<st1:time Hour="15" Minute="0">3 pm</st1:time> for the 5’o clock flight. <o:p></o:p>
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Missing the flight was not an option. <o:p></o:p>
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M.B. is the PIA captain who would be flying the Boeing 777 from <st1:City><st1:place>Toronto</st1:place></st1:City> to <st1:City><st1:place>Islamabad</st1:place></st1:City>!<o:p></o:p>
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It meant that we would have to leave the show grounds at <st1:time Hour="13" Minute="0">1 pm</st1:time> to make it home with enuff time to change into uniform, pick up his bags and leave for the airport. (allowing time for an unexpected delay on the busy Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW)
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We drove from my home to a pre decided meeting point where we met several other cars from the West End VW club and steamed off towards Fireman’s Park, Niagara On. at 8.45. The morning traffic wasn’t too bad on a Sunday and we maintained good speed. Billo happily cruised at 120 km /hr and even touched 140 which was an interesting position for the needle as the speedometer is only marked up to 120. I wonder if the needle would make a second turn if the little pin where the needle sits at zero is removed. Maybe I’ll just rely on the <st1:stockticker>GPS</st1:stockticker> to read the correct speed past the speedometer reading..then again, maybe I’ll refrain from driving past 120 km as the fines increase progressively and if you are clocked doing 150 km/hr the car is impounded for a week and the driver of the speeding vehicle fined up to $10,000.. Its good to know that the hard work put in replacing the transmission https://www.pakwheels.com/forums/engine-transmission-powertrain/151918-transmission-installation-vw-beetle was not in vain. <o:p></o:p>
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We received thumbs up’s and friendly horn toots all along the route. Reaching the show grounds we were greeted by a long line up as the cars moved in single file past the point where we had to pay the $20 entry fee. It took us a good 45 minutes to get thru and park. The show is named June Jitter Bug but is attended by both the air cooled and water cooled cars, buses, campers, type 2’s 3’s Things etc etc. We parked the car and went for a quick walk around to see the other cars. We saw some familiar faces from last year and other shows, exchanged pleasantries, some technical woes and any information re. new shows. After taking few quick pictures we hit the swap meet area. With an eye on the time we went thru the wares on display and bought a few things that were requested by fellow club members in <st1:country-region><st1:place>Pakistan</st1:place></st1:country-region>. I bought a very clean set of vent windows, complete with seals and locks for a friends car in <st1:City><st1:place>Karachi</st1:place></st1:City>. For the same car a good pair of Hella tail light lenses were snapped. I found a pair of trim rings to complete my set and left with about $200 worth of parts. M.B. bought a super clean speedometer complete with fuel gauge, its vibrator unit, bulbs and holders plus a few other items for his car. Abdullah had a jolly good time at the various activities for the younger crowd and won a nice VW coffee mug for me in the process. <o:p></o:p>
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There was a VW engine that was set-up to be run without oil until it ceased. You have to guess the time it would take for it to die as it is run at high <st1:stockticker>RPM</st1:stockticker>’s (remember the oil in the crank case has already been drained out) As the show organizers sell tickets (or bets) the actual run is scheduled towards the end of the day. There is also the teeter totter or the clutch eater challenge where anyone can have a go at balancing their car on a see-saw. You have to be at just the right spot otherwise the balance can tip. Every driver is allowed one minute to achieve the balance. The few who manage win a new clutch. We were running out of time so we did not wait for that event either. After walking around for one last time and taking few more pictures of cars that had arrived late we left the show grounds at 1.30 – a half hour behind schedule. The drive home was uneventful and we did not encounter any traffic slowdowns. Billo was again in her element and cruised nicely at 120 all the way home with enuff time for MB to pack his latest acquisitions, grab a quick lunch and change into his uniform before I dropped him at Pearson airport, <st1:City><st1:place>Toronto</st1:place></st1:City> – a 20 minute drive from my home.<o:p></o:p>
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I don’t know if Billo received any award as the announcement is made towards the end of the day but it was lots of fun to see some very clean and well maintained cars and enjoying the general atmosphere being surrounded by so many VW’s. <o:p></o:p>
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Enjoy the pictures <o:p></o:p>

[nmshaikh]

[nmshaikh]

[nmshaikh]

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[nmshaikh]

[nmshaikh]

[reezvaan]

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