The National Bug-In is the coming together of various Volkswagen Clubs in Australia to partake in a long weekend of camaraderie and friendly competition. The National Bug-In is hosted by a different state based VW Club over the Easter weekend every year, moving from State to State in an anti-cloc...
The National Bug-In is the coming together of various Volkswagen Clubs in Australia to partake in a long weekend of camaraderie and friendly competition. The National Bug-In is hosted by a different state based VW Club over the Easter weekend every year, moving from State to State in an anti-clockwise direction.
The 1st Bug-In was organised by the then Volkswagen Australasia Pty Ltd in Albury, NSW, on the Australia Day Weekend, 1970. and only involved the NSW and VIC VW clubs of the day. In the following years SA attended and in 1973 was the first 'all States' Bug-In. In 2007 Tasmania joined this National event.
The 1st ever Bug-In consisted of a race meeting at Hume Weir race circuit, a grass motorkhana on the banks of the Murray River, a car trial and a social trip to Falls Creek snowfields in northern Victoria. This has been the one and only Bug-In, (so far) which has featured snow. . The following year the SA VW club attended, and 1973 was the first 'all States' Bug-In. You can read the old VW club magazines at the State Library of NSW - that's where I read up the history of it. My copies only go back to 1982.
The event is held primarily for the benefit of VW Club members and enthusiasts throughout Australia. The host VW Clubs stage each of the events on a voluntary basis. The events usually include a welcome get together, show and shine, MotorKhana and other motorsports events like Lapdash and Khanacross (although more recently motorsport has taken a back seat or dropped off due to cost and other constraints), presentation dinner, observations runs, convoys, farewell activities and in later years an extended tour that allows members to continue the celebration of the VW by touring in convoy on the much loved Australian pastime of the 'road trip'.
You can read the old VW club magazines at the State Library of NSW
The aim of this group is to gather informations regarding the history of the National Bug-In, share experiences photos and videos, promote upcoming and future National Bug-Ins and to bring all VW club members closer together as a group. Due to the popularity of show and shine events such as Day of the Volkswagen, Volksfest and the like, the Bug-In Car Show and Shine is open to all VW owners, not just members attending the Bug-In. Hopefully you will be interested enough to join a club and participate in this national event getting close to celebrating its 50th annual running
