VAG Fair. What the hell is a VAG Fair? This question crossed the minds of East Coast enthusiasts as the buzz began to build for this show's maiden voyage. So what's the answer?
Imagine seeing your favorite band at an intimate venue. Then imagine a BBQ with only your funniest, craziest friends. Subtract the band, add some cool VWs, add a pinch of Red Bull, a dash of style and blend for three minutes. Serve chilled. That's VAG Fair in a nutshell.
The "chef" responsible for this concoction is Cory Sterling (supercharged Mk3 Jetta, et 1/08), who could be the poster boy for creative, unique, hard working, "say anything" types everywhere. If you know Cory, you understand the idea behind his show.
He wanted something different; less commercial and more community-oriented, which is exactly what he achieved.
york Fairgrounds in Pennsylvania served as the backdrop for this Euro shindig on a sweltering August day. Don't worry about waiting to enter; just pay the small admission fee to the nice girls standing at the gate, grab a parking spot, walk 20 feet and presto! you're in the mix.
Small vendor tents lined the parking lot designated for show cars, so it was a perfect setup for checking out cars and getting a break from the sun as well.
The venue was far more intimate than larger shows and VAG Fair hopes to be the perfect little stepping stone between Waterfest and H2O, and ideal for those who are tired of the politics and hassle of large shows.
One of the objectives for VAG Fair was to get back to the roots of what makes the European car scene tick. It's really a simple equation: friends + fun + cars = sweet times. This theory was borne out not only by the crowd, but also by the awards themselves. Notably, the "Biggest Baller" award was shaped like a basketball and "Best Engine" was a fire truck - clever.
So, what's in store for next year? Cory hopes vendors like APR and AWE will return, along with 42DD, F Squared, Red Bull, B&G Suspension and more. He even has plans for fair rides, a hot air balloon, pin-up photo booth and more tech demos. "I want to offer people more to do than just stand around," Cory said.
Mission accomplished.