NCSC 2017 Wrap Up-Write Up
Year two was a wonderful meeting of the Sprinters and Transits. Eighteen vans (11 NCV3s , 4 T1s, 2 Transits and 1 Honda sedan camped at the gathering this year . Most vans were couples, two with kids in tow, a few solo drivers and a handful of dogs.
Some stayed, one night, most for two nights and a handful staying three or four nights. I camped for five nights arriving Wednesday to prepare and departing well rested Monday morning. Folks had a great time socializing, relaxing and participating in a few activities- most planned—some not (like burgers with bikers at Belden or the Boy Scout blitz)
Participants came from as far away as Southern California and Washington. Seven vans from 2016 came again for 2017. There were more Bay Area and Sacramento Valley participants in 2017. There are many forum members living 3-4 hours drive from Concow. It is a perfect weekend getaway drive from the Bay across the Valley into the Butte County foothills. Attendees come from a variety of backgrounds and age groups with this common bond of the Sprinter.
The emphasis of participation was Class B style conversions. Some factory build outs and mods and many DIY builds in various states of completion. The T1’s were the only model represented with all rigs completed. Gary J , Thanasis, John from Chico, and Snale. Most would argue a rig is never completely complete, even after a dozen years.
4WDs were in solid representation. Four factory, Craig’s Whitefeather Conversion, and Eric’s 2017 Transit conversion fresh from Portland en route to Tahoe.
We’d all like to see some Class C’s next year, Westies, more Sportmobiles. It is amazing the variety of rigs that are on the Sprinter chassis, though I am thrilled the Class Bs and DIY’rs are attending in force.
There was ingenuity and adaptation of forum ideas in most rigs. All rigs were camp ready machines with specialized personal focus-- be it biking, beach bumming, rockhounding, skiing, work/play crossover or love of 80-20 aluminum
And camping, using the rigs as they are designed, rather than hanging out in a parking lot for the day is something attendees stated was most enjoyable. After a couple days people were comfortable enough to climb under one another’s rigs. It was great fun to see these builds in real life. The forum typeface threads, comments and “Thanks” morphed in to real world discussions around the campfire or a meal.
The potluck was a great way for everyone to literally bring something to the table. Next year, 2018, we’ll do a single potluck on Friday as a meet and greet. Sunday’s pancake breakfast was a nice way to wrap up the campout so that’s a go for 2018.
Saturday’s music was a blast of Northern California flavor with the soaring guitar and funky jams of Gravybrain. I was tickled to discuss some of the songs we played at length the following day. Live music through the trees is one of my favorite sounds as far as music venues go. Next year’s music will probably be a semi-ruckus sounding jug band from Oroville. Followed by Sprinter Jeopardy, where once again, we had a good laugh and learned a thing or two.
The weather was a touch below average autumn temps. This did not curtail the campers. A welcome ¼ of rain fell Thursday and a bit of a mild low pressure blew through overnight. Those who camped Thursday are probably still finding pine needles in the darndest places.
One aspect of the October campout is our rigs are ready for a little snap of weather, though it’s usually in the 70s-50s. Friday night fell to upper 30s and most turned in before 10pm. By Sunday evening the Diablo desert winds returned from the east and it was 60 overnight.
Saturday’s rally to Belden had nine vans gliding up the granite laden Highway 70. Belden Town is a funky early 20th Century rail resort that today is a Pacific Crest Trail junction, resort, general store and watering hole for passersby and ebikers (smiles). I’d like to find another destination for the 2018 rally, but you have to venture much farther up canyon to the next POI’s that can accommodate the iron tent entourage. My buddies at the Forest Service had no suggestions on spots. Going to check with the power company 2018 who have some interesting works up there.
The T-Shirts were a hit. They were sold just over cost which covered the door prize tees and sticker printing.
If anybody wants a couple stickers, please PM me and I will mail them out gratis.
Activities aside, I personally enjoyed our time together, meeting all of you and our one on one conversations. Coordinating things was a bit easier the second time around allowing me to enjoy some socializing amongst the to dos. Thank you all for keeping the site clean and stepping in when help was needed. I learned some things year one and for year two had no sponsors which simplified the legged work. The grass roots approach has worked. The camp fees went to the appreciative Lake Concow Campground.
And thank you GaryJ for passing the hat raising donations which covered the cost of the band and some supplies. It’s not about the money, it’s for fun and I have a great time putting the NCSC together and own the production gear for such an event. But it was cool to have the event net cost under a couple hundred bucks. That’s less than a ticket to Barbara Streisand or Burning Man. In a nutshell, I could host the NCSC indefinitely with such low overhead.
NCSC is promoted primarily on the Sprinter Forum. Big thanks to the forum for making something like this possible and a snap to share with Sprinter enthusiasts.
Thank you all for participating and hope to see even more of you all next year NCSC III, October 18-21, 2018
There is enthusiasm for regional events. I hope others are inspired to host or attend regional Sprinter rendezvous across the globe.
Thanks and Drive on.
Dale