The one VW Camper that just wouldn’t start | Axon’s Automotive Anorak

18th September 2025

Gary Axon

You have to feel for Revival visitor Roger Clay and his family.

With his 1965 Volkswagen Type 2 Campervan packed full of family (including a six-month old grandchild, fresh in from a flight from Australia) and with a teardrop caravan trailer in tow, Roger and his crew drove down to Goodwood from Newark-On-Trent, via Heathrow Airport, to participate in the 2025 Revival’s daily Volkswagen Type 2 Track Opening Parade alongside around120 other pre-1966 VW T2s each morning.

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Roger’s two-tone 1965 T2 camper was parked up directly opposite GRR headquarters at the Motor Circuit. We saw his gleaming VW arrive, full of anticipation and people on the Thursday afternoon, ready for three days of action and fun out on the track each morning.

Come time for the first parade at 9am on Friday, Roger’s Volkswagen didn’t move as a throng of other Type 2s gathered in excitement. We spotted Roger with his VW’s rear bonnet up, fiddling with the engine as more than 100 other Type 2 slowly wended their way around the Goodwood track. He didn’t make the parade as his T2 camper just wouldn’t start.

For most of Revival Friday, Roger, plus a strong contingent of other Volkswagen-minded enthusiasts and mechanics, fiddled with his T2’s air-cooled engine, alas all to no avail. It still would not go.

By Saturday, Roger was hoping to be able to join the VW Parade for Day 2, but his camper still wouldn’t play ball and start. More puzzled looks and assistance under the engine cover, but despite lots of advice and support, the cursed VW’s engine still refused to start.

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Upon arriving back at GRR HQ bright and early for the final day of Revival on Sunday, the Volkswagen was still positioned in the exact spot where Roger had parked it up pre-event on Thursday. Once again, the many other Volkswagen’s neatly gathered for their 9am opening track parade, but sadly Roger’s green and white camper remained in place, with its motor still playing up.

Despite failing to make any of the daily track parades that he’d so been looking forward to being a part of, Roger and his family remained in surprisingly good spirits, having had a lovely time at the 2025 Goodwood Revival, watching some exceptional motor racing and enjoying the magical atmosphere, live music and period fashions.

Roger and family had previously been spectators six times or so, but were particularly looking forward to finally being a ‘participant.’ Alas, it was not to be. But this hasn’t put Roger off the event and he’ll definitely be back again in the future, though probably driving down from Newark to Goodwood in with either his trusted Triumph Stag or Jaguar XK100, rather than his temperamental supercharged Volkswagen Type 2 camper van.

Tickets to the 2026 Goodwood Revival are on sale now for 2025 ticket buyers and GRRC Members and Fellows. If you’re not already part of the GRRC, you can sign up today to seal your place at the 2026 Revival now before the end of this limited window.

Images courtesy of Gary Axon.