SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - Since the 2023 closure of Sacramento Raceway Park on Excelsior Road, and the end of the Bugorama, fans of classic and custom Volkswagens have had fewer opportunities to find their wheels of choice gathered in large numbers.

But for bus people, the twice-yearly gathering of the Society of Transporter Owners (SOTO) helps to fill the gap, bringing VW fans together to compare rides and talk shop. The club lives for split-window buses, vans, campers, trucks and specialty vehicles, from family haulers to rigs for tradespeople and emergency crews.

 

This 13-window Deluxe model has flip-up “safari” windows in front and extra corner windows in the rear.

The free March 29 gathering in Carmichael will include resurrected barn- and field-finds, lucky survivors and meticulously restored classics. And these are cherished vehicles with plenty of history.

The SOTO gathering allows only split-window transporters, those from 1950 to 1967. After that, Volkswagen began with the “bay-window” model, whose flatter face wasn’t quite as cartoon-friendly-looking.

The SOTO members’ air-cooled, rear-engined rides can range from original low-horsepower flat-four motivation on up to bored-out, custom 100-plus-horsepower mills that add a good dose of oomph. Some owners also modify their suspensions and swap their original transmissions for “freeway-flyer” gearing so they can keep up with traffic.

 

This early Volkswagen’s panel advertises a fishing shop.

One big thing these days is VW vans with original shop logos on the sides. Windowless vans allowed for billboard-size ads for tradespeople and delivery drivers, and transporter enthusiasts are always on the lookout for original paint. In Carmichael, there might even be a VW fire truck, an ambulance or a ladder truck (bring the kids.)

The SOTO meet happens from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, March 29 at Milagro Centre, 6241 Fair Oaks Blvd. in Carmichael.

Stop by early and wander the rows. Praise the patina. Have a look inside. You might catch a whiff of wet dog and scorched oil. Tell the club members about that old bus your cool uncle once had. Buy a T-shirt.