News Archive

News Archive


Hello! I’m Adrian John, and although you probably wouldn’t believe it for a moment, I actually own a Bongo! Yes, it’s true! (Ask Ian!)

Just because you haven’t heard from me since 1988 doesn’t mean I haven’t been busy! Oh no. For a start I have to keep the Bongo archives in order. And also, I have to present my regular show on Saga Radio!

Parp! Parp!

28/02/24: Stourport

We have set up a dedicated Bongo Bash 2024 page.


27/02/24: Meetings

Booking for the Tough Northerners meeting in Cumbria has now closed and a waiting list is in operation. Booking for the Southern Softies meeting in the Thames Valley go on sale this Thursday. Full details in the members area.


23/02/24: Glowplug Failure

Tony has been in contact with a Top Tip.


19/02/24: TfL

Transport for London have changed the method used to register for a Low Emission Zone exemption and the “LEZ” factsheet in the members area This does not apply to ULEZ.


11/02/24: Scotland Meeting

The “Bongo Owners Scotand” Facebook Group have arranged a meeting in September in Dumfries & Galloway. All welcome. Further details in the members area.


08/02/24: Southern Bongo

There’s another one on the For Sale page.


04/02/24: Now Booking

We have 18 Bongos booked for the Tough Northerners meeting in Cumbria so far. Full details in the members area.


30/01/24: ABS

There’s a new query in the Bongo Clinic. The ABS fact sheet has also been updated in the members area,


26/01/24: You’re Fired?

There’s a new query in the Bongo Clinic.


21/01/24: Sunday Morning Job

I have revised the “Starter Motor” factsheet in the members area


18/01/24: Stourport

Price & availability has been announced for the UK National Bongo Bash in June. Full details in the members area.


14/01/24: Review Completed

I’ve finished checking the links and files in the members “Databases and Downloads” section.


10/01/24: Thames Valley

Price & availability has been announced for the Southern Softies meeting in May. Full details in the members area.


07/01/24: Members Area

The password to enter the members area has now changed. An email should be in your inbox this morning, if not check your trash/spam.


03/01/24: More Things To Do On Yet Another Wet Day

I have rewritten the “European Travel  Driving Guide” factsheet in the members area


31/12/23: Things Can Only Get Better

Happy New Year to Bongonauts everywhere!


22/12/23: Out Of Production

I tried to order some more front anti roll bar brackets but they are no longer available. I have updated the relevant page on the Forum.


19/12/23: Latest Club Newsletter

Edition 81 of our quarterly newsletter is now available for download from the members area. If you are a webplus or postal member you will receive a copy in the post shortly. Melanie Sykes makes an appearance!


14/12/23: Manchester Clean Air Zone

Good news for Bongonauts, but bad news for asthmatics! Mayor Andy Burnham has announced that the Greater Manchester CAZ will not go ahead, although the final decision is up to Westminster. See here for further details.


07/12/23: Monthly Email Update

Due to unforeseen circumstances there is no December members update. The password remains unchanged. Normal service will be resumed next month.


04/12/23: Dalston, Cumbria

Price & availability has been announced for the Tough Northerners meeting next April. Full details in the members area.


29/11/23: Roof Switch

Geoff Mather has produced a short video on cleaning the open/close switch on the Auto Free Top. The link has also been added to the AFT factsheet.


27/11/23: Finished

The Bongo Clinic Archives have now all been reformatted to make them easier to read.


26/11/23: More Insurance

Howden is the new name for grey-import specialists A-Plan so we have added their details to the insurance page.


22/11/23: Near Carlisle

The venue has been announced for the Tough Northerners meeting next April. Full details in the members area.


19/11/23: Insurance

Some of our newer members have obtained reasonably prices insurance via VW specialists Just Kampers so we have added their details to the insurance page.


18/11/23: Dorset Bongo

There’s another one on the For Sale page, this time in Bournemouth


07/11/23: Office Closed

I’m taking a short break and the office will close at 12.30pm today and will reopen on Monday 20th November. No membership applications, renewals, queries or parts orders can be processed until then.


01/11/23: Leicester & Cambridge

There’s 2 more additions to the “Rust Directory” in the members area


29/10/23: Bongo Clinic Archives

These are in the process of being reformatted to make them easier to read. There’s over 20 years worth of information in these pages and I have checked the first 3 pages up to “External Accessories”.  Now I’m having a break.


25/10/23: Wiring Diagrams

These are now available to download from the members area. They are now also available from Bongoland on a memory stick.


20/10/23: Things To Do On A Wet Day

I have rewritten the “Euro Driving Guide” factsheet in the members area


17/10/23: Dates for Your Diaries

The booking dates for our 2024 meetings have been announced and you will find them in the Rallies & Meetings section in the members area.


12/10/23: A Mystery

We pride ourselves on being able to track down even the most obscure Japanese paint colours. But this one has got us stumped. Anyone know what 12D is?


10/10/23: Oldest & Newest

Additions have been made to the “History” factsheet in the members area


07/10/23: Password

The password to enter the members area has now changed. Check your email in-box.


06/10/23: Meetings Update

If you have received the quarterly club newsletter in the post a wrong date was given for next year’s Bongo Fest South West. Online versions of the newsletter are not affected. The correct dates should be 12 to 15 September. See our club meetings page for more information.


04/10/23: Hanging Up His Spanners

News has come in that Allans Vehicle Services will be closing at the end of the month. More details on the Forum.


24/09/23: Major Revision

We have rewritten the “Starter Motor” factsheet in the members area


21/09/23: Changing The Oil

We have revised the “Oil” factsheet in the members area


20/09/23: Latest Club Newsletter

Edition 80 of our quarterly newsletter is now available for download from the members area. If you are a webplus or postal member you will receive a copy in the post shortly.


07/09/23: Looe

Booking for the Bongo Fest South West has now ended. We have 34 booked in. See our club meetings page for more information.


22/08/23: Have You Got 20 Minutes To Spare?

Then why not watch this seriously good video about overnighting in a Bongo


20/08/23: In The Zones

I have now incorporated the letter from Mazda (see below) in to the LEZ and Clean Air Zones factsheets in the members area


17/08/23: ULEZ etc

London’s Ultra Low Emissions Zone has been in the news recently as it will be extended to all boroughs so I thought I would republish the letter I received from Mazda last year which you can view here. Don’t blame me.


08/08/23: A Known Turbo Issue

Some additional info has been added to the Wastegate factsheet in the members area


01/08/23: Places Still Available

We still have a few pitches available for Looe at the end of September. We have also confirmed the venue and dates for next year’s Bongo Fest South West. See our club meetings page for more information.