let me tell you about a man and his van

a while back a friend of ours and fellow vanner
got a van
not his first van, and more than likely not his last
this is what it looked like when he got it
more of the story as we go

he did some work to it like motor swap,paint and interior







now your thinking...
wow nice van, nice work, alot of effort and great results
....well then came KATRINA , and the van had to be left behind
FOUR blocks from the first levee that broke!
the van was under around 10 feet of water!
and THIS is the heartbreaking sight he came home to find



he had to also leave behind everything he owned including
this nice nova (he gave to a friend when he returned
and is now a drag car called "katrina's revenge"


everything he owned was gone



but even after all that destruction and loss
he chose to keep the van, got a new home, and started all over again


a whole lotta cleaning up later
came another motor swap


started over on the inside




and now?





he's planning paint before thanksgiving!
and is another perfect example of how
ya just can't keep a good vanner down!
he's also got a pretty damm cool radio flyer

and thats leadfoots story of the week
and i'm very proud to be able to share this story with you
and to have our friend and vanner Greg from new orleans among us
Van oN !  
it really is... a VAN thing!

That has got to be the saddest and best story at the same time i've read!!!! Van On Bro!!!!  

i got lots of great story's like this
and i've been looking forward to being able to share this one watching his progress
it's a van thing
happy to share  
it really is... a VAN thing!

Well, anytime youre ready to tell us a Good story, Post Up please!!

Wheat  

this will be the front emblem on this van
very fitting!
 
it really is... a VAN thing!

Awesome story with a sweet bowtie ending. He didnt just hold out his hand after the storm he did something, that Van is very symbolic of the folks who are 'still' going through surviving that disaster. Great story LF and Van oN Greg/New Orleans.

Goat  

Greg lost an Nova also.The van was were his hart was at.
Allot of times we take the simple things in life for granted.Mother nature has a way of snapping us out of our complacency.
Great story Leadfoot keep them comming.......

.........Wookee  


its a "Van Thing" a life style you have to live to understand

Thanks for the awesome pictorial storytelling! From the headline, I thought it was going to be a humorous tale. It is incredible someone who has lost so much, gone through so much, can find it in themselves to show their strength. In this case by fixing up what would appear to many to be a van damaged beyond repair. Kudos. (and I don't mean the candy bar. But those are good too! I think I made myself hungry.)  

That's a great story Lead-foot! Thanks for sharing it with us.

I too was surprised that he's restoring the van. I had heard that a vehicle damaged by water to that extent could not be restored.

Thanks again and good luck to Greg!  
----- Mathieu -----

"Electric Avenue", my '79 Ford.

well folks... remember this man and his van?
.....both still alive and currently paint is drying
 
it really is... a VAN thing!

It looks great with those Corvette wheels!

Great story!  
----- Mathieu -----

"Electric Avenue", my '79 Ford.