Our Bongo The Silver Surfer: Richie and Jo

A Bongo is more than a vehicle its a way of life

Mazda Bongos and Ford Freda are made by the same company, they were manufactured for the Japanese domestic market and only imported to the UK as second hand grey imports. They were manufactured between 1995 and 2003, ours is a “new shape” 2000 model. Most are automatic and come with an elevating roof ("Auto Free Top"). Ours is a flat top (Bongolow) and not an AFT, but has been converted into a mushroom roof (bigger and opens to the side). Our conversion was done in the UK by the dealer who imported the Bongo. The conversion includes the roof, kitchen, electrics and the seat/bed conversion in the main van. All four of us can sleep comfortably in the Silver Surfer although we also have an awning for extra room.

Bongos in Japan are used by workers who drive once a week to their place of work and sleep in the vans and return home for the weekend. There is virtually no domestic used car market in Japan as the culture prefers new to used. With a 60mph speed limit and the best public transport system in the world, their cars have approx 50% less on the clock than equivalent UK vehicles, their cars don’t rust either as they don't use salt on their roads. Ours has done 46000 miles and one member on the Bong Fury website has clocked up 137500 miles in his.

Bongos are sold at huge dockside auctions in Japan, and many are then exported to the UK, New Zealand and Russia. Camper vans are now more popular than ever in the UK, Bongos are a little smaller than VW camper vans and like them they can be used for daily trips and well as holidays. They are very versatile and cheap to tax and insure. We love our silver surfer and as long as we look after it we hope to have lots of fun in it.

Memorable Gigs, Films, Albums and Dates

Dreadzone Bristol Trinity Centre 04/12/2010
Primal Scream Olympia London 26/11/2010
Lamer Tree Festival 16-07-09 (Richard Thompson, Dreadzone headliners)
Glastonbury 26,27,28 June 2009 Best bands Dreadzone, Blur, Neil Young and Dodgy
Oasis Millennium Stadium 12-06-09
Super Furry Animals Sub 29 27-05-09
Eric Clapton Royal Albert Hall 26-05-2009
Australian Pink Floyd CIA 12-04-09
The Prodigy CIA 05-04-09
Elbow Newport Centre 12-03-09
Dreadzone Orange Box Yeovil 09-05-2009 (Jen had her picture taken with spee)
Dreadzone Narberth 06-12-2008 (Met the band in a pub)
Dreadzone Jazz Cafe Camden 04-12-2008
Dreadzone The Globe 22-11-2008
Primal Scream Cardiff University 21-11-2008
Neon Neon Millenium Centre 02-11-08
Oasis CIA 24-10-2008
Manic Street Preachers Newport Centre 21-08-08
Madonna Millenium Stadium 30-07-2008 (£70 and she played 2 hits)
Australian Pink Floyd CIA 12-07-08
Glastonbury 27,28,29 June 2008 Best bands
The Beat The Point 30-03-08
Dreadzone the Point 12-03-2008 (first time we saw Spee)
Manic Street Preachers CIA 06-12-2007
Glastonbury 2007
John Martyn 22-01-2007 (played all of Solid Air, died soon after)
Roxy Music ExCel 22-07-2006 Jeff showed round the tube system and Strider went walking around the docks until 4-30 am
Muse CIA 12-11-2006 (Jen came back from CP early)
Roger Waters Hyde Park London 01-07-2006 Went with the Smiths and travelled 1st class
The Eagles Millenium Stadium 25-06-2006
The Waterboys Colston Hall 31-01-2006 (expensive taxi)
Oasis Millennium Stadium 10-12-2005
The Prodigy CIA 27-11-2005
U2 Vertgo Tour Millenium Stadium 29-06-2005
The Australian Pink Floyd CIA 10-04-2005
The Levelers The Coal Exchange 07-04-2005
Tsunami Appeal Millennium Stadium 22-01-2005 (We know why were here lets get f******* on with it , the Manics)
Bob Dylan CIA 18-06-04 (We ran out of money and had to scrounge drinks off Lou and John)
Eric Clapton Royal Albert Hall 11-05-2004 (He is God)
Hawkwind The Coal Exchange 29-04-2004
The Who CIA 10-06-2004 (First ever gig I have experienced cognitive dissonance)
The Flaming Lips CIA 26-10-2003
Super Furry Animals Newport Live Arena 15-10-2003 (last gig I saw with Dai)
Rolling Stones Twickenham 24-08-2003
Wales v Italy (Euro 2004) 16-10-2002 (we won)
Morcheeba Students Union 28-09-2002
Super Furry Animals CIA 20-12-1999 (One of my best gigs went with Dai, fantastic surround sound)
Massive Attack CIA 07-12-1998
Prodigy CIA 07-12-97
The Prodigy Newport Centre 18-10-1996
Dreadzone Students Union 11-03-1996 (Jen was 7 months pregnant and had to leave as the bass was too heavy)
The Levelers Newport Centre 28-09-96
Oasis CIA 19-03-1996
Oasis Earls Court 04-11-1995
The Stone Roses Rivermead Reading 11-12-1995
Stone Roses 4-12-1995
David Bowie CIA 27-11-95
Black Grape Students Union 30-09-1995
REM Cardiff Arms Park 23-07-1995
Landaff Rowing Club Summer Festival 27-08-1994
The Watermelons Hayes Alive 08-08-1994
Primal Scream Cardiff University 07-04-1994 (just met Jen but had already got a ticket so she didn't come along)
U2 Zooropa Tour Cardiff Arms Park 18-08-1993
Fleadh Finsbury Park 12-06-1993
The Watermellons Blaenllechau Radical Club 15-01-1993
The Shamen Newport Centre 20-03-93
Billy Idol Wembly Arena 22-12-1990
Simple Minds Cardiff Arms Park 05-08-1989
REM Wembley 22-06-1989
REM Newport Centre 18-05-1989
June 1988 moved into Cyfarthfa Street. Spent all summer knocking off the plaster and gutting the house.
Frank Zappa Birmingham Arena 22-02-1988
Glastonbury June 1987 (£21) It rained a lot I went up with Tate and Andy met Mark Jacky and Al. Best band the Bundu Boys who are all dead now.In December of this year I bought my Honda CG125 from Jack.
Glastonbury June 1986 (£12) Went in a transit van with Tate and the Poets lot. Met Jen, Tess and Ruth. Best band Waterboys
Roxy Music Wembly Arena 24-09-1982

Our Bongo The Silver Surfer

Sunday, 4 July 2010

Richie and Jo

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