There was no reason for the Beunbazen to complain about a lack of interest when they presented their new association with several different cars on the KOE-veld during the Intro. It also resulted in quite a serious growth of their membership: “About twenty people showed an interest after they saw us at the Intro, and they probably want to join,” says chairman and initiator Harald List.

His love for cars was kindled at an early age. “My father is just as crazy about cars as I am. I knew all the different brands when I was four years old, and he taught me how to drive when I was eight - on an enclosed terrain, obviously. I’m mostly a fan of the more special brands - such as the army vehicle my father owns, a Steyr-Puch Haflinger. Repairing car parts gives me great satisfaction, to have to troubleshoot when something is broken and figure out how to fix it.”

When it comes to the Beunbazen, it all started a year ago when List, who is a TU/e Automotive student, started a Whatsapp group together with eleven other TU/e students. “I knew enough Automotive students who like to work on cars, and more students joined through a friend of mine who studies ID.” By now, the app group consists of 53 people - mostly TU/e and Fontys students. Another app group List had joined called itself Beunhazen (‘The Handymen’), and that’s why the new group was given the name Beunbazen, which is the association’s name by now as well. “New people join us every week. It’s great to see so much interest in this.”

Car fanatic

The Automotive student would prefer it if the members could work on cars in a shed, and to have regular meetings and excursions. “That is why we wanted an association; it offers more possibilities.” The car fanatic, who is currently restoring a 1973 Volkswagen Beetle, asked TU/e for possible financial support last academic year, but he received a negative response so far. “For a long time, we didn’t know how to even become an association and who we needed to approach for that at TU/e. We were eventually told that we could come back and try again after we had come up with a clear plan. This is something we want to discus in the near future.”

As far as List is concerned, the association will continue to exist, with or without support from TU/e. In August, he registered the association at the Chamber of Commerce and a notary’s office, where they are now known as Eindhovense Studenten Automobielen Vereniging ‘De Beunbazen.’ “It’s nice if you can help each other and exchange knowledge. In any event, we are going to look for a place where we can work - even if it’s just a couple of lock-up garages - as well as for a partnership with business companies.”

Are you interested in The Beunbazen? Contact them here. You don’t need to have a car to become a member. The association will organize an open evening at Heuts, park Forum 1031 this Thursday, starting at 19:00 hrs.