International Women's Day: Meet The Women Of Just Kampers

Last Updated: Wednesday 6 August 2025
Originally Published: Thursday 11 March 2021

International Women's Day is on March 8th and celebrates women's achievements while calling for gender equality. It's a global event that encourages reflection on progress, calls for change, and celebrates the courage of women who have made a difference. In 2025, the theme is "Accelerate Action", emphasising the need for swift steps towards gender equality.

Just Kampers, a company specialising in VW campervan parts and accessories, also celebrates International Women's Day. They highlight the women within their team and their passion for classic vehicles, emphasising that anyone can get involved in the hobby, regardless of gender or experience. Just Kampers aims to inspire women to pursue their interests despite it being predominantly a male-oriented hobby. 

We sat down with Caz to talk about what led her to fall in love with VWs, how she joined the JK Team, and what role she thinks women play in the classic car scene.

Caz has worked for Just Kampers for over eleven years now, and there’s no doubt that Caz lives and breathes this company. She’s worked across multiple departments and now resides within the Sales Team. Caz’s husband, Shaun, is our Sales Director here at JK, and together they co-own a 1974 Bay Window camper named Doris, which they have lovingly shared for over 20 years. 

Caz has a background rich with experience of owning and maintaining classic cars; her parents shared a love for racing Imps, and so Caz has been exposed to the joys of mechanics ever since she was born.

When we discussed her history and relationship with classic cars, Caz spoke incredibly fondly of early memories with her parents. Her dad is very mechanically minded and practical, and her mum has always been very hands-on, so this magical combination led to a well-informed childhood.

Caz’s dad felt that with two girls in the house, he should make it his mission to ensure they’d learn the basics of maintaining their own cars. Every member of the household had their own overalls, and that says it all!

Caz’s love for cars was significantly broader in younger years; her devotion for VWs wasn’t discovered until she went travelling around Australia with Shaun. Whilst exploring Australia, they came across a load of VWs and owners, and it was at that point that they were sold on the dream!

Caz admits that they were both drawn by the cool status, the alternative lifestyle, and the people they met, and at that point, they really had no clue what they were getting themselves into! On their return to the UK, they purchased a T2 Bay window with a loan from Shaun’s Grandma, and that is how ‘Doris’ got her name.

They'd freely admit that Doris (the camper) wasn’t exactly a show winner. She displayed multiple colours of orange and pastel white and reeked of fuel by the time Shaun had made the journey back in her. And the plan was only for a viewing, yet they took her right away!

After a few tweaks to ensure she was safe, they enjoyed her as she was for some time. Later, Caz and Shaun embarked on her restoration in earnest, and Doris looks quite different these days.

Shaun’s dad was a mechanic, and so he imparted a wealth of knowledge and interest onto him as he grew up, which helped inform his interest and mechanical know-how later in life. It’s always been important to both Caz and Shaun that you should, where possible, have the know-how and be able to maintain the cars that you own.

The two found their lives fit together and then discovered the VW community, and the rest is history.

Caz has never been afraid to get stuck in and fix any issues which popped up with Doris. 

There’s wisdom and clarity in the way that Caz describes her relationship with her VWs. It hits the nail on the head for me. I have not felt the same after selling my VW. She said that cars and campers are a part of how she identifies herself. It sets you apart from the rest, makes a statement about who you are, in a way that has always appealed to her.

Caz told us that over the years, there has been pressure for them to sell, whether that be for financial or practical reasons. Like everyone, they’ve had difficulties, and at times, the most sensible thing would have been to say goodbye to Doris. Thankfully at different times, either of the pair has stubbornly resisted – Caz confessed that most often it’s been her!

She goes on to say that it’s hard to describe that connection to something that is effectively an accumulation of metal and mechanical parts. She’s even written about it. As a bit of an ode to VWs, this paragraph speaks volumes:

There really is something special about VWs, and it’s hard to describe the feeling you experience once you’re a part of the fun. But it runs deeper for Caz and Shaun; Doris drove them to their wedding and carried both of their children on their first camping holiday. Like an extra member of the family, she has been intrinsic to so many happy memories.

Once you own and cherish a classic vehicle, it becomes a much larger part of your life than you realise. It’s not just that you own your own classic camper, but once you start to maintain it yourself and you’ve done all the hard work to it, it becomes a way of demonstrating that you know how to do something unique and interesting.

When people come to talk to you about your vehicle, you feel a great sense of pride. Caz says that the classics, of which she admits being most fond, have had lives before you. You become a part of their history just as much as they become a part of yours.

Caz also told me that there are so many women that she admires and finds inspirational. At work or in the VW community, it’s those who challenge stereotypes in the most honest way by just living and enjoying their lives. Those who seek to support and share knowledge and time. 

Beyond that, it’s all about good people, and for Caz that’s people who evoke copious amounts of kindness, honesty, and integrity. She’s quick to mention that these are traits she values across the board! 

In terms of a favourite person (outside of her own family) - the type of person she’d like to be “when she grows up” is Mandy Roden (or mummy Mandy to Caz). I've never seen someone spoken about in such genuine awe.

Caz described Mandy as a woman with a genuine heart of gold who would do anything for anyone. Mandy’s first encounter with Caz was, strangely enough, via a customer complaint about a steering wheel…expertly sorted of course! But Mandy has since held a special place in Caz’s heart.

Our blog post on Granny Hayes, the Scottish grandmother who drove her Beetle through the gruelling 1955 REDeX Trial in Australia, was written by Caz, and it's a story she wanted to share more widely. 

She speaks with bounds of affection for the people that she has met over the years and the friends she has made. She believes the VW community is unparalleled elsewhere.

Caz is an incredibly unique woman who speaks from the heart and is honest about what she loves. She is living proof that owning and maintaining a vehicle as a woman is incredibly rewarding.

It’s an experience like no other and provides a chance for women to build their confidence and independence. Years of stereotyping and categorising hobbies have left the practice largely unexplored by the female population.

Hopefully, one day there will be more women with a passion for cars!

Gemma has worked at Just Kampers for over ten years and plays a significant role in the everyday mechanics of Just Kampers. I believe her hard work plays a vital role in progressing the company. 

Gemma owns a few different vehicles, including her 1972 VW Beetle, her 1984 T25 and her 1.4 yellow Lupo, which she uses as a daily. She has always had an interest in cars and motorbikes, and spoke fondly of memories of helping in her dad’s garage.

They had a Bay Window which they took everywhere, and she doesn’t remember it ever failing on them. She prefers working on the older stuff because she finds it a little more rewarding.

Volkswagen runs through Gemma’s family; she works at JK alongside her brother Tim, who also owns a few VW’s. Her parents and her partner all own VWs, and it’s not something that she would ever part from.

When Gemma isn’t working hard at JK or spending time with her kids, she’s working from home on environmental issues. This is something that truly resides with Gem, and she has a true passion for keeping the planet alive and beautiful. In her own time she works as a Surfers Against Sewage Area Rep, which is astounding; I don’t know how she uses her free time to focus on something so important.

I admire Gemma because, despite her love for VWs, she has put most of that on hold for the moment to focus on what she finds more important. When she decides to get back out in the VWs, she plans on travelling back to Belgium, Germany and France.

Gemma has never spoken negatively about being a woman in a ‘boys club’, her motto is “Have confidence and enjoy what you love, you will gain respect from what work you put into it,” and that’s an amazing perspective to have. Suggesting not to waste energy and effort on opinions that don’t matter or are just there to bring you down, because life is about focusing on what you enjoy.

She spoke about how she never feels that she can’t ask questions or make mistakes because she feels that within her circle, she’s treated the same as anyone else. Being a part of the VW community opens doors for people; you have the opportunity for new friendships and to learn things you wouldn’t have without it. And within the VW scene, you can find your place within it; no two members are the same!

So not only are VW’s beautiful vehicles, but the community around it offers a wealth of knowledge and friendship alongside the cars.

For the next part of our blog celebrating International Women’s Day, we’re talking to a couple of our lovely colleagues from JK’s Customer Service department. We’d particularly like to highlight Lorah and Leanne. 

To thrive in customer service, you need a high level of resilience and patience. Every day, these ladies answer calls with customers who are experiencing problems with parts, deliveries and other issues. During the height of the summer, the problems that need resolving often require more attention and come in higher volume, so you need to make sure you attend work with your head screwed on!

Lorah is our Customer Service Manager, a mum to two exemplary kids and a remarkably independent woman. She applies herself firmly but fairly and is incredibly headstrong and encouraging. Everyone knows how hard Lorah works; if ever she’s on holiday, she’s always reachable and still willing to help where she can.

Lorah has a passion for sport outside of work, netball in particular. She’s made reference to how important she feels that sport is to people, and feels it teaches important lessons like how to be part of a team and how to accept defeat. She also shares that passion with an aptitude for fishing, and used to spend time with her dad on fishing trips and so taking part in the sport on occasion takes her right back to childhood.

In the past, Lorah has been to a lot of car shows, having been with a partner who showed a significant interest in the automotive sector and was a member of many car clubs. Because of this, she feels that she knows a good number of women who take an interest in cars, but said it’s sadly still a very small minority. Lorah said that if she had the money put away, then she would buy a classic camper in a heartbeat.

When we spoke, Lorah and Leanne took the time to say how they feel about the car industry, and they concluded that they want more women in the sector. They said it’s important to teach the next generation that getting involved in certain hobbies isn’t prevented by stereotypes and genders. Everyone should have a level playing field and equal opportunity to get involved in what interests them!

They followed on by stating that young girls and boys should be taught that they can start from anywhere, and that they can do or be anything that they want to be! Apart from maybe Superman…

Leanne has worked for JK Customer Service for roughly two years, and she’s a highly valued member of the team. She has a brilliant attitude and is an inspiration to the JK Team. Many in the office have overheard important phone calls to courier companies, and her mixture of firm words and composure makes her a force to be reckoned with.

While Leanne may not attend car shows at the weekend, that doesn’t mean she doesn’t have a love for VWs. She co-owns two VW Golfs with her boyfriend, and hopes to one day get her hands on an MK3 Scirocco. Leanne is a determined young lady and would have no shame in following a hobby in classic cars if that were her muse. 

Leanne told us that her mum used to own two campers when she was younger, a T2 Bay and a Renault. She spoke fondly of memories that she treasures, of trips in the camper. She would spend time with her brother and mum on journeys to the coast and enjoy ice creams. Her mum’s Renault was a conversion, built so that she could use it for work as a mobile hairdresser, which I personally think is genius!

George is a treasured member of our Sales Team who has been a part of JK for many years. She works at JK alongside her husband Mike, who works in our warehouse at JK HQ, and always makes sure he has the same lunchtime as George.

George is a master of all things modern when it comes to Volkswagens, but certainly has a soft spot for the older VWs and has owned a few in the past. She now has a Fiesta ST and a Hymer Motorhome. George takes her job seriously and is an all-round wonderful person.

She’s spent her fair share of time in the motor trade and commented on the rise in women within the industry, but she still feels that there could be some improvement.

In the past, George has been known to spend time working on her vehicles and her friends are often impressed by how much she knows! She’s found the VW community to be a positive group to be a part of, and said that having an interest in cars has led her to encounter plenty of welcoming people.

George speaks positively about her time at Just Kampers; however, she wanted to talk about one thing. On very rare occasions, women on the sales team will sometimes be prompted with a question… “Can I speak to a man?”

The cheek!

She said it happens much less frequently these days, but every now and again, you’ll speak to someone who would rather their information comes from a man as opposed to a woman. Even though, no matter your source of information, you will receive the same answer from any member of the Sales department.

This can be frustrating, but George brought something to light. It’s often the times that you’re challenged that you have the opportunity to prove that you know what you’re talking about, and that is what George said she finds so satisfying about her job.

Inspiration is a fine thing, and George has spoken about a few people whom she considers extraordinary female role models. She made a point of saying that the women she finds most inspirational in the automotive industry are those who are working in a traditionally ‘male’ role.

Examples she included were Claire Williams, now known as Claire Harris (OBE), who worked as a British motorsport executive and is the former deputy team principal of the Williams F1 racing team. George also mentioned Ana Carrasco, who is the first woman in history to win a World Championship in solo motorcycle road racing.

A common theme amongst those women is that they are doing what they love without letting the worry of opinions direct their choices. Just because not many women do a certain thing doesn’t mean that women shouldn’t. If anything, an area of unexplored territory for women is a fine thing to get involved with because you’ll be making your mark on the world!

I’m certain that no woman working at JK would regret setting foot into the world of VWs, or regret exploring the hobbies that peaked their interest most. Maybe it’s time for more women to follow their true interests and make their mark.

If you’ve followed our Women of JK series so far, I’m sure you can see that the ladies here at Just Kampers are nothing short of exemplary; we work in a male-oriented market, and we work hard!

Being a woman in the automotive industry gives you an opportunity to learn something that is often unexpected of us as a gender, which is a shame, but with this comes opportunity…

A chance to change the expectations of the sector, to break stereotypes and to set an example for future generations. There shouldn’t be such a low number of women who maintain classics, own vehicles, or work in the industry. Cars are so interesting; there’s so much to learn and explore, but this hobby is often not marketed or presented as an opportunity to up to 50% of the population.

We wanted this blog series was to celebrate the female members of the JK Team for their incredibly hard work but to also celebrate the confidence they have, to enjoy their interest, despite it primarily being a male market.

And so, we at Just Kampers just want to say that we welcome anyone and everyone that wants to get involved with classic cars, we will always be happy to help answer questions no matter how complicated or simple; we are just a phone call or email away. No matter your level of previous experience, we will be happy to help inform you on how to complete a job on your beetle, or camper, and others, so just ask! (Or you may find that we’ve already answered your question via a one of our videos on our YouTube channel). 

It’s never too late to explore a new hobby. So if you’re a female or someone who has always dreamt of owning your own classic camper or beetle, but haven’t because you don’t think you know enough or because no one would understand it, just do it!

Seize the opportunity; life is short, don’t worry about anyone else, do what you want to do! And by extension, your initiative may inspire other others to get involved. We all have to start somewhere…