Symposium Champion - Claudius Van Der Graffe

Claudius Van Der Graffe has won the Dirigible Races two years in a row, 2012 and 2013, and in 2013 he also gain victory for best airship design.

Claudius has always been a crafter and a tinkerer, but it was around 2008 when his wife told him that what he was doing actually had a name . . . Steampunk! He considers his best skill to be observation, ”by that I mean the ability to look at an item or acquire a bit knowledge and apply it to a project sometimes years later.” Many are eager to see what modifications Van Der Graffe has made to his airship for 2013; “I am very much looking forward to my THIRD airship race win!” Back in 2012 he was actually surprised at his victory for the Circle City Aerodrome, “to be honest , I felt a sense of relief ! I had a goofy idea, little experience, and a limited budget.” Claudius just wanted to see his airship fly and go (for the most part) where he wanted. His victory “just made me want to do this more and get better.”

At first , Claudius was against having the Games at the Symposium, “I was afraid that it might diminish the spirit of camaraderie that we find in steampunk. I am pleased to admit I was wrong.” For newcomers to the Symposium he advices, “don’t take them too seriously, sign up and have fun. After all, Steampunk is a participatory fandom!”