There is much on deck for ACFL fans in the up coming seventh month of the year, or at least called that according to the Romans and prior to the two Caesars, Julius and Augustus, when they had, as originally conceived, only ten month years. I vaguely recall from Latin class, the other two months, Intercalaris, when not much was happening in agriculture, saw the Romans watching circuses at the coliseum and living off the dole as was called the bread supplied to keep all content. It should also be mentioned I failed first year Latin.
Ah but back to the future, the World Endurance Championship at COTA (Circuit of The Americas) in Austin, Texas with an Audi motorsport experience in full operation is on the books. This will provide all not just a great time and venue, Andy Sattler and his crew truly put on world-class experiences, but due to the hospitality suite experiences popularity, there exists an opportunity to relive shark week again. I am sure there will be the usual feeding frenzy for tickets, which are always in great demand and have accompanied these types of events since 2011 at Sebring. Audi race fans have your PC’s warmed up, on line and be ready to press enter. If you have yet to make your reservations in Austin, plan to pay dearly for lodging close to the track. As a heads up, do not forget that Daytona and Sebring will most likely be on the schedule again. It is probably not a bad idea to check the dates for these events and do likewise regarding reservations.
A lot closer to home, the Gulf Coast Region will have its annual meet at the Audi Technical Center in Clearwater with our local AoA team giving a presentation. Along with Sebring, Daytona, LeMans, and the drives, this is another of our premier events, affording those who plan to participate access to some very interesting vehicles and timely information. To round out the month, on September 28, the Citrus Region will be having its third meet this year, which is a luncheon at Flagler Beach. Make sure to give Patrick at [email protected] a shout for additional information and reservations.
October has the Lake Mirror Classic, in our sights. Jim Vandercrake is checking on possible group parking for Saturdaythe 19th. Information will be out on this for our next newsletter. Should you not be able to join us on Saturday, this is a three-day event of classic cars, boats, and motorcycles in a Florida town also known for numerous examples of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture. Even if it is still a bit warm outside, this is a very cool event.
Walter reports that work continues on our second drive of the year scheduled for Sunday November 10. As many of you have requested, this will give those who have to work on Saturdays a chance to join us. At this stage of the planning, thoughts are having the Gulf Coast Region starting at IKEA in Tampa and others starting in Orlando to meet at the Yalaha Bakery for a quick pit stop, and then drive on into Mt Dora to meet folks who may be coming from Daytona and Jacks. A luncheon at a German restaurant is in store at the Bavarian Haus. Since the last newsletter a couple of us have had to check this restaurant out and all reports are that it is very good and for what we have had quite authentic. For additional information or if you wish to assist in running this event, contact Walter at [email protected].
Table of Contents
Down the Road
Event Listing
ACNA & Chapter News
Other Items in the News
Classifieds and Audi Tradition
As Seen/Members’ Photos
Sunday Drives
…but then there’s more
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September 7, Our fifth annual tour of the Audi Technical Center in Clearwater. In the past, and as those who have attended can attest, this has always been a very informative experience, often with guest speakers and always an opportunity to see first hand, some of Audi’s behind the scenes operations. Once again, we have plans for at least one and possibly two guest speakers and presentation from AoA.
September 28, luncheon at Flagler Beach for the Citrus Region
October 2nd- 6th The 29th Frank Beddor National Event in Nashville. This year’s event has numerous and varied activities planned, which should appeal to many additional folks and families than the more track-oriented nationals in years past.
October 18th-20th, Lake Mirror Classic, Lakeland
November 10th Drive and Luncheon This is our first Sunday event to allow those who work on Saturdays (Especially some of you Brand Specialists) to participate. Destination, Trip-Tiks, and details to be announced shortly.
November 16-17 The Audi Club of Georgia is hosting a 2-Day Driving School at Atlanta Motorsports Park
December 7th Toys for Tots, Reeves Motorsports
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Gulf Coast Region
[email protected]
September 7, 2013, Audi Technical Center Tour
Clearwater FL 9:00 AM, Audi Technical Center
Please RSVP to [email protected] by September 6, 12:00 PM in order that we can plan for donuts.
Palm Beach Region
[email protected]
Citrus Region (Orlando)
[email protected]
September 28, 2013, 12:00 PM, luncheon Golden Lion’s top deck, Flagler Beach
http://www.goldenlioncafe.us/location.asp
ACFL Events in Florida
October 19
Lake Mirror Classic Lakeland FL
November 10
Sunday Drive – Sugarloaf Mountain to Mt. Dora
Driving Events with Performance Driving Group
September 7th – Palm Beach International Raceway
September 28th – Homestead Miami Speedway
Contact David Loppert for details: [email protected]
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Elections for the Board of Directors, Audi Club of Florida
We had four openings on the ACFL Board of Directors. Pete Zajac, who has been on the BoD since 2007, and obviously will remain a member of the club but due to other commitments, has decided not to run again for office. During the last six years, his support, involvement, and hard work have made a difference. On behalf of the chapter, board and I, Pete, thanks for helping to make it happen.
Three board members expressed an interest in continuing on the BoD. Andreas, David, and Frank, thank you. In addition, Shannon Tillman who is from the Tallahassee area has expressed an interest in serving and we welcome her to the BoD. These terms in office will continue through December 2015. Trish and Walter continue as directors through the expiration of their terms, which end in December 2014.
ACNA S5 Raffle
We need to reach the 75 mark if we are to receive some financial assistance from the ACNA. For clubs our size if we reach that mark, we will receive $1000, which is used to pay for web sites, domains and in support of our events. In view of the fact that as a chapter, we do not require any membership dues this is one of the few ways we can receive funds. So support the chapter and give yourself a chance at an S5. Andreas at [email protected], has tickets available and will give you all the details. A thank you, goes out to all who have already purchased raffle tickets, your support is appreciated. It would be great if one of our members won the car.
Spend $50 to save $3,000 on a $50,000 MSRP Audi
If you have been an ACNA member in good standing for six months, you will be eligible for a 6% discount from MSRP on the purchase of certain Audi models. Yes, a few of the usual suspects have been excluded, the R8, RS5, TTRS, and a few others, but check out the details at ACNA Membership Benefits. If you plan to be in the market for a new Audi, it literally pays and saves to be an active member of the ACNA. Just do the math on the Audi of your dreams.
Welcome Aboard
Welcome to our new ACNA members. Our membership numbers are once again growing which means additional critical mass in different regions of the state and hopefully more events and participation. Those of you who are new to the ACNA will receive an on boarding note from David Loppert, if you have; any questions feel free to drop either David [email protected] or me [email protected] a line. I also suggest that if you have not had a chance yet check out both the ACNA website, and the Audi Club of Florida website. There is a great deal of good information plus some excellent photos of member’s cars.
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And now for the numbers
Thirty-one consecutive months of sales increases, quite a run, but these figures need to be viewed from the prism of real world competition. In July 2012 there were 1.819 BMW’s sold for each Audi. In July 2013 that figure was 1.886 BMW’s sold per Audi. Simply stated, not are they selling more BMW’s than Audis but the ratio is heading south for Audi. In addition, that ratio also expresses itself in market share as compared to the competition. For year to date in 2012 it was 1.924 BMW’s per Audi and in 2013 it is 1.883 BMW’s per Audi. Therefore, Audi to date has still shown improvement from last year but at the rate of decline over the last few months, it will not be long before we are back at 1.9 and above for each BMW sold to Audi. It is not what folks say they want but what they will put cold hard cash down on and purchase.
The Audi numbers are heading south when compared to the competition no matter how much a particular Audi is toted as being the latest and greatest in demand by some generational or economic group. Perhaps it is a flawed thought process, similar to that behind the decision to drop the A4 Avant. In its waning years, the Avant sold less than the new allroad, but what was marketing doing? To add insult to injury BMW has reintroduced the three series wagon and with a diesel option. Being a wagon fan, I of course have already checked that one out and frankly, and it pains me to say, it is a nice car.
Possibly Preaching to the Choir?
This almost says it all regarding the RS7: RS7 AOL Road Test, and hang on for the ride.
Congress Catching 40 Winks
It does not take much to find that group asleep at the switch but the boys and girls at Herndon arose early for this TDI (Tea Democrats Included) Party. Good thing they were not submitting paper work to obtain some 401 (C) tax status with a name like TDI Party, someone in Cleveland might have gotten it confused and held it up for a year or two. Audi TDI Party After reading this and watching the Green Police Super Bowel commercial, not sure, if AoA is testing the waters in the arena of political satire.
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If you have a special Audi such as one of the S or RS models or a pre 2000 that you would like to sell, we will list it once in the newsletter. I will need the year, model, color over interior color, and your email address. Longer and non-member postings can be placed in the website. We will also list DKW, NSU, and Wanderer motorcycles. If you are looking for a particular car, once again S, RS or pre 2000 model plus a bike, we will also try to accommodate you here.
For Example: Wanted: Wanderer or DKW motorcycle of motorbike pre 1950 [email protected]
You can also use the Classifieds Forum on the Audi Club of Florida web site.
Tributes to Bernd Rosemeyer
Excellent read, Bernd Rosemeyer article in Heming’s Motor News and a moving film tribute to Bernd Rosemeyer
1937 Grand Prix Season in English
Interesting, other than a few new buildings and Armco Barriers, Monte Carlo does not seemed to have changed much.1937 Grand Prix Season
Short film on Auto Union
No sound and titles are in German on this short clip, but some great racing and manufacturing shots, just check out that bank of eight cylinders on that V16. Auto Union Here is some “Truth in Engineering” at its highest level and 70 years prior to the slogan.
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S5 Cabriolet |
Bob Greving contributes this month’s picture, with this description: Here is a photo of an Audi AG loaner S5 Cabrio on a grey, rainy, and raw January 2012 morning outside Nürnberg. The car is at the Norisring on the Beuthener Straßer, which is part of the DTM track, and the photo is looking to the south-southeast. Those are some of the grandstands in the background. Two days later; I had this car at well over 200 Kph on the A1 south of Vechta on my way to a very early meeting with a fellow ACFL member. Exceeding 200 Kph on M&S tires is not recommended according to a sticker on the dashboard to the left of the steering wheel. Driving that speed, which is way beyond one’s headlights, can be a bit nerve racking and in a Cabrio to boot.Breakfast was at an Autohof (rest stop) on the A45 near Siegen and I was running a little late. When I had left Vechta around 3:30 AM, there were still folks out partying and singing in the streets.
Have a picture of your car or some news you’d like to share? Send your photo to Walter Moore [email protected]
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Adventures and Drives taken with your Audi
Audi TTs at the Southernmost Point |
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For want of a nail or is it a bridge too far?
I have to say that during the last 18 months, my 2012 A7 has had only two issues, which is in itself fantastic. One was within three miles of the dealership on the day of taking delivery and now the second some seven thousand plus miles later There was once a time when my wife said, we have gotten to know the service manager so well, should we add him to our Christmas card list? What an unbelievable difference, a period of 13 years makes in the quality improvements of the Audis we drive.
I just dropped off Cindy, all cars should, as in the Pantheon of Immortals, have names. Some are affectionate, others relate to particular idiosyncrasies and yet others have seriously darker and more sinister connotations. One of my Audis was called the Old Gal, not my idea but she was silver and had a few miles behind her. My wife related to that considering the color of her hair and I will just leave it at that. Another seemed to have had an occasional sweet smell on cold winter mornings. Not sure, if it was antifreeze or something even more deadly, perhaps you can imagine what that 1988 5000S was called, but back to Cindy.
On a couple of mornings upon starting Cindy, the transmission warning light would come on, now I had to look that one up as I had never run across it before. It happened again the other day when I started it. Tried to start it again and the engine caught but the starter never stopped. Now in the days of ring gears and starters with and without Bendix gears (both still exist), one never wanted the starter to be cranking while the engine was running. As I recall, one physically had to make that happen. One pulled or pushed a button on the dash, stepped on a knob on the floor to the left of the clutch (not to be confused with the high and low beam switch) or turned an ignition key an additional click to the right. Not now, and if your Audi is so equipped, it is all electronic and by remote control from your remote starter key fob sitting in your pocket or purse, foot on the brake and the depressing of a button beside the console gearshift. The problem was the starter never stopped; it kept cranking away with an awful sound of a ring gear being ground, as I frantically pushed the start/stop button. I wanted to get the car out of the garage so if it kept cranking, and the starter melted down, at least I was outside. There was no sense taking the house with the car. I can only think it must have looked like some old Harold Lloyd movie only it was not a silent because of the numerous expletives’ deleted, as I franticly attempted to move the car and get the starter switched off.
Come to find out the problem is the key or at least that is what I was told, and there has been a service bulletin, which calls for the recall and replacement of the key. So that is fine, the dealership should have the part on hand as folks are always losing these multi- hundred dollar items or sending them through the wash. Well the dealership does not have one, nor does the distribution center in Jacksonville. The fobs need to come from the New Jersey parts depot and now from an over night shipment, it will turn into a week that the car will be down. The New Jersey parts depot was temporarily out of them also. Of course, I had a loaner, which was fine, and in fact, was a great car. One of those 2.0 A6 quattros with the multitronic 8 speed transmission.
The question to ask now, have we become so enamored with technical wonders that a simple key to switch on the ignition and start a car, no longer exists? My A7 has no ignition key, as we have known them. For want of a functioning key fob, a car was lost for over 7 days. If AoA knew it was a problem, and they must have if they read their own service bulletins, are they not the ones who publish them, why was there not sufficient back up stock of parts? Perhaps we have gone a bridge too far when it comes to technically sophisticated procedures and equipment needed to replace the simple turning of a key. Have the techies out techied themselves and turned a simple process into a Rube Goldberg operation contingent on the inner workings of a couple hundred dollar key fob? Personally, I am not sure that falls on the positive side of the progress ledger. Had it not been for the dealerships loaner car, and how seamless they insured that entire experience, it certainly would have been on the negative side of the convenience ledger.
All have an enjoyable and safe Labor Day Weekend, the last get away of the summer and we look forward to seeing those who can attend at the Technical Center on September 7.
Cheers and Safe Motoring,
Bob Greving
President
Audi Club of Florida, Chapter ACNA