Audi Club Florida
April 2020 Newsletter
Photo taken by Emerald Coast’s Michael Cheng
This past month there was a cruise and lunch in the Emerald Coast and a lunch in Jacksonville before everything started being cancelled. April Cars and Coffees all appear cancelled and dining establishments closed.
ACFL is recommending obeying the guidelines and orders issued by the governor concerning events. ACFL has no events scheduled and most local entities are cancelling or have cancelled functions. ACFL also suggests using an antibacterial wipe, some type of disposable protective glove, a plastic t-shirt bag, or dog poop bag as a barrier while using the fuel pumps to avoid potential exposure and dispose of it after fueling. Be careful out there and protect your health until we can start meeting up again. #FlattenTheCurve
Member of the Year
Luckily ACFL has a great group of people working behind the scenes and I value each one of them. I filled out a nomination form for each region leader and had some friends with past supervision and leadership experience grade them. They were glad to help when I explained I could not ask my Board of Directors to do it since they were nominees.
The Emerald Coast’s own Melisa Wilcox was our winning nominee for Audi Club North Member of the Year. Unfortunately, she ultimately did not take the national top honor.
Let me fill you in on my introduction to Melisa Wilcox. I had been promoting Quattro de Mayo 2019 in our newsletter. Shortly upon arrival Thursday evening, I got an email from QDM staff about some cars getting bad gas at a Chevron station. I heard several cars were running badly and a car needed towing. Melisa’s car was nonoperational after and was loaded on a flatbed wrecker to Audi Marietta who made repairs as soon as the car arrived. I eventually heard the car belonged to her. Saturday evening at dinner, one of my fellow Florida people who made the trip told me that Melisa Wilcox wanted to see me. I told him to tell her where I was sitting. My mind is like what can I do? How I am going to be able to do anything about her car and the bad gas. A few minutes later, she came over and sat down. I said, “You must be Melisa”, and she shook my hand and said “yes, Melisa Wilcox.’’ She explained she had seen my post about QDM and that I intended to go and she wanted to meet me. Confused at this point, I said you could have emailed me and I would have been happy to call you, you did not have to make a trip to see me. She said it was fine it was their anniversary weekend and they wanted to come to QDM. Now really confused at that point, I said, “How can I help you?” I was not expecting what I heard next.
She wanted to start doing what I was doing Jacksonville with the dealer and Audi Club luncheons. I already had someone trying to get something started. I got her in touch with Robert “Bobby” Hopp, and two weeks later, they had their first meet. The next month I made the six-hour drive to attend the second and meet the club. They have been going strong ever since with meets, luncheons, car care clinics, and supported a local toy drive. She along with Bobby now serve on our board of directors after nomination in January. She provides photos and writes content for our monthly newsletter. Along with her husband Brad, they are moderating the Emerald Coast Region Facebook page.
Additional nominees:
Andreas Regalado was nominated for organizing our Annual Key West Drive, our premier event, to include prizes, mapping the route, obtaining additional event sponsorship in prizes, and dinner arrangements.
Robert “Bobby” Hopp was nominated for his work in the Emerald Coast Region along with helping out at FixxFest and Euro Tripper.
Leslie de la Serna was nominated for his work with the local region and regional interfacing with the dealership and promoting the club at attendance at many car-related events such as FixxFest.
Audi Club Florida License Plate Holders
If you reside in the First Coast region and would like to purchase one of the last few of our new ACFL license plate holders, give me a shout. They are $35 each. These frames are hand-wrapped in Austin, TX using premium vinyl over stainless steel. The quality and craftsmanship is top shelf. We can meet up and do the transaction with cash, check, or PayPal Friends and Family to [email protected]. If you are not local to me, the cost will be $40 including shipping and handling the same payment methods as above and I will get it sent to you by mail. Pictures below and a link is below the pictures so you can examine in detail the quality.
https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipPhZqng0UStuKIfVOidzOnrjplH_jO-5SYaHJ2j
We are trying to expand regional coverage, but need your help!
As we start this year, we are looking for leadership in the following areas:
Space Coast Region – (Cape Canaveral to Fort Pierce)
Platinum Coast Region (Naples to Fort Myers) – I have been contacted – Stay Tuned!
Gator Region – Gainesville Area
Many people have emailed me personally and through the national office wondering why there is not something in their area. I tell them assistance is required to help get things going locally. We desire to unite the state and have meets within an hour drive of your location at least quarterly. We are looking for some people who have the ambition to lead and desire to start something long term, helping arrange places to meet for lunch, activities, attend local car shows and coffee events, and other social activities. If you would like to volunteer and help organize a successful regional club, please contact me for details and we will discuss making it happen.
Gerry Simms
President and BoD Member
[email protected]
Chapter Regional Reports
First Coast Region- Jacksonville
April Audi Sales, Deals, Incentives, and Specials:
If you would like to visit us in store, we are open for business and taking extra sanitizing precautions.
If you prefer to shop from home, we are offering free delivery. Shop on-line then contact us via phone or our website to arrange delivery of the vehicle and paperwork to your home.
Make No Payments for 3 Months: Because we believe in making things better for our customers, we’re deferring payments for the first 90 days on select new Audi vehicles purchased this month.
Need your car serviced? We are waiving our service at your doorstep fee and offering free vehicle pickup and delivery! The minimum service charge will be waived during the Coronavirus epidemic.
2020 Arrivals:
Q7, A6 allroad, S6, S7, S8 are here.
SQ7, SQ8, RS Q8 are available to order.
Facelift A4 AND A5 ARE HERE! They have the larger touchscreen center stack.
e-tron Sportback to arrive July
2020 Q5 Hybrid is here
2020 Q7 is here
2021 RS 6, RS 7, AND RS Q8 are available to order now. One 2021 RS 6 Avant build is available (subject to premium pricing)
2019 Closeouts: There are some deals to be had on remaining stock.
2019 A3 – $6,000 incentive on remaining stock plus Audi Club discount.
2019 A4 – $3,000 incentive on remaining stock plus Audi Club discount.
2019 Q8 – $2,500 incentive on remaining stock plus Audi Club discount.
2019 Q7 – $6,000 incentive on remaining stock plus Audi Club discount.
2019 A6 – $6,000 incentive on remaining stock plus Audi Club discount.
2019 A8 – $12,500 incentive on remaining stock plus Audi Club discount.
2019 Q5 – $2,000 incentive on remaining stock plus Audi Club discount.
2019 A5 – Info to come, expecting comparable incentives as above.
April Audi Club Special:
Get fit for Summer… 20% off Audi Sole Fixie Bike for club members (only have 6 left)
50% off – All in stock All weather Floor Mats
10% Off – in store coupon for APR hardware/software.
First Coast Region – April Luncheon – Canceled
First Coast Region (Jacksonville)
Leslie de la Serna First Coast Region Lead
[email protected]
Gulf Coast Region February Report
April Specials at our Prestige Partner, Audi Clearwater
I recently spoke with JB, Sales Manager at Audi Clearwater and he asked me to mention that they are offering in-home demo and deliveries on new Audis. This is nothing new and was always part of their high level of customer service but now with a present national health crisis is an option for those who would rather not visit the dealership and purchase their new car from the comfort and safety of their homes. He also mentioned there remain a handful of 19s left.
Up to $10,000 off of MSRP on all remaining 2019 A6s
Up to $8,000 off of MSRP on all remaining 2019 A5 Sportbacks and S5 Sportbacks
The all-new 2020 Q5 Hybrid has arrived, which can deliver up to 65 MPG on the highway.
To ensure you receive these specific savings when you go to purchase your next Audi, make sure to contact JB directly at 407-470-3718 and he will get you squared away. By going through JB, this also helps us in tracking the value of the Prestige Partnership program and how many vehicles the ACFL helps the dealership sell when we try to recruit new dealerships in different geographic regions of the state.
Do not forget that Todd Emery who manages the operations, service, and parts departments at Audi Clearwater is offering a 15% discount to all readers of this newsletter on Parts and Service for your Audis. You do not need to have purchased your Audi at Audi Clearwater to receive this discount. Also, if you are traveling to the Sunshine State and are a reader of the ACFL Newsletter you can also use this discount should need service for your Audi while you are on the road. The above discount cannot be combined with any other discounts or offers but is available and all that is required is that when you are writing up your service order that you mention the ACFL newsletter and code 0420 for April to your service writer. It is all that simple to start saving money on needed parts and service.
Bericht von Ingolstadt – Report from Ingolstadt.
Many readers of this newsletter will fondly remember Andreas Beansch, one of the original BoD members of ACFL and who also ran the Audi Test Center in Clearwater. He graciously supplied many of us with new and exciting Audi vehicles to test drive for several years. I received a note from him the other day. He sends his regards and reports that all is well and he is doing fine but the coronavirus has hit Germany hard, schools have been shuttered, and there have been many other restrictions also including the playing of soccer games (most important to Germans).
Also, it included the cancellation of his 35th Employment Anniversary Awards Ceremony with Audi AG. Congratulations Andreas, 35 years as an executive with one company is certainly a very rare occurrence in the US. He also reports, like here there has been a run on toilet paper and other essential items. He said “it was like being back in Florida when a hurricane was coming and everyone was going to the stores to stock up. That was something new for the Germans and the frenzy of emptying of store shelves”.
There are reports in the German press that it looks like the manufacturing of new cars will cease in the next couple of weeks. This will mean a possible shortage of Audi vehicles in the next couple of months as the rest of Europe has mostly shut down. Who knows, it may affect ordered RS 6 and RS 7 but they are about four months out. Poland closed its borders with Germany on March 17th, the large traffic jam ( Mega-Stau) was 17 kilometers long caused by this unexpected announcement.
An unintended response to the containment of the virus is showing the possible need for border checkpoints once again in Europe. In another article, I read Lithuanians stuck in Germany had to go to the Island of Rugen to get a ferry back to their home county and in some instances left their cars on the island and were flown home by the German government, a nice gesture.
Down the Road
April Cars and Coffee – Reeves Motorsports – Cancelled
Cheers and Safe Motoring
Bob Greving
[email protected]
Gator Region – Gainesville
No activity scheduled this month.
Emerald Coast Region – Panhandle
We were fortunate to get our Britton Hill Run in the books the first weekend of March. We had 17 cars and 24 enthusiasts join in for cruising some of the best back roads and scenery our area has to offer. Appreciate everyone’s kind words on our official group text. You guys are the reason I enjoy putting these events together. I’m already working on the next run.
It’s unfortunate we don’t have any events scheduled for this month but I’m thinking of creative ways to get us together while keeping our appropriate social distance. Looking into hosting a virtual meet up via Zoom. Details will be posted on our Facebook page.
The one thing we can do individually is go for a drive. Get out when you can, explore your area and scout some roads. Share your journey either in our Facebook group or tag @emeraldcoastaudiclub on your Instagram post. You might even see the RS 5 or SQ5 out doing the same. It is after all, my favorite thing to do.
I’d like to welcome Jeremy Chavez (@thehumanchav) to our @emeraldcoastaudiclub Instagram group team. Thanks for volunteering to help and really appreciate his and Jack Vorozheykin’s (@red_jackv) continued contributions.
Reach out to your AudiFam and check in on them. If anyone has a need please let me know. Stay safe and well.
Hope to see you all again soon and until then… your rings out on the road.
Melisa Wilcox
Emerald Coast Region Lead and ACFL BoD member
April events:
Emerald Coast Motorsports and RaceChip America’s Open house -Cancelled
April Car Clinic at Audi Pensacola- Cancelled
We want to highlight our club members precious Audi vehicles on our Instagram page. Please send photos to Bobby or myself for submission. Include your IG handle and description of the photo with the location. Do not forget to tag @emeraldcoastaudiclub in your post and follow us if you have not already. If you are interested in joining our ECR-ACFL IG team, please let me know.
Melisa Wilcox
Emerald Coast Region Lead and ACFL BoD member
[email protected]
Emerald Coast Region – Audi Club Florida
Bobby Hopp and Melisa Wilcox Region Leads
[email protected]
[email protected]
Gold Coast Region (Key West to WPB)
April Cars and Coffee – Miami -Cancelled
Gold Coast Region (Key West to WPB)
Andreas Regalado Region Lead and BoD Member
[email protected]
UroTuning
Here is a direct link the sales page: https://www.urotuning.com/collections/deals
Air Lift Tax Season Sale – Is that tax return burning a hole in your pocket? The Air Lift Performance Tax Return Sale is here just in time! Offering up to 15% off a wide range of parts and accessories, the Air Lift Performance Tax Return sale is the perfect opportunity to bag your ride for an unbeatable price!
Vogtland Suspension Sale – UroTuning is excited to announce another killer sale just in time for tax return season, and this time it’s a UroTuning exclusive! For a limited time, Vogtland suspension is 15% off! Take advantage of this deal before time runs out! Great deals on springs, coilovers, and more!
ST Suspension Sale – The Tax Season sales are not slowing down here at UroTuning, and now ST Suspensions is getting in on the action, offering 10% off their huge range of performance adjustable lowering springs, coilovers, sway bars and more! This sale ends April 30th, so order your ST Suspension adjustable lowering springs before time runs out!
Capristo Exhaust Spring Sale – Another great deal has just hit the URoTuning site! For a limited time, save up to 20% on a range of high-performance exhaust kits from Capristo! Capristo creates top of the line high-performance exhaust systems and accessories for a wide range of vehicles including Audi, BMW, Ferrari, Lamborghini, and many more. If you’re looking for the best of the best, look no further.
New Unitronic Carbon Fiber Intakes – A few more exciting new products are live on the UroTuning site! The new carbon fiber intake system from Unitronic is the perfect solution for anyone looking to take their B9 Audi A4, A5, S4, or S5 up a notch in terms of engine bay aesthetics as well as overall performance! These intakes, specifically designed for the 2.0 TSI MLB and 3.0 TFSI engines are direct bolt-on upgrades designed to optimize airflow, improve throttle response, enhance turbo induction noise, and increase power by up to 11 horsepower!
New IE ECU Tunes for 1.8T Gen 3 – A brand new performance ECU upgrade for 1.8T Gen 3 vehicles including MK7 Volkswagen Golf, Sportwagen, Alltrack, Passat (B8) and Audi 8V A3 is now available from Integrated Engineering! This new ECU Tune from IE is the best bang for your buck performance modification you can make to your 2015+ 1.8T VW or Audi motor. In just a few minutes, this tune allows you to add serious horsepower and torque right from the comfort of your driveway or garage… without ever even picking up a wrench!
ABT
Our Prestige Partner ABT is offering a 10% discount to Audi Club Florida members.
ABT America
c/o F355 Miami
16560 NW 10th Ave
Miami, FL 33169
[email protected]
Monday to Friday: 9AM – 6PM (EST)
Phone: (305) 974-5958
Lastly, please thank our Prestige Partners below by visiting their places of business or websites and see what they have for you. That does it for now, looking forward to seeing and meeting as many of you as possible.
Gerry Simms President and BoD Member
[email protected]
