Our final stop was at the Key West Marriott Beachside hotel where drivers got a chance to relax, freshen up and regroup for a private dinner. After dessert raffled prizes were given out and drivers were able to purchase tickets for a chance to win this year’s raffle of a 2019 S5 Premium Plus Sportback or 2019 RS3. Later that evening drivers went out to explore Duval Street.

 

The following morning many drivers met up at the southernmost tip of the continental US for a photo op of their Audi cars lined up in the colors of the US and German flag.

We would like to take the opportunity to thank all the participants as well as express our appreciation to our sponsors. The group rate from Marriott was appreciated. A special thank you goes out to ABT Sportsline America for providing a lovely breakfast plus two motorsport and fashionably smart items for the raffle and the chance to privately view their 2 latest builds. Then one must give a shout out to Audi Clearwater for providing many of the fantastic gifts plus the Audi watch that were raffled off after the dinner. Finally a thank you to the Triple A of St Petersburg Florida for providing maps and Trip-Tiks so no one got lost.

Andreas Regalado

Gold Coast Region Lead and ACFL BoD Member

First off a big thank you to our partners, Audi Clearwater, Reeves Motorsports/Audi Tampa, Audi Wesley Chapel, Audi Jacksonville, St Petersburg Triple A and of course Audi Gainesville for throwing a fantastic Oktoberfest.  Were it not for our partners events like we had on the 29^thof September would never happen. 

On Saturday the 29^th, close to 40 Audis belonging to ACFL members converged from not only the First Coast Region (Jacksonville) and the Gulf Coast Region (Tampa Bay) in caravans but from all over the state upon Audi Gainesville for their Oktoberfest being held to raise awareness for the Ronald McDonald House. Unfortunately we did not get a head count of ACFL members attending but here are some numbers. There were over 800 in attendance that arrived in some 300 vehicles that were served by 50 workers and a band flown in from München. Participants devoured over 900 brats, and three hundred and fifty pounds of kartoffel salat (potato salad) drank 275 cans of soda and 322 liters of beer (11 kegs) and we lost count of the pretzels. Between the ACFL and member’s contributions $700 was given to the Ronald McDonald House. Finally a total of $15, 468.58 was raised for the Ronald McDonald House. 

All had a wonderful time, the food, music and especially Gemütlichkeit were top shelf. Some of the cars of interest were three iterations of the color Nardo gray in an R8, RS7 and RS5, an S5 Sportback on her maiden drive that had been delivered the previous evening, plus a very svelte all-white allroad a number of RS5 and some very nicely modified A4s. 

Nowhere in the above numbers does this even begin to measure how much this event will help the children and families of those to be served by the Ronald McDonald House, and the realization in that lay the ultimate purpose for all the planning, hard work and excellence in execution of Tom Brinkman and his team at Audi Gainesville. For that reason alone, the ACFL is looking forward to our participation next year. 

 

Bob Greving

President Audi Club of Florida

I am sure one of you out there has one of the above or similar models, a pre-owned children’s Audi that you no longer have a use for and that a young child sitting in a Ronald McDonald House could sit on and motor down the halls visiting with other new acquaintances also undergoing a myriad of treatments. If you have such a toy Audi and would like to part with it, yes I know it is hard to part with one’s Audis, how about donating it the Ronald McDonald House of Central Florida. The ACFL will pay for shipping etc. Just let me know at bob@audiclubfl.org and we will help work out the details. We will also make sure that two of the ACFL’s club’s logos also get attached. I am absolutely positive the Ronald McDonald House has speed limits and there is no racing after hours but I bet the kids will line up for test drives and possible hot laps between the dining and recreation room. Perhaps this will be one of their brighter memories, just what that young future Audi owner will remember of what must be a very trying experience when some 20 years hence they get behind the wheel of their first new Audi and possibly even join the ACNA.  We who are so lucky can always hope there will be that bright day for them down the road.  I am looking forward to hearing from one of you.

 

Bob Greving

President ACFL

There will be two cars, a 2019 S5 Premium Plus Sportback and a 2019 RS3. 5,000 tickets will be sold for each car at $25 per ticket. If you wish to purchase a chance to win one or both of these stunning motorcars, make sure you contact Gerry Simms at  gsimms_2000@msn.com. If we sell sufficient tickets we receive a kickback, which goes to help defray chapter expenses and some of the swag for events like the drive to Key West.   During the Oktoberfest, the ACFL sold 27 tickets.

Gerald “Gerry” Simms ACFL Region Lead and BoD Member

 

 

 

Key West was a great event, 4 cars from JaxRings out of 15 cars was a great showing. Some great prizes were given out by ACFL, Audi Clearwater and ABT-America. The drive down from Miami was scenic, and relatively uneventful. Also a special thanks to Jorge, Leslie, and Garry for helping to get all of the drivers set up on Zello, it worked well, was well appreciated, and all drivers had car to car communications.

 

 

Thank you all who made the drive to Gainesville. 16 cars and 27 people was outstanding club support from the First Coast Region. Some great food and fun was had by all. After the contributions made at the ACNA tent where both Gerry Simms and Bob Greving, were selling sticker sales, and a combined total from members and the ACFL, of $700 was donated to the Ronald McDonald House in addition to what was earned from the sale of food, beverages and event memorabilia. That ACFL contribution was sufficient to house a family for a week and was much appreciated when presented. Also thanks to Stephan Gronberg for arranging us parking to stage our departure and Audi of Orange Park for hosting our departure. In addition, a special thanks to Keith Johnson for leading the group down safely.

 

October will be $250 of Audi logo apparel with all new car purchases. 

 

4 years maintenance included on select 2019 models. (A3, A4, A6, Q3, Q5, Q7)

 

2018 A7-still has the $5000 

A5 Cabrio-$2000 

 

 

Up to 5 years/unlimited mileage available on certain models see Audi Jax website for details.

 

 

AudiJax is once again being a sponsor, October 20-21 at the Jumbolair Airport 1401 NE 77th Street Ocala, FL 34479. Only spectator tickets are available now, sign-up is full. If you “Wanna Go Fast”,check out the following link for information https://wannagofast.com/

 

 

Stephan has opportunities for people to be a part of the event. Around 3PM on October 11^th, some help would be appreciated. Some of it maybe be set-up, minor cleaning to spiffing up the place, and possibly moving some cars from the front of the building to free-up parking spaces. These would be volunteer services, but I am pretty sure there would be some future fringe benefit involved. Also some help after the ceremony returning the place back to normal will be appreciated. Actual grand opening hours will be 5PM-8PM. Also at a minimum, this event will include unveiling of the all new A7. Many top Audi people including President Scott Keogh are currently scheduled to attend.  This is a great opportunity to see some behind the scenes operations of these types of events.

 

 

Starbucks at 8635 Blanding Blvd in Jacksonville, FL will be our starting point for our Annual Cruise to Yalaha for lunch with the CFL Audi Group. 8:45 AM is our drivers meeting then departure time, so please arrive gassed and ready to go. We will use the app Zello for car to car communications (info to be shared at drivers meeting), and I will post the route a little later for you to program your Waze, Google Map, or other GPS if you desire. We will meet up with the CFL group at Publix 2042 FL-19 Tavares, FL just prior to Lake Harris. After grouping up, we will cruise on into Yalaha for some awesome Bavarian Cuisine as a group to be followed with some fellowship. Hope to see you there. All drivers and participants 18 years of age and over will be signing the insurance waivers as this is an ACNA/ACFL sponsored drive. 

 

 

infocreative305@gmail.com,

 

Cars and Coffee Casavana Restaurant 8202 Mills Drive

 

cmora@audigainesville.com  dhill@audigainesville.com,

Plans are underway for all of you Gator Alumni and ACFL members to set up a concierge service for your Audi servicing at Audi Gainesville while you attend a Gator home game. Contact either Carlos or Derek ABS who are both ACFL members at cmora@audigainesville.com, dhill@audigainesville.com, respectively. You will be able to drop your Audi off for regular maintenance and be shuttled to the stadium prior to kick off. After the game you will be picked up at a designated spot and returned to the dealership to pick up your Audi all serviced, washed and ready to drive home. Talk about first class service plus none of the hassles of parking. 

 

Cars and Coffee Reeve at Motorsport 11333 N Florida Ave, Tampa, FL 33612

 

 

Up to $8,000 off new Audis in stock and possibly more, make sure you check with JB at 727-324-1800. He is Audi Clearwater’s General Sales Manager and he will get you squared away. One of our members recently purchased a new S5 Sportback and had it delivered just time for the drive to Gainesville. When a dealership cannot or will not, make it happen, contact JB, he will make it happen.

 

If there is sufficient interest in a drive from the Gulf Coast Region to the Yalaha Bakery on the 13^thof October give me a shout by the 7^thof October and we will try to put it together. The group from Jax will be driving there and we can meet up for lunch or you can drive on your own. Let me know at bob@audiclubfl.org. 

 

 

 

 

It is not like New York, LA or Chicago but it still can be fun.

 

 

First Saturday of the month

 

The Audi Club of Ohio has the Daytona International Speedway reserved for a number of days (end of November starts the event) for a track event. Contact the Ohio chapter directly at craigliechty@hotmail.com for additional information. It is a great event held on the 24 Hour road course with instructors.

 

The Roar Before the Rolex 24 will be coming up the first weekend in January, accompanied by the ACFL Board of Directors lunch. More details to follow on date and lunch location.

 

Plans are under foot for a drive between the Miami area to the Marcos Island /Naples area along the Old Dixie Highway 41.including a possible side adventure to some real backwater locations such as Everglades City and maybe even Chokoloskee. Stay tuned for this adventure. We will get our fill of gambling and possibly gators on this one. No stopping and wondering off the road though for safety reasons, gators generally do not practice catch and release. There will also be no plinking at gators, not only are they out of season, which ends on November 1st but I believe it is illegal to hunt from the side of the road in Florida. The Gold Coast Region under the leadership of Andreas Regalado continues planning with an overnight on the west coast and all can then drive home on Sunday. 

 

On keeping score 

September sales figures finally made it in late Tuesday night. Usually Audi reports them early because they blow BMW out of the water but not last month. Unfortunately sales increases for September were a paltry .2%, that is point two percent or 48 more cars than September 2017. BMW sold 237 for a 1.3% increase in sales than September a year ago.  It is too bad that all of those nice new A6’s, A7’s, and A8’s could not have hit the dealerships sooner and taken advantage of our excellent economy.  Audi total sales YTD are up 4% compared to BMW’s 2.2. MB is down 7% YTD. Congratulations to two ACFL members that I know of for helping AoA stay in the black and being two of the 48 by purchasing an S5 Sportback and an RS5 coupe. 

 

 

There are many benefits to ACNA membership, these include the Quattro Quarterly, some serious discounts off of MSRP on new AUDI’s, discounts on Audi Motorsports tickets, Audi merchandise and discounts at many dealerships. There is also the camaraderie plus numerous local, statewide and national events. Finally there is one item which is seldom thought of and that is the liability insurance that is provided when the local chapter has drives or fun runs.  One does not often consider this benefit but it covers you at driving events that you participate in after signing the waiver. Considering the cost of an annual membership $49 and everything else that is included, this added benefit when participating in a driving event (fun run), then your membership dues are quite the bargain. Unfortunately in the whole scheme of things, folks who drive Audis could sometimes be incorrectly and I might add very quickly be viewed as “one percenters” and subsequently “marks” should thing go awry. Just something to think about.

 

Cheers and Safe Motoring

 

Bob Greving

Audi Club of Florida