Some may have noticed that this newsletter’s format is a little different from the previous. We are attempting to simplify the process of not just its writing but also publication.

September marks our return to the Audi Technical center in Clearwater. This has always been a well-attended event as we have the opportunity to not only see some very interesting vehicles but also glean some great Audi centric insider information.

As a chapter, we have a number of different events planned through the end of the year and we look forward to your participation. Towards this end, we continue to work on a November multi region event drawing folks from the Gulf Coast, Palm Beach, and Space Coast regions. In addition, we look forward to having some of our Orlando and Jacksonville members join us in St Augustine for our drive into the “Night of Lights.”

Bob Greving

Table of Contents

Up the Road
Event Listing
Member Articles
ACNA News
Other Items in the News
Classifieds

Work continues on putting together the following driving and dinner event, if you would like to help, drop me a line at bob@audiclubfl.org, thank you.

Groups will gather at Crown Audi, Reeves Motorsports part of Audi Tampa, and other dealerships, caravan to Daytona and converge at the Cracker Barrel at 2325 W. International Speedway Blvd. Daytona Beach, FL 3211 for a quick lunch. Then as a group, we will head north to St Augustine for an afternoon of on your own sight seeing and early Christmas shopping. Supper will be at Barnacle Bill’s, nothing special planned except some good eats and camaraderie. They also have a children’s menu. All once again will be on their own after supper to stroll this historic city and enjoy the Night of Lights or head home. For those who stay the evening, perhaps on the 18th, we can add an early morning group photo in front of the Castillo de San Marco.

Dec. 1, 7:00-9:00AM
Toys for Tots plus Cars and Coffee at Reeves Motorsport facility in Tampa

Then for those who would like to take a drive to watch the boys from Hooked on Driving and the Ohio Chapter of the ACNA take a few laps at Daytona International Raceway. There is always the possibility of a Daytona Taxi ride, as Pete and I did last year in a Boss 302 and Shelby 500 Mustangs.

Gulf Coast Region
bob@audiclubfl.org

Sept. 8, 2012 at 9:00AM
Fifth Annual Audi Technical Center Meet
Audi Technical Center 3632 131st Avenue N. Clearwater, FL, 33762

Join us, as Kirk Preiser of AoA will be presenting some behind the scene insights regarding what is planned from Audi. One also never knows what interesting and new vehicles will possibly be on view. As always, there will be no photographs allowed inside the facility. Please RSVP by noon Friday Sept 7th to bob@audiclubfl.org

Sept. 8, 2012 8:00-11:00PM
For those who enjoy S. Dali, an event sponsored in part by Crown Audi “Liquid Desires”

Oct. 6, 2012 8:00AM
Breakfast at the Barrel

Cracker Barrel 4011 Ulmerton Road Clearwater, FL 33762

Palm Beach Region
Davidaudiclubpbr@comcast.net

Oct. 11, 2012
Multi Marque Meet at Braman in West Palm Beach. There will be music, food, and giveaways. For non-Audi, Porsche, BMW, Mini, Bentley, and Rolls Royce, there is a $20 entry fee.

Nov. 17 2012
Night of Lights, St Augustine

See above for activities, group starting location to be announced.

Space Coast Region
kim@audiclubfl.org

Oct. 27 2012
Sebring Historics

Trish and Kim are putting together a tailgate picnic at Sebring to coincide with this event. Details to follow

Nov. 17 2012
Night of Lights, St Augustine

See above for activities, group starting location to be announced.

ACNA Raffle for a New Audi

Enter ACNA's 2012 Raffle and Win a 2013 Audi S4 S Tronic! Audi Club of North America is raffling a stunning 2013 Glacier White Metallic Audi S4 with S Tronic, Sport differential, Nappa leather, Advanced key and 19-inch wheel option. Tickets are only $25 with no maximum purchase! Maximum tickets that can be sold - 5,000. Visit the raffle information page on the ACNA website for more information.

European Delivery Program

Audi of America and Audi Club NA are pleased to announce the continuation of the ACNA membership loyalty program through December of 2012. Audi of America will reward ACNA members’ loyalty to the Audi brand by providing a $500 cash incentive to members who purchase or lease a new or Certified Pre-Owned Audi.


Welcome to our new members of the ACNA, we are looking forward to having you join us at one of our events. Should you have any questions or need additional information regarding the chapter, drop me a line.

August Sales Reporting

August has been another excellent month for Audi with sales increasing by 13% TY/LY. The other boys from Bavaria experienced a 19.1% decrease. According to their US President, “All indicators show sales momentum increasing and with the model year change now complete, we have ambitious plans for the months ahead." Not too sure I understood that explanation. In 2011, YTD BMW sold 2.07 vehicles for every Audi sold, that has changed in 2012 YTD to 1.86 BMW’s per Audi.

Audi sales report link

BMW sales report link

Finally, on the Lighter side

After over 3000 kilometers in four weeks driving a Ford Fiesta through the Land of the Four Rings, here are a few random access memory (RAM) items.

1. Obey parking signs and avoid any discussions with the German equivalent of our meter maids. After some pseudo-scientific research, it can be clearly shown that all meter maids or their equivalents come from the same mold. If you fail to heed or in my case understand the signs, the fine , which varies by offense and where you park, may be less than the administrative fee, which is required when the fine is paid. Mine was a five Euro fine and a six Euro administration fee to collect the five Euros.
2. On occasion, one can see small single axel camping trailers, parked along the side of secondary road with Christmas lights draped in their windows. I was told they were mobile lupanariums. One outside Köln had clearly been rammed. Most likely, a “kundenbegeisterung” issue.
3. Never ever, rent a car that is barely capable of passing LKW’s or Mercedes A Class vehicles on some of the Autobahn’s long hills. Occasionally had to hit third on some of the inclines and expected to see a piston come through the hood.
4. When one is in the left lane overtaking other vehicles, something I seldom had the opportunity to do, be very aware of cars with yellow license plates. Not sure if it is a national trait but they have a tendency to enter the passing lane, then activate their turn signal. Back in January, a friend was explaining this phenomenon at over 240 km/h; no sooner had he finished his sentence than we had the opportunity to feel the automatic tensioning of the seatbelts along with the warning emanating from the pre-sense plus in the A7’s dash.
5. Obey speed limits, especially in construction zones even if there is no work going on period. There are cameras everywhere. These are often used to pick up tail gating which is another form of anti social behavior and can be expensive
6. Hand gestures of any kind and flashing lights can get one trouble. Your victim can report you.
7. Finally, should a green and white police car run along side of you for a while and then pull ahead and starts flashing a sign stating “Folgen mir,” it is time to follow him (her) and learn what travesty you have just committed.

From time to time, interesting and rare Audis come on to the market. As a service to our ACNA members and in the hopes of keeping these significant vehicles within the circle of folks who appreciate them, we will list them once in the newsletter and post in our website.

You can also use the Classifieds Forum on the Audi Club of Florida web site.

Cheers and Safe Motoring,
Bob Greving