December 7th Toys for Tots, Reeves Motorsports

Gulf Coast Region
bob@audiclubfl.org 

October 5, 2013
Cars and Coffee Reeves Motorsport Tampa

December 7, 2013
Toys for Tots/Cars and Coffee Reeves Motorsport Tampa

Palm Beach Region
david@audiclubfl.org 


Citrus Region (Orlando)
patrick@audiclubfl.org

ACFL Events in Florida

October 19, 2013
Lake Mirror Classic Lakeland FL
for additional information contact jvander4@verizon.net,

November 10, 2013
Mt. Dora Drive and luncheon event
contact Walter at walter@audiclubfl.org for additional information, start times and starting locations.

Driving Events with Performance Driving Group
Contact David at david@audiclubfl.org for additional information and dates.

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 andreas.baensch@audi.com, 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.

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 david@audiclubfl.org or me bob@audiclubfl.org 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.

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 bob@audiclubfl.org  

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

Returning recently from three days relaxation and fun in Austin at the WEC, I find it interesting to note how Audi racing and the associated Audi motorsports events, always brings a group of familiar faces together. It used to be the chapters, at least in Florida, that ran these gatherings in the dust, mud, and galvanized watering troughs filled with iced beer and torn open bags of chips on folding tables sans tablecloths. Now a third party runs these events with great food, nary a potato chip in sight, and the plastic outhouses having been replaced by air-conditioned loos.

I certainly would not consider myself anything close to a racing spectator aficionado. Nevertheless, having attended Sebring since 2000, a number of ALMs series races in St Pete and Georgia and now an event at the COTA, it is amazing how this underlying interest in Audi cars and their ownership brings folks from many walks of life together not just to share their experiences but also their love for the brand. Be it CFO’s, wives of deployed Colonels, real estate agents, community college instructors, airline pilots and their wives’, folks that work for AoA who travel on their own dime to participate, an international shipping line executive, financial investment folks, oil patch and refinery executives, architects, doctors, engineers, IT folks, plus a manufacturer from Belgium  and the list goes on. I am sure I have left more than just a few of you out. The common denominator for the diverse participant listing above is clearly the car, the brand and the ensuing socializing that goes along with attending races where the Four Rings do battle.

I would imagine that most of the senior level suits were at the Emmy Awards, which were on the same day of the race and they spent time hob-nobbing with the glitterati, as Audi was one of the TV sponsors of that event. Is it the millennial folks watching TV that are into these popularity contests that Audi deems important to support? After discussing that thought with the President and COO of a firm, which amongst Audi has over 30 other dealerships in its stable, he succinctly stated that the millennials all aspire to Audis but unfortunately, many cannot afford them. Possibly, they will again be driven to the new A3 sedan and perhaps some day the A1, as has been the case in Europe. Of course, I could be wrong, but I doubt if there were many recipients at the Emmys who have ever driven an A3, let alone owned one. That is too bad; the A3 is a fantastic car, especially in the TDI iteration. Regarding the Emmys, and other similar awards and associated ceremonies, I believe it was Paul Newman when asked and who tartly replied to the question, what was the more meaningful award, an Oscar, or an SCCA championship. His remarks were to the effect that one is a popularity contest, the other was attained the hard way, and it was earned. Some food for thought.

The Audi motorsport hospitality event was as usual first class. It has almost become a science to seamlessly put this altogether, but in reality, it is anything but. There is nothing like having tickets for an American event in the hill country of Texas, being printed in France and then shipping them to Austin, three days prior to the race. Andy and his team continue to make it happen and improve upon it each time. We now have the effervescent Eve Scheer who along with Emaneule Pirro, her exceedingly successful and gregarious Rennfahrer, and sparing partner, MC the festivities. Eve’s knowledge of racing and rapport with the Audi team drivers is on occasion only exceeded by her ability and facility with the English language to pepper her remarks with a few double entendres. Sort of the way Charo used to do it, often turning Johnny Carson’s face bright red.

It was all a lot of fun and Audi came in first and third to boot. Andy thanks for putting it all together, now some of us are looking forward to Daytona in January. I have already fielded a question or two regarding that upcoming Audi motorsport event.