misteralz
Posted a lot
I may drive a Volkswagen, but I'm scene tax exempt!
Posts: 2,342
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Feb 17, 2021 15:04:06 GMT
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With apologies to Danny MacAskill. 2020 was a binfire. Completely. Most years I get one or two decent road trips in with pals. We'll always have a group chat on the go and ideas will be thrown around. Sometimes they'll stick. That year the planets had aligned and five of us could make it to Techno Classica. Brilliant. I book us our usual accommodation in Duisburg. Three of us book flights. One books the ferry because it's an excuse to take the Boxster to Europe, again. And then the Coronavirus says hello to Europe, the rumour mill around Essen gets into gear, the eldest of our group drops out and then Essen gets cancelled. Shıt. So now we have me just north of Amsterdam, one pal getting a ferry, which is fine, and another pal flying in to an airport three hours' drive away for an event that's not happening anymore. Don't panic, we can salvage something. Let's keep that accommodation open, because we can at least do stuff in the area, right? There's Classic Remise in Düsseldorf, and Motorworld in Köln. That'll kill a day, and Motorworld has a really good steak restaurant with unlimited chips... It's a plan. Just not a very good one. That afternoon I get a Danish email. I smile. I have a quick look at booking.com. I put it to the group 'so Legoland opens for the season that weekend...' Yes. Sold. It's a seven hour drive although it ends up being eight, really, with fuel stops and pulling in to Lagkagehuset in Rødekro for pastries (and massive cuts of pork on the return journey). Flights are duly changed from Essen to Billund instead. And then Denmark closes their border. Everybody gives up at this point. Let's regroup in a few months when all this has blown over...  |
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misteralz
Posted a lot
I may drive a Volkswagen, but I'm scene tax exempt!
Posts: 2,342
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Feb 17, 2021 15:13:46 GMT
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...except it doesn't blow over. If we'd sat in The Winchester we'd have died of starvation.
The events start falling like dominoes. Ninove gaat niet door. Wörthersee auch. Borders close. And on and on it goes. Maikafertreffen, the new date for Essen, like J.K. Rowling weighing in on gender neutral toilets, all cancelled. And then for the briefest of periods, the borders open again. I phone a friend, I throw my German empties in the boot of the GTI, and we make a run for the border for beer, pork, and Mezzo Mix. Six or so hours later we're home, proof of concept proofed and concepted.
A wee while or so later there's a 987 sitting on my driveway and a plan forming.
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misteralz
Posted a lot
I may drive a Volkswagen, but I'm scene tax exempt!
Posts: 2,342
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Feb 17, 2021 15:30:16 GMT
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Our road trips have always had a purpose. In and out again is boring, you've got to have an actual connection with whatever it is, or you do a loop. It's hard to explain. In 2019 we went to Bad Camberg, as it's like the Olympics but for vintage Volkswagen and Porsche, but we did a loop that took in Prague because I wanted a set of plate frames from the Porsche dealer there, we both fancied a look at the Škoda Museum, their beer is good, plus reasons. We took the Boxster and took in the Porsche museums in Gmünd and Stuttgart, too. So yes, maybe not the best vehicle to turn up to Camberg in, but as a modern interpretation of the 356 to enjoy the rural roads of Czech, Austria, and the Black Forest? Yep. But I digress. We'd been talking about going to Wolfsburg for years, but hadn't gotten round to it. Distracted by Porsches, definitely. But also it felt like my mk5 GTI was just too new to be doing a pilgrimage in. It was always supposed to be my mk2 GTI that I did this in. But it's in another country from me, probably under an inch thick layer of dust by now. So the mk5 it is. What can I say about the journey from Amsterdam-ish to Wolfsburg? Not much. There's some of that very German rolling hill landscape about two hours past the border at Kleve, and the rest is about as exciting as eating dry white bread whilst listening to Coldplay doing covers of Chris de Burgh. Or Rea. And then:  |
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Feb 17, 2021 15:33:17 GMT
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In for the journey! Love me a road trip, good effort trying to overcome what 'rona has thrown our way.
When the world is normal again I would love to take one of my Wolfsburg built VWs back home.
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misteralz
Posted a lot
I may drive a Volkswagen, but I'm scene tax exempt!
Posts: 2,342
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Feb 17, 2021 15:53:31 GMT
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Okay, I've skipped a bit there. The bit in the first picture, where I got to the parts counter at Autohaus Wolfsburg ten minutes before closing and asked in atrocious German (because I hadn't spent enough time there recently, and Dutch keeps pushing in front) that I know this might sound like a strange request, but can I buy a couple of plate frames, please? Parts mannie smiles, replies 'sie sind kostenlos' and hands me four. Happy! We get to our hotel and as expected the decor is very firmly centred around Beetles. But it's not tacky, thankfully. It's just well executed and restrained. Like it. Autostadt is 1,5km away. Sure, it's late but they might have food - our hotel doesn't because of, well, guess - and after five hours in the car a walk would do us both good.   Autostadt might have had food. Earlier.  Okay, fine. We walk back in the general direction of our hotel. Not wanting a kebab - and definitely not wanting a McDonald's - we end up getting a discount on the last of the pulled pork in a bakery that seemed to keep weird hours. A trip to Edeka sees us a few beers, Mezzo Mix, crispy fish and Haribo Berries. A trip to Müller sees us no special only available in Wolfsburg Siku Beetles, sadly. We find a hole in the wall that does amazing cheap pizza, and we sink that in our room along with a beer or three. It's not like we're driving anywhere tomorrow. |
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misteralz
Posted a lot
I may drive a Volkswagen, but I'm scene tax exempt!
Posts: 2,342
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Feb 17, 2021 16:13:33 GMT
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You mean that you don't want a picture of your GTI in front of those iconic four towers?
I mean, of course I do. But you can't. The area that Volkswagen use for that purpose is between the railway station and the arts centre. I scoped it out, because of course I did, but in order to get up on to that big concrete pad means crossing a double junction across the general direction of traffic. Or bumping up a massive kerb. And avoiding pedestrians. And BMXers and skaters involved in a seemingly never ending game of cat and mouse with the Polizei.
And the Polizei are EVERYWHERE. Some places have a vibe that you just don't get on with. Perhaps I'd built this place up too much. In my late 30s and honestly with three decades of Volkswagen fanaticism behind me, this place should have been Mecca. But it wasn't. It was a dingy industrial town built to serve a factory. It's not organic in its expansion, it's just a place for people to live when they're not screwing Golfs together. It's not Berlin. Or Stuttgart. Or Amsterdam. Or Prague. But it was never meant to be. I've got a downer on it, but that's on me.
Anyway. The following day arrives after a thoroughly decent sleep, no alarm set or anything. I wake up just before eight which means we still have two hours to kill before Autostadt opens. It's a twenty minute walk, so that's one hour and forty to kill. A cup or two of tea will kill another ten to fifteen, and if we assume doors open early for ticket sales to get us through the inner doors then we have little over an hour once we factor in teeth brushing. Okay. Two cups of tea. Teeth brushed. As much piddle as I can squeeze out squeezed out. Let's do this.
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misteralz
Posted a lot
I may drive a Volkswagen, but I'm scene tax exempt!
Posts: 2,342
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Feb 17, 2021 16:19:36 GMT
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Do what? Do another trip to Edeka. And then we see that there's a market getting set up. Hopefully there's a decent bakery?
Better. There's a bratwagon. I can't resist. I never can. Too many good memories of days (and nights) out in Germany and handing over a couple of coins for roasted bratwurst, chopped up and slathered in curry sauce sprinkled with paprika, and with a kaiser roll on the side. Bliss.
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misteralz
Posted a lot
I may drive a Volkswagen, but I'm scene tax exempt!
Posts: 2,342
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Feb 17, 2021 16:44:54 GMT
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Sitting on some steps at the edge of the market square, people watching and trying not to inhale a bratwurst took a while. Which was fine. We had a while. After the same BMX kid had gone past a few times, though, we figured we'd outstayed our welcome on what were obviously his steps so we left to find a bin and carry on with our slow stroll down to Autostadt. We eventually got there at twenty to ten or so, and the doors were already open. We could enter the big glass hall! We quickly learned that what looks like the ticket kiosk, isn't. It's the check in desk for picking up your new Volkswagen group car. You have to go to the desks next to the doors for your tickets. So we did. And we were in. And still before ten. Autostadt is cool. It looks like the Teletubbies grew up with an interest in modern industrial design but didn't want to leave home, so they just got to work where they lived. I'm not on drugs, I promise. Anyway, we're in. And everything is still closed. So we wander around for a bit, get as close to the factory as we can possibly get, and wander around a bit more. Now here's a top tip from me. If, in the event that this plague ever subsides and we can do stuff again, don't start at the start. It's a peaked too soon kinda deal. We're all here because we're into retro stuff, and that's all at the start. There are buildings dedicated to Volkswagen (obviously), Seat, Škoda, Audi, Porsche, and Lamborghini. But they are really nothing more than glorified showrooms. Pretty, with the odd retro or competition, or sectioned, or scale, vehicle, but that sort of stuff turns up in your local showroom now and again. Like Volkswagen in Alkmaar, yesterday:  |
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misteralz
Posted a lot
I may drive a Volkswagen, but I'm scene tax exempt!
Posts: 2,342
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Feb 17, 2021 16:57:32 GMT
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You just want pictures, though, don't you? Fine.  Oh, of Autostadt? And cars? Again, fine.  |
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misteralz
Posted a lot
I may drive a Volkswagen, but I'm scene tax exempt!
Posts: 2,342
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Feb 17, 2021 19:17:38 GMT
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So we'll do this out of order, and leave the first building for last. Which takes us to a modern art gallery:   Yep, that's a chrome Veyron. I've seen a few Veyrons now, and every time I'm surprised at just how small they actually are. Which makes this all the more impressive.  The 16,4 litre, quad turbo W16 motor. It's huge. And impressive. And has loads of recognizable parts if you have a mk4/5 era Golf. The size and shape of it is oddly reminiscent of a WW2 era star motor, or at least it is to me. Interesting and/or odd engineering always gets me. |
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misteralz
Posted a lot
I may drive a Volkswagen, but I'm scene tax exempt!
Posts: 2,342
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Feb 17, 2021 19:45:08 GMT
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misteralz
Posted a lot
I may drive a Volkswagen, but I'm scene tax exempt!
Posts: 2,342
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Feb 17, 2021 20:00:08 GMT
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Last Edit: Feb 17, 2021 20:01:40 GMT by misteralz: hit the wrong button, like a twat
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Way back home - Wolfsburg johnthesparky
@johnthesparky
Club Retro Rides Member 6
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Feb 17, 2021 20:01:25 GMT
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Went back in 2019, enjoying your write-up. Agree Wolfsburg is a strange industrial estate type place, but maybe because it was summer, it didn’t feel dingy.... was stark and a bit soulless maybe, but also was very open and clean I thought. I’ve only been to Germany for a week though, and Wolfsburg for one day of that so I know nothing  I would go back though, and would like to do a road trip as it would give a completely different perspective. But would also like to do other places you’ve mentioned. Anyway, ignore me, carry on |
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misteralz
Posted a lot
I may drive a Volkswagen, but I'm scene tax exempt!
Posts: 2,342
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Feb 17, 2021 20:06:15 GMT
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This was either late August or early September, so not the height of summer but not exactly grim midwinter! Stark and soulless certainly sums it up. Always happy to see some responses, feels like I'm not just writing to myself. |
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dragon
Part of things
Posts: 148 
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Feb 17, 2021 23:25:32 GMT
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Many years ago we worked opposite the VW factory at Hanover around the time the T4 first came out. You could see the new bodies. I had a trip to Wolfsburg as I had been given permission to measure the Fridolin (Typ 147) there. I still have the folder of measurements along with a few articles from the German club and even a paper cut out and assemble with glue Fridolin model. If you're not sure what it is think of a postman Pat van and Google Fridolin. Oh and there's even one that someone has built with a W12 engine.
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misteralz
Posted a lot
I may drive a Volkswagen, but I'm scene tax exempt!
Posts: 2,342
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That's ace! My first experience of Wolfsburg was only recently, April 2019, on the ICE to Berlin. So I know what you mean about the yards. They stretch for kilometres either side of the railway track. Just Golfs and Touaregs as far as the eye can see! Frids are super cool. I papped this one at Ninove a few years ago now:  |
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Paul
Posted a lot
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I went a few years ago and echo everything you said about Wolfsburg as a town - it's purpose was purely to service the VW Factory. I remember buying a Golf a few years ago and considered travelling to pick it up - but they actually charged a hefty premium for doing so.
Had the 'Stiftung AutoMuseum Volkswagen' opened its doors by then? That's where the really cool stuff is, the prototypes and first/last models etc. etc...
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misteralz
Posted a lot
I may drive a Volkswagen, but I'm scene tax exempt!
Posts: 2,342
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Feb 18, 2021 13:21:36 GMT
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Had the 'Stiftung AutoMuseum Volkswagen' opened its doors by then? That's where the really cool stuff is, the prototypes and first/last models etc. etc... Getting there... today has been stressful. |
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misteralz
Posted a lot
I may drive a Volkswagen, but I'm scene tax exempt!
Posts: 2,342
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Feb 18, 2021 16:41:28 GMT
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Last Edit: Feb 18, 2021 17:12:56 GMT by misteralz
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misteralz
Posted a lot
I may drive a Volkswagen, but I'm scene tax exempt!
Posts: 2,342
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Feb 18, 2021 17:18:03 GMT
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I would go back though, and would like to do a road trip as it would give a completely different perspective. But would also like to do other places you’ve mentioned.
