Germany Meet Report 2016

[Architex_mA8tey]

Ok guys and gals this is your romping reporter going solo on this one - your raving reporter, being completely raving decided to throw himself out of a tall tree 2 days before we were going to Germany, which resulted in much pain and humiliation for him, and he had already told me we were going in my D3 because someone had attacked his D2 with another car and it was out of action (some people just dont get the hint the first time eh?)

So myself and Chris from the Audi Owners Club (who has a D3 a8 3.0 Tdi) decided to both head over in my car together and Sergey carried out a pincer movement with his D2 via a couple of stop offs with his family on the way and afterwards.

As usual there was over 50 A8 & S8's attending including a nice D4 S8 and a W12 6.0 D2 A8 from Holland. Fred, the owner of the D2 W12 hadn't driven the car for 4 years and had just maintained it and looked at it before deciding to drive it to Germany for the meet. It is very low mileage and still smelt of "new car leather" inside, and was in superb condition (even Sergey had to admit it was in amazing condition!). Fred has decided he would like to come with the car to our annual meet next summer which will be a treat for everyone to see!

So in Germany the meet was just a social on the Friday evening, with more cars arriving still on Saturday morning, and then a cruise to a local riverside campsite / pub where the voting took place for best cars, and also the German equivalent of the IAM (ADAC) turned up and did a small "auto-test" which consisted of a couple of "gates and Garages" to drive around and into in the fastest time, with points deducted for not being accurate etc. We then had the presentations for their trophies, and then cruised back to the hotel and had a group photo etc before evening meal and more social and car chit chat!

As Mike didn't make it you'll be pleased to hear that I scooped up the "further distance travelled to the meet" trophy for my sins despite my car having an air suspension fault and sitting too high in an emergency locked off position. (later turned out to be the 40A fuse under the passenger foot area was blown thereby stopping power to the compressor!)

To Chris and Sergey & his family - thank you for coming along, and to all of you that didn't come - you really NEED to come along! There is nothing finer than seeing 50+ A8 & S8's rolling along the road together, and our friends in Germany are good and friendly hosts, so thank you to all of them at A8-Freunde and A8.DE for being so welcoming, and particular thanks to Viktor, Claus and to Vera (who came to our annual meet this year also) for being so helpful with translation and good company

Enjoy the pics - more to follow

[tc4332]

Good one Neil.
We had planned on attending but I'm afraid this year has gone wrong. Another trip to Chepstow on Friday for a funeral.
We'll try better next year.

[pete-p]

It looks like you had fun! I would love to go one day, maybe next year as my brother is looking to buy a house over there so I'll have another reason to go!

Who parked the wrong way around in picture 5?

[Architex_mA8tey]

Pictures Part 2 -

[Architex_mA8tey]

Pics Part 3 -

[MikkiJayne]

Wtf is going on in the boot of the grey one???

[David's8]

Is it a spare werewolf?

[YorkshireBloke]

Hi,

Pics look good and the scene seems like folks don't take themselves too seriously!

When and where for 2017?

Thing is I've got a good pal who has "hosted" me at MG Owners' Club Rallys in exotic locations for the past couple of years.

Patley Bridge. Twice.

So the least he (and another couple of fruit-loop pals of mine - getting a picture here?!) could do is come on a PROPER car rally!

Robert

[tc4332]

Some very nice shots there Neil, thanks.
You are correct about the Dutch machine, she's beautiful.
The chap in clink in the boot is proof that in spite of all comments to the contrary some German's do have a sense of comedy. The German blokes that worked for me in my Army days out there were pretty wicked.

I see that you did not brave the Chunnel, went via Dover and the ferry.
I've booked the train at the end of the month. I have used both with coaches but then they load into a different part of the train. My mirrors are repaired and fold now (thanks Scott) so I should be OK

[Architex_mA8tey]

Originally Posted by YorkshireBloke

When and where for 2017?
Robert

It will be sometime around the 2nd week in August 2017, details tbc in our diary!
Bring him to our annual meet which will be early June and hopefully somewhere oop north

Originally Posted by tc4332

I see that you did not brave the Chunnel, went via Dover and the ferry.
I've booked the train at the end of the month.

I went in the LPG D3 and dont think they will allow that car onto the Chunnel (still dont get why when they allow a motorhome on with a huge bottle of LPG stored in it )
So we went from Calais to Dunkirk and back and I was impressed it was a lot better than I found Calais last year