via west january - february 2013
DESCRIPTION
VW Club of WA magazineTRANSCRIPT
January 2013 Via West Page 2
1953 - 2013...Volkswagen commemorates 60 years in Australia
CONTACT US YOUR COMMITTEE (cont’d)
VOLKSWAGEN CLUB OF WA (Inc) EDITOR: 0407 347 340
MAIL: PO Box 175 Ray Willis [email protected]
Victoria Park CONCESSION LICENCE: (08) 9332 6919
Western Australia 6979 Rod McSwain
ABN: 31 610 140 537 CMC LIAISON OFFICER: (08) 9342 8703
TELEPHONE: (08) 9342 8703 Richard Hines
E-MAIL: [email protected] PROPERTY OFFICER: (08) 9342 8703
WEBSITE: www.vwclubwa.com Richard Hines
MERCHANDISE OFFICER: (08) 9332 6919
YOUR COMMITTEE Rod McSwain
PRESIDENT: 0408 183 396 SOCIAL SECRETARY: 0408 183 396
Jamie Barrett [email protected] Jamie Barrett
VICE PRESIDENT: 0415 165 175 SPORTS ORGANISER: Currently grouped under
Graham Tibbs As above “Events Coordinator”
SECRETARY: 0407 347 340 PUBLICITY OFFICER:
Ray Willis [email protected] As above
MEMBERSHIPS: 0407 347 340 GENERAL COMMITTEE: Patrick Spiteri, Dave Moore,
Ray Willis [email protected] Kim Muste (country liaison South West)
TREASURER: 0438 819 443 WEBMASTER:
Justin Bayley [email protected] Tina Moore [email protected]
January 2013 Via West Page 4
1953 - 2013...Volkswagen commemorates 60 years in Australia
VIAWEST MAGAZINE
VOLKSWAGEN EVENTS
Advertising:
Please send your ‘for sale’ or ‘wanted’ adverts by mail or email to the Editor before the publication deadline.
Normally one event will be nominated as the club run each month. Some months will have more than one event. Not all events attended by the club will be club organised.
Please note that non-members are welcome to come to the club organised events. If you have any friends you would like to accompany us, please bring them along.
If you have any ideas or suggestions for club organised events give a Committee member a call or an e-mail and the committee so we can put it on our calendar.
The VW Events Calendar lists the upcoming events and club runs for some months in advance in chronological order.
Fees:
Members - 1/4 page adverts are free.
Non-Members - 1/4 page adverts are $5.00
Please contact the Editor to find out about commercial advertising in the magazine, inserting flyers or advertising on the website.
Publication Deadline: The ViaWest magazine’s dead-
line for articles for the next issue is . February 24
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Volkswagen Club of WA (Inc), its Committee or members.
Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month at John Hughes Volkswagen in Victoria Park, starting at 6:30pm. Committee meetings are open to all members and invited guests.
Membership and Birthdays IN THIS ISSUE page
The Club.............................. p 2
The Club (contd) .................. p 4
President’s Spot .................. p 5
Club Event Calendar .......... p 6
February Club Run .............. p 7
NSW 2013 Bug-In ............... p 8
VW Hilton Trip (part 3) ......... p 10
Volkswagen News
Sustainability Award ...... p 14
Up! award...................... p 14
New SUV ...................... p 14
22.6% Sales Increase ... p 16
9,000,000 VWs ............. P 16
Kombi Road Trip ................. p 18
Volkswagen Motorsport
WRC Monte Carlo Rally p 25
Playing a Round of Golf
(part 3) ............................... p 29
BACK COVER:
March Club Run
FRONT COVER:
See VW Kombi story part 3See VW Kombi story part 3
Happy
Birthday
to our
members
JANUARY
Christian Jones
Emily Whitelaw
Emma Faulkner
Florence Blagg
Helen Keillor
Janet Avice Du Buisson
Jessica Shepherd
Karla Paget
Lauren Storrs
Patrick Lawrence
Peter Richards
Rose Van Son
Scarlett Faulkner
Stanley Guntrip
FEBRUARY
Alison Van Corler
Caylah Williams
Donna Mathews
Emelia McKenzie
Erin Taylor
Hannah Moore
Jasmin Summer-
field
Jessica Moore
Joshua Hallsworth
Kelli Summerfield
Kerry Muste
Lachie Glasfurd
Lara Rundle
Lauren White
Sheley Hallsworth
Sue Waters
Tania Spiteri
Trish Summerfield
Welcome
to the new
members…
Baden Colella
John Broekman
Ian McCulloch
Paul Kuah
Peter Thomson
Matthew Ngui
The club now has 157 active
memberships
January 2013 Via West Page 5
1953 - 2013...Volkswagen commemorates 60 years in Australia
Well the new year has started. My New Years resolution is to be more prepared and organised! - wish
me luck, as this area is not one of my strengths!
However the start to the year has proven to be a productive one in terms of the club. Events for 2013
are on the drawing board with February’s “RAAFA Museum Run” already planned and the March event
about to be announced. We are actively working on improving Day of the Volkswagen for December .
So get any ideas to us however grand they might be.
The Council of Motoring Car Clubs “Classic Car Show” held annually at Whiteman Park is on Sunday
28th April. The event usually attracts over 1,000 vehicles, making it the largest classic car show in WA
and one of the largest in Australia. We have applied for 34 vehicle passes. With overnight camping this
is great show to get involved in - express your interest by email to me [email protected]
Some great news - Club membership level is as high as it has ever been! Thank you for joining the club
and big Welcome to the new members.
The monthly Alfreds Kitchen gathering is a great opportunity to meet other members and get that VW
fix.
Happy New Year
Jamie Barrett
Club President
January 2013 Via West Page 6
1953 - 2013...Volkswagen commemorates 60 years in Australia
This month... February 2013
# indicates a club run Wednesday 6th ALFRED’S of GUILDFORD
7pm cnr of Meadow & James St Guildford
Sunday 10th SOUTH WEST MONTHLY GATHERING Contact: Kim 0408 914 400
BUSSELTON Contact: Mark 0449 947 782
Wednesday 13th MONTHLY COMMITTEE MEETING Contact: Ray Willis 0407 347 340
6:30pm @ John Hughes Volkswagen, Victoria Park
Saturday 16th # RAAFA AVIATION HERITAGE MUSEUM Contact: Ray Willis 0407 347 340
See page 9 for information
Wednesday 27th EVENTS COORDINATION MEETING Contact: Jamie Barrett 0408 183 396
6:30pm @ John Hughes Volkswagen, Victoria Park
March 2013 Wednesday 6th ALFRED’S of GUILDFORD
7pm cnr of Meadow & James St Guildford
Sunday 10th SOUTH WEST MONTHLY GATHERING Contact: Kim 0408 914 400
BUSSELTON Contact: Mark 0449 947 782
Wednesday 13th MONTHLY COMMITTEE MEETING Contact: Ray Willis 0407 347 340
6:30pm @ John Hughes Volkswagen, Victoria Park
Saturday 16th # SCARBOROUGH TO MUNSTER COASTAL Contact: Jamie Barrett 0408 183 396
CRUISE See page 9 for information
Wednesday 27th EVENTS COORDINATION MEETING Contact: Jamie Barrett 0408 183 396
6:30pm @ John Hughes Volkswagen, Victoria Park
April 2013
29th March - 2013 BUG-IN NEW SOUTH WALES Contact: Ray Willis 0407 347 340
See page 9 for information 1st April 2013
February February 2013 February 2013 Wednesday 3rd ALFRED’S of GUILDFORD
7pm cnr of Meadow & James St Guildford
Wednesday 10th MONTHLY COMMITTEE MEETING Contact: Ray Willis 0407 347 340
6:30pm @ John Hughes Volkswagen, Victoria Park
OLD COAST ROAD BREWERY & SOUTH WEST Contact: Kim 0408 914 400 Saturday 13th &
MONTHLY GATHERING BUSSELTON Contact: Mark 0449 947 782 Sunday 14th
Wednesday 24th EVENTS COORDINATION MEETING Contact: Jamie Barrett 0408 183 396
6:30pm @ John Hughes Volkswagen, Victoria Park
Sunday 28th # WHITEMAN PARK CLASSIC CAR SHOW Contact: Jamie Barrett 0408 183 396
Details to follow in next magazine.
January 2013 Via West Page 7
1953 - 2013...Volkswagen commemorates 60 years in Australia
Cruising
there… Freestyle… To take you own route to the museum.
To arrive at Museum by 10:30am.
North of the River… To assemble in Kings Park, DNA Tow-er, coordinator will be Dave Moore for a 10:00am departure and run down the Freeway.
Exit at Leach Highway (left hand turn) for the first turn on the right (at lights) into Bull Creek Drive.
To arrive at Museum by 10:30am.
South of the River… To assemble in Bull Creek Shopping Centre, coordinator will be Rod McSwain for a 10:00am departure and short lap around the suburbs.
To arrive at Museum by 10:30am.
Location:
The RAAFA Aviation Heritage Muse-um, Bull Creek Road, Bull Creek is on the corner of Bull Creek Road and Leach Highway, just to the east of the Kwinana Freeway.
Opening Hours:
10.00am to 4.00pm
Features:
There is a shop that sells, drinks, ice-creams, books, models and other souvenirs.
There are two planes for children to play in.
Inspections of the Lancaster are $100 with no concession and a maximum of 4 people at any giv-en time to stop overcrowding.
It takes about 4 hours to get a good look at the whole museum.
Event
details... Date:
Saturday
16th February
Club Run Entry:
Adults $6
Children* $4
Club Member Children* FREE * children ages 4 - 16 years
Note: Normal entry fees are Adults $10; Children $5; Family (2 adults & 2children under 16) $25; Students & Pensioners $7.50
For ease of entry into the museum we will collect the
entry money before we enter
to eliminate a long queue.
Special Event: Because it will be a Saturday the Arm-strong Siddley, Cheetah 9 engine will be run by our VW Club and Committee Member Richard Hines at 1:00 pm
It is a 13 litre radial engine, with a big propeller, which makes all the right noises and which is quite impressive.
Richard would like someone with a good video to film the whole process and then put it on the website and/or the net.
BBQ: If there is enough interest, the VW Club will consider putting on a sau-sage sizzle at the museum’s BBQ. Tables and chairs are available.
Meeting time at Museum: To be there by 10:30am for a GROUP entry at 11:00am into the museum. Monies will be collected in the car park from 10:30am onwards.
RAAFA Aviation Heritage Museum ...the Club Run for February 2013
January 2013 Via West Page 8
1953 - 2013...Volkswagen commemorates 60 years in Australia
New South Wales Bug-In 2013 The “OLD Buggers “ of NSW have pleasure in announcing & inviting you to what may be the last ever Bug In in NSW, in
the Beautiful Blue Mountains, just outside Sydney from 29th March to 1st April 2013.
Accommodation is available from “Blackheath Caravan Park” Prince Edward St, Blackheath NSW
Telephone: 0247 878101 Website: www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au
They are currently installing 8 brand new cabins, prices & reservations are not available for a few weeks. But you should make an inquiry. Mention the Bug In but unfortunately it will not get you a discount. 4 nights are required @ Easter. Next
door is Lakeview Holiday Park who also have cabins Telephone: 0247 878534 for prices & availability.
Please Note: Easter is a busy time so you should not delay in booking accommodation.
Alternative accommodation try Googling caravan parks Katoomba Blue Mountains or if you want to go a little upmarket try Blue Mountains accommodation for Hotels, Motels, Cottages, B&B’s etc. etc.
DON’T WAIT, BOOK NOW.
Bug In Events
Friday Night Bar B Que will be held @ Blackheath Caravan Park - $10 per head
Saturday Morning Car Display @ Wentworth Falls lake 8:00am to 12 noon. Peoples Choice gold coin donation.
Saturday Afternoon and Night are free, we will have a suggested itinerary for you to follow, that should be interesting.
Sunday Sunday we will be holding a Driver Education Day @ Hampton, aboutwe will be holding a Driver Education Day @ Hampton, about 45 mins run away.45 mins run away. drivers. So the more that enter drivers. So the more that enter
the cheaper it will be. Hot dogs for lunch.the cheaper it will be. Hot dogs for lunch.
Sunday alternative Sunday alternative is a trip to Jenolan Caves and well worth the visit. Travel 64 km is a trip to Jenolan Caves and well worth the visit. Travel 64 km -- 1hr. Over 10 lime stone caves to 1hr. Over 10 lime stone caves to
exploreexplore between 30 to 40 dollars per tourbetween 30 to 40 dollars per tour with packages available, look at www.jenolancaves for more info.with packages available, look at www.jenolancaves for more info.
Sunday Night Sunday Night is at Nineteen 23 rest @ Wentworth is at Nineteen 23 rest @ Wentworth
FallsFalls $75 per head$75 per head includes 5 courses & matching includes 5 courses & matching
wines.wines. Not to be missed. Not to be missed.
Monday Monday we will convoy to the Zig Zag railway & possibly we will convoy to the Zig Zag railway & possibly The Mt Tomah Botanical gardens The Mt Tomah Botanical gardens -- unless you are depart-unless you are depart-ing for home.ing for home.
Post BugPost Bug--In EventsIn Events
Tuesday* Tuesday* will be a run to the Mudgee Wine Region.will be a run to the Mudgee Wine Region.
Wednesday* Wednesday* will be a visit to Mt Panorama race circuit in will be a visit to Mt Panorama race circuit in
Bathurst and the Australian Motor Racing Museum.Bathurst and the Australian Motor Racing Museum.
Returning each night to Blackheath.Returning each night to Blackheath. There are a coupla There are a coupla nice Pubs in Blackheath for evening meals.nice Pubs in Blackheath for evening meals.
Thursday* Thursday* we will depart, but anyone wanting to Visit we will depart, but anyone wanting to Visit
Sydney & its world famous HarbourSydney & its world famous Harbour today & Friday would today & Friday would be the days.be the days. There is a fantastic Hop on Hop off double There is a fantastic Hop on Hop off double decker bus tour that includes city highlights & Bondi. A ferry decker bus tour that includes city highlights & Bondi. A ferry ride to manly is always enjoyable. The possibilities are end-ride to manly is always enjoyable. The possibilities are end-less. less. I will be more that happy to be the guide if required.I will be more that happy to be the guide if required.
* These and other tours will be dependant on the number of * These and other tours will be dependant on the number of people remaining after the Bugpeople remaining after the Bug--In that wish to do them.In that wish to do them.
We should have a Bug In shirt, cap & other souvenirs avail-We should have a Bug In shirt, cap & other souvenirs avail-ableable but will be limited to prepaid orders only!but will be limited to prepaid orders only!
Looking forward to seeing your smiling faces @ Looking forward to seeing your smiling faces @
Easter,Easter,
Regards Christopher HarperRegards Christopher Harper
P.S.P.S. If you could drop me an email with your in-If you could drop me an email with your in-tentions it would be of great help to assist with tentions it would be of great help to assist with
planning, bookings & catering.planning, bookings & catering.
[email protected] [email protected]
Updated
WITH
LATEST
NEWS !
January 2013 Via West Page 10
1953 - 2013...Volkswagen commemorates 60 years in Australia
VW Hilton’s “Kimberley
Trip 2012” (part 3)
by Dave Beckley
The fully sealed Great Northern
Highway runs along the southern
and eastern sides of the Kimber-
ley and the Gibb River Road is a
short cut from Derby to Wynd-
ham that runs through the heart
of the Kimberley. The road is 650
km long but with all our detours
we travelled over 1700 km along
this road. In the 1970’s the GRR
was little more than a single lane
track built to get cattle out of the
area to market. Today the GRR is
a two lane road that sometimes
sees a road grader; much of the
road is badly corrugated, rocky
and very dusty. The dust is quite
a problem as each vehicle gener-
ates a dust cloud that makes it
difficult to see the road when a
vehicle travelling in the other di-
rection passes. It also makes it
very dangerous for anyone who is
silly enough to try and overtake
through one of these dust clouds.
We saw the aftermath of an acci-
dent where an idiot in a Toyota
Landcruiser had run into the back
of an off road caravan that had
slowed right down to negotiate a
dry river crossing. The front end
of his Toyota was destroyed, for-
tunately no one was seriously
hurt but that was the end of his
holiday!
There are numerous river and
creek crossings along the GRR
and we timed our trip quite well
in regard to water depth, earlier
in the season the rivers would
have been too deep for the VW
and any later the waterfalls would
have less water flowing. The
deepest river crossing we went
through was about 450mm. We
were very glad that prior to our
departure we had installed ‘Go
Westy’ lift springs that gave us a
bit more ground clearance.
Overall impressions of the area
are the space and feeling of wil-
derness. Many of the cattle sta-
tions are more than 1 million
acres in area with roughly one
head of cattle per 100 acres,
which adds up to 10,000 head of
cattle on a big station! The cattle
industry is a tough one that does
not generate much profit these
days and consequently most of
the stations have opened their
doors to tourism by providing
camping facilities for the many
people from all over Australia and
Overseas who flock to this area in
the dry season. Some of the Sta-
tions have been purchased by the
Government for National Parks,
for conservation or to give to the
local Aborigines. Other stations
such as Mornington have been
purchased by private organisa-
tions for conservation.
The landscape can be best de-
scribed as rugged with ancient
weathered ranges a major feature
of the land and with deep gorges
cut by the rivers when they flood
in the wet season; these gorges
being a major tourist drawcard.
In the southern area there is a
massive exposed reef from a time
when the sea levels were much
higher than today. In the north,
the sandstone is apparently so
old that it pre-dates any complex
life form and consequently there
are no fossils to be found in these
sedimentary rocks. Many of the
hillsides are strewn with exposed
rocks, which we assume are ex-
posed by the torrential rain in the
Wet. The vegetation varies quite
a lot from open savannah grass
lands to quite dense forest. In
most areas the strange bulbous
Boab trees are to be found.
Our trip into this area started
from Fitzroy Crossing on the
Great Northern Highway, where
we went to see Giekie Gorge.
From Fitzroy Crossing we back-
tracked a bit towards Derby and
(Continued on page 11)
The Gibb River Road
Windjana Gorge
January 2013 Via West Page 11
1953 - 2013...Volkswagen commemorates 60 years in Australia
then took the Leopold Downs
Road, a dirt road that connects
with the GRR. Along this road we
stopped at Tunnel Creek where
there is a 700m long walk
through a cave system. There
are no lights in the tunnel so you
need a good torch to find the way
through, in some places we were
knee deep in water. This was an
interesting experience but I did
not take my camera with me as I
was concerned about dropping it
in the creek. There would be
some great photo opportunities in
this cave for anyone with a good
camera, a waterproof bag, a tri-
pod and a strong light. After
Tunnel Creek we headed for
Windjana Gorge National Park
where we stayed for a couple of
nights. Windjana is another mas-
sive gorge cut through the Devo-
nian Reef; in this case, by the
Lennard River and it also has
many freshwater crocs, which
seem to have got quite used to
tourists allowing one to approach
quite close to them. The
campground is close to the Gorge
and so we made several trips in
to see the cliffs in different light.
While at Windjana we met a cou-
ple from Sydney who also had an
old T3 Syncro like ours. We new
this couple were in the Kimberley
as we had been exchanging
emails but it was by pure luck
that we actually met.
Twenty km from Windjana the
Leopold Downs road joins the
GRR and after a short distance
along the GRR we detoured 50
km off the road to Mt Hart Sta-
tion. Mt Hart is now owned by
the WA Government and is run as
a tourist/conservation area.
There was not a lot to see on this
station that apparently had never
made much money for its past
owners and probably won’t in the
future. After a couple of nights at
Mt Hart it was back to the GRR
and then to a campground at Si-
lent Grove. Silent Grove is locat-
ed 10 km from Bell Gorge, which
has a very attractive waterfall.
After a night at Silent Grove we
went to Imintji, an aboriginal
community with a very small gen-
eral store and a motor mechanic
called Neville, who gets to fix lots
of tyres etc. We had hoped to
buy some LP gas for our fridge
and stove at Imintji but to our
despair the store no longer pro-
vides this service. We then went
on to Mt Barnett Roadhouse, the
only place along the whole length
of the GRR that sells petrol! Mt
Barnett also has a small store
that gets its supplies once a week
on a Wednesday, so by the fol-
lowing Tuesday there is not much
left to buy in the fresh food line.
This roadhouse is also the gate-
way to Manning Falls and has a
camping ground 7 km off the
GRR. We stayed the night at this
campground where most people
had massive fires that produced a
smog like effect in the damp
evening air. We have noticed
that people from Victoria in par-
ticular love to have big camp fires
the smoke from which does not
agree with Louise so we decided
to move on and not go to the
Falls. The following morning the
VW decided not to start! We got
some guys to give us a push start
and we then headed back down
the GRR to the Mornington Wil-
derness Camp 85km off the GRR.
(Continued from page 10)
(Continued on page 12) Bells Falls
Boab tree at dusk Mornington Station
January 2013 Via West Page 12
1953 - 2013...Volkswagen commemorates 60 years in Australia
Mornington is owned by the Aus-
tralian Wildlife Conservancy, a
private organisation that makes
some money from tourists allow-
ing a maximum of 50 people per
day to stay on the property.
Apart from the campground they
have a bar and restaurant and to
our relief they also offered gas
cylinder refills. The VW Hilton
was not overly happy that day
and after we arrived at Morning-
ton she decided not to start again
so she was left in the
campground in disgrace while we
went on an all day hike and canoe
trip up the Sir John Gorge. As
the VW would not go we had to
get the good folks at Mornington
to drive us to the Gorge in their
OKA. After this all day trip on our
own we were both quite tired and
so took advantage of the bar and
restaurant that evening. The
next day I gave the VW a bit of a
service, putting in new spark
plugs and generally cleaning dust
or water out of anything that
looked important. This seemed to
help the starting problem but the
motor was still not happy and
seemed to be getting too hot and
again refused to start, although
the starter motor was turning ok.
Mornington have a landline so I
spoke to my VW mechanic Patrick
Hugi in Perth who
gave me a few tips
on what to check
and I also spoke to
Neville the mechanic
at Imintji who sug-
gested disconnecting
the battery to see if
the on board com-
puter that controls
the automatic fuel
injection system
would reset its self.
This last tip seemed
to help and all ap-
peared to be well
again. We also did a second ca-
noe trip at Mornington paddling
through the Dimond Gorge, which
is named after the chief engineer
that carried out a 1950’s feasibil-
ity study to dam the Fitzroy River
at this gorge to provide water for
Perth.
We damaged a wheel rim and
tyre on a rock at Mornington so
after we hit the GRR again we
backtracked to Imintji to see Ne-
ville the friendly mechanic. Ne-
ville managed to straighten the
rim and found an old tyre that he
fitted to our rim so we still had
two spares, one good one and
one very worn one. We then
headed in the right direction
again detouring another 40 km to
Charnley River Station where we
stayed for three nights, visiting
the Grevillea Falls, a multi-tiered
waterfall with several swimming
holes which is accessed via a very
rough track. From CRS it was
back to the GRR stopping to look
at Galvans Gorge, a very pretty
waterfall and swimming hole just
a 15 minute walk from the GRR.
Then on to Mt Barnett Roadhouse
for fuel and a few supplies before
heading to Mt Elizabeth Station
(Continued from page 11)
(Continued on page 13)
VW Hilton Crossing the Pentecost River
An old Kombi that did not make it … or
Is it just waiting for a restoration
January 2013 Via West Page 13
1953 - 2013...Volkswagen commemorates 60 years in Australia
where we stayed for four nights.
At Mt Elizabeth Station we went
on a very interesting station tour
that included information about
life on a working cattle station
and several stops to look at abo-
riginal art sites. We also did
some bush walking and bird
watching while on this Station.
Although camping at Mt Elizabeth
was very pleasant, organised
camping can be a bit regimented
and we decided that a bush camp
would make a pleasant change.
We found a pleasant spot a few
hundred metres off the road on
the banks of the Hann River. We
so enjoyed the peace and solitude
that this location provided that we
ended up spending three nights
there. I had great fun trying to
get a decent photo of the beauti-
ful Rainbow Bee-eaters that fre-
quented the river bank.
After our relaxing stop at Hann
River we went to Ellenbrae, yet
another station offering basic
camping and of all things fresh
scones with jam and cream for
the hungry tourists. Ellenbrae did
not offer much to do so it was on
our way again to Home Valley, a
cattle station that the Govern-
ment had purchased for the local
aboriginals. This station has had
a bucket of taxpayer’s money
spent on it to turn it hopefully in-
to a profitable tourist venue and
working cattle station but unfor-
tunately not too many aboriginals
were seen working there. The
camp ground by the tidal Pente-
cost River was a beautiful spot.
At this stage in our GRR travels
we were now in Salt Water Croc
country and these beasts need to
be respected.
From Home Valley we crossed the
Pentecost River and headed to
the well known El Questro resort
complex that provides a range of
accommodation options including;
the Homestead for the rich and
famous at $1800 per night for a
couple! down to camping on the
Pentecost River. There is a big
caravan/camp ground but we de-
cided to pay a little extra and
took what they called ‘private
camp sites’ that are roughly 1km
apart on the river bank but that
have no facilities; so that meant
digging a big hole once more! It
was a beautiful campsite with a
good view of the river. I spent
quite a lot of time watching birds
that were catching fish in the riv-
er including a Jabiru. While at El
Questro we went on an evening
boat trip up the Chamberlain
Gorge and a visit to the very pop-
ular Zebedee Thermal Springs,
but at 7.30 on a cold morning
there was no way I was going to
strip off to sit in some warm wa-
ter with a load of other people.
We also did a fairly long walk up
Emma Gorge to a beautiful water-
fall and swimming hole.
Emma Gorge was our last stop on
the GRR and in spite of the VW
playing up on the odd occasion
she handled the conditions well
with only a small amount of dust
getting in and the one flat tyre.
The weather was just great;
warm days with cool and some-
time cold nights, particularly at Mt
Elizabeth Station, which is 600m
above sea level.
After 41/2 weeks travelling along
the GRR we still had close to five
weeks left on this journey and
had some great places still to visit
that I will cover in the final
instalment.
(Continued from page 12)
Typical Station tracks
Emma Gorge
Rainbow Bee-eater
January 2013 Via West Page 14
1953 - 2013...Volkswagen commemorates 60 years in Australia
VW Wins International Sustainability
Award Award by World Forum for Ethics in Business for responsible action in the environmental and social fields
The Volkswagen Group has once again received an award for its exten-sive activities in the field of sustainabil-ity and corporate social responsibility. The World Forum for Ethics in Busi-ness honoured the achievements of the Group with the Ethics in Business Award 2012 in the category “Outstanding Corporation”.
The Board of Directors of the Forum honoured the sustained efforts of Volkswagen in the fields of environ-mental management and corporate social responsibility. The Board also took into account the inclusion of Volkswagen in the renowned Dow Jones Sustainability World index and its third place in the Sustainalytics DAX 30 rating.
The World Forum for Ethics said that the reason for the award was the lead-ership of Volkswagen in the assump-tion of corporate social responsibility and the implementation of outstanding and innovative projects. The Forum also underlined that the Group made a positive contribution to society in many areas and set an example of universal values such as integrity, responsibility and respect for people and the envi-ronment through its various environ-mental and health projects.
The Ethics in Business Award is pre-sented by the World Forum for Ethics in Business every two years to honour people and companies who represent values and ethics in business.
The award was made for the first time in 2006. The World Forum for Ethics in Business organizes regular events such as the International Leadership Symposium on Ethics in Business and
the World Youth Forum and sees itself as a platform for global dialog on cor-porate governance.
Volkswagen up! Wins
Again Volkswagen up! Wins Again at UK’s What Car? Magazine Awards
Volkswagen’s much-lauded compact city car, the up!, has retained its small car crown at the UK‘s What Car? awards. The accolade was presented at a prestigious event held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.
The up! has already proved a big hit, receiving numerous local and overseas industry accolades, including Drive’s safety innovation award, and even the prestigious title of World Car Of The Year.
Commenting on the award, Chas Hal-lett, What Car? editor-in-chief, said: “The Volkswagen up! was last year’s Car of the Year because it offers class-leading ride and refinement and is great to drive. Low running costs and strong residuals make it sensational to own.” Since arriving, the up! has faced stiff competition from a number of ri-vals, however, according to What Car? “none could match the up!’s sheer tal-ent.”
As well as high quality, high levels of equipment and class-leading ride and refinement, the up! also offers excel-lent value for money, with pricing from
$13,990 for the up! three-door. Volkswagen up! owners also enjoy the peace of mind with low capped-priced servicing for the vehicle’s first six years or 90,000km (whichever comes first).
All up! models feature a refined and economical three-cylinder 1.0-litre en-gine producing 55kW. Standard equip-ment on the up! includes ABS, four airbags, ESP and the award-winning City Emergency Braking system, which at speeds between 5km/h to 30km/h, detects the risk of an impending colli-sion and can reduce accident severity, or even avoiding a crash entirely, by initiating automatic brake interventions.
So far, the up! is the only vehicle in the segment to offer this innovative tech-nology, more commonly found in cars more than double the up!’s price.
New Volkswagen
SUV Concept Makes Global
Debut at
Detroit Show Six-seat SUV concept designed specif-ically for North America
Innovative diesel-electric plug-in hybrid powertrain offers fuel economy of 2.1 l/100 km (134.5 mpg) (NEDC for plug-
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1953 - 2013...Volkswagen commemorates 60 years in Australia
in hybrid vehicles)
Concept is built using the MQB Modu-lar Transverse Matrix components set
Range in all-electric mode is 20 miles (NEDC)
306 PS; 700 Nm (516 lbs ft); 0 to 60 mph estimated at 7.0 seconds
Volkswagen has unveiled a new SUV concept at the North American Interna-tional Auto Show in Detroit. Called the CrossBlue, it has been developed spe-cifically for the U.S. and Canada, and if it goes into production would sit above the Tiguan and below the Touareg in the Volkswagen SUV line-up.
The CrossBlue features a plug-in hy-brid powertrain that combines a TDI engine with two electric motors, a DSG transmission, and an electric all-wheel-drive system dubbed ‘propshaft by wire’, and offers economy of 2.1 litres per 100 kilometres.
The CrossBlue was designed in Ger-many under the leadership of Walter de Silva (Head of Design, Volkswagen Group) and Klaus Bischoff (Head of Design, Volkswagen Brand), in close co-operation with Volkswagen of America. Painted in ‘CrossBlue Glass Flake’, the concept is 4,987 mm long, 2,015 mm wide, and 1,733 mm high. A wide track of 1,686 mm (front) and 1,696 mm (rear) give it a confident stance on the road, as do 21-inch alloy wheels shod with 235/45 tyres, and flared wheelarches. Contrasting with the body colour is a stainless-steel trim that runs all around the SUV’s lower section.
The CrossBlue has two ‘fuel doors’: one for the diesel tank on the passen-ger side, and one covering two electri-cal sockets on the driver’s side. The first socket is to charge the lithium-ion battery and the second can be used to connect electrical devices.
While the CrossBlue concept car is equipped with six individual seats in three rows, in a production version, the second row would have the option of three seats to make it a full seven-seater. Headroom is excellent throughout the vehicle: 1,077 mm up front, 1,020 mm in the middle row, and 954 mm in the rear. Legroom is am-
ple, too, with 947 mm in the middle row and 917 mm in the back. Convenient access to the rear seats is assured by sliding second-row seats that can be managed with a single hand move-ment.
Behind the third seating row is a cargo area of 335 litres (length 600 mm). With the third row folded, cargo capacity grows to 815 litres and load length to 1,387 mm, figures that in-crease to nearly 2,000 litres and 2,230 mm with the middle row stowed. A forward-folding front passenger seat makes for a maximum 3,110 mm load length.
As soon as the driver starts the CrossBlue, controls for the lights, cli-mate control and four-wheel-drive sys-tem emerge from their flush resting positions. The controls have alumini-um surrounds: aluminium is one of the predominant interior materials, along with leather and dark-stained banana tree wood accents. In the centre con-sole is a 10.2-inch touchscreen, while there is an Apple iPad Mini in the back of each front head-restraint.
As well as excellent fuel economy, the CrossBlue has impressive perfor-mance from a powertrain that produc-es up to 224 kW and 700 Nm: 0 to 100km/h is estimated to take 7.0 sec-onds, while the top speed is 204km/h, or 121km/h in electric mode. The CrossBlue runs in zero emissions mode at the press of a button or auto-matically. With a fully charged battery, the CrossBlue can travel up to 23km in electric mode in the US test cycle, or 33 km using the European driving cy-cle. It has a potential range of 1064km from a combination of the 70-litre fuel tank and battery power.
The CrossBlue is based on Volkswagen’s new Modular Trans-verse Matrix (MQB) components set. Its 140 kW TDI diesel engine is from the new EA288 family, matched to a six-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission. The 9.8 kWh lithium-ion battery lies in the vehicle’s centre tun-nel, and powers 40 kW front and 85 kW rear electric motors. The Cross Coupé concept first shown in 2011, and also on display in Detroit, uses a similar powertrain concept, showing the possibilities of the MQB platform.
The TDI engine produces 400 Nm from just 1,750 rpm, while the electric mo-tors produce their torque – 180 Nm at the front and 270 Nm at the rear – im-mediately. Combined, the system can produce up to 700 Nm.
Powered by its battery, the CrossBlue can cover up to 33 km (NEDC) or 14 miles/23km (US test cycle) as an EV. In E-mode, only the rear electric motor propels the vehicle and the TDI engine is shut off and decoupled. At up to 120km/h, the engine is not en-gaged as long as the battery has suffi-cient charge. As soon as there is a need for TDI power, it is coupled to the drivetrain again, within fractions of a second. The battery can be charged by external power sources or by the engine while the vehicle is moving.
The driver can switch to a charging mode by pressing another button on the centre console. The TDI engine charges the battery while driving to store enough electrical energy for EV operation later in the journey, for in-stance in an urban area. There are
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1953 - 2013...Volkswagen commemorates 60 years in Australia
also a number of other modes, as de-tailed below.
Coasting: When the driver releases the accelerator pedal, the engine and elec-tric motors are decoupled from the drivetrain, provided there is sufficient battery charge.
Battery regeneration: When the accel-erator is released or the brakes ap-plied, the electric motors act as gener-ators and feed energy recovered from the brakes into the battery. In this case, the TDI is also shut off and de-coupled from the drivetrain.
Boosting: When more performance is required, the electric motors form an alliance with the TDI engine known as ‘boosting’. In this mode, all four wheels are driven.
Off-road(‘propshaft by wire’): All four wheels are driven. In this case the front electric motor (supplied with ener-gy by the TDI engine) operates as a generator and a power source for the electric motor at the rear.
TDI only: In this mode, the CrossBlue is a pure front-wheel-drive vehicle.
Volkswagen Reports 22.6%
Increase in
2012 Sales Volkswagen Group Australia has con-tinued its growth in 2012 achieving a 22.6% increase with total sales of 54,835 vehicles. Commercial Vehicles set an all-time record with 12,050 units sold, resulting in a 52% increase.
“2012 has been our 8th year of con-secutive growth for Volkswagen in Australia,” said Volkswagen Group Australia’s Managing Director, Anke Koeckler.
“The brand delivered another important step in our long-term plan, thanks to our growing dealer network and dedi-cated staff. With the arrival of the icon-ic new Beetle and classleading new Golf, we are looking forward to another strong year for Volkswagen”.
Volkswagen Passenger Vehicles in-creased sales across almost all its range during 2012 with total sales of 42,785 units. The Golf range (including Golf Cabriolet) accounted for 42.3% of the total sale figure with 18,112 units sold for the year. Jetta and Touareg showed remarkable strong perfor-mance in 2012 with the Jetta posting strong gains from last year (58.2% year-on-year increase) selling 2,637 units, whilst the luxurious Volkswagen Touareg achieved a new record of 1,737 units sold resulting in an 80.4% year-on-year increase. The Polo saw a 36.0% increase with a record 5,925 units sold along with Tiguan and Eos selling 6,871 units and 765 units re-spectively. Passat increased it sales with 27.5% with 4,362 units sold and the eye-catching five-door coupe, the Volkswagen CC, sold 848 units in 2012.Volkswagen Commercial Vehi-cles had Crafter and Amarok custom-ers to thank for its 2012 success. Volkswagen’s entry into the ute seg-ment has proven successful, with local sales of the Amarok demonstrating a strong appeal in the market with 6,742 units sold in 2012 (39.2% year-on-year increase). The Volkswagen Crafter proved particularly successful with sales up almost 78.7% for the year with 838 units sold.
VW Group Delivers Over Nine Million Vehicles for
First Time
Full year 2012: 11.2 percent* increase in deliveries
December was strong month: 784,300 vehicles delivered / 20.7 present rise*
Board of Management Chairman Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn: “Group devel-oped extremely well in difficult condi-tions and recorded best sales year ever.”
Group Board Member for Sales Chris-tian Klingler: “Present uncertainties will intensify in 2013. Markets remain chal-lenging, competition is getting tough-er.”
The Volkswagen Group recorded a further strong increase in worldwide deliveries for the full year 2012 and exceeded the prior-year delivery rec-ord. The Company delivered 9.07 (2011: 8.16; +11.2 percent)* million vehicles for the first time in a twelve-month period. The Group also finished the month of December with a 20.7 percent increase, delivering 784,300 (December 2011: 649,700)* units.
The Chairman of Volkswagen Aktieng-esellschaft’s Board of Management, Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, comment-ed: “The Volkswagen Group devel-oped extremely well in difficult condi-tions. 2012 was the best sales year ever. This is another big step forward in our Strategy 2018. Tough challeng-es lie ahead. The Volkswagen Group has everything it takes to face these challenges and to play a leading role on world markets.”
Group Board Member for Sales, Chris-tian Klingler, added: “All the brands in our Group contributed to this very good delivery performance in 2012. This is an excellent team achievement. We are still keeping a vigilant eye on the future, because the present uncertain-ties will intensify this year, particularly in Western Europe. The markets are challenging and competition is also getting tougher.”
Full-year deliveries developed espe-cially well on the American continent, with the number of vehicles handed over in the North America region in the period to December growing 26.2 per-cent to 841,500 (666,800) units, of which 596,100 (444,200; +34.2 per-cent) were delivered in the United States.
“The United States is one of the Volkswagen Group’s key markets for implementing our Strategy 2018. Volkswagen Group of America will continue to grow and, together with Porsche Cars North America, will deliv-er well in excess of 600,000 vehicles to customers this year”, Winterkorn said on the eve of this year’s motor show in Detroit.
The Volkswagen Group handed over 1.01 (0.93; +8.2 percent) million vehi-cles to customers in the South America region during the same period, of which 780,200 (704,700; +10.7 per-cent) were delivered in Brazil.
The Group also recorded very satisfac-
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1953 - 2013...Volkswagen commemorates 60 years in Australia
tory figures in the Asia-Pacific region, where deliveries topped the three mil-lion mark for the first time in a twelve-month period, with 3.17 (2.57; +23.3 percent) million vehicles handed over to customers, of which 2.81 (2.26; +24.5 percent) million units were deliv-ered in China, the region’s largest sin-gle market. In India, deliveries in-creased by 2.1 percent to 114,100 (111,700) units.
Deliveries by the Volkswagen Group on the overall European market re-mained stable in spite of the continu-ing difficult situation on markets in Southern Europe, and ran at 3.67 (3.68; -0.3 percent) million vehicles. In Western Europe (excluding Germany), Europe’s largest automaker delivered 1.85 (1.98; -6.5 percent) million units. The Company grew deliveries in the home market of Germany to 1.18 (1.15; +1.9 percent) vehicles. The Volkswagen Group continued to enjoy strong growth in Central and Eastern Europe, where 644,300 (547,800; +17.6 percent) vehicles were handed over to customers, of which 317,700 (229,000; +38.8 percent) were deliv-ered in Russia, the region’s largest single market
The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand delivered 5.74 (5.09; +12.7 per-
cent) million vehicles to customers worldwide in the full year 2012. The brand developed particularly well in the Central and Eastern Europe re-gion, delivering 267,100 (218,100; +22.4 percent) there. Volkswagen Passenger Cars handed over 623,300 (496,700; +25.5 percent) vehicles in the North America region and 2.37 (1.93; +23.2 percent) million units in the Asia-Pacific region. Audi delivered 1.46 (1.30; +11.7 percent) million vehi-cles worldwide in the period to Decem-ber 2012. The premium brand from Ingolstadt developed particularly well in North America, where 168,800 (142,500; +18.5 percent) units were handed over to customers, and in the Asia-Pacific region, where deliveries for the same period ran at 478,900 (373,700), an increase of 28.1 percent.
The sports car manufacturer Porsche, which became a Volkswagen Group brand on August 1, 2012, delivered a total of 59,500 vehicles from August to December. Demand for models built by the Stuttgart-based carmaker was particularly strong in the Asia-Pacific region, where 17,800 vehicles were handed over. In the North America region, 17,400 units were delivered as a result of continued high demand.
The ŠKODA brand delivered a total of 939,200 (879,200; +6.8 percent) vehi-cles in 2012. The Czech automaker
developed particularly well in Central and Eastern Europe, where 261,100 (231,600; +12.7 percent) units were delivered, and in the Asia-Pacific re-gion, where 276,800 (256,100; +8.1 percent) vehicles were handed over.
As a result of the difficult market situa-tion in Western Europe, SEAT deliv-ered 321,000 (350,000; -8.3 percent) vehicles worldwide in the period to December. In contrast, the Spanish brand recorded a strong increase in Germany, where 63,700 (52,000, +22.5 percent) vehicles were deliv-ered. Deliveries in the UK rose to 39,000 (36,100; +8.2 percent), and in Mexico 21,100 (18,100; +16.5 percent) vehicles were handed over.
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles grew full-year deliveries 4.1 percent to 550,400 (528,900) units. Deliveries on the overall European market were maintained at the high prior-year level in spite of the difficult market condi-tions, and 326,000 (326,300; -0.1 per-cent) vehicles were handed over to customers. The brand recorded strong growth in the Asia-Pacific region, where 19,000 (11,700; +61.9 percent) vehicles were delivered.
* including deliveries by the Porsche brand from August 1, 2012; excluding MAN and Scani
The end is
coming... About 10 years ago the club came up with the concept of having its own identifying club plates. Since then the club has sold a number of plates to members and they are proudly dis-played on their cars.
Last year we received a letter from the Department of Transport (Government of WA) that they intended to retire our club plates because of falling sales.
DPI has introduced a minimum sales requirement of ten (10) sets of plates per annum.
Unfortunately one of the reasons for falling sales is the continual price hikes by the department. Last year they were priced at $315 per set of plates...now they are $327 per set.
Last year the club gained an extension of time to be able to give you, our club members at least one more chance to buy our club plates...the deadline was December 2011.
Now…The VW Club committee has now been able to negotiate, what ap-pears to be a FINAL EXTENSION,
until 2nd January 2013.
Extension past this date is solely at the discretion of the Department of Transport, primarily if enough plates are sold.
However, the VW Club committee has decided that when the Department of Transport retire our plates, that will be end of the series. It could be as early as January 2013.
Once more, in an effort to make it easi-er for the club members to afford our
club plates, the club has decided to keep the discount price of $300 per set…yes now you save $27
per set.
If you are interested, you can contact the club at any time for an application form and information sheet or just to discuss your ideas.
You can purchase these and put them into storage if you do not have a vehi-cle for them yet.
January 2013 Via West Page 18
1953 - 2013...Volkswagen commemorates 60 years in Australia
The start of our story is the diffi-
cult decision to sell our
Splitscreen camper 66Split in or-
der to raise funds for new pro-
jects but only under the condition
that we had to have something
else to camp in.
We initially looked at camper
trailers we could use with the T3
for VW camping trips and with the
Pajero if we wanted to get a bit
more off road. Dave as usual was
surfing the net when he spotted a
bay window Kombi that was
jacked up with big chunky wheels
which he liked the look of, he
thought a double door panel van
would make a good camper so
started looking to see what he
could find. He found one in Tassie
but it was an old post so he post-
ed to see if it was still available,
there was no response re the Tas-
sie van but someone else did post
that one was for sale in Sydney.
Meanwhile we sold our splitty so
now the pressure was on to get a
replacement for the summer
camping.
So Dave gave Mikki a call about
the Sydney bus, Mikki sent over
some photos, some discussions
were had and with an offer from
Mikki to drop the bus off in Mel-
bourne at his friends Ricks place
the Friday before Christmas the
deal was done. So now how to
get the bus the rest of the way
home!! After discussing the op-
tion of transporting it or driving it
back ourselves we decided we
would like to do the drive if we
could get the timing right to be
back for the New Year and work.
So after searching flights the best
price was on the red eye on
Christmas day. We confirmed Rick
would be available for us to col-
lect the bus on Boxing day then
booked the flights. With only 10
days to go I had to start planning
and preparing for the trip, what
could we take and what would
have to buy over there so numer-
ous lists were started! We man-
aged to take all our small camp-
ing equipment and some spare
parts and small tools so we just
had to buy the heavy tools, food,
drink, chairs cooker etc. in Mel-
bourne. After checking out some
forums I did route planners for
each day to give us a schedule as
we only had 5 full days of driving
and whatever we could squeeze
in on Boxing day after the shop-
ping and Dave giving the Kombi a
once over.
Christmas Day
After spending Christmas day
with friends we headed off to the
airport. By the way the airports
are not quiet on Christmas day,
we had to queue just to get to the
drop off point!! The terminal was
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Our Kombi Road Trip from Our Kombi Road Trip from
January 2013 Via West Page 19
1953 - 2013...Volkswagen commemorates 60 years in Australia
really busy we couldn't believe
how many people where travel-
ling. We checked in to our first
Tiger airways flight with no dra-
mas. The seats are very close to-
gether and even a shorty like me
found it cramped, as soon as the
seat in front came back it was on
my knees!
Boxing Day
The flight was over quickly and
we landed ahead of time, we
were then told there was a delay
at the gate and we had to remain
seated and could not access the
overhead lockers, we were trying
work out what the delay could be
when two police officers walk
down the aisle and take some guy
away a few rows ahead of us. He
had stolen a wallet and a hand-
bag from other passengers!! Ex-
citement over, time to get going
and collect our Kombi. Rick col-
lected us from the train station,
he took us to his workshop first
so Dave could have a look. It
made Dave's shed look like a gar-
den shed!! Dave was in his ele-
ment wandering around and get-
ting photos. We then headed over
to Ricks place and there it was,
well it has to be said it doesn't
quite have the same impact as
the splitty but with a bit of TLC
and refit should work well for
what we need. Whilst Rick
searched for the receipt and rego
papers I started unpacking to get
organised and Dave started
checking over the bus.
At 9.30 we headed off to start
getting the shopping which was
easier said than done! We knew
the stereo didn't have an iPod
connection so we had bought an
FM transmitter so we could listen
to the iPod we managed to get
music but it was not the best.
There were a couple of cushions
on the bed base but they didn't
look very comfy or very big, we
tested them out and nope even
us shorties were not going to fit,
airbed and pump added to shop-
ping list! Gradually we collected
everything we wanted but could-
n't find the Esky or Jerry cans
Dave wanted! We just got a
cheap Esky from BCF as we al-
ready have enough Esky's at
home! We could now get the food
and start heading to the Great
Ocean Road. Dave remembered
the light check so we pulled over
to check them, no brake lights,
dipped beam didn't work stuck on
main beam something to look at
later.
It was now well into the afternoon
we hoped to be in Lorne tonight.
As we passed through Geelong
we spotted another Bunnings and
managed to get their last Jerry
can, they sent us down the road
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Melbourne to Perth Melbourne to Perth by Tina & Dave Mooreby Tina & Dave Moore
January 2013 Via West Page 20
1953 - 2013...Volkswagen commemorates 60 years in Australia
to their new super centre and we
managed to get the other Jerry
can another thing off the list. We
stopped off at Torquay and got
our first picture of the Kombi by
the Ocean. Dave wanted to carry
on as he didn't want to fall behind
the route plan. We were starting
to lose light so we pulled over
and Dave changed some wires in
fuse box so that we only had
dipped beam. We arrived in Lorne
and tried the caravan park, they
wanted $55 for one night unpow-
ered so we headed off looking for
the free campsite at the other
end of town, we drove out of
town and didn't see any campsite,
we saw a T3 parked up in a lay by
that looked like it was there for
the night so we pulled in behind it
was now 22.15. Distance 145
miles(233km).
Thursday 27th December
After a cold sleepless night for me
we got up early and headed back
into Lorne, we parked up on the
beach to use the facilities have
breakfast and for Dave to try and
fix the brake lights, it was the
switch so still no brake lights. We
left Lorne at 7.45, our destination
today was Keith. I connected the
dash cam up which caused inter-
ference on the FM transmitter and
we had a constant whistle, off
goes the stereo. We stopped at
Apollo bay Dave removed the
drivers mudflap as it was catching
on the wheel when turning right,
we didn't make it out of the car
park and there was an awful
buzzing noise, Dave stopped
quickly but the noise didn't!! I
saw the light bulb go on as Dave
realised it was the horn
(knackered and earthing out) so
he jumped out and disconnected
it. Shortly after I had my first
drive on the windiest bit of road
so far, driving the bus was easier
than our splitty as I could reach
the handbrake with the clutch
down yay. I was apprehensive
that the brake lights didn't work
as I was constantly slowing down
for bends people seem to like
driving very close! We arrived
safely at the 12 Apostles, photo
time off we trot with all the other
tourists to get a few pictures. We
also stopped at Loch Ard Gorge,
The Arch, London Bridge and the
Bay of Islands. We realised we
hadn't travelled very far and time
was getting on so no more tourist
stops and straight to Warrnam-
bool. We stopped to pick up an
aerial, wiper blades and some
seat covers, we had a look at ste-
reo's and decided to get a new
one, what we wanted was not in
stock. We went somewhere else
where Dave thought we should
look at the one in the sale for
$100. Didn't look the best but if it
gave us music without hissing or
whistling that’s all we needed. We
had no luck getting the brake
light switch so tried one more au-
to store but no luck there either.
Dave decided to fit the stereo,
which he did in record time even
if it was a quick bodge it install.
We head of down the road and I
try and get music working, it ac-
cepts an iPod but doesn't recog-
nise my iPhone!! Now we have a
vibration noise coming from the
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January 2013 Via West Page 21
1953 - 2013...Volkswagen commemorates 60 years in Australia
front panel area driver’s side.
Here starts the undetectable
noise story to be continued. We
still have a long way to go and I
suggest we stop at Mount Gam-
bier instead but Dave wants to
get as far as we can. We crossed
over in SA so gained 30 minutes
just what we need. We pulled
over so I could cook tea and Dave
fitted the new seat covers, he
started with the driver’s seat then
did the 2/3 seat except the cover
wasn't 2/3 it was tiny so covers
all had to be changed back. We
headed off again after dinner and
got just North of Millicent where
we pulled off into a lay-by for the
night, it was now 22.30. It was a
long day with all the tourist and
undetectable noise stops on the
way. Distance 292 miles(470km).
Friday 28th December
We headed off towards Adelaide
at 6.30. We stopped at Kingston,
photo opportunity with the big
lobster. With all the pit stops and
undetectable noise stops it was
nearly lunchtime so we stopped
at Handorf for a pit stop and a bit
of lunch then continued towards
Adelaide. I did a search for auto
stores as we had decided to bite
the bullet and get another stereo
as we still had a lot of driving to
go. I found one on the road out of
Adelaide we would be on so we
called in there and they had stock
of the original stereo we were go-
ing to get so we went straight
outside and fitted it in the car
park. Finally we had music with
no hissing or whistling. We
stocked up on supplies as I didn't
think we would make Port Augus-
ta before closing. The tempera-
ture was starting to pick up now
but with the windows open and
sunshades on the windows to
keep the direct sun off us it was
still quite pleasant in the van. We
called in at a servo for more ice
and there was an auto parts store
next door so Dave popped in on
the off chance of getting that
brake light switch, finally they
had one but we had to go up the
road to their warehouse, so off
we go again one switch collected
and fitted and now we have brake
lights. Just the noise to go now!
So we keep heading north for Port
Augusta. Time was getting on
again with all these stops we had
only reached Snowtown, it was
here that Dave finally fixed the
noise yippee. It was 6.15 but as
Snowtown looked more like ghost
town we decided to stick to our
original plan and eat in Port Au-
gusta. We arrived at Port Augusta
and went to Macca's for food so I
could use the wi-fi which was a
waste of time as it so slow. We
found the Big 4 caravan park so
booked in there for $36 for an
unpowered site and it was only
21.30 an early arrival for us. At
last we get to have a shower just
in time for the hot sticky part of
the journey. Distance 439 miles
(706km).
The Undetectable Noise.
A very loud vibration noise start-
ed just as we left Warrnambool.
Only appears above 50 mph!
Dave doesn't like any sort of rat-
tles or noises that shouldn't be
there so as soon as this noise
started he had to stop it so here
starts the process of elimination.
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1953 - 2013...Volkswagen commemorates 60 years in Australia
There wasn't really anything in-
side the van so we pulled over.
Dave had a tap around the front
and had a look underneath, he
found some loose washer on bolts
in the chassis so he tightened
those and off we set we still had
the noise, next stop the bumper
was tightened still have the
noise, the headlamp was re-
moved no change. The badge on
the front was loose so that had
tape wrapped round it but no
change next out came the grill
still no change!! I thought maybe
something was dislodged behind
the stereo as the noise started
after that was fitted so out it
came no change, the drivers kick
panel came off and we both tried
laying in the drivers foot well to
hear exactly where the noise was,
not an easy feat whilst you’re
driving along with handbrake and
pedals in the way not mention
feet. Dave thought maybe the
noise was actually at the back but
travelling down the heater tubes
so he checked out the back of
bus and found an exhaust clamp
missing, he was quite positive at
this point the he had located the
source of his noise. So now how
to fix it, getting hold of an ex-
haust clamp specific to a VW en-
gine was going to mean trying to
source it in an area we didn't
know so instead off we went to
get an exhaust bandage and ty-
ing wire for a bodge it fix until we
get home.
Day 2 of the undetectable noise.
Dave made the bodge exhaust
repair before we set off for the
day. He also removed the rear
heater tubes as the heat ex-
changer was also rattling. We set
off confident the noise would be
gone but no it was false hope
there it still was. So the speedo
was disconnected and off we go
again and yep we're pulling over
again this time the loose throttle
pedal linkage is cable tied anoth-
er stop this time the loose hand-
brake linkage is cable tied. So the
day is getting on and we still
have this awful noise so now the
washer bottle is removed and the
indicator so Dave can get a good
look down behind the front val-
ance but nothing was apparent.
Next the front fan tubes where
removed but still no change.
Dave had noticed that the repair
to the front inner valance wasn't
that great there was a gap be-
tween some fibreglass and the
front panel and maybe the wind
was getting in there so he started
ripping of some of the fibreglass,
not that either! We did a pit stop
and Dave then decided he wanted
to wedge something in the repair
so I pulled a brochure out of the
bin for a wedge. Dave then no-
ticed a tiny crack in the number
plate so he also wedged some
paper behind that too and off we
set. Hallelujah the noise has final-
ly stopped 26 hours after it start-
ed. So a tiny crack in a number
plate that doesn’t rattle when
tapped, driving at over 50 mph
with a crosswind equals a really
loud annoying noise!!
Saturday 29th December
After replacing the cold water
with ice we set off at 7.30 for the
Eyre Highway and WA. No loud
vibration noise and music to ac-
company us we can relax just en-
joy the driving. Just outside of
Port Augusta we see our first wild
Emu but Dave was too slow to
get the picture. I finally get a
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January 2013 Via West Page 23
1953 - 2013...Volkswagen commemorates 60 years in Australia
chance to start typing this write
up that would never happen if it
waited until we got home so will
have to play catch up. First pit
stop Kimba, photo with the Big
Galah. Next Wudinna, photo with
the granite sculpture of an Aus-
tralian farmer. At Poochera, we
saw Peter's humpy that he built
using kerosene cans in the
1920's. The highway wasn't very
busy wether that was normal for
a Saturday or because of Christ-
mas we're not sure but it was
great for us as it meant we didn't
hold anyone up for long. It also
made it easy to suddenly stop for
photos of the bus with signs
along the highway. I wanted to
have lunch next to the ocean at
Ceduna so we had some snacks
to keep us going. We arrived in
Ceduna at 13.30, found a car
park on the beach and set about
making lunch. I was determined
to have a cup of tea as I hadn't
had one since Christmas day. So
table and cooker out, it was pret-
ty windy but Dave managed to
get the water hot whilst I made
lunch. After lunch I went for a
paddle, the water was lovely like
walking into a warm bath. I
would have loved a swim but we
still had a long way to go so back
in the bus we go. We passed
through Penong taking photos as
we drove past as we wanted to
see the Bight. We finally made to
The Head of Bight at 18.20 only
to find it closes at 16.30! We
were very disappointed and sur-
prised to find that it closed. We
pushed on to the first lookout and
managed to get a view of the
cliffs. We decided to have a bite
at the Bight so time cook dinner,
it was blowing a gale so the cook-
er had to be supervised so the
saucepan didn't fly off. Due to the
wind we decided to eat inside the
van then where on our way
again, our destination the first
rest stop past Border Village. By
the time we got to the next view
point of the Bight there was no
light left so on we go. I emptied
the esky at Border Village ready
for some more ice only for Dave
to come out and say they didn't
have any, note to self don't emp-
ty the ice cold water out of the
esky until you have more ice!!
We called in at Eucla and luckily
they did have ice so we could
keep everything cold, phew. We
pulled into the rest stop with all
the trucks and set the van up for
the night, it was 21.20 I would
say it was an early night but as
we had just gone through a time
zone it was really a late night!
Distance 603 miles(970km).
Sunday 30th December
We woke very early as the sun
was up very early!! Who keeps
voting against daylight savings?
We planned to fill up at
Mundrabilla, which isn't 24hrs so
we laid in until 5.15 then headed
to the roadhouse to fill up and
have breakfast hoping it would be
open. It was and we were soon
on our way again. We had our
first Kangaroo cross the road up
ahead not close enough to be a
hazard, I wonder if the roo shoo's
were working or if the Roo's were
just staying off the road? I spot-
ted a small group of Emu's so
Dave reversed up and we man-
aged to get photos this time. We
stopped to get a photo of Madura
pass then off we go again. We
filled up at Caiguna, the lady that
served Dave asked him how the
(Continued from page 22)
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January 2013 Via West Page 24
1953 - 2013...Volkswagen commemorates 60 years in Australia
Kombi was going and it turned
out she owns the Bay window li-
mo that was at DOVW this year,
it was currently off the road as it
had blown the transmission
again, hope its back on the road
soon. It was my turn to drive and
I got the longest stretch of
straight road in Australia 90 miles
of it. As we were making good
time today we decided to head
for Coolgardie tonight instead of
Norseman. By mid-morning it
was starting to warm up in the
van and by lunch was hot, out
came the spray bottle so I could
mist myself down, Dave didn't
need it as he is not effected so
much by heat or cold, lucky him.
We had the windows open but the
wind was so hot it was like sitting
in front of a hand dryer!! About
80km's east of Norseman we
pulled into a rest stop with a salt
lake, Dave spotted an area where
he could get down so next thing
we are parked up on the lake for
more photo's, never would have
got these photos in our splitty as
it wouldn't have made the short
trip off road. We made it to
Norseman by 15.30 so we filled
up then headed into town to
stock up on supplies, we spotted
the camel statues so I jumped
out to get a photo. We found the
IGA, it was closed, another note
to self, remember what day of
the week it is when planning to
get supplies!! Off to Coolgardie it
is. We stopped in at the pub for
dinner which was delicious. We
booked in at the caravan park,
the mosi's were out, the first of
the trip. I lit the burner and got
the van ready for the night. Dave
got back from his shower and
jumped into bed and nearly
jumped out again! The bed was
so hot it was like an electric blan-
ket had been left on it on full all
day. I tried to sleep but the heat
was so oppressive I knew I would
be awake all night, I went to
have a cold shower to try and
cool myself down, think again!
the cold water was hot so no cold
shower. I got back to the van and
Dave was willing to keep on going
for home although he probably
would have been able to sleep.
We got about 40km's shy of
Southern Cross when Dave pulled
into a layby and parked behind a
hedge. We didn't bother covering
the windows Dave used the front
seat and I made a space on the
bed big enough to lie down. It
was still pretty warm but had
cooled off enough for us to get a
couple of hours sleep. About 3am
we continued on, now it was just
head for home, with a quick stop
off at Bakers Hill for breakfast we
were home by 8.30. We headed
straight for bed put the fan on full
and slept til lunchtime. Now we
had all the unpacking to do and
this write up to finish. I put the
aircon on and spent the rest of
the afternoon in the house. Dave
went out to the bus which had
not had a clean for a long time
and looked like it had been sitting
under a tree for a while, and he
set about washing the van and
giving the roof a t-cut and wax.
Wow what a difference. As we
had got back earlier than planned
we went round to Jamie's to bring
the New Year in with friends
(thanks BJ and GJ for a very
pleasant evening and divine cock-
tails), we took the bus for its last
trip for a few weeks as it is being
stripped out and a few jobs done,
hopefully will be on the road
again soon. Distance 849 miles
(1366km).
The Verdict
We could definitely had done with
a few extra days, more time in
Melbourne to get setup properly
so we didn't have to stop at the
shops so often along the way. Not
knowing Melbourne didn't help as
everything is so spread out. It
would have been nice to have at
least a couple of extra overnight
stops along the way so we could
have had more time to see some
of the things we drove past and
to have had time to just sit and
relax and the end of the day in-
stead of falling straight into bed.
As I was due back at work on the
2nd we just couldn't do those ex-
tra days so we made the best of
what we had. The Nullarbor was-
n't quite what we expected, we
thought it would be quite barren
but in fact was quite green and
there is lots of trees and scrub. I
would be great to do the trip as
part of a VW convoy it's just a
case of time, maybe after I get
that winning lotto ticket!!
Would we do it again,
yes if there was a reason to
Total Distance: 2328 Miles
(3746kms)
Total Fuel: 410L
Average Fuel Economy: 25.8 mpg
(10.9 litres per/100km)
(Continued from page 23)
January 2013 Via West Page 25
1953 - 2013...Volkswagen commemorates 60 years in Australia
Volkswagen Polo R WRC makes debut at the Rally
Monte Carlo When the first World Rally Car
sets out on the opening stage of
the Rally Monte Carlo, from
Moulinon to Antraigues, at 09:00
on Wednesday 16 January, it will
mark the start of something ra-
ther special: Volkswagen’s first
season in the FIA World Rally
Championship (WRC). 20,000 kil-
ometres of testing, 1,700 parts
designed completely from
scratch, 17 months of prepara-
tions – all for this one moment,
the dawn of a new age. The ap-
pearance of the Polo R WRC in
the FIA World Rally Championship
heralds a new era in motorsport
for Volkswagen – and where bet-
ter to make your debut than the
legendary Rally Monte Carlo. In
Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila
(FIN/FIN) and Sébastien Ogier/
Julien Ingrassia (F/F), the works
team from Wolfsburg lines up at
the WRC season-opener with two
young crews who nevertheless
already possess a wealth of expe-
rience. From 15 to 20 January,
Volkswagen will face strong oppo-
nents and a new technological
challenge. The WRC is regarded
as the biggest all-round test in
international motorsport and,
alongside Formula One, it is the
most iconic of the FIA’s world
championships.
“I cannot wait to finally getting
going. The entire team at
Volkswagen is looking forward to
the WRC debut of the Polo WRC,”
says Volkswagen Motorsport Di-
rector Jost Capito. “World Cham-
pionship rallies in the top WRC
class are new territory for the
team. Furthermore, the Polo R
WRC has been developed from
scratch, features a lot of innova-
tive ideas, and will be making its
competitive debut. The ‘Monte’
will give us our first indication of
how we compare with the opposi-
tion – our rivals already have two
years’ experience of the regula-
tions that came into force in
2011, and have been driving in
the WRC for many years. Our
goal for the Rally Monte Carlo is
to gain as much experience as
possible and to finish with both
cars.”
Debut time: Volkswagen, the
World Rally Championship and
(Continued on page 26)
January 2013 Via West Page 26
1953 - 2013...Volkswagen commemorates 60 years in Australia
the Rally Monte Carlo
The Rally Monte Carlo is a first for
Volkswagen in many regards: the
team is competing at a World
Championship rally in the top cat-
egory for World Rally Cars. At the
same time, the Polo R WRC will
make its first competitive outing
and the team will be working with
a new driving duo for the first
time under rally conditions. Finn
Jari-Matti Latvala and his com-
patriot and co-driver Miikka
Anttila officially joined the
Volkswagen outfit at the start of
the year. Prior to their appear-
ance at the “Monte”, the duo with
seven WRC wins to their name
have completed a number of test
drives.
Latvala and Anttila start the 2013
season in the number 7 Polo R
WRC. In the cockpit of the num-
ber 8 Polo will be Frenchmen
Sébastien Ogier and his co-driver
Julien Ingrassia. They have been
under contract as Volkswagen
works drivers since the end of
2011 and have played significant
roles in the development and
testing of the Polo R WRC. To-
gether with co-driver Ingrassia,
Ogier, who was born in Gap (F),
has already won his home rally
on one occasion. In 2009 the
French pair won the classic as
guest starters in the Interconti-
nental Rally Challenge (IRC). Like
Latvala and Anttila, Ogier and
Ingrassia currently have seven
WRC race wins to their name.
Simply legendary: the “Monte”
challenge in the snow and ice of
the mountains
The Volkswagen Motorsport team
could hardly be facing a tougher
challenge. After all, the “Monte”
is the oldest rally in the world
and the “mother of all rallies”,
having been held for the first
time in 1911. The majority of the
Rally Monte Carlo is held on nar-
row tarmacked roads in the
French Maritime Alps to the north
of the principality of Monaco.
While the lower roads close to the
Mediterranean are regularly dry,
the drivers are often faced with
black ice and snow on the many
mountain passes they are re-
quired to negotiate. This makes it
essential to select the right tyre –
and makes the “Monte” one of
the most difficult and complex
rallies on the World Champion-
ship calendar.
Thoughts ahead of the Rally Mon-
te Carlo
Jari-Matti Latvala, Polo R WRC #7
“I can hardly wait for the season
to get started. I may already
have five years as a works driver
in the World Rally Championship
under my belt, but both the
Volkswagen Motorsport team and
the Polo R WRC are new to me.
As such, I will be making my de-
but in two regards. The tests up
to now have shown that the Polo
R WRC is very reliable. This is
probably the most important find-
ing so far – and a good basis for
future technical developments
over the course of the season. I
have already developed a good
feeling for the car on asphalt and
snow, which is a good sign ahead
of the Rally Monte Carlo. It is
great fun driving the Polo R WRC.
It is very stable and the driveabil-
ity of the engine is also very
good. I would like to get the sea-
son off to a good start at the
‘Monte’. The result is not the top
priority yet, although I would ob-
viously love to pick up some
World Championship points.”
Sébastien Ogier, Polo R WRC #8
“The ‘Monte’ is a very special ral-
ly. After all, it is my home rally.
However, the season-opener near
my home will be an extraordinary
experience for the entire team, as
it is the first rally with the new
Polo R WRC. We have been work-
ing towards this moment with
Volkswagen for over a year. We
(Continued from page 25)
(Continued on page 27)
Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia
January 2013 Via West Page 27
1953 - 2013...Volkswagen commemorates 60 years in Australia
can hardly wait to finally get
started. However, it is difficult to
judge how we will compare to the
opposition, as we have not yet
raced against the other teams
under competitive conditions.
Making your debut in a world
championship with a completely
new car is a big challenge, partic-
ularly as the other manufacturers
have several years more experi-
ence than we do. For this reason
we must be patient and concen-
trate at first on reaching the fin-
ish without any problems. Experi-
ence shows that this is anything
but simple at the Rally Monte
Carlo, as anything can happen at
this event.”
Volkswagen in the FIA World Ral-
ly Championship (WRC)
The start in the FIA World Rally
Championship (WRC) sees
Volkswagen continue its success-
ful history in motorsport.
Volkswagen claimed overall victo-
ry at the Rally Dakar in 2009,
2010 and 2011 with the Race
Touareg to claim a hat-trick of
titles at the toughest marathon
rally in the world. The Polo R
WRC is the first World Rally Car
to come out of Wolfsburg, with
the manufacturer now entering
its own works team at the pinna-
cle of rallying for the first time.
This presents Volkswagen with
the opportunity to prove itself in
direct sporting competition on a
global stage. No model is more
suited to the challenge than the
Polo, which is one of
Volkswagen’s most internationally
manufactured and distributed
cars.
© Volkswagen Motorsport Com-
munications
Strong debut: Volkswagen
finishes “Monte” in
second place Wolfsburg (19 January 2013).
Absolutely “Monte”: Volkswagen
showed an impressive debut in
the FIA World Rally Champion-
ship. In one of the toughest edi-
tions of the Rally Monte Carlo in
recent years, Sébastien Ogier/
Julien Ingrassia (F/F) managed to
lead the Polo R WRC in its first
competitive outing to second
place. In difficult weather condi-
tions with a mix of snow, ice, and
wet asphalt next to bright sun-
shine, thick fog, and heavy rain
Ogier/Ingrassa won two special
stages on the classic through the
French Maritime Alps. Behind the
nine-time world champions
Sébastien Loeb/Daniel Elena (F/
MC, Citroën), Ogier/Ingrassia
achieved top times from the
start, thus reaching the podium
straightaway and on their own
accord in the debut of the Polo R
WRC.
Their team colleagues Jari-Matti
Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN)
were among the top five almost
until the end of the rally. Because
of the extremely challenging
weather conditions with slush and
pieces of ice, they were, howev-
er, forced to retire after sliding
off in the legendary special stage
over the Col de Turini.
Milestones: Fastest times for
Ogier/Ingrassia
First special stage, first fastest
time – for Volkswagen the Rally
Monte Carlo began with a mile-
stone achievement. On “Le Mouli-
non”, with 37.1 kilometers the
longest special stage of the rally,
Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia
achieved the best time. On the
second day, the French duo also
secured their position with the
best time in the fifth special
stage, “La Batie D'Andaure”, in
their home rally “Monte”. With
other top results Ogier/Ingrassia
consolidated their second position
in the overall ranking. In total,
Volkswagen managed to record
top-three results in 14 of 16 spe-
cial stages.
Extreme weather: premature end
to the “Monte” for safety reasons
Extreme weather conditions and
safety concerns resulted in a
premature end of the Rally Monte
Carlo. The organizers of the rally
called off the remaining two stag-
(Continued from page 26)
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January 2013 Via West Page 28
1953 - 2013...Volkswagen commemorates 60 years in Australia
es on Saturday evening, including
the final round over the Col de
Turini. Heavy rain and the result-
ing unpredictable weather condi-
tions in the night from Saturday
to Sunday as well as traffic chaos
around the mythical special stage
caused safety concerns. Shortly
before the cancellation of special
stages 17 and 18, Jari-Matti Lat-
vala/Miikka Anttila had slipped
from the track into the barriers
with their Polo R WRC. Slush and
pieces of ice had made the open-
ing stage of last day of the rally
unpredictable. Besides Latvala/
Anttila, other top drivers crashed
out in this special stage.
Tyre gamble and driving skills
most crucial
Changing road textures and un-
predictable weather: The condi-
tions in the Rally Monte Carlo are
unique in the WRC calendar. In no
other rally is the skill of the driver
as important as in the “Monte”.
An additional success factor: the
tyre choice. In the 2013 edition of
the classic rally spike tyres turned
out to be a rare commodity. No
more than 20 pieces per car are
permitted by the regulations.
When which tyres are used, is a
decision that the teams decide
based on the information provided
by weather crews along the stag-
es and precise weather forecasts.
Here, Volkswagen not only proved
to be ready for the WRC
with the Polo R WRC techni-
cally but also in driving and
logistically.
The next round of the FIA
World Rally Champion-
ship (WRC) will take
place in Sweden from
February 07–10, 2013.
Quotes, day four of the Rally
Monte Carlo
Jost Capito, Volkswagen Motor-
sport Director
“Second place in the first rally of
the new Polo R WRC is more than
we could have expected. The
team did an exceptional job in the
last four rally days and prepared
the cars perfectly. The Rally Mon-
te Carlo is the most complex
event in the calendar and the
team has here shown that they
are ready for the World Rally
Championship. There was no mis-
take, not the slightest problem.
One cannot value the perfor-
mance of Sébastien Ogier high
enough. He drove the ‘Monte’ for
in a World Rally Car the first time.
There is no other rally in which
the driver’s impact on the result is
bigger. That is why we will not
see where we stand with the Polo
R WRC until after the upcoming
events.”
Sébastien Ogier, Volkswagen Polo
R WRC #8
“I never was as happy about a
second place as I was today. To
reach the podium in our debut
with the Polo R WRC is just great.
These were probably the most
difficult conditions in a Rally Mon-
te Carlo I have ever experienced.
Especially today, during the first
run to the Col de Turini, it
was extremely slippery,
so that speeds of more
than 20 kph were not
possible. It was just about
keeping the car on the
road. The entire team
worked very hard during
the last year, and I am
happy to give something
back to them. I am sorry
for Jari-Matti but I am
sure that we will celebrate further
victories together for Volkswagen
in the future.”
Jari-Matti Latvala, Volkswagen
Polo R WRC #7
“I am very disappointed. There
was more wet snow in the first
run through the Col de Turini
stage than I expected. I was too
fast right in the beginning, the car
did not turn as expected, and I
crashed heavily. Another car had
slipped there before I did and I hit
the same lane. There was nothing
I could do. It was my goal to
gather lots of experience with the
Polo R WRC. It is bitter to end the
rally this way. I am sorry for the
guys because they prepared the
cars brilliantly. I really wanted to
give them a points result.”
And then there was …
... the Volkswagen Group brand
Audi, which got on board the
World Rally Championship at the
“Monte” in 1981 with the Quattro,
winning, just like Volkswagen with
the Polo R WRC, the very first
special stage in its debut as a
manufacturer. At the time, it was
Hannu Mikkola who had a dream
start; in 2013, it was Sébastien
Ogier who started in a similarly
spectacular way in the very first
and longest special stage. The
Quattro was revolutionary within
the World Rally Championship in
the early eighties and helped start
the triumphant march of the four-
wheel drive. This kind of trans-
mission technology is indispensa-
ble in World Rally Cars today.
© Volkswagen Motorsport Com-
munications
(Continued from page 27)
January 2013 Via West Page 29
1953 - 2013...Volkswagen commemorates 60 years in Australia
Playing a Round of
Golf VI 2011 Golf 77TDI "Team"
Driven 2011-04-28 to 2011-06-26 by
Bernd Felsche
...continued from the September
October November 2012 Via West
Sunday, the First of May
It's a special day in Germany. A
day when all the motorbikes
seem to come out to play in the
spring air.
After a good night's sleep and a
light breakfast, I headed West
towards Belgium, with heaps of
time on my hands to get where I
wanted. Although the TomTom
Navigation system running on the
old Treo phone knew most of the
roads as they had been in Germa-
ny in 2007, by 2011 there'd been
small changes. And the the maps
for Belgium had only the main
roads. Lucky for me, the Hotel in
on a main road. Well, a minor
main road.
Destination was Tombeek, part of
the city of Overijse in the Flemish
part of Belgium. The training
courses were to take place in a
Francophone part of Belgium,
which began just on the other
side of the creek near the Hotel.
My planned commute was about
half an hour each way.
The run to the border was at
most uneventful. I was a little
disappointed that the fuel con-
sumption remained relatively
high, despite the flat landscape
and smooth Autobahn surface.
But it was still a new TDI. Proper-
ly run in; which can take 40,000
km or more, both oil and fuel
consumption can be expected to
fall.
I made a brief stop off the Auto-
bahn just before Aachen, just
over half an hour into the trip to
take off my jacket, have a drink
and to try to fix the video camera
I had mounted in the car. It was
rubbish. The camera being far too
sensitive to any vibrations, the
recordings turned out to be al-
most completely useless. So
much for "solid state".
Speedometers are Compulsive
Liars Belgian motorways have
speed limits; usually 120 km/h so
the importance of the navigation
system increased as it indicated
the real speed of the car, unlike
the speedometer which has been
programmed to exaggerate the
measured speed by about 7%. It
is legally required to lie so that
the car can be licenced for road
use. The compulsive lying behav-
iour can be confirmed by plugging
in a diagnostic tool and getting a
readout of the speed measured
by the car's own sensors; which
agrees with the GPS figure within
2 km/h at a steady speed. The
result is that at an indicated 100
km/h, the car is not even travel-
ling at 95.
In combination with strict speed
limit enforcement, one gets the
same motorway behaviour in Bel-
gium as one endures in Australia:
All lanes are occupied by every-
body driving at their idea of 120
km/h and failing to stay out of the
passing lanes. This reduction in
lane discipline compared to (de-
restricted) Autobahn traffic in
Germany raises the apparent con-
gestion, even on a Sunday, and
probably the stress experienced
by drivers.
After about 150 km of Belgian
motorways, I took a near-enough
exit at Wavre and noted that the
speed limit around most of town
is posted as 70; at least on the
main roads. Both the age and the
lack of map detail in the naviga-
tion system become apparent as I
hit roadworks, incorporating new
road, intersections and rounda-
bouts. But I can read signs, and
they seem to point in the right
direction. Ooohhh look: A new
Audi showroom. There are other
small businesses settled either
side of the road.
After a little while I was back on
the unchanged road. It becomes
semi-rural, with some treelines
and a ridge. I blinked but didn't
miss the small sign greeting those
who enter Vlaams-Brabant. Just a
minute from the hotel on Wavers-
esteenweg at the entrance of the (Continued on page 30)
PART TWO
January 2013 Via West Page 30
1953 - 2013...Volkswagen commemorates 60 years in Australia
village of Tombeek, part of the
greater community of Overijse.
Radio reception ought to be good
because there's a huge mast over
the ridge, behind the hotel.
Time to check in; though there
didn't appear to be any staff out-
side of the trenches. Front door
was locked, but that door also
served the restaurant which was-
n't open at the time. A staff
member arrives by car and sees
that I'm checked in and have a
room.
They showed me the guests' en-
trance at the back of
the hotel and tell me
where I can park the
car for easy access.
The suitcase which I
was carrying wasn't
easy to wrangle up the
stairs. A bit of unpack-
ing to do; hang the
shirts and trousers so
that they're not too
wrinkly in the morning.
And oh dear; noticed
that the hem on one
trouser leg has come
undone. That was when
I applied my Army
training, got out the
sewing kit and figured
out how to do some
blind stiching. Fixed in
under half an hour. (I
hadn't brought any
duct tape. A dismal
oversight.)
Still daylight, my feet
are still itchy and I
headed back out onto
the road for a quick
squiz at the neighbour-
hood. Along Wavers-
esteenweg towards
Brussels, what looks
like Overijse's old town
centre invites a pause
at a war memorial in
Overijse. For a mo-
ment, I consider that it
wasn't only the World
Wars which ravaged
that region, but wars
over several centuries
between rival tribes
and nations. For exam-
ple, Waterloo is within
spitting distance. But
there were many earli-
er, deadly struggles, for
much less.
Carrying on towards
Brussels, the newer-looking parts
of town stretch out along the
main drag. With a speed limit of
70. There are restaurants, fast-
food and other shops, as well as
service centres for large corpora-
tions. I made a mental note of
the locations and approaches to
service stations and did a short
run along the motorway back to
the Wavre exit, and a circuit
around that town, completing the
evening's orientation.
Back at the hotel, I found that
the Wi-Fi Internet didn't quite ex-
tend to the inside of my room. I'd
disabled "data" on my mobile
phone the night before because
roaming data charges were astro-
nomical. And that sort of thing
could wait until the following day,
where the training facility provid-
ed sufficient access capacity.
Commuter Duty
I was ready for breakfast too ear-
ly for the staff. No big deal as
there was about half an hour's
drive and the scheduled start was
9 a.m.. Two cups of coffee, some
bread and fixings and I was fit to
tackle rush hour; Belgian style.
It was chilly. Quite cold. Below 5°
C. Brrr... This was supposed to be
the middle of spring.
Like all diesels, the 77TDI rattled
when cold; nearly as badly as my
teeth chattered. I kept my jacket
on because I knew that it'd take
quite a while for the little diesel
engine to produce enough
warmth to make the car cosy.
Screen demist was on, as were
the rear window's and the ones in
the side mirrors. At least those
electric heaters were
"instantaneous". No wonder that
heated seats and auxiliary heat-
ers are popular in Northern Eu-
rope.
Through planning and with blue
extremities, I was heading the
opposite way to most of the traf-
fic almost all the way. The route
chosen by the navigation system
however took me through too
(Continued from page 29)
(Continued on page 31)
January 2013 Via West Page 31
1953 - 2013...Volkswagen commemorates 60 years in Australia
many villages where the traffic
was frequently slow or stopping.
Nevertheless, my OpenERP train-
ing destination in Grand-Rosiere
was reached with minutes to
spare.
The converted farm had a large
gravel area for parking. It took a
minute of me looking around to
find an entrance before somebody
popped out to point me the right
way for "class". Yep. Back to
school. But I had brought an ap-
ple. Not that there was much
need as there were croissants,
jam, coffee, fruit juice, etc dished
up for the students.
There were many foreign students
in the class; including another
Australian. Most of the other for-
eigners weren't quite as foreign,
being from e.g. the Netherlands
and commuting daily. English was
the language for training. Most
seemed quite comfortable with it.
Although we remained on the
premises most days for lunch,
Friday were special with students
and staff taking lunch at a local
restaurant. We piled into a few
vehicles and made a convoy. The
negative was that the driver
couldn't enjoy more than a sip of
beer or wine with their lunch. It is
probably obvious that Friday af-
ternoon's training wasn't quite as
productive as it had been on oth-
er days.
The end of training at about 5
p.m. wasn't the end of a day by a
long stretch. It didn't begin to get
dark until after 9 p.m., giving
plenty of time to scout around for
places to eat, buy some special
munchies or simply to see a bit
more of the country. That said; I
was usually too tired to stay out
much after 8 p.m..
"Routine" settled, the rest of the
week flew past. One evening, I
dropped into a supermarket and
found some Australian Pink Lady
apples; for about €1 per kg. Mad-
ness! So I bought a few to munch
while watching incomprehensible
TV shows until it got dark enough
to get some sleep.
The second morning was even
colder than the first. Frost on the
windscreen. Just enough to have
me make sure that I'd park wip-
ers off the glass that evening.
Which was fortuitous as I had to
use the ice scraper to free up the
glass the next morning, while the
engine was running, working on
defrosting. That wasn't in the
plan, but only delayed me by a
few minutes.
A Golf feature with which few
Aussies will need to be familiar, is
that of wiper parking options. The
first is the service position where
the wipers swing up to the verti-
cal position so that the blades can
be cleaned, inspected and
changed. The second is the off-
glass position where the blades
are lifted off the glass so that
they don't freeze into position.
Blades that are frozen into posi-
tion can either have the rubber
ripped off them or cause the wip-
er motor to overload. Neither of
those is a desirable option. So
RTFM (Read The Fine Manual) if
you're expecting frosty/freezing
weather.
Le Weekend
That's French, you know!
(Continued from page 30)
(Continued on page 32) War Memorial, Overijse
January 2013 Via West Page 32
1953 - 2013...Volkswagen commemorates 60 years in Australia
It was a chance for a big tour
around Belgium with pleasant
weather. After waiting for Aldi to
open its door in Overijse to fetch
some fresh provisions for the
road.
The objective wasn't to "fill a
dance card", but to see where I'd
be spending most of my Sunday.
To have some depth in my sight-
seeing.
Brussels was immediately out of
the mix. The wide avenues
seemed to have no merit and the
millions of tons of concrete and
glass edifices were devoid of in-
spiring or inspiration. Their grey
pouring cold water onto any
cheer that the clear blue skies
might provide.
In terms of driving, the biggest
challenge proved to be some of
the local roads for which the Golf
has evidently grown too fat. Cars
parked on both sides of a lane
leaving less than 2 metres for
traffic... and the width across the
side-mirrors for a Golf VI is just
over 2 metres. So I ended up
slowing down and having the mir-
rors "kiss" those of some parked
cars; at one stage, simultaneous-
ly on both sides. The paintwork
wasn't marked. My nerves were
frayed.
I gave the video cam-
era another chance to
display some merit on
the leg to Spa, but
could salvage only a
few stills from a half
hour of recording. Bel-
gium is not all flat, as
you can see from the
few pictures. In some
areas, it even approxi-
mates "mountainous".
Following more than
350 km of driving in
about 8 hours, I went
back to the
"traditional", Belgian
burger joint I'd seen
earlier in Waterloo.
Then to the old centre of Over-
ijse. To snap some pictures and
to sit down for a cool glass of
Leffe Brun.
Sunday in Leuven
Breakfast was late on Sunday. No
big deal as I'd decided that Leu-
ven was most worthy of a closer
look and it was only half an hour
from where I was staying. Well,
anywhere in Belgium was less
than two hours from where I was
staying.
Starting at about 10 in the morn-
ing meant that I didn't
have to deal with frost
on the windscreen.
Traffic was light and the
navigation system guid-
ed me to the edge of
Leuven; after which it
was fairly useless due
to its ignorance of mi-
nor roads. It was a
matter of watching
what little traffic there
was and avoiding an-
other lane of mirrors as
experienced on the yes-
terday.
I found a small carpark
in Fonteinstraat at
Brouwerstraat which
was ticket parking. My
Dutch is about 30%
correct when reading so
just to make sure that payment
wasn't due on a Sunday, I donat-
ed 20 Euro cents and got a ticket
to confirm that I could remain
there until 1 a.m. on the Monday.
In case of memory loss, I kept
the tear-off portion of the ticket
in my wallet.
Finding the centre of town was
then easy; follow Fonteinstraat to
Brusselsestraat and turn left. Fol-
low that street into the
Grotemarkt in front of the town
hall. The bridge over the Dijle had
(re)construction works with a
huge placard detailing millions in
EU spending. When I got to the
square, I realized that I could
have taken Brouwerstraat in-
stead; as a more direct route.
The Town Hall was immediately
recognizable. It was the most op-
pulently-decorated building in the
square. The cathedral opposite
only had size to give it any prom-
inence. From a placard on the
bank building on another side of
the square, I learnt that Leuven
had been almost totally devastat-
ed during World War I, which re-
inforced my nagging impression
that I was seeing a Disneyfication
of the past. The square wasn't
exactly over-run with tourists.
When I follow a road off the
square to Oude Markt, I see a
(Continued from page 31)
(Continued on page 33)
Leffe is an excellent beverage
that has its traditional home in Overijse.
January 2013 Via West Page 33
1953 - 2013...Volkswagen commemorates 60 years in Australia
long square, with restaurants
lined alng both sides; on terraces
to the left. There are hundreds of
tables and thousands of chairs.
And a dozen tourists. Or so I
thought. It's lunch time. What's
eaten Leuven?
As I walked past, one of those
sitting in a group of two occupied
tables asked me to take his pic-
ture. He (let's call him "Sam")
must've "guessed" that I was a
tourist. In a brief conversation,
Sam told me that most of the
people in his group are locals; not
even students; and that the stu-
dents almost all abandon town on
the weekend for e.g. mums' cook-
ing. The fed and freshly washed
students then return on Sunday
evening.
Sam wrote his email address onto
a beer coaster so that I could
send him the picture. I carried on,
further inspecting the desolation
wrought by mums' cooking.
I was almost prepared when I
saw the vast plaza in front of the
University Library. One could
have shot a post-apocalypse
movie. If the Belgians weren't so
tidy, then they'd have plastic
"tumble weeds" like the commer-
cial part of London has on Bank
Holiday Mondays.
With my feet wearing thin at
about 3 p.m., I headed back to
the car, keeping the general di-
rection but snooping down differ-
ent lanes. Some parts of town are
genuinely old; others are definite-
ly faux traditional. I can't really
see the point in the latter. It de-
values the genuine. It chooses
only a few elements and often
omits the nuances.
I packed my gear into the car and
set off back to the hotel. But off
to the side of the road, I saw the
Stella Artois brewery. I made a
detour down to the surrounding
industrial area, much of it waste-
land. A few new office blocks,
mostly vacant, were just off the
canal. One old, multi-storey fac-
tory fascade is supported by a
steel frame; perhaps trying to
honour the industry of the past or
to shame the indolent of the pre-
sent.
Even the Golf's diesel's exhaust
note found little resonance in this
territory. A gentle cruise along
the canal reminded me that na-
ture will erase the successes and
failures of man's industry without
discrimination if efforts to im-
prove do not persist. That wasn't
a sullen tune for which I was
looking when I took the detour. I
had hoped to see signs of innova-
tion and industry, building on the
past. That wasn't to be.
I get back to the hotel and work
out that it must be the maid's day
off. A nearby eatery comes to
mind but when I get there, my
appetite has abandoned me. I sat
in the car in the shade, enjoyed
the breeze and tried not to think
of how good things could be if we
weren't so obsessed with solving
imaginary problems.
Training Week 2
This was a new course, a different
instructor and a change of some
students (more geeks). Other-
wise, is was largely a replay of
the previous week. One morning,
I slept through my alarms and
had to skip breakfast so that I
wouldn't be very late. Traffic con-
ditions were kind. Adrenalin is not
a good substitute for caffeine.
It was not a matter of enduring
the week as trying to get as much
done as possible during that
week.
On Friday morning, I packed most
of my stuff into the car early, be-
fore my last breakfast. After es-
sential ablutions, I grabbed what
was left in the room, checked out
and settled the bill. Good bye to
Tombeek.
The final day of training was only
approximately a replay of the pre-
vious week's. I had it in front-of-
mind to leave before 6 p.m. so
that I could get back to Herne in
Germany before dark.
continues ...
Copyright © 2012 Bernd Felsche, Perth, Western Australia
PART THREE TO FOLLOW...
(Continued from page 32)
The VW Club Committee is pleased to announce this
series of articles as the...
Member Story of the Month for November
2012. For this Bernd wins a $50 fuel
voucher….
January 2013 Via West Page 34
1953 - 2013...Volkswagen commemorates 60 years in Australia
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