Where The Reichs Racers Meet

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

Each year around this time, owners of – what is the German equivalent to rice racer? Reichs Racer? – overengined hatches congregate around the Wörthersee in Austria for the annual GTI Meeting. This is the 31st year it will take place, the roads will be packed, beer and gasoline will flow in equally monstrous quantities, and the bucolic lake will boil. Also as usual, Volkswagen will send some special specimens to entertain the devotees. Here they are.

Golf GTI Cabriolet. After its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show, GTI enthusiasts can ogle the topless Golf from up close. The 2.0 liter engine makes 210 hp, nearly double the 110 hp of the first GTI. The hot hatch is sits on American shoes. 17-inch alloys of type ‘Denver’ are standard, 18-inch wheels of type ‘Detroit’ are optionally available.
Polo WRC Street: At Wörthersee, Volkswagen will be presenting for the first time a preview of an extremely sporty small series, which is due to be launched in late 2013. Comes with a 220 hp 2.0 liter TSI.
Polo R-WRC: A road-going prototype for the FIA World Rally Championship. The “hottest Polo ever” as Volkswagen R&D chief Ulrich Hackenberg called it, sports a 1.6 liter TSI engine with approximately 300 hp. Jeez.
GTI Black Dynamic: Built by Volkswagen apprentices who like disco. Features a 1,800 Watt sound system with nine loudspeakers, which take up the entire trunk.
Golf GTI ‘White Concept’: According to the press release, “the attractive design study Golf GTI ‘White Concept’ is characterized by its remarkable ‘Oryx White matt’ paintwork.” Then, they forgot to send pictures in white and sent Scirocco R ConceptBlue pictures instead. Color me confused.

To put you in the mood, here is a video clip from last year. If you hurry, you can still get the tail end of the GTI Meet. It lasts through Saturday the 19th. Go to Munich, head south, follow the crowd.



Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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  • Sprocketboy Sprocketboy on May 18, 2012

    I watched a program on German television last year about this meet. The program, unlike, this clip, went on to show all the German police waiting on the autobahns to "chat" with the VW fans returning from Austria about their modifications. This involved a lot of Golfs getting towed away while the owners stood and looked very very sad. And poorer. There is a reason that companies like Alpin, Brabus, Arden and the rest of the tuners are licensed as manufacturers in Germany as you modify at your own risk as a DIYer.

    • Indyb6 Indyb6 on May 18, 2012

      I am glad I can get a tune for my VW from Unitronic, APR, GIAC or Revo, to name a few, and still drive around the country unnoticed and not get "talked to" by the police, if I keep it at/under speed limit. And then I can let it loose on back country roads and enjoy great torque (enough to make me look like a tool if I try to be slightly aggressive at stop lights) and nice handling/cornering - all in my "family sedan" :) (Of course - I am a DIYer)

  • Ubermensch Ubermensch on May 18, 2012

    What I saw in the last 5 seconds of that video cannot be unseen. I have seen things....terrible things.

  • TCowner We've had a 64.5 Mustang in the family for the past 40 years. It is all original, Rangoon Red coupe with 289 (one of the first instead of the 260), Rally Pac, 4-speed, factory air, every option. Always gets smiles and thumbs ups.
  • ToolGuy This might be a good option for my spouse when it becomes available -- thought about reserving one but the $500 deposit is a little too serious. Oh sorry, that was the Volvo EX30, not the Mustang. Is Volvo part of Ford? Is the Mustang an EV? I'm so confused.
  • Mikey My late wife loved Mustangs ..We alway rented one while travelling . GM blood vetoed me purchasing one . 3 years after retirement bought an 08 rag top, followed by a 15 EB Hard top, In 18 i bought a low low mileage 05 GT rag with a stick.. The car had not been properly stored. That led to rodent issues !! Electrical nightmare. Lots of bucks !! The stick wasn't kind to my aging knees.. The 05 went to a long term dedicated Mustang guy. He loves it .. Today my garage tenant is a sweet 19 Camaro RS rag 6yl Auto. I just might take it out of hibernation this weekend. The Mustang will always hold a place in my heart.. Kudos to Ford for keeping it alive . I refuse to refer to the fake one by that storied name .
  • Ajla On the Mach-E, I still don't like it but my understanding is that it helps allow Ford to continue offering a V8 in the Mustang and F-150. Considering Dodge and Ram jumped off a cliff into 6-cylinder land there's probably some credibility to that story.
  • Ajla If I was Ford I would just troll Stellantis at all times.
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