Comments on: Autobiography of BS ©: How Car Catalogs Killed Creatives

By: Ronman

Ronman — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 12:01:08 +0000

Great Stuff Bertel… can’t wait for the next one…

By: gerd hiepler

gerd hiepler — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 21:59:02 +0000

Bertel

Ein Buch.
Ja, ein Buch.
Ja ja, ein Buch, könnt es auch sein.

Wenn 100 es wollen.
Und jeder 100 Öro einlegt, sollte es klappen.
Mit einem Gruss an “Die” da

Gerd

By: joeaverage

joeaverage — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:39:11 +0000

I miss those era VWs. Wish I could buy one without the 20 years of age and neglect. I miss the lightweight 80s VWs. Am driving a late 90s VW and the refinement is nicer but the weight is obvious.

Love these stories!!! Keep them coming, please.

By: Scorched Earth

Scorched Earth — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 21:51:08 +0000

Agreed, you need to write a book Bertel! Your stories aren’t self-serving or overdramatic, they’re just awesome!

By: JMII

JMII — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 22:13:33 +0000

I worked for a cruise line doing advertising (and thus several photo shoots) the word “boondoggle” was the phrase most associated with such trips. As indicated here very little “work” was done despite huge sums of money being spent. Of course when your directions indicate: more photos of wine requested from HQ, well… that pretty much covers it I think.

By: dolorean23

dolorean23 — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:32:26 +0000

Bertel, I was the proud owner of the ‘88 Scriocco GT, candy apple red with a huge whaletail while stationed in Friedberg, GE, for three years. I bought it used when the DM was still around for about $1500 with 62000K on the odo. I drove the ever-lovin’ piss out of that car, taking her back to the technik I bought her from for service.

One question though. It always amazed me that a car with a 57 Kwz 1.8L carbo four banger could run at 160 kph for hours at 5800 rpm (due to its manual 4 spd) and still achieve approx. 30 mpg. You think it had something to do with the light?

By: Michael Karesh

Michael Karesh — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:49:58 +0000

Thanks for that link, BS. The double-translation is even more entertaining than your original!

“Cars were whack at sunrise and at sunset.”

Here’s the direct link:

http://autobiographydefinitionaviation.start4all.com/2009/06/21/autobiography-of-bs-how-car-catalogs-killed-creatives-the-truth-about-cars/

By: vento97

vento97 — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:00:52 +0000

I had a 75 Scirocco. Once I worked out all of the bugs (which included replacing the piece-of-junk zenith carburetor for a two-barrel Weber downdraft and the points for an electronic ignition), it was a blast to drive – especially since it weighed around 1900 lbs! As a matter of fact, I put 250,000 miles on the car until it was hit by a tractor trailer who decided to occupy my lane – while I was in it!

Man, I miss that car! It got mileage consistently in the mid 30 mpg range (overall) and 40 mpg on the highway…

By: Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:31:13 +0000

Niky: I know enough about copyright. At least in the Western world, it is protected by the first use doctrine, no registration needed.

By: niky

niky — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 07:39:44 +0000

Hahaha… wonderful entry, Bertel! Not having worked with an advertising company, but having been on quite a few shoots with professional car photographers, I understand what you mean about the light…

It is often found in scenic locations close to a beach, a good bar, a weekend resort…

When this is compiled into a book, it is bound to be a best-seller… you should file a copyright on the title: “Autobiography of BS” before someone more serious tries to steal it!

By: Dave M.

Dave M. — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 03:47:10 +0000

Gen I Scirocco was brilliant. Gen 2 fugly. Corrado (?) was kind of cool.

Great story.

By: Lorenzo

Lorenzo — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 01:22:00 +0000

Re: autobiographydefinitionaviation

I had fun reading that site. It looks like somebody created a personal site, gathered autobiographical excerpts from the net, and then had fun running it through babelfish to other languages and back into English. I personally wouldn’t worry about it, but then, I’m not the author of one of those babeled excerpts. I have no idea what Herr Farago can do about it.

By: MadHungarian

MadHungarian — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 22:43:41 +0000

OK, perhaps this indicates where my mind is, but I initially read way too much into the phrase “to familiarize oneself with the models.” Then I went back and read the post again, and there wasn’t any reference to THOSE type of models being along for the shoot. Bummer. Otherwise I was going to look into changing careers. (And getting a time machine I suppose)

By: jmo

jmo — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 22:29:48 +0000

“sicklish”

Haha – that’s kinda funny.

By: willman

willman — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 18:38:40 +0000

Another great entry, Bertel!

That autobiography definitionaviation thing looks like a scraper splog. Start 4 all appears to be a blogger clone.

The ‘Engrish’ translation errors suggest non-US, probably slavic, source.

+You’re a good writer and all BS, but if you came up with something as pure gold awesome as:
“If you farm the cows come poorhouse switch on attention to quiet to a given of my Art Directors again, there devise be another liquidation.”,
I’d call you a f^&king comedic Genius! :P

By: allythom

allythom — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 17:32:43 +0000

Sadly I have none left from back then, I used to have loads, but I lost interest and eventually my mum threw them out. Kind of sad in retrospect.

By: Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 17:07:35 +0000

Wheeljack. You are right. My archives didn’t survive the many moves I made in my life. Maybe allythom still has one in the attic. The story was about Scirocco I.

By: allythom

allythom — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 16:45:26 +0000

A great read Bertel. Keep ‘em coming.

I used to, as a 10-13 year old, collect car catalogs in the UK. I vividly recall them: Yellow for Polo, Orange for Golf and was it Red for the Scirocco ? I always spent ages dwelling the Golf GTI page.

By: Wheeljack

Wheeljack — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 16:45:22 +0000

Isn’t the 2nd picture of three Sciroccos (from the catalog) the second generation model? I got the impression from the story text we were talking about the first-gen Scirocco….

By: dolo54

dolo54 — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 16:08:01 +0000

excellent. write a book!

By: fincar1

fincar1 — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 15:56:06 +0000

The next time you are tempted to dismiss as commercialized trash the car brochure you are looking at, remember that the cost of producing it, both human and financial, may indeed be more than that of any current best-selling novel.

Danke sehr, Bertel; I am becoming addicted to these behind-the-scenes stories of yours.

By: grog

grog — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 15:11:48 +0000

These stories have an appalling side to them and I don’t mean the deaths of actual people. More like the deaths of actual souls working in this bidness.

But man, the stories are hugely entertaining.

By: John Horner

John Horner — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 14:56:58 +0000

I love these stories, and yes they should be compiled into a book!

By: MBella

MBella — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 14:56:03 +0000

These always make my day.

By: beeb375

beeb375 — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 14:51:37 +0000

Agreed, I really look forward to reading these now :)