worthersee 2009

Excitement, anticipation, nerves and a touch of the fear. It had all the ingredients of a trip that was set to blow my mind, and I tell you what, it did not fail to deliver. Extreme professionalism was called for. A depiction of the event through journalistic eyes and a sense of just what it meant to be there. “Sure” I said, Two days into our five day stay. Ill have a go at the show report… hell, its only the biggest and arguably most anticipated VW show on the calendar. The culmination of thousands of hours graft, spray booths and polishing. A display shelf for most of Europe’s finery. What on earth was I thinking? A simple shake of the head would have done it. No no. I don’t think I can do that. Move along please, I think you’re going to have to write it yourself, but I buckled. Lies, I jumped at the chance. So here we go. Pad at the ready, scrawled captions and retrospective notations. A couple of thousand odd pictured and vivid memories of the event. Worthersee 2009

The place, Austria. The event, GTI festival located in Reifnitz on the shore of lake Worthersee. Quiet postcard town, Royal hang out and location for the biggest gathering of dub extremes I’d ever witnessed.

I say I was prepared, numbed even to the potential of the trip but I can honestly say that nothing can prepare you for what’s out there. Well stocked, fully aware of what waits for you and yet, being on the main strip at 10.45pm sipping a glass of whatever it was id just been handed whilst taking in the spectacle that was unfolding before me, was an experience that no amount of photos or tales from past visitors could have prepared me for. It’s funny. I cant quite put into words the necessity of a first hand view. Standing there, in the centre of Reifnitz, a thousand miles from home in the festival atmosphere that is Worthersee.

The official show fell between Wednesday 20th and went on until Saturday 23rd. This sees all manner of lowered, smoothed and stickered creations driving the roads circling lake, however, many people choose to go the week before, turning up as early as the 11th . I cant think of another show where year after year, cars turn up in there droves an entire week before the event, with many leaving before even reaching the official start date. By all accounts the two shows could not be more different. But I don’t think this is a phenomenon that can be corrected by simply changing the dates. And why should it be. The contrast from one week to another it largely what attracts people to the event. Offering, be it unintentionally from the viewpoint of the organisers, a wider choice in styles from one week to the next.

Having experience the ‘pre show’ last year it was decided that 2009 would see us fly into Austria on the Tuesday 19th. A day before the real event began. We had chosen to stay in Velden. 8 kilometres from where the main show was held in Reifnitz. But we needn’t have worried about the distance. As it turned out, the comparatively quiet town still had its fair share of metal filtering through the narrow streets.

Flights booked and bags packed , a quick blast to the airport saw us boarding the ‘scene plane’ with more than a handful of familiar faces. With only a smattering of flights landing in Klagenfurt every week, it would be surprising not to be sharing the flight with a fellow enthusiast. Eager anticipation and excited words. Buzzed discussion about what has all ready been seen in the trickle of images coming out of the show. Had we left it too late? Would all the good cars still be there? It was true that many of the more restrained creations leave before the show starts, but could we still expect to be blown away by what we would see?

As it turned out that night, our first night at Worthersee, would not disappoint. Having met up with American snapper, Mike Kippen and friend Josh at a lakeside bar just down the hill from our hotel, we made our way to the Shell Garage on the other side of the lake in what would become our second home Reifnitz. But this was not just any station, no normal rest stop for the bleary eyed traveller. No, the Shell Garage at Worthersee had become the fuelling station for all, man woman and child, desperate to catch a stationary glimpse at their favourite car. With people lining the streets, sitting proud in fold out chairs or simply perched on the kerb side, it really is an unmissable part of the whole Worthersee experience. Our first night there gave a fairly good indication of what was to come, with both fresh and recognisable cars gracing the forecourt, Big Ron’s flawless mk1 golf and Jamie Fagan’s mk1 G60 Jetta making the trip across from sunny Retford. Not to mention the now totally transformed mk4 Polo of a certain Bert Vergote [PVW 06/06] along with Jonas Jenssen’s stunning red audi 90 being just a few of the stand out cars along with all manner of cars from Porsche to Audi and BMW camps.

Wednesday saw the official start of the show but for us it meant a quick 30minute blast over to the bag yard boys to check out their workshop, and more importantly their ever evolving air ride kits. To say we were blown away by what we saw would be an understatement. The quality and manufacture of their kits was top notch and their whole level of skill as machinists was something that impressed us all, but I think it was Jorg opening the doors to their rented barn just across the square from them, and rolling out an 81 olds Cutlass for a quick ‘hop’ that will really stick with us. That and the mountainous barbecue laid on by Raphy, Andreas, Martin and Eddy at the shop. Cheese filled and bacon wrapped sausage anyone?

We were finally ready to hit the show. Word had been coming across the lake that things were getting pretty crazy over in Reifnitz so it was with excited steps we made our way onto the Jagerboat, a 13Euro ride across the lake that included entry to the show and a couple of shandy’s for good measure. Taking just over an hour to make the crossing and to a chorus of singing Russians is just another one of those bizarre meetings that make the whole show experience what it is.

First impressions count, and as we stepped off the boat we were met by the vast official VW stand and now infamous stone carved mk2 Golf. The streets were packed with cars both old and new, the latter of which being the greater proportion including a particularly jaw dropping bagged New Rocco on 18inch Audi R8 Sport rims. Jostling our way through the crowds and the odd promo girl, we made our way along the streets, taking it all in before eventually catching our breath at the American bar. Another must do of the trip. By day, a shaded rest stop for the weary show goers, players and played, and by night, a depraved mass of European party people. Excitement in every quarter and a ten euros ticket.

We had managed to stop just next to a stunning baby blue mk1 passat sitting proud on rm’s. Nothing particularly outstanding on paper but with a healthy drop and white centres to the splits it was a good contender for our car of the show, our only doubt for it securing a decision there and then was the equally well stanced brown 5door mk1 on bailey’s cream Nothelles. Further down the road was hiding a bright yellow R8, orange KTM X-bow and turquoise Murcielago. Not you average show goers but a welcome sight in what was becoming a sea of body kits and tribal stickers. Not all is well in the European style school, with the good equally matched by the down rite hideous. So many of the best cars, spoilt by a poor choice of tail light or unnecessary chroming. We’ve heard a lot recently about the ‘add on’ tangent of our continental brothers and Wothersee 09 was no exception with many opting for the more is more approach. Big is best and bolt-on is beautiful. It was, then, with something of a little relief when stumbling across Gino "Von Monster" and his stunning cream 5door mk1 sitting proud on red centre rms. Not only did the car look stunning as we caught glimpses of it driving round the streets of Reifnitz but Gino, and the rest of the Dub Squad Crew had driven all the way from Portugal to be there. That’s rite, all 2500 miles of it.

Other stand out trends had to be the sheer number of Audis at the show. At the last count it was practically a 50/50 split with the late 90’s rags being our particular favourites. Further down the road a couple stripped and caged Rallyes caught our eyes whist the streets continued to fill with both cars and people. Oh and yellow tinted headlights. don’t forget the headlights. Maybe not such a new thing on the oldskool scene but this is a trend coming to a nuwave car near you. And soon.

Unlike the scenes of last years event, and despite one sudden downpour, this years show was blistering sun from the start, with only the cooler evenings and a quick ride on a speed boat offering any kind of relief. Good god the speed boat. How could I forget. Its best to shop around as prices do vary but if your looking for a quick way to get from A to B in Worthersee, the roller coaster ride that was jetting across the lake at 60k is a must. Another site offering a little light relief from the trawl of the show is the Pyramidenkogel viewing tower that stands 54 metres high and 950m above the lake. At only 3euros admission, there is no better way to take in the views and really get an understanding of the areas layout.

How then, do you sum up the Worthersee experience. Bizarre is one word that springs to mind. There is just nothing else like it. It was run to the sun on acid. A fast paced stampeed through the European scene. Bright colours. chrome, leather and latex. Sunscreen and superchargers. We chose to stay in Velden but hotels are available all round the lake, the thick of the action taking place in Reifnitz itself. For the hardcore among you there are all ways the campsites. All im going to say is if you stay there, make sure your driving a vw or Audi, because god help you if your not.

I thought I knew what I was getting myself in for, but nothing could have prepared my for what I witnessed, out there on the bank of lake Worthersee for those few days in May. Was it worth it? You bet it was. Would I do it all again? In a heartbeat. I think next time id like to experience the week leading up to the show, by all accounts it’s a different place entirely with a, dare I say it, more refined standard of cars but either way, if you go the week before or to the show itself, Worthersee is not to be missed. Book your ticket, take the ride. I guarantee you will not regret it.