Video Post: Porsche at Le mans, 1980s

Great tune too.

Video Post: Porsche at Le mans, 1970s

VW Sport Caravan GTI (part 5.9, close to a proper update)

Don't think we haven't been busy bees over here...we're just about ready for a proper update on the Caravan GTI. In the meantime, here is the GTI as she currently sits. The reality of doing some of this work on our backs sunk in and we've gone inside the main building at NGP Racing to get this portion of the chassis prep done - after that, it'll be back to the small building for the less labor-intensive work.

More soon,

_WRS

Pic Post: The G&W Jenniferfund RSR

Our intrepid reporter on the inside of most things Porsche, Robert from Lufteknic Porsche, sent these pics over to me last week, of the Jenniferfund / G&W Motorsports 993 RSR. My favorite 993, and a car significant to both Robert and myself, in its way.  You see, Robert was crewing for G&W Motorsports back in 2000, and this car placed 3rd in the GTU class that year - the little aircooled 911 that could. After the vast majority of the then-new 996 GT3Rs dropped like flies with engine failure after engine failure, this little Porsche kept on going. Of course, after 24 hours of battle on the track it looked a bit different...

Pic Post: The Gold Cup Historics at VIR

A few weeks back I made the trek down to southernmost Virginia - and the classic track that is Virginia International Raceway - for the Heacock Classic Gold Cup Historics. It was my first time to the once abandoned, now re-opened circuit, and I have to say I came away thoroughly impressed. It very much has the vibe and layout of an old-school track. It reminds me a little of Lime Rock but it's significantly longer with a lot more elevation change. It's awesome.


 

It has been a very busy last few months, and with VIR lying about a five hour drive it made for a very early morning on Saturday. And with temperatures dropping into the 30s overnight, it made for a very cold sleep in the trailer. It was all well worth it. The chance to help out Alan and get my feet wet for 2012 with the IMSA GTI was fantastic, and it left me really looking forward to next year...

Full selection of pictures after the jump...

VIR w/ Alan and Les #fb

Video Post: TRG at Petit

The Racer's Group: 2011 Finale from TRG on Vimeo.


Very well shot little video short from the guys at The Racer's Group and their run at Petit Le Mans this year. I can dig it. I think more of these teams need to get into this sort of thing...

On another note, I'm currently packing to head to VIR tomorrow, so expect lots of pics and a full report on the Gold Cup Vintage festival in the very near future. It'll be my first time at the famed southern Virginia track, and I can't wait to experience it.

_WRS

VW Sport Caravan GTI (Part 5.75, work to be done)

There is work to be done. Lots of work. The trail on new information has gone a little cold,  but we're forging ahead as planned, and after a hectic couple of months of moving, working, adjusting, and everything else you can manage to cram into a 2 month period, things are finally heading forward on our VW Sport Caravan GTI. Tools are in hand, parts are beginning to arrive. With this, we'll have more frequent updates and new content as we rebuild (but not restore) the GTI for track time in 2012. It's a bit of a mountain, but the beauty of these cars is their simplicity, so once the primary chassis work is completed, things will start to come together quickly. Or So I hope.

So this will be the first of many new post on the GTI - it's already on jack-stands and underbody prep is under way...

More soon...

_WRS

Video Post: In-car with the Hotchkis / Wynn's Porsche 962 at Rennsport IV

This video has made the rounds on a bunch of the usual sites, so you may have very well already seen it, but that doesn't mean it isn't worth sharing again. It's worth noting that this old war-horse of a 962 can pretty well take it to the much younger and more technologically advanced RS Spyders...and that's with 1982 technology more or less. The 962 of course has a standard syncromesh gearbox (Mark Hotchkis here is using a clutch!), while the RS Spyders are fully computer-laden and cutting edge with fully sequential gearboxes, traction control and every other driver aid which is legal. And yet, the 962 is as fast. And sounds better. And looks better. And is more exciting to boot.

Bring back the 962? Re-legalize ground effects? Yes please.

_WRS

Rennsport Reunion: (Porsche video) This is how we take a picture

We'll have a full report from intrepid reporter Robert Overholser, but in the meantime, feast your eyes (and ears) on this...

_WRS

From behind the pitwall: Petit Le Mans 2011

\

The following can be attributed to Robert Overholser of Lufteknic Porsche, Richmond, VA. 

It's been a while since I was at the track for some ALMS crew work. It was refreshing and fun to be back in the action, almost a vacation to be away from the shop and doing something that I've enjoyed doing for a long time now. My good friend Marc at German Performance Service has been working with Black Swan Racing for the past 2 years.

 

The past 2 years have resulted in Championships in the ALMS GTC class. Road Atlanta was packed with fans ready to watch the battles, and it was also one of the few races in recent memory where there was more competitors than slots available to race cars. A few were cut depending on qualifying results...

The Baltimore Grand Prix

Approximately one month ago, Baltimore City, held the inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix. It was a double-header weekend featuring the American Le Mans series on Saturday, and IndyCar on Sunday. Despite the fact I was quite literally in the process of moving from New York to Baltimore, there was no way I was missing the ALMS on the streets of my hometown.

 

Open wheelers, let alone spec open wheelers, have never really done it for me, so I opted to finish moving on Sunday, but with the full blessing of the best wife in the world to go and enjoy myself, I was able to make it down on Friday and Saturday for the main event, the ALMS. And what a weekend it was.

Falken Tire wins at Baltimore Grand Prix

Awesome race, pics and coverage to follow.

_WRS

ALMS: Baltimore Grand Prix preview

We'll have full coverage of the Baltimore Grand Prix - but I do want to apologize for the total lack of updates lately. I'm in the process of moving, and well, it's kind of been taking up all my time. After the BGP we'll also have fresh H2O pics and feedback, plus work will commence on the IMSA GTI.

_WRS

Roadtrip: At the world's largest truck stop

Pic Post: Mini in Virginia

It's not everyday that you see a beautiful Mini in America. It's even less likely to find one having just rolled out from a heavy-duty truck repair shop, owned by the shop's painter, but that's the beauty of the automobile. The most unlikely of individuals can become a dyed in the wool fanatic. This is one of several Minis which the painter owns, and he's as hardcore as anybody I've met when it comes to his cars. 

More pics after the jump...

Fat tires

Do it better.

Pic Post: (vintage) NATCC T.C. Kline BMWs at Cleveland

Stance what? Stance who? It ain't nothing new kids. And as awesome as these BMWs look, for better or for worse, it's cars like this that fed the somewhat questionable huge wheels / tacky spoiler trend of the mid to late 90s. But these insanely low, over-wheeled sedans were proper race cars, and they handled and went like nothing else in a sedan body, to say nothing of the stopping. Several cars ran twin front calipers and discs as big as anything seen in their time. It wasn't exactly a spec series, as there were all sorts of makes, models and drive trains allowed, but there were strict rules to adhere to, and the rear wheel drive BMWs and all wheel drive Audis suffered heavy weight penalties. By the point these pictures were taken (1997) they were pretty handicapped and not all that competitive with their front wheel drive competitors. 



The Super Touring formula which the NATCC adhered to was as follows:

• No more than 2.0 liters displacement - Most brands were said to make 290-320hp, and were seen in 4, 5 and 6-cylinder variations. Most were 4-cylinder.
• 8500rpm maximum
• 19x8" wheels
• Four-door sedans only
• Rear wing and front splitter were the only aerodynamic add-ons allowed
• Engine was to be 'stock block' and had to be sourced from the model line, but didn't have to come in the car being raced. As the Audi A4 BTCC thread over on Club GTI shows - these were some awfully trick 'stock block' engines. 

And so in America, we only saw these cars for two years, 1996 and 1997. As I understand it the cars were not especially cheap to run, with their 6-speed sequential gearboxes and highly-strung engines, but they were a blast to watch. Dodge was the only American company to step up to the plate, and their in-house built Stratuses (Strati?) were some of the strongest in the series.

Somewhere our intrepid slacker Josh has at least another 5-6 rolls of film from this trip we took to Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland for the CART  race, for which the NATCC was a support series. Getting him to develop it or print it will be something else altogether, but maybe if I'm lucky he'll see this post and be guilted into it...right after the 2001 and 2002 Daytona 24 Hour races.

_WRS

Spotted in NYC: Bone-stock Corrado SLC

It's not everyday you see any kind of Corrado on the street these days, so when I spotted this completely stock, red VR6 Corrado in Greenpoint, Brooklyn the other day I figured it warranted a quick picture snap. It was a 5-speed too.

Up until now I thought the only stock Corrados left on the road were automatic, and in Forest Green. Guess not!

_WRS

A brief report: Waterfest 2011

Waterfest. Most people know of it, many love it, and it seems every year more and more turn their backs on it, claiming it to be too much of this, that or the other to be a 'real' show. I guess the cool kids decided it wasn't cool anymore, and while I get that, I have to say that Waterfest has done nothing except get more and more enjoyable to work and attend since the 'cool kids' deemed it uncool.

Allow me to explain it from a vendor's point of view...

Fox mit tank

AWE

APR CTSCC GTI

Waterfest hotel parking lot 2

Waterfest Hotel parking lot 1

Arno's TDI

Today at work

I've been very busy with work, this car was there today. Nice Hartges...

_WRS

Double Coaster: ALMS and CTSCC on Saturday

It's a busy weekend for motorsport in the good ole U-S of A. The American Le Mans boys are up one of the shortest and fastest tracks in the country, Lime Rock Park. We were there last year and it was blazing hot, much to my wife's chagrin at the time, but not many spouses are crazy enough to let you take them to a race track on THEIR birthday. Unfortunately with the upcoming Waterfest show and upcoming move from NYC to Baltimore taking all my time and energy, we won't be attending this year.

Still, it should be a great battle. Dyson brings a second car so at the very least there will be a full podium in LMP1, but of course, the real battle is in GT. It's anybody's guess as to what team will take honors - the Ferraris are always fast, Corvette and BMW have been the two to beat here and abroad, and Flying Lizard is overdue for a win for Porsche. As always my underdog favorite is the Porsche RSR of Team Falken Tire. In GTC look for it to be Black Swan's race to lose - not that the other teams are of lesser quality or ability, it's just that Black Swan have been that good. It is impossible to count them out.

Practice and qualifying all take place tomorrow, and the race is at 2:05pm Eastern Time. As usual those with ESPN3 will be able to stream the race live in its entirety, but it will be rebroadcast the following day I believe, should you miss it. You can also check www.americanlemans.com as international viewers don't have to worry about being "allowed" to view the ESPN3 feed.



All the way across the country and on a similarly historic track, the Grand Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge (sheesh) is running at Laguna Seca.  APR Motorsport is going strong, after a fantastic 2nd place finish at Road America a couple of weeks back. APR Motorsport is 3rd in ST team standings (just one point behind Compass360), drivers Ian Baas and Ryan Ellis are tied for 3rd in the driver's championship, and Volkswagen lies 1st in the manufacturers championship. Mazda is nipping at their heels just 3 points back, so Laguna could be the make-or-break race of the year.

With just three races remaining, it's imperative that APR Motorsport put in consistent performances in all of them. A DNF or finishing out of the points would be devastating to drivers, team and manufacturer alike.

Practice kicks off tomorrow at multiple times before qualifying in ST goes down at 3:55pm PST.  Check out live timing and scoring at Grand-am.com - and then the race, a 2.5 hour run, begins at 10:45 am.


Hopefully after the silly season dies down I'll have some more time on my hands, and naturally our IMSA GTI will begin to make strides towards track worthiness in no-time.

Look for Waterfest coverage as well, at least a bit from my little dark corner of the vendor row...

_WRS

Porsche returns to Le Mans: 2014

Well this is exciting news - I wonder if they'll battle with Audi or if this is part of a master plan to let Audi bow-out and Porsche step back up?

_WRS

From Cult Classic 6

Red Mk1 Lysholm, a photo by DUKEDLF on Flickr.

My old Mk1 is looking good this year, and it looks like the current owner has been busy over the winter. Black accents replace the chrome, and the white-walls are gone. Looking very nice indeed.

_WRS

Via Flickr:
Red Mk1 Lysholm

Found on Flickr: Group 44 Audi Quattro - Hurley Haywood

Group 44 Audi Quattro Hurley Haywood, a photo by Cobby17 on Flickr.

The VW Motorsports Handbook

The 'VW Motorsports Handbook' in its entirety. I honestly had no idea anything like this ever existed, but it makes a lot of sense given the direction of the company in the USA at the time. The VW of America president, Fuller, wanted to promote Volkswagens as the car that was affordable and could deliver the goods both on and off the track. This piece of promotional history shows that VW was actively promoting the use of their cars in motorsport, and going so far as to spell out all the ways that you yourself could get involved. From auto cross to SCCA and IMSA pro racing, and everything in between.

It just so happens that our IMSA GTI / VW Sport Caravan GTI was an integral part of that message, appearing on both the front and back covers. It's a real shame Fuller wasn't able to see his vision to fruition, we might have a very different VW here today.

Full handbook posted after the jump.

_WRS

Pic Post: From the Handbook

So I received that 'VW Motorsports Handbook' that I found on eBay, and have put together this little combination of scans from the 8-page booklet. I'll do a full post on what it covers inside, but I thought it was very cool to not only find this oddball piece of VW Sport history in the USA, but to find it in such good condition. The thing is mint!

Although there is now not a shred of doubt about the Caravan GTI being an official Volkswagen car, and the car we have in our possession being the same car pictured here, it is curious that it does appear slightly different in these pictures. Sure, the wheels, fenders, graphics, instrument cluster and everything are the same. But there is no giant 'Portland Racing' painted down the side and it has some additional stickers not seen in any other images, that we have seen thus-far. Those include additional Valvoline stickers on the front fenders and rear valance and Schrick stickers, also up on the fenders. Stickers are no big deal as they are easily added or removed, but it's odd that there is not a trace of these on the car as it sits now. Curiously, there are two race seats in one shot, only one race seat in other shots. Why go through the trouble of putting seats in and out for different pictures? Makes no sense.

Full scans of the VW Motorsports Handbook tomorrow!

_WRS

CTSCC - APR pulls amazing 1-2 finish at Watkins Glen

Against all odds APR Motorsport pulled out a fantastic 1-2 finish at Watkins Glen this past weekend. Considering how things were at the start, this seems almost impossible to believe. APR has always seemed to do well at Watkins, with their first Continental Tire victory coming at the track in 2009. All three APR VW GTIs started from the back of the pack. The #171 championship car of Ian Baas and Ryan Ellis had an engine let go in qualifying which meant they started at the back of the pack.



The 181 and new 161 Mk5 GTI (replacing the now-retired / written-off GS class S4) were moved to the back of the pack for a technical infraction of some sort, which was doubly disappointing as the Gleason brothers in the 181 and Nate Norenberg in the 161 (along with Josh Hurley) were set to start 3rd in ST.

Despite all that, the team regrouped and passed the entire ST field and ended up at the front of the pack. That's 55 cars! The equivalent of starting from the back and passing the entire field for victory at Le Mans from a number of cars passed standpoint.



The final finish was the 181 in first, 161 in second, and 171 in 31st. Ian lost the driver's championship points lead after suspension problems set them back in the field.



Although it's unfortunate for Ian to get bumped from the lead of the driver's championship, APR and VW remain in very strong positions, with VW retaining the manufacturer lead by one point over Mazda, and APR sitting fourth in team points. Ryan Ellis remains in the top five in the driver's championship.

With four events remaining it's crucial for APR to keep it together and finish strong in every event.

For more: www.grand-am.com / www.aprmotorsport.com

_WRS

VW Sport Caravan GTI (Part 5.5, jackpot)

Jack. Pot. Found on eBay and currently en route, what we have here is definitive proof of a connection between our Mk2 and VW Sport. I'll detail the rest as soon as we get it, but it's finally proof of this car's existence beyond the hearsay and VW Sport Caravan poster.



Speaking of which, I also scored this VW Sport Caravan '85 poster. A little rough around the edges to be sure, but at 30x40" it's a glorious find. Once again the VW Sport Caravan IMSA GTI is on the poster at the far right. Supposedly they gave out different posters and 'hero cards' for each car at each race. The hunt is currently on for the IMSA GTI's hero card, as that should provide the true reason for this car's existence.




 

So just when things were looking down, they're looking up. Way up. More soon.

_WRS

Axis of Oversteer enter the IMSA GT3 Challenge

Axis of Oversteer, one of the better auto blogs out there in the big wide world of web, has just introduced the livery for their new Porsche GT3 Cup, and I have to say, it's pretty eye catching. Somewhat ironically,  despite it being a semi-professional feeder series for the American Le Mans Series, the GT3 Challenge has some of the better-looking race cars out there. It's like everyone who moves up forgets how to make a good looking livery once they go full-super-bigtime.

Anyways, we wish them the best of luck this weekend at their debut event, check out the full batch of pics and some video over at Axis of Oversteer.

_WRS

Pic Post: (vintage) Momo 935J and Rabbit Pickup Pit Vehicle

I referenced the Momo 935 pit truck in another post about a year ago, and here we have another shot with Dr. Moretti aka Mr. Momo, and the Momo Rabbit Pickup. I snagged this the the Pelican Parts forums, where there is a vast supply of vintage photos thanks to a few key members. Obviously this is a cutout of an ad for something, maybe Bosch?

Moretti had a certain fondness for Joest-built Porsche 935s, this one being an earlier model based on the standard 935 chassis, and the one pictured in the previous post being an aluminum tube-frame Joest Moby Dick copy. Yes. Aluminum tube-frame. You'll note that the car is sporting Penthouse Magazine co-sponsorship, and Moretti is accompanied by Dominique Maure who was the official spokeswoman of the Penthouse / Momo team. 


DeNarvaez Enterprises is a sponsor on the car as well, and some time after this picture was taken this Joest 935J was repainted in the traditional DeNarvaez racing colors of blue with a tri-color band of yellow, orange and red, while retaining less extensive Momo and Penthouse sponsorship. Based on the car and the paint-scheme, this picture was likely taken between in early 1981. DeNarvaez first ran with the Momo team in 1980 at the Daytona Finale.  Beginning in 1981 Mauricio DeNarvaez started driving full-time with Momo, so based on that and the settting I would bet this was taken at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1981 where they finished 6th (DNF'd) with Charles Mendez.


_WRS

VW Sport Caravan GTI (Part 5, The supposed truth is revealed and what do we do now)

The VW Sport Caravan GTI. Ever since it popped up onto Bring a Trailer it has been shrouded in mystery. Or perhaps more accurately, it wasn't as mysterious as it was that barely anyone knew anything about it. All that we had to go on was the following:

1. The GTI was used on the 1985 VW Sport Caravan, a traveling example of sporting VWs put on display at motorsport events.
2. It was painted in VW Sport graphics, along with logos (and a build tag) for a company named Portland Racing. Google revealed absolutely nothing about Portland Racing.
3. It may or may not have been built from a spare IMSA ProFormance shell that Portland Racing ran in 1985, for a driver named Eric Randoph.
4. Eric's name also adorned the roof of the GTI. Google turns up nothing on Eric Randolph.
5. The car had big, wide fenders similar to what a GTU class car would have been allowed, but VW did not run GTU in 1985. It may have been a GTU concept.
6. The GTI had never seen the track.
7. The GTI came from VW and was gifted to a rally driver in 1991, Mark Molner.
8. Mark never used the car as he retired from driving after a bad accident, and it sat on a trailer in Ohio until it was sold off in 2002.
9. The current owner had plans to restore it at various times, but decided to sell it as he has too many other projects and not enough time.
10. Literally no other pictures, information or memories could be found, discovered or dislodged about the car, Portland Racing, Eric Randolph, or the 1985 VW Sport Caravan itself. Not a shred.

After Mark Windecker came up with another Portland Racing GTI picture, and a new name to search, we scored. David Rugh emailed us back, and he confirmed he built the Caravan GTI. Paydirt. But what he had to say makes this GTI both more significant and less useful all at the same time. Time to share.

It's getting close

A fantastic bit of advertising by Audi. One of the true greats, Mr Allan McNish takes us through some of what it takes to win at Le Mans, the world's greatest motor race. As much as it is about Audi and their effort to repeat their victory of 2010, it's really a better advertisement for Le Mans itself. June 11th, 2011. It'll be one for the history books.

By the way, Allan is answering questions over at the Fourtitude.com Audi Sport forums, quite candidly I might add. Stop on by and see what has already been asked, ask your own questions, and if you submit the best question Allan just might pick you to receive an autographed copy of Truth in 24, the tale of Audi's victory at Le Mans in 2008.

_WRS

VW Sport IMSA GTI (Part 4, so what about that paint)

After initial inspection of the VW Sport Caravan GTI we were left with a pretty clear picture of what the car was (very clean) and what it wasn't (track ready). It has all the appearances of a race car, but without a fuel cell, fire system or ignition kills it was obvious that some fairly significant changes would need to happen to get it close to that level, and that's before we're talking about mechanical bits like the engine or suspension.

But before all that could even be thought about, we had to figure out whether or not any body or paint work would need to happen. So with this in mind, Alan, Josh and I all took a good look at it and tried to figure out what to do.

CTSCC - Kevin Gleason kills in qualifying, starts P2 at Lime Rock

APR Motorsport is looking good going into this weekend's Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Memorial Day Classic at Lime Rock Park. VW Jetta TDI Cup veteran Kevin Gleason ran a scorching sub-60 second lap to take second place on tomorrow's starting grid. For a track as tight and technical as Lime Rock, a strong starting position is key. Kevin will start tomorrow's Grand Am CTSCC race in the #181 and hand over to brother Chris to finish out the event.



Championship points leader Ryan Ellis will end up P14 on the grid, with the small track making for tight, and slow, qualifying in the 171 GTI. Ian Baas will be co-driving with Ryan.



APR Motorsport is in need of a good weekend, as the previous round at VIR race was challenging to say the least. Both GTIs struggled and placed off the podium, while the star-crossed S4 was finished off in a heavy shunt. The S4 is done for, and a new chassis is being prepped, but it effectively ends the APR effort in GS for this season.

The race is tomorrow at 10:30am - check out www.grand-am.com for live timing and scoring. The race will be broadcast on Speed TV sometime in the future...

Best of luck to the APR crew! Unfortunately tight time and finances means no trip to Lakeville this year, maybe next. With a strong finish, APR drivers Ian Baas and Ryan Ellis should stay in the hunt for the championship.

_WRS

Video Post: The Kamei Golf at the Nurburgring

Mike, Chris and the guys over at Clubgti are a never-ending treasure-trove of rare bits of information on all things VW Motorsport, especially the famous Kamei Golf. Chris just posted this video from 1977, which shows, among other things such as a GELO Porsche 935, a few fleeting seconds of the world's most-famous sporting Golf.

_WRS

Pic Post: (vintage) David Rugh / Portland Racing GTI

David Rugh, Columbus Ohio 1985. Picture copyright / used with permission Mark Windecker.

The best yet. We've been searching high and low for additional pictures of the other Portland Racing VWs from 1985. Our buddy Mark Windecker, an amazing photographer with amazing archives, has come through for us once again. He went back through his catalog of the 1985 Columbus Ohio IMSA Champion Spark Plug Challenge race, and came up with this shot of the #04 Portland Racing entered GTI, driven by David Rugh. David finished 5th, and in this shot we can clearly see a number of similarities between our VW Sport Caravan GTI and those they ran on the track. It has the same paint scheme and windshield retainers, and from what we can see a very similar cage. Standard fenders of course, and what looks like a Kamei front spoiler, but its an encouraging shot.

Just think. Twenty six years ago the car would have seemed rather cheap and disposable compared to the big IMSA GTP cars which were the main event, and few photographers would have bothered to waste the film. Film isn't cheap; not now, not then. Thankfully Mark was there, documenting more than just the big show, and providing us with the chance to take a look back in time at what the more grassroots guys were doing back in 1985.

We're in the process of tracking down more information, and this particular pic has come up with the most promising leads thus far. More soon. Hopefully.

_WRS

VW Sport IMSA GTI (Part 3, Inspection of a factory racer)

When we last left off with our VW Sport IMSA GTI Bring a Trailer score, we had just gotten back from picking it up from the previous owner, and narrowly missed possible (near?) disaster thanks to a rather intense lake-effect snow storm. Although we had certainly inspected the car before signing off on the bill of sale and loading up, it wasn't exactly the best situation for rumination on the finer points of the car.



I mean sure it all checked out. The car was clearly a one-of-a-kind. But what exactly did we get? The ad on BaT as well as any other information we've scrounged has said that it was a spare car built into an IMSA GTU class car, or perhaps was more a concept than race car. One thing's for sure: It's an odd and completely original piece of the Volkswagen motorsport history in the United States. Let's take a look inside to what Portland Racing has done shall we?

Spotted in NYC: Mk2 Golf on Porsche 928 wheels

Our buddy Tony sent this pic of a very clean and very nice looking 1985 Mk2 Golf small-window car with European bumpers and polished Porsche 928 wheels, which he spotted on the Upper East Side earlier today. Proof positive that the K.I.S.S. theory of VW styling is almost always the best.

_WRS