New Member, Membership Pack

Hello, I have been viewing the website for some time and became a new member on the 27th July just before Billing.

As an introduction, I have owned VWs / Audi since 1978 when I was stationed in Germany with the British Army. My first being a 3 door 1977 Golf Mk1 1600 GLS which I had for 4.5 yrs. I imported it into the UK in 1980 under Car Reg No DOT 411W. I do not know if it is still around.

An expanding family forced me to change the Mk1 for a 1978 Audi 100 LS LHD, and later a 1978 Passat GLS. I then purchased a brand new tax free 1988 Golf Mk2 1.8GL RHD when again stationed in Germany. During that time I was able to take 30 Soldiers / Aircraft Technicians to the Wolfsberg Factory for a cracking day out and see the Mk2s being built.

After some 13 years, the Golf Mk2 went to my daughter and I purchased a 6 month old 2001 Mk4 1.6 SE (I never liked the Mk3). Unfortunately, due to a third party and a rear end accident, I got the Mk2 back after 6 months.

I retook ownership of the car, had it repaired, added power steering and a few other mods and continued to use it as my daily drive for a number of years. The wife continued to drive the Mk4 until the end of its warranty period and it was replaced / swapped with VW a brand new Lupo 1.4S, which was more suitable to her needs and I am sure will be a future classic.

The Golf Mk2 was the love of my life for 17 Years & 155K, I parted company with it to a new home 3 years ago. It was immaculate. A classic, with subtle mods, FSH the lot. It was featured in VW Motoring Nov 2004.

Beliieve it or not, I replaced the Mk2 with a 2003 Polo 1.4 FSI. Eventually I hated it, it was not a Golf and after 11 months I swapped it for a 2004 Golf Mk4 1.6 Match. Further mods (an increase in spec) and I am now happy with my daily drive.

So why have I joined the club?, nearly two years ago I acquired a 1983 Silver Mk1 Golf GL 1.5 5dr with blue interior and 64K on the clock. I have been gradually / slowly refurbishing the car since I SORN'd it. I shall be inserting some photos, once I get a handle on the system and photobucket.

I have discovered the usual areas of rust around the axle mounts and the rear arches but they are not to the severe extent that I have seen on this website. I look forward to returning it to its former classic glory. I have already acquired the axle mount repair sections from Crazy Quiffs who I found extremely helpful and directed me towards this site.

Now for the good and bad bits as a new member.

I have found the information on this website extremely useful and congratulate the administrators and the contributors for it, not a day goes by without me looking at it and ebay of course!.

Unfortunately, despite payment for membership, after 4 weeks I have not received my membership pack, nor have I had a response from the membership secretary to the email that I sent for a status. I note that a number of members on this website have had the same issue. I hope that this is just a glitch in administration and will soon be sorted out.

On another issue, I can see from the website that many other members had a great time at Billing. My wife and I drove the 2 hours plus each way from Romsey Hants, particularly to look at the Trade Stands and Auto Jumble advertised for this event, to purchase some parts for the Mk1.

We turned up about 1000 hrs on the Sunday and after a brief walkabout to see a few cars we left at 1045 hours. Apart from CQFs, who had little or no stock, I was dissapointed that there were no trade stands and saw very little auto jumble, if any.

Anyway, I shall put this down to experience, and come myself next time. Also it wasn't until after we left that I realised that I had not claimed my ?5 off the entrance fee.

Be assured I am passionate about my VWs and look forward to a long membership, that's assuming I get my membership pack of course!.

Hi Malcolm and thanks for your support :wink:

If you send a private message to Rajan (user name=dubboy) he can hopefully get to the bottom of your member pack.

Like the sound of your MK1 and look forward to seeing pics. Have you got any photos of your passed VW ownership you can scan and post up?

Cheers
Andy

Hi, I do have some photos of previous ownership, the Mk1, Mk2, Audi and a few of the later ones.

I am also loading up photobucket at the moment with pictures of the current "GarytheGolf", a name provided by the previous owners which I feel obliged to maintain.

Thanks for the advice about the membership pack.

Welcome along mate, I'm sure you'll like the site and the overall vibe.

I know what you mean about Billing but wouldn't know where to start by way of explanation, all I can say is that I was just as disappointed and frustrated as you were.

Tian  :?

I do know that a lot of traders where invited to the meet at Billing, including GPC, 1GolfAhead, JustMatz and Meguires, but they all said no. Maybe down to other commitments or as a small and growing show perhaps they don't see enough financial gain?

Unfortunately, I couldn't make Billing this year but in previous years quite a few people would sell parts by their cars so you could always pick something up

Cheers
Andy

Mate, I don't want to go too far off topic or paint a poor picture but a mate of mine who goes to classic car, American car and bike shows at Billing all the time said he was amazed. He got up early to look around before he took the kids to the Fun Fair and said there was nothing to buy or look at.

Others Mk1 owners who went with the intention of buying stuff also said how disappointed they were.

What can I say? There's no argument here. I'm sure Ant did his best and due respect and all that but a show without Jumble or trade stands?

Tian :scratch:

I know what you mean Tian, not knocking, just want to make clear that effort was made to provide these things for people.

Maybe it's chicken and egg? Traders wont come until we get bigger, but we wont get big enough for them to come? Don't know really :dontknow:  In the past we had talked about having a 'guest club' at the show which would increase numbers/volume but then maybe dilutes what we're doing?

Wow, started a real debate here. As a comparision, I went to the Pageant of Motoring at Broadlands Romsey yesterday with my wife, there were stacks of stalls and autojumble, however only one Beetle and no water cooled. I suppose you cannot have it all.

Bought myself an angle grinder, flap & cutting discs, twisted wire brushes and a magnetic tray, ?35 all in, bargain!.

As promised some photos of my previous VWs. Note the Black and White number plate on the first picture of the Golf before it was imported into the UK. For info I used to tow a caravan with this car.

I shall start a new thread in the Projects section for Garythe Golf.

Cheers for the pics Malc, love 'em. That MK2 looks immaculate! :wink:

Liking the pics and story Malcolm..

The MK2 looks identical to my one (well mine has a few scrapes now thanks to a smart car)

Sorry to hear about the issues with Billing I'm having a debate with some others about it, yes tehshow was great froma  regular on line users as it was more a social gathering and a good chance for everyone to meet people and have a chat, as to the traders/autojumble etc then I reallly hope its something we can help grow for next year.

Otherwise I fear that we'll not have to call it a 'SHOW' and more a GATHERING of people/MK1's that way there wont be any expectations.

As to your Pack, I'm hoping that should be with you now or at leats an explanation from Rajan, the Chairman, Or Phil, the Membership secretary.

Please bypass this initial hitch and welcome to the fold

steve

Hi Malcolm, welcome to the site. Great car history!

Sign up for the club stand at VW Action this weekend!

Hi, thanks for the welcome, unfortunately I have a long standing family member 50th Birthday commitment this coming weekend and am unable to attend. That's why I was looking forward to Billing.

any new pics mate?

Unfortunately many recent events, family orientated, the weather, single garage, have slowed my progress on the car, I hope to resume normal activity in about a month or so.

Thanks for asking.

You going to REME 70 in Arborfield?

Baggie, I'll pm you.

ok mate