Our last event was very different to our usual activities.  It was held in collaboration with the Team Mini 40 club.  A large collection of our classic cars (and vans) assembled early on the Thursday Public Holiday (10 February), near the Black Pearl at Ta’ Xbiex Marina. 

Owners were given the chance to show their VWs’ with the winners of the four class receiving a small trophy to take home.  Meanwhile at Hal Far an autotest track was being prepared ready for some serious Motorsport. 

The event was faithfully reported in The Malta Independent.  Smash TV was also in attendance.  However, their cameraman had a mini size camera lens, and could only fit those small cars in the picture? (not big VW’s).  DJ Banana, the presenter of Smash TV’s Motordrome, plans to come with a cameraman who has a much bigger camera lens next time, to film V-Dubs club at a future event.

We had some new visitors – a debut for Rene Camoin in his fast white 85 Mexican Beetle.  He took home the autotest ‘air’ trophy.  More on this Beetle in a future newsletter – its got 4 wheel disc brakes, Rivera alloy wheels and a mystery engine.  Rene claims it’s just a humble old 1200cc block with a big fan belt. Oh Yeah. 

A selection of modern VWs attended our event, some fitted with euro styling accessories, and performed well on the autotest track.  Gabriel Micallef, who managed to blow the tire off his VW Polo HIV POS at a past autotest in Luqa, has changed tactics: for tarmac he just smokes the tires off but took home the autotest ‘water’ trophy.  Crazy man.

I particularly liked the Golf Mk4 ‘TDI109’ with factory alloy wheels and that amazing metallic paint, the white VW Polo and Golf Mk2 with Eurostyling accessories and alloys.  Another newcomer was the dark 1960’s bug loaded with vintage accessories – did you spot the early 1950’s cabrio decklid and split screen number plate light (very rare items).

From the Black Pearl we proceeded by carcade to Hal Far where cars were put on display and visitors filled out their voting papers.  The trophy winners were:-
 
 

For those who showed but went home empty handed, better luck next time.

People competing in the Autotest were Paul – Red Passat, Gordon – Blue Polo classic, Brendon – Red Beetle, Oliver – Golf Mk3, Sylvana – Golf Mk 3, Robert – Golf Mk2, Karl – Beetle & Golf Mk2, Arthur – Golf Mk2 

and the following competition winners:-
 
 

We were glad to see some new people and their cars as well as the regular club members.  Please come to our next events, anyone with an interest in VW’s is welcome.  Thanks to the Team Mini 40 Club for their share in the organisation of the event and for showing their classic, high quality, British Minis. 

 Kevin Widmann