Just another day at Dan's home for wayward German automobiles

My brother, hard at work? Looks like he's just about got that brake job done. . .
. . . and this time he's got help. My daughter, in an effort to put off bedtime, has no qualms about pitching in. Besides, without her that jack might fall. Note: the green trunk lid is not original equipment - you have to pay extra for that sort of thing.

My Puma is back on Ebay...now where did I leave that pile of cash?

If ever there was a perfect marriage of form and function this Puma AM-4 - with its minimalist, Wolfsburg-designed mechanicals (which are alluring in their own sort of sterile, German techno-fetish way) and abounding Brazilian curves - must be "it" - or at least as close to "it" as I will ever know. But, alas, I will not know for this zaftig beauty is out of reach. It seems my plight to never be in the financial position (read as "have spousal permission") to own such an exotic - it is said that there were only 14 Am-4s ever built - leaving me to, instead, spend my days lusting after the unobtainable.

As the reader recalls, the Puma AM-4 is my dream car. I shall enumerate its finer points: (1) rust-proof fiberglass body (this feature is of considerable importance in the North) (2) rear-mounted, water-cooled 1.8 liter VW engine driving the rear wheels (3) favorable power to weight ratio (4) sporting interior replete with Recaro sport seats, racing steering wheel and a full-compliment of gauges (5) oh, and did I mention that it's a drop top?

Check it out for yourself at: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6472&viewitem=&item=180266424467&_trksid=p3907.m29

Waterfest 14 . . . alas, I am unable to attend.

Every July for fourteen years, Volkswagen and Audi aficionados have been converging upon New Jersey for a weekend of undiluted, cop-baiting volks-mania. Attending Waterfest, if only once, is at the top of most enthusiast's checklist. Though, like me, if you go "only once" you may be smitten by the experience so much that you'll never miss another - even at the cost of snubbing family members who may have made the poor choice of wedding or dying the very same weekend as North America's largest VW/Audi Car Show and Motorsport event. With more than 2500 participants, gads of vendors with new and used performance goodies and thousands upon thousands of Volks-driven lunatics on hand, what dead relative could find fault with me for missing their funeral.

So then, why did I skip this year's fest? Well, with a new-born son at home, Waterfest was just not on this Summer’s agenda. In fact, as I write this, I am rocking little Owen and making those goofy baby-appeasing noises that you once enjoyed - maybe your mother still makes them for you.

I'd like to say that missing this year's festivities doesn't bother me, but it does - terribly. In fact, I cried myself to sleep last night - well, not really - but I was wicked bummed. Alas, the situation is what it is. So, for the sake of consolation, I’ve told myself that I’ll have twice the fun at next year’s Waterfest and that maybe - instead of just being a spectator - I’ll bring something to show. Duh, I’d better get to work, I’ve only got a year to prepare.

Update: Just to prove that I am serious about bringing something to show, I offer up this picture of the intake manifold and throttle body that I've been busy cleaning this afternoon. By the way, this is for the Inari Silver '80 Jetta.

Old Grey Lump...

...there are days when I feel like I've just been chucked onto cardboard like a blown, leaky old mill with spun bearings and weazy valves. Thankfully, unlike an engine, I'll feel better in the morning.