Tuesday, SEP 14, 2003 - Any good VW fan(atic) is well aware that, on JULY 30, 2003, the final edtion VW (aircooled) Bug (aka Sedan Última Edición) ended production at the very LAST VW factory in the world to produce them. That factory was the Puebla, MX facility. We were saddened to hear the news and envious of anybody who could both afford what seemed like a minimal $8,000 price tag AND get their hands on one, seeing how they cannot be registered/titled in the US. This is all due to U.S. federal safety and pollution standards. But who cares? You could always park it in your environmentally controlled garage and sit in it, while you made motor sounds with your lips.

We thought we had heard the last. But the excitement was revived for the lucky members of Mid-South VW Club, who attended the regular September 2003 meeting. You see we not only had 2 of VW-Mexico's corporate employees in attendance(Maik & Jurgen... pronounced "mike" and "yurgen"); we had, not just one, but TWO matching Final Editon Bugs for us to see, touch, feel, smell and almost taste. I still am numb. It's like a dream. We were treated, no BLESSED, by what every other aircooled VW club in the U.S., no, maybe the WORLD would give their eye teeth to have experienced.

It all started one or two weeks prior... in a land... far away...   feel ... my  pain. At home, I was doing some weekend late night email catch-up on those I receive off the web site (http://www.midsouthvw.com). That is when I noticed a curious one. It was from a 3rd party, introducing me to somebody named Maik (Mike) P., who would be driving a Final Edition Beetle/Bug through our area in the coming days. He would be traveling from Mexico, into Texas and up to the East Coast. I would have thought it suspicious (I get a lot of suspicious email - ha) except for the fact that Maik was copied and he had an email that ended in @vw.mx.com. So, okay, maybe it will be safe to correspond. At least they were not asking me to wire my life savings to the son of the prince of some foreign nation. So, I decided to email Maik.

Maik had no experience with a trip such as this and could not accurately predict his agenda. Plus he would be pleasure touring along the way. No problem, we could just keep in touch via email. NOT to be! Though he could resort to hotmail.com, it would not be dependable and timely while traveling. So he provided the best method; his cell phone. But, even though he is German, he lives/works in Mexico... with a Mexican cell phone.... and an INTERNATIONAL phone number... and would be roaming. I was so leery of calling the strange looking number that I even called the operator to make sure it was not one of those things where I would get a new Mercedes SL charged to my phone. Ha..  and wouldn't it be great if they could come to our club meeting the very next Tuesday?

So, here we go. I called the international number on my day off, hoping that Maik was on his way to Memphis, after visiting the famous Ennis VW event. No, he was actually on his way to South Fork Ranch, as seen on the popular TV series (even in his country) "Dallas."  He hoped to be leaving in time to arrive in Memphis on Monday night, SEP 13, at about 9:00 PM. I called again that Monday evening to find they were not yet out of the great state of Texas.  We agreed he would call me at work the next day to finalize whatever plans we could hammer out while talking via an international connection to Mexico, then to a cell phone that was roaming in Texas... or Arkansas... or maybe Tennessee. Talk about satellite delay!

You guessed it, "The best laid plans of mice and men..."  Turns out Mike & Jurgen were touring Graceland on Tuesday and didn't call me until AFTER I had left work. Attempts to contact them were futile. I received a reply in what I think is Spanish cell phone speak, followed by what sounded like Maik in Deutsch/German, telling me to leave a message. At least I heard a tone, so I rattled off my home phone... and way too much of a message. Turns out, Maik cannot get voicemail unless he is in Mexico. But, at least he figured it out and called me at home... on his cell phone with the battery going dead.... when I was already gone and in the middle of chairing our VW meeting... that was followed by a message at Fox Ridge to call home... followed by my instruction to call the dreaded international number again and tell him to call me on my cell... which HAD been shut off... which was eventually made on Maik's phone with the, now, DEAD battery! Whew. He actually had to go into a business and plug in his AC adapter to charge it enough to call me back. FINALLY success... almost... had to talk fast. I had to get a volunteer, Hank G., to go find them at Graceland (gosh, does it never end?) and lead them back in his own Mexi-Beetle (NOT a Final Edition).  All this between an American who only speaks southern English and a German, who speaks German and Spanish, but has not spoke English since high school!

After what seemed like hours, it was much more than worth it... all the calls... all the anxiety and uncertainty. Could the timing be more perfect? Right near the end of our meeting, in strolls Hank with our soon to be friends from Mexico. I could not get anybody to sit down. They all wanted to bolt outside. However, they did manage to stay long enough to hear Maik's answer to my question of, "So, what exactly brings you to Memphis with 2 Final Editons?"

Maik explained the ownership of the 2 Final Editions; one of them was his; the other one was being delivered to friend who is a German national in DC. What a great piece for anybody's collection! Both he and Jurgen were Germans, working in the corporate offices of VW Mexico. Matter of fact, Maik was born in the Wolfsburg hospital! The fact that it was Independence Week in Mexico provided them enough time to accomplish their plans; to deliver the second bug; and work in a tour of the U.S. while doing so. Still attempting to reign in the members, I presented both Maik & Jurgen with complimentary club t-shirts with the new logo. Thanks to some of our members who helped pay for the shirts. That said (and more of course), I shouted a reminder to the members as they bolted, not to forget to pay their tabs on the way out the door.

The pictures just about speak for themselves. A few explanations:

• The Notebook PC on top of the sunroof is playing a DVD, produced to show the history of the Bug from inception through its final stage. By the way, I purchased one (out of my pocket) so that we can view it at meetings, etc.
• The ragtop (soft sunroof) you see on each is not factory installed.
• As you can tell by looking at the motor pictures, they are not fitted with air conditioning.
• Notice the "coke machine keyed" alarm system switches just in front of the driver's doors.

After some group pictures and more, it was finally time for them to leave. They planned to drive on to Nashville right after stopping for some ribs, or barbecue, or something "Memphis." It was almost past 10 PM. And they wanted to NOT head back downtown. I reminded them to not get in TOO big a hurry. They had not heard about hurricane Isabel, which was, in its early stages a category 5. So, I volunteered (oh, it hurts!) to lead them out to some fine eating establishments near Wolfchase that would still be open. I wish I could have gotten a picture of us headed down the freeway; me in my fat fendered, "well lit" Lightning Bug, followed by 2 identical Final Edition Bugs. Something to dream about. Could somebody do me some art work? I've already pinched myself several times.

We got out at Wolfchase, shook hands, agreed to be back in touch, at least via FREE email, and wished all a safe trip... again reminding them to look out for that bad lady named.... "Isabel." I guess my first communication will be to find out if they made it to DC and to Ground Zero in NYC. You see, their original schedule would have put them right in her path. I hope we saved a couple of FINE FINAL EDITIONS.

This was not my final blessing for the week, just the first dream come true. The next day I towed home my project convertible, soon to become a daily driver, dream number two. For the third dream and blessing, see the story on the Jonesboro NEAVF show. I'm ready to go to Heaven, right after I finish up that convertible... which you all know will NEVER be finished! Pumped-Up Air Bill

TOP

TOP