Month: October 2023

The Audi TT comes to an end

~ Fred Thomas, III ~ 1 Comment

Reaching classic car status (in production 25 years), as noted by Motor Trend Audi will retire its revolutionary “TT” sports car this year.  Technically the car rolled out in Europe in 1998 but it was the 1999 model which came to the United States in 2000.

I was working on a short-term spacial photography gig in early 2000 and one of my assignments took me to San Francisco.  It was there I noticed this trendy car zipping through the streets.  My thought was ummmm?

As 2001 went by I remembered that look and occasionally, I would see another one.  It was 2002 and my financial condition improved so I really started looking.  At the time it was the basic coupe and the roadster.  Finally, in March 2002 I found a pre-owned 2000 at a luxury dealer in Redondo Beach and it had limited mileage as well as having only one owner.  I grabbed it and the rest is history.  My office was in Pasadena and since it was still under warranty Rusnak Pasadena became my service dealer and they took care of all the issues you might have in wanting to bring your car back to perfection.  However, there was an issue with one of the service advisors who felt more concerned about his advice versus accommodating my needs.  I searched for a new dealer and even though Los Angeles Downtown Audi was closer to me, it seemed like a dealer not capable of meeting my needs I was wrong.   You know what they say?  First impressions can be everything!  After making an appointment I was greeted by the tech who resembled a German and who wore a white smock.  His name was Dennis and he assured me he would take care of my TT.  Along with him and his Associate Valentin, who became my regular tech, they provided all the confidence I needed in assuring me the TT would be taken care of.

TT Runs

I joined a couple of Audi TT car clubs and met some great people as well as gaining knowledge of why these cars were so special.  We would go on runs and other adventures and it was quite a site to see 50-75 TT’s rolling into various parts of the United States.  Over the years I made modifications to my TT, although I must admit being somewhat intimidated to do so not wanting to void my warranty.  Anyway, I added a chip to improve speed, wheels and other amenities.  Perhaps the biggest mod that made my car stand out was adding a sunroof.  When I was searching for the car, I could swear I saw the coupe with a sunroof.  My eyes deceived me as the coupe did not have a TT.  Even still, I had to have one.  Despite being warned the roof would cave in as well as other calamities, I took the splurge and found an aftermarket installer located in Paramount, CA.  I am 6’3” and the coupe is tight.  The roadster is a no-go due to the way it is designed.  It would be impossible to wedge my body into the car with the roof closed.  However, the coupe was perfect as since it is part of the VW design and features lots of headroom, the sunroof was perfect.

The TT is a very fun car to drive. Looking back I am glad I realized in 2003 with miles stacking up, I needed purchase another “regular day” car so I opted for the A4, which itself had gone through a new design.

Sad to see it go….but

I am said to see the TT go.  It was a revolutionary and the first sports car with an aerodynamic design.  I liked the Porsche due chose not the chase the crowd because in my opinion, everybody has one.  After Audi rolled out the TT, other manufacturers followed including Nissan, Honda, BMW and others who saw the benefit of the aerodynamic body.  Plus, because the body offers a curved feature, which even today you will rarely see a model without it, the car was known as “ahead of its time.”

So, my TT is coming up on 24 years.  It is in very good condition and yes, it is pampered.  It has approximately 155,000 miles on it and even though I moved away from Valentin (due to cost of repairs at a dealer), I found Eurospec where Jeff and Peter provide the same confidence in making sure any repairs are legitimate but providing the care to make sure my investment is protected.

My current everyday car is a zippy A3 sedan.

At Red Rock in Las Vegas 110 MPH before topping off at 130MPH – NO TICKET
Ashland, OR
Under the hood
Montana
Old school Cocoa Mats
Original look
Durango, CO
Current look

Postscript – Audi is replacing the TT with another electric model to add to their growing lineup. That’s leaves the R8 as the only sports car in their stable.

Houston Astros Cheating Scandal – How Rob Manfred got snakebitten

~ Fred Thomas, III ~ Leave a comment

Yesterday Major League Baseball started its annual playoff season. Perhaps coincidental, the nationally acclaimed documentary series – Frontline, presented a new piece “The Astros Edge” which focused on the cheating scandal in 2017. Bob Reiter did an excellent job in bringing you the details of the incident. Of course, some players as well as organizational staff did not participate in the interviews. One lad in particular was interesting. He was the staff responsible for setting up the TV in the locker room which aided the team as part of cheating. The Astros won the coveted World Series and while his salary was $45,000, the team granted him a cut of the series pool which in his case totaled $450,000.

LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 01: Houston Astros owner and chairman Jim Crane hoists the Commissioner’s Trophy after the Astros defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-1 in game seven to win the 2017 World Series at Dodger Stadium on November 1, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 10: Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred walks to a press conference during an MLB owner’s meeting at the Waldorf Astoria on February 10, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. Manfred addressed the ongoing lockout of players, which owners put in place after the league’s collective bargaining agreement ended on December 1, 2021. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

It took a couple of years to document the cheating but the ire to many is the decision made by MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred regarding the punishment rendered. While there were some who were terminated, suspended and/or fined Manfred apparently was snakebitten in the decision he made in allowing the Astros to maintain the crown of being the winner of the series. Instead of being true to the integrity he preached, he took the cowardly, if not political decision to claim, “no harm-no-foul.” despite the evidence being right in his face. What????? If you’re found guilty of something, like cheating how can you be rewarded by keeping the title you allegedly won?

Most agree, a more fair decision would have been to simply strip the Astros of the title and proclaim there was no winner for the year 2017. Manfred could not pull himself to do this and the rest is history.

Here is the full documentary

Today’s news – Donald Trump appears in court…..again!

~ Fred Thomas, III ~ Leave a comment

a bird wouldn’t get caught if they didn’t open their mouth!”

We all understand the need to talk but some folk simply talk too much or talk themselves into trouble!

Today Donald Trump faced the music in front of Judge Engoron who last week found him guilty of fraud.  Seated in the prosecution’s section and on the first row was one of Trump’s nemeses who has become a thorn in his butt, State Attorney Leticia James.

Most people who have basic common sense have known for too long that Trump is a master hustler or as the judge recently ruled a fraudster.  His bluster is laughable, yet it gives pause because so many fall for it, including forking over to him their hard-earned cash.  For years, he has crafted a persona of being uber-wealthy and one of the most successful businesspeople of all time.  Many who knew better or should have known better couldn’t help themselves into believing Trump was all who he stated he was.  Even the skeptics in this group have been caught in the buzz ever since he zipped down to escalator and announced his run for presidency.  They feverishly wanted to believe everything Trump said despite the warnings that were right in their face. I only hire the best! I can wrap this deal up in minutes! I will show you how to put together a successful operation! On and on. Many figured….umm, why not, let’s give the lad some breathing room and see what he can deliver! After all, he looks the part.

Of all the bonehead mistakes Trump has brought on himself, one will go down as historic:  turning against his former attorney and fixer Michael Cohen.  It seems like years ago, as during his presidency Trump knew he was untouchable.  He was the king, and nobody dared cross him.  That is why the 2020 presidential election was so important.  Those with common sense, knew if he did not have the presidency to shield him from all his illegal activity, understood the years 2021, 2022, 2023 and beyond would result in payback or the law catching up with him.  So, as of this article he has historically achieved 91 charges and a host of other legal pitfalls.

Once Trump convinced Bill Barr to be his pseudo attorney and go after Michael Cohen, that may go down as the beginning to the end.  Indeed, Barr through his role as the head justice official of the United States brought charges against Cohen resulting in his incarceration.  Many in Trump’s orbit paid very little credibility to one of Cohen’s last acts as a public citizen on his way to the brig.  On February 27, 2019 Former Congressman Elijah Cummings, who has sense passed, held a hearing where Cohen communicated to the House of Representative’s – House Oversight Committee Trump’s fraudulent behavior.  Many knew of his behavior, but this was the first time a senior official in Trump’s organization gave up the gig and spilled the beans, in detail.

It was that hearing where some thought folk were sleeping, but Leticia James was taking copious notes.  Her result was the ensuing charges and eventual guilty plea announced by Judge Engoron.  Who knows what will happen to Donald Trump?  Some, assume his basic strategy is to keep running for political office so he can continue to grift from those who support him as well as use his position as an excuse preventing actions against him because he is a viable candidate.  More to follow……stay tuned.