Summer Nats, Euro-style

Check out the photo gallery from Wothersee 2013 at www.motoring.com.au

Europe’s answer to the Summer Nats, GTI-Treffen, began as a humble event organised by local publican and Golf GTI enthusiast Erwin Neuwirth in 1983.

Just 93 cars attended the first event and it has been held (almost) every year since. This year, officials issued 5000 entry permits and estimate more than 150,000 fans will attend the four-day event.

Set in the idyllic surrounds of Lake Worther (Wörthersee) in Austria, the event draws car fans and GTI devotees from all over Europe. The central location was part of Neuwirth’s idea of bringing Volkswagen fans together for an event he says is about connecting with like-minded fans of the popular little car.

“I had at that time a place in Reifnitz and had bought a GTI in the Spring,” Neuwirth told local publication, Kliene Zeitung. “Several friends shared my enthusiasm for this little car with great acceleration, and we decided to come together here at this idyllic lake.”

Neuwirth went on to explain how the cult-like following of the Wörthersee event grew with the popularity of the Golf itself, and as Volkswagen itself became involved the event became “more commerical”, growing beyond the troubles that saw it cancelled for three consecutive years in the early 1990s.

This year, the Volkswagen Group brought not only its new Golf GTI and GTD models to the party, but also its limited-edition Scirocco Million, a WRC Polo, apprentice-designed ‘Austria’ GTI Cabrio, R Design Amarok, Skoda Rapid RS and show-stopping 375kW GTI Concept -- a model Volkswagen says could go on to inspire its own racing series.

Away from the VW stage mullets that would do McGyver proud, aftermarket parts galore and a mix of characters of all ages sporting fashion tastes as varied as the models on display party hard.

The sounds of DJs and in-car sound systems compete with the punters for what little space they can find in the tiny Reifnitz township, population just 600.

With just three roads in and out, access can take hours and the traffic jams stretch for miles. Locals often move away in the weeks leading up to the event as stages are prepared and the tourists flood in.

Even the founder of the even admits the event may have outgrown itself.

“The meeting will continue to evolve,” said Neuwirth. “Like the cars [on display] the event must be preserved by the organisers, but this could mean it may need to expand beyond the boundaries of Reinfitz.”

Check out the photo gallery from Wothersee 2013 at www.motoring.com.au

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