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From YourSITE.com Events Coverage And then it was gone. Audi’s new R8 has finally left the building, moved from its perch on the rotating platform at the Audi Forum New York City and having disappeared until it re-emerges once more at the L.A. auto show in December. Approximately seventy five people including this website’s own editorial staff, had one last chance to see the R8 before it left thanks to the Audi Forum New York City generously opening their doors for this special event.
Viewing these cars was both a bit sorrowful and a bit sweet, knowing the R8 would be gone by the end of the weekend. The Auto Union (the first of its kind in the USA since 1999) would shortly follow. We hear the A8L was sold to a New York resident who simply had to have it, so it has also probably left the forum by the time you read this. It’s clear the collection will continue to rotate, and this might be a challenge for Catton. With Audi such a hot property as of late, it’s obvious he won’t be able to bank on cars like the R8 or even the A8 staying for long.
Guests at the event ranged from the most avid Audi enthusiast to a few lucky people who wandered in off of Park Avenue to find there was an event going on. Industry people also showed, from a representative of Anchor Audi to the owners of aftermarket companies catering to Audi owners that included AWE and PPI.
Whomever you spoke to though, the star of the show was most always the R8. Here are a few impressions of some of those who attended: Having owned 9 Audi for a span of 16 years, there have been some sleepless nites, They have all been the night before picking up the next one. Audi is batting a thousand out there, design, innovation, sophistcation. The collection of Audi's at the NYC Forum last Saturday was enough to win the World series and the home run derby, hands down. -- Stanley Olin-Dabrowski The R8 was a really spectacular looking car, it's once of those cars that you have to see in person to apreciate even more. -– Paul Kundel, Brooklyn, NY I’m 6’5” and fit inside the car without a problem. Whether or not I could do it with a racing helmet remains to be seen, but it would probably work if you removed the golf bag from behind the seats. -– Todd Sager, Philadelphia, PA It looks like something from the future, more than anything else on the market today. Two thumbs up for Audi and Fourtitude as well. Looking forward to some get togethers in the future. By that time hopefully most of us will have had the chance to actually drive the R8, and there will so much more to discuss. -– Ken Swaha, Miami Shores, FL
It was Miami Shores native Ken Swaha who also had the honor of being the person to travel from the furthest distance to attend the event. Guests were given the opportunity to share their home town to the Audi Forum’s staff, who quickly checked distances on the Internet until a winner was found. Swaha, an Audi salesman by trade, is an avid Audi enthusiast. As thanks for coming in from such a long distance, Mr. Swaha was awarded a leather Q7 bag compliments of Axel Catton and his Audi Forum staff.
What should be expected next from the Audi Forum New York City? We hear the next big thing to be displayed will be the TT Roadster, which is expected to debut at L.A. and move to the forum shortly after that. However, Catton is coy on giving any details about L.A. or the car’s arrival in New York City. We’d guess it will be there by December. Also expect more events of this nature. We’re told there’s still a learning curve as to just what sorts of events will be requested of the venue, but expect these types of things to happen with more and more regularity.
Fourtitude is honored to include some of its readers in the first of such events. Our staff would like to personally thank the staff of the Audi Forum New York City for being such great hosts. Our staff would also like to thank Audi of America for being progressive enough to think of an online community of their most enthusiastic owners as a viable first-use of the space, as well as a viable reason to bring the R8 back one last time before it temporarily disappears.
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