Events Coverage
Event Coverage: Waterfest 14
By by: Cherise LaPine-Grueninger and Anthony Garbis, photos: Tom Cassady, Anthony Garbis, Wes Grueninger,
Jul 24, 2008, 07:17

Englishtown, NJ - We’re back from Waterfest 14 and gradually recovering from some nasty dehydration. Not a drop of rain was shed, which is quite unlike any Waterfest weekend in memory, but show-goers suffered temperatures that topped out at 97 degrees on Saturday and 93 on Sunday. Despite the sweltering heat, the show area was still packed. According to the Waterfest staff, total attendance for the weekend was about 21,000, about even with last year’s numbers.

Waterfest is one of few shows that hosts a variety of activities, including an autocross course and a burnout competition. Saturday’s schedule offers a popular exhibition area with a get-together-like atmosphere for those who want to show off their cars without the stress of trophy-hunting. Of course, the biggest draw is Sunday’s show car event, and the predominantly East Coast crowd is notoriously competitive.


While walking through the vendor area, it was clear that Audi's new models such as the A5/S5 and R8 are captivating the aftermarket.


In the AWE Tuning booth, we got a glimpse of VF Engineering's new roots supercharger for the B7 S4 motor. Although still in preproduction, the kit looks very promising, with power figures of 496 hp and 434 tq.


APR featured several Audis, and our favorite - an A3 fitted with their latest 2.0T Stage III setup.


REVO had both an R8 and S5 in their booth, complete with their stage 1 software.


Vredestein tires also had an S5 wearing 20" BBS CK's shod with their tires.


Local STaSIS dealer Jack Daniels Audi brought out several STaSIS spec cars, along with a Nothelle-equipped Q7 S-line featuring a custom Alcantara interior.


Riverside Audi, a local dealer always with a big presence, showed up with a large selection of Audis. We noticed two R8's, a papaya orange RS 4, an RS 4 cabriolet, an S8 and A8 W12, as well as an S5 and A5, and even a 2009 Audi A4.


Audiworld.com was in a different space this year, though we found them in their new spot in the vendor row with a Sprint Blue S5 on display.


Fourtitude's own display included a blue R8 and our 4 Season S6 sedan parked alongside several other cars from the Vortex Media Group auto pool. VWvortex had its own long-term Jetta and Project Turbunnium Rabbit, while BMW website Mwerks featured their Project 135i and Swedespeed's Project Volvo C30 proved one of the most popular cars in the stand.


Walking the show field, we were immediately greeted by a healthy selection of tastefully modded B5 A4/S4s, including one of the few converted B5 RS4 sedans in two-tone Nogaro Blue and silver.


Moving down the aisle we spotted an A5 3.2, and also a gorgeous phantom black pearl S5, lowered and sitting on 20" HRE wheels.


A handful of Mk1 TT's were showing, but only one Mk2 TT was spotted.


Other notable cars on hand were an 8L Audi A3 1.8T, as well as two B3 Coupe Quattro's with 20v Turbo engine swaps.


For the vintage lovers, a lone and quite pristine Quattro in Mars Red with zebra cloth interior sported a scant 36,000 miles.

We predict that with more A5/S5s becoming available, and the new A4 debuting this fall, that next year Waterfest should have some exciting new cars in the show field as the Audi presence continues to grow.


By the end of the weekend, we were scorched and found ourselves wishing it had rained; overall, though, we deemed the show a success. We’d like to thank all who came out to support Waterfest 14, especially our readers who stopped by the Fourtitude / Vortex Media Group booth to check out our display cars and say hello. We're already counting down to next year.

For more discussion on this story, click on the link to our discussion forums to the left.	For more photos of the car in this story, click on the link to our gallery at the right.

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