My latest Scirocco acquisition and trip...

[mabatzis at gmail.com (Michael Abatzis)]

On 2/16/07, Mark F. <mk1mark@gmail.com> wrote:
> I just got back from a trip to New Orleans (from Ontario, Canada) to
> pick up Mike Abatzis' wrecked 87 16v.  While a tornado touched down a
> couple miles from us during a pretty impressive storm, on the way back
> I managed to mostly avoid the nasty weather that hit most of the north
> eastern U.S.

> Unfortunately the (formerly mint) interior was subjected to the
> elements since Katrina took out a rear window, and the result is a
> pretty moldy interior:
> <http://home.cogeco.ca/~mardak/moldy_seats.jpg>
> Anyone have any advice on cleaning these nice Corrado leather seats up?

ouch. didn't realize they were that neglected.  luckily i had put
enough leather protectorant on there that i bet most of that stuff
just wipes off...

> Since the front end damage is far too severe to repair I'll be
> stripping the car *completely* next week and junking what's left of
> the shell.  It's already buried in a three foot snowdrift
> (overnight!), so I haven't had a chance to check it out more
> thoroughly, but I'm hoping the engine didn't move enough to tweak the
> TT race header or any of the other nice bits under the hood.  Luckily
> the oil cooler appears to be untouched, as is the aluminum oil pan.
> Mike also happened to have the front euro bumper off the car when it
> got hit.  Many of the parts from the car will find their way onto my
> 75 over the winter, and the other Mk2 bits saved for a future Mk2
> restoration.  I could tell it was difficult for him to see his only
> Scirocco go, but rest assured that not a single useful part will be
> thrown out Mike!  I'm sure it won't be long before you're ripping
> around in another Scirocco - maybe even a superior Mk1 (:D)...  Let's
> bombard him with emails until he gives in to his Scirocco addiction
> (no matter what gf Denise says!) and gets himself another beautiful
> example! (btw, his email addy is <mabatzis@gmail.com>)  :D
>

sadly, you took all of my good parts with you-- a new resto would be
tough.  i may be moving on to porches.


> As for the trip itself, as usual I didn't have much time to sightsee,
> but I managed to check out a Mardi Gras parade, and also drove through
> the Katrina stricken ninth district.  Seeing it in person really put
> the scope of the devastation in perspective for me.  While much of the
> worst areas have been bulldozed there are still remnants of what
> happened here.  Here's a house that's sitting on a fence:
> <http://home.cogeco.ca/~mardak/house_on_fence.jpg>
>
> A stoop without a house:
> <http://home.cogeco.ca/~mardak/houseless_stoop.jpg>
>
> But I also saw a side of New Orleans that I wasn't expecting.  The
> (uptown) area where Mike lives reminded me very much of Montreal,
> where I lived for a few years.  The vibe/feel is very similar, and
> totally unlike any large U.S. city that I've visited.  If it wasn't
> for the oppressive heat and humidity in the summer I'd love to live
> there...
>

you never even made it to the french quarter did you? did you at least
get a po boy at domilise's? i'll tell you, it's frickin' cold here
now.  frost on the cars, and i could see my breath tonight!

> I just missed a very bizarre accident, and snapped a pic of it the
> next day.  I can't figure out how the hell that car ended up where it
> did:
> <http://home.cogeco.ca/~mardak/bizarre_accident.jpg>
>

huh.  that's mrs. mae's "the club".  $2 well drinks.  and there is an
actual 70-something year old mrs. mae.  she gets pissed if you put a
drink on the pool tables....


> Further up the red-state-corridor I hooked up with Daun in Ohio, who
> was kind enough to hold on to some parts for me for pick-up.  (thanks
> again Daun!)  Then it was off to Toledo to pick-up a NOS fender for my
> 75 that was on <www.thesamda.com>, and an uneventful last leg of the
> trip...
>
> Can't wait to start bolting the parts up to my 75!!!
>
> Later,
>
> Mark.
> 75
> 82
> 82 Caddy
>


good luck with the car! mark ended up putting up a wall doing some
other construction work on my house (damn post-katrina contractors
keep bailing on me), which came out nicely.  although i feel bad that
mark spent most of his time here working.  tomorrow i'm riding in my
first mardi gras parade, endymion (www.endymion.org).  we've got a
bash afterward in the superdome with al green, journey AND styx
playing. yeah!  i'll post some pics next week.


-- 
-Michael Abatzis
New Orleans!
'88 2.0L Scirocco (RIP)
'87 2.0L Scirocco...(RIP also)
'91 Saab 900t convertible...