Throwback Thursday - the amazing Wörthersee 2011
Table of Contents
Today we go back to the Wörthersee 2011
A little history of the show
The Wörthersee GTI Treffen is an annual car show that takes place in Austria and attracts Volkswagen enthusiasts from around the world. The event started in 1982 and has since become a cultural phenomenon, with thousands of attendees coming from all corners of the globe to celebrate the Volkswagen Golf GTI.
The 2011 Wörthersee GTI Treffen was a particularly special event, as it marked the 30th anniversary of the event. Volkswagen took advantage of the occasion to showcase some of their newest and most exciting cars, and the event was packed with high-performance vehicles, stunning custom builds, and passionate fans of the Golf GTI, other models and brands of the VW family.
One of the highlights of the 2011 Wörthersee GTI Treffen was the unveiling of the Golf GTI Edition 35. This special edition vehicle was created to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the GTI, and it was one of the most anticipated releases of the year. The Golf GTI Edition 35 boasted a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with 235 horsepower, making it one of the most powerful GTIs ever made at that time. The car also featured a specially designed exterior with unique 18-inch alloy wheels, smoked rear lights and an aerodynamic body kit. Inside, the Golf GTI Edition 35 was adorned with sport seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and special Edition 35 badges on the dashboard and door sills.
Volkswagen Golf R Cabriolet
Another highlight of the event was the debut of the Volkswagen Golf R Cabriolet. This convertible version of the Golf R boasted a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with 270 horsepower and all-wheel drive, making it one of the most powerful convertibles on the market at the time. The car was also fitted with 19-inch alloy wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, and a leather interior with sport seats.
In addition to these impressive vehicles, the 2011 Wörthersee GTI Treffen featured countless custom builds and unique modifications. Volkswagen enthusiasts from around the world brought their cars to the event to show off their creativity and passion for the Golf GTI. One standout was a modified Golf GTI that had been transformed into a high-performance race car, complete with a stripped-down interior, racing seats, and a roll cage. Another impressive build was a custom Volkswagen Bus that had been converted into a mobile DJ booth, complete with a state-of-the-art sound system and a pop-up roof that revealed a dance floor.
But the event isn't just about cars. The event is also a celebration of the GTI lifestyle, and attendees come to enjoy the festivities as much as the cars themselves. The event is held on the shores of Lake Wörthersee, a beautiful alpine lake in southern Austria, and the area is transformed into a massive party scene during the event. The lake becomes a hub of activity, with crowds of people sunbathing, swimming, and boating during the day, and partying and socializing well into the night.
The event also features a wide variety of food and drink vendors, as well as live music and entertainment. Visitors can sample local Austrian delicacies like schnitzel and strudel, as well as international fare like pizza and burgers. The nightlife is equally impressive, with DJs spinning tracks until the early hours of the morning and a variety of clubs and bars hosting events throughout the week.
One of the most exciting aspects of the show is the opportunity to meet and connect with other car enthusiasts from around the world. Attendees come from all corners of the globe to share their love of modified Volkswagen (and group) cars and the event is a great opportunity to make new friends and connect with like-minded individuals. Whether you're a seasoned Golf GTI owner or just starting to get interested
A truckload full of Volkswagens
The year 2011 also saw another spectacular thing; a truck full of show cars from The Netherlands and Germany, being brought to Reifnitz. From our club we had Job with his Volkswagen Golf 1 GTI 16V and Justin with his Volkswagen Golf GTI 20VT. Since it is a very long drive and some of the cars are just not that suitable for hours and hours on the German highway, a truck was rented to transport the cars to Austria. It was marvelous to see the amount attention this spectacular combination got that year. Make sure to have a look at the VW Team de Snippeling movie to get some perspective of the operation.
The team had a very exciting week in Austria and the video and pictures are something we'd like to keep online. Hence, we introduced the Throwback Thursday so we can get some gems from the past and share these with an even bigger group of fans.
Unfortunately the Gemeinde Maria Wörth, in 2023, has decided to ban the event after it had been cancelled a few years in a row due to corona. What will happen this year in terms of fans flocking to the area anyway is unsure. The past years haven been marked with lots of enthusiast agreeing on a date and make their way to the Reifnitz anyway, however there was no official show nor was the normal event ground setup. For now, let is enjoy je numerous pictures and movies about one of the best events the Volkswagen scene has ever seen
