My Trip to Mecca! All for a Simple watch... (Pics Intensive!)

[decksurgeon]

May I have the pleasure of sharing with you a quirky story about a simple watch.

Many of us are no strangers to the fact that the quest for a particular unique timepiece is always a great adventure. We spend many hours scouring the web and beyond for information; sometimes into the wee hours of the night. To the point of sheer neglect of Maslow’s basic psychological needs. Food, sex, sleep, homeostasis and excretion take a back seat as we become an enchanted Pavlovian canine.

Pavlov was well loved by his friends?


The passionate desire to have that 999-year adjustment-free perpetual calendar, that bomb-proof submarine steel case amalgamated with space age ceramics, that piece unique with polished bridges that outshine the brightest celestial bodies, that ultra-thin movement with innards that ooze unabated technical tour de force of the horological world……that exit piece of object d’art to add to the treasure chest! (You also promised yourself it would be the last watch…yeah right!.........You get the picture!)

This particular tale comprises the quest for a timepiece that would make the masters turn in their graves. A simple watch housed in a rudimentary cardboard box. To the disdain of the great Abraham-Louis Breguet perhaps; a watch that houses a movement that vibrates at 32768 Hz to be precise!

By God! it’s a quartz watch housed in this box


How far would you go to acquire a single monumental timepiece?
This story is very different - no high tech materials, no polished bridges, not even an Albert Pellaton winder in sight.

However, this particular journey has all the prerequisites of a good story: Long arduous travel to a foreign land in very extreme conditions. A journey into the unknown like the explorer Pedro Teixeira (who incidentally asked for a oversized Portuguese watch for his travels). A journey filled with conquests of fears and for personal betterment.

Our journey begins, like all great adventures, at midnight.
It starts in the Far East - Singapore to be precise.
The first phase of the journey is to a destination 10258km away - Frankfurt ahoy!

We board a 2359hrs flight bound for frankfurt.



Faced with the prospect of 12 hours of flight.
"Essential" reading material was necessary.



We finally arrive in Frankfurt....and its off again to Helsinki on a connecting flight



We stay the night in the Hilton @ Helsinki Airport itself...
And you guessed it......off on another flight, this time from Helsinki to Kittila in the north of Finland



Kittila is IN the Arctic Circle and in the Northern part of Finland (Lapland)
* No! No!...Lapland is NOT that Stringfellows Gentleman's Club in London....*faint*



The internal flight in Finland was pretty amusing.
How often does one see this on an aircraft? Priceless!

[decksurgeon]

What you will soon discover is that the ground temperature in Lapland is not very far off from the atmospheric temperature at 2631m in the air.



We finally Arrive in Kittila in Lapland Finland.



The domestic terminal is swash of white and there is snow everywhere!



If you had a chronograph strapped to your arm. The total elapsed travelling & transit time would have by now far exceeded the hour totalizer on your beloved time writer. But we are not where we want to be yet. The quest for the art of time now corresponds to some enduring propensities of the human spirit!

Its a bus ride to Muonio from Kittila. Thats another further trek up north!




We have Arrived!
The task at hand for the next few days under the watchful eyes of the masters.



But first, Time to feast - the traveller is now very hungry!
The dining hall in the ski resort was laid out perfectly for this



Like schoolboys and girls - the uniform was mandatory and it was off to class

[decksurgeon]

"Ars longa, Vita Brevis" - latin for Art is long and Life is Short.
Aptly so as we have 3 days to imbibe as much knowledge and skill from the rally masters themselves.

Like any skill since the dawn ancient seafarers - there need to be a balance of theoretical and practical aspects. One cannot do without the other for it would be like a ship's captain armed with the intimate knowledge of all written sea texts, but if he never sailed on the high seas - the captain's skill would never be honed.

Driving physics - Lesson 101
The forces of cornering and traction were considered with the principle of Kamm’s Circle explained.
- "May the Force be with you"



And the proper way to sit in a car and hold the steering wheel is not like Snoop Dogg in a MTV video......Word!



Off to the garage we go.
The facility in Finland houses Approx 40 training cars and comes complete with a workshop space and full support staff.




The current weapon of choice is the Latest Audi A4 3.2 direct injection FSI with full time 4wheel drive quattro system.
This particular steed puts out 265 horses and 243lb-ft (330nm) of torque




The new interior is more driver oriented (compared with older A4s) and there is a engine start-stop button with a bunch of other tricks like MMI (Multi Media Interface).
On the training cars, there is a specially prepared Audi Lap Timer system fitted to each car (near center air-con vents)



B&O sound system also specified on the cars

[decksurgeon]

A reverse camera is now available from the factory and this is displayed on the MMI when reverse is engaged.
There are also lines present on the screen that demarcate the path of travel. the lines will move when you change the steering angle.


The piece de resistance of this new A4 is the Audi Drive Select system.
In a nutshell, the driver is able to choose 'sport', 'comfort' and other modes to alter the driving characteristics of the car.
There is a mode call individual that can be programmed by the end user from the MMI interface.
Without a doubt....we have set the most sporty drive for Finland (not that you can really feel every nuance on slippery ice tho)



The A4 is specially prepared for the task.
The underside of the car has a half body kevlar undertray bolted on very firmly. This prevents the front bodywork from being ripped out when you manage to plow the car deep into the snow. The tires are Michelin X-Ice for ice driving.





Its off to the training area and we take a short drive to the frozen lake.
When the cars are on the public roads, all electronic safety features must be turned on, it is also mandatory to drive with headlights on in Finland.



A bird's eye view of the training area. Comprises of smaller individual areas for practice of skills and then 2 smaller circuits for driving.
The 2 small circuits can be combined together to make one long driving circuit.
The bends and layout in the track are designed to give you all sorts of situations where you must apply what you have previously learnt in order to negotiate it in graceful Michèle Mouton rally-star fashion.
Once you hit the training area, the instructors will tell you to turn all the electronic safety features OFF - basically no ESP or ASR or any traction control, you are the boss of the car now



Instructors are always dressed in bright red jackets.
A in car demonstration is always given first for the task, then the students are guided to repeat that same task.
Here the chief instructor is on the walkie-talkie telling us what to do

[decksurgeon]

Ok enuff chatter, i know you want to see some action shots!

THE SLALOM EXERCISE
- IF you are very very good, you can drive the entire slalom without touching the brakes except when coming to a stop at the end of the exercise. Its amazing to see total car control based on throttle input and (over)steering.

[decksurgeon]

SCANDINAVIAN FLICK
This is a rally driver trick where you induce oversteer in the car deliberately.
While approaching the turn the driver applies a slight steering input to the opposite direction of the turn in first instance, then u turn back quickly into the turn...soon the car will oversteer. With the correct amount of throttle input and steering control, a perfect sideways drift round a corner can be achieved.....please don't try this at home!

[decksurgeon]

Once you have mastered the individual stations.
It's time to go out onto the circuit and apply what you have learnt.
There is always a warmup instruction lap with the chief before being let loose on the circuit.




The entire aim of this program is to turn you into a crustacean arthopod (perhaps quattro-pod in this case!)
You move side ways most of the time...No??
Most of the time, you are never driving straight anyways.
In this picture the bend is to the left but the steering is pointing to the right.



OK....its really like driving on marbles, sometimes like all (in this case psuedo-) superstar rally drivers.
You can go off the circuit in BBC Top Gear "The Stig" fashion.
Pooofff! a whiteout on the windscreen (and the automatic wipers react instantly LOL!)



And little bits on the car do get broken sometimes! Ooooops.



Your best friend is the tractor driver!
If you go 'off' on the circuit and get stuck in the soft snowbanks, you have to be towed out.
At the same time, a little mark is put on the plastic card on your lanyard as an indicator of your folly.

[decksurgeon]

You could always spot your mates that have gone off into the snow banks.
The front end of the car would be stuffed with snow.
Easy to spot for the instructors too.



Besides driving the new Audi A4........
there were other gas powered toys that resulted in that Pavlovian dog re-emerging from the inner self.


SNOW SCOOTER SAFARI TOUR
With the ambient temperature below zero and top speeds of 100km/h on the open frozen lakes - You better wear overalls, gloves, balaclava and all sorts of weather protective gear.






The scenery was (and will always be) stunningly beautiful, even in the middle of nowhere. Now i can truly understand how a watchmaker in La Chaux-de-Fonds would see if he look out into the yonder.



ICE GO KARTING!
Smaller vehicle, same thing.......S-i-d-e-w-a-y-s!

[decksurgeon]

The conquest of Air Land and Sea (ok no sea here but does the frozen lake count?) has always been the aim of every explorer.

The Tuscan genius Leonardo da Vinci is credited with having first thought of a machine for vertical flight, the "airscrew," the design for which, dated 1493. It consisted of a platform surmounted by a helical screw driven by a somewhat rudimentary system. Fast forward 500 years and the final icy chapter of thid exploit involves a rotary wing aircraft.


We take to the air and the view is breathtaking indeed.




Later our pilot flies the chopper "James Bond" style above the cars and following the lines of the circuit





A participant amongst us definitely choose the right watch for the helicopter ride *thumbs up*



At the end of each exciting day, before the cars are returned to the garage for a well earned rest,
we fill up with the purified and distilled black gold



At the end of the day for some chaps........
FACEBOOK "petrolhead" is so addictive that they must get online to be near their virtual supercar.
"Sir - you are indeed the epitome of the crazed automotive connoisseur!"

[decksurgeon]

Amongst all fine European fun and frolic, there was a Greek twist.......

Phædrus was once confronted by his academic peers and presented with a dilemma.
A dilemma, which is Greek for “two premises,” has been likened to the front end of an angry and charging bull.



Phædrus, however, because of his training in logic, was aware that every dilemma affords not two but three classic refutations, and he also knew of a few that weren’t so classic... He could take the left horn .... Or, he could take the right horn.... Or he could go between the horns and deny that.

In addition to these three classical logical refutations there are some illogical, “rhetorical” ones.
Phædrus, being a rhetorician, had these available too.


One evening after dinner we were give a matador's surprise....
A rare white bull was presented to us.
The return of the 911-slayer wagon: - Der Audi RS6 Avant



The only horns of dilemma now that present itself in the realm of the arctic circle number two:
One may throw sand in the bull’s eyes?
One may attempt to sing the bull to sleep?

.....We choose to look at the bull for a bit longer actually and ponder......
The mighty V10 from a Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A's Gallardo with two turbochargers thrown in......
By God, if Caesar had a car - it would be the RS6!
580 horses of purest stallion and 479 lb-ft (650 Nm) of torque -A fast bull complete with a wagon cart.
0-60mph time of 4.6 seconds nuff said!.



If we choose to go between the horns of the dilemma, we could perhaps find some common ground......

RS6's massive 420mm brakes



IWC Top Gun Split second chronograph


Choosing to go between the bull's horns, the commonality was Ceramic!
A material derived from the Greek word κεραμικός (keramos).
In Plato's ‘Phaedrus’, Socrates believes Naucratis to be the city where writing was invented by Thoth, along with astronomy, geometry and dice! ... Naucratis was also allegedly the heart of innovation of ceramic and manufacture.
We graciously thank the Egyptian city of Naucratis for we may now rejoice in the splendor of this material invention that is refreshing to the soul!


Finally all the fun had to come to an end!
On the last day, we had a little race and the results were timed.

[decksurgeon]

The winner of the race was presented with a mighty Audi R8.
Accompanying instructions were to put it by the window, add a little water and fertilizer daily and it would slowly grow in size one day!




3 days of waking up at 6am (very difficult in subzero i tell you), thousands of miles of travel, driving the human spirit to the limits in the arctic circle.

We were each presented with a 'Audi Driving Experience" watch.
This watch simply cannot be bought and would be worn knowingly that it was earned thru much 'toil'.




sadly the journey finally comes to an end..........

We head once again on that long trip back home.



The hours once passed again with the comfort of essential reading material.
That italian bull once again made an appearance...

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We did make a little de-tour on the way home............

[decksurgeon]

THE DETOUR TO MECCA........

Along the way, trumbling along the autobahn we found a unique sign that would send the ventricles of any horologist and sports car enthusiast into near fibrillation.
*Basel* - Home of the annual International Fair of Luxury Watchmaking
*Stuggart* - Home of Dr. Ing h.c. Ferdinand Porsche
The mere presence of these two words on the same Autobahn signboard meant the stars were in favour




Audi Forum & Factory Visit to Audi in Neckarsulm, Germany
The Audi Forum at the Neckarsulm plant now presents the spirit of the Audi brand in a very special way. The world of Audi is presented with spectacular architecture which combines glass, steel and aluminium on a site measuring over 11,000 square metres.



The prototype Audi Nuvolari on display -
A name inspired by the legenday racer Tazio Nuvolari



Even the coffee from the Nuvolari Restaurant gets a special touch!



An aerial view of the Neckarsulm plant:
This production facility has a workforce of 15,000 workers and covers 1 million square meters!
The Audi A6, the allroad quattro, The A8 and the Audi R8 are built at the Neckarsulm location.
The Aluminium and Lightweight Design Centre (which developed the Audi Space Frame for the Audi A8 and the Lamborghini Gallardo) is also found here. Audi Motorsports and the specialty car division of quattro Gmbh calls this place home too.



Tour of the production plant including R8 and A6 assembly lines.
(Note: Sorry, No cameras are allowed in the plant! so here are the press pics)




Some highlights:
- The A8 Audi space frame is so light that there is an example that you can lift with your bare hands.
- Specialized and proprietary technology developed by audi showcased: adhesives that bond under electromagnetic induction to friction screws that bond surfaces. very impressive R&D and application!
- The automated production lines have up to 50+ robots working making a chassis to 0.1mm tolerance.
- The robots are very very clever and precise and can even change their own toolsets. The robots don't like mobile phones - must be turned off!
- The Lamborghini Gallardo chassis is built here and shipped to Italy
- The R8 production line is almost totally hand built, only 4 robots - and the handbuild precision tolerance is 0.1mm too with 100% eye checks at every stage.
- The R8 gearbox is built in Italy and is shipped to Neckarsulm for installation in the R8. It has Lamborghini markings on the casing.
- R8 has increased production from 22 to 27 cars per day....... still that 2 year wait in some markets!
- Total customization for the R8 is possible!
- Spotted some really different R8 kits in the corner of a storage area (not R8 V12 TDI tailpipes)......so expect something in the works *grin*
- Im told if the QC tolerance is out by 0.1mm....... well, they simply stick a black prancing horse badge on the car and ship it out anyways *LOL*!

[decksurgeon]

SHOPPING IN THE AUDI FORUM

Speciality and fully customized cars are entirely possible.
Here are some examples





I couldn't resist the temptation of the Audi collection.....
There is an automatic version cousin of the Driving Experience watch.
I told you the quest for timepieces was a slippery slope!






Thank you for reading (yes this is really the end, no more detours)

I hope this was as enjoyable for you as it was for me to craft it.

With Best wishes

[decksurgeon]

============== THE END ==============

[minusplus]

Excellent photos. Judging from the photos and your description, I think it must have been a very interesting and exciting trip.

Thanks for sharing