It's mid-May in the Mid-Atlantic, and for anybody itching to get out of the house and spend quality time with their loved one (VW or Audi, natch), it means a drive to Western Maryland for Dubs on the Lake (DOTL).
For those who missed last year, it also means preparing for the unpredictable weather common to the mountain region.
This year, things got going on Saturday afternoon with a free-entry BBQ. Live music from local bands could be heard throughout the afternoon and, as a result, the day's turnout was stronger than last year.
DOTL is different from most shows. There's no drag strip, no central party point for evening festivities; it's a decidedly laid-back vibe, more so than H2O International.
After Saturday wrapped up, snapper Josh Brown put Project GTI through its paces on the twisty, deserted roads around Deep Creek Lake. On one blast through the woods, the crew from CePAvw.org, who had rented a log cabin for the weekend, flagged us down. Everybody kicked back with burgers and drinks to talk cars.
Sunday morning greeted us with glorious sunshine, but distant clouds threatened a repeat of last year's downpour. Fortunately, the high quality of cars on hand helped to avoid any dampening of spirits, regardless of the weather.
Steven Campbell's low-as-you-please blue Jetta Mk3 on color-matched BBS splitties was a pure class act. Michael Sarko's '05 Jetta GLI was sitting on genuine E46 M3 wheels (19x8" front and 19x9.5" rear) and was one of the best Mk4 Jettas at the show. There were several killer Mk4 Golfs in attendance, but John Boycheck Jr's black GTI was over-the-top smooth, but aggressive at the same time; it was perfection.
Even though there was a small number of Audis in attendance, they included some heavy hitters such as: a brand-spanking new S8 V10, an RS6 bi-turbo and an old-school S4 20v making over 500whp.
As unique as they were, best in show had to be Tom Fries' Mars red '79 GTI. The car took two years to build and is an almost perfect replica of an original '76 GTI. The restored Rabbit had a chromed 2.0 16v on carbs, a low stance and the perfect combination of classic looks and modern performance. What more could you ask for?
After a few brief moments of rain, the weather held steady for the remainder of the day. With Dubs on the Lake getting better, we look forward to 2008.
Steven Cambell's super-low Jetta shows you don't need lots of crazy parts to stand out; just the right ones. BBS with gold bolts and color-matched centers do it right every time
 It was good to see 1552 Design's...  It was good to see 1552 Design's Jetta Coupe- Project X. Current owner Nate Little has big plans, including the new stage 3 supercharger on a rebuilt VR6 |  Randy Williams' '92 VR6 was...  Randy Williams' '92 VR6 was solid. Gold polished BBS RS and unique paint made it one of the best Mk2s at the show |  Anthony Barricella's GTI arrived...  Anthony Barricella's GTI arrived covered in painter's tape. It was totally immaculate |
 |  James Struble Jr's sleeper...  James Struble Jr's sleeper S4 packs a 530whp punch |  |