Blue Eyes is gone

Mitch

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 9, 1999
Location
Groveland,FL,USA
TDI
98 New Beetle / 03 Beetle DSG
I have not been reading the TDI forum for a few months, but someone replied to one of my one messages about MPG.

I lost my daughter Katie & my 98 NB TDI Blue Eyes in a Christmas day accident. I miss them both dearly. I am now driving Katie's 99 NB GLS 2.0L Automatic.

For the record Blue Eyes did all he could, I survived with minor injuries. Katie fell asleep at the wheel and hit a callbox pole on I-10 mile marker 148 West. The pole snapped at the base and crushed the roof of the NB. She died instantly, the car then rolled 5 times. I crawled out with minor cuts and bruises.

I doubt I spend any time in the forum in the future, since I no longer have a TDI. I hope my next NB will be a hybrid, I need 100 mpg+.

Mitch

ps. There are currently 5 pages on the web, in addition to our web site,
which has not been changed since the accident:
http://www.newbug.org/ then scroll down to Katie's picture, then click on
"Katie's Gift" or http://www.newbug.org/fth/katie.html Please take the time
to sign her guest book on the prior page or via this link: http://callisto.guestworld.com/wgb/wgbsign.dbm?owner=dclamee
http://www.vwworld.com/ then click on "For Katie"
http://www.beetlebuzz.com/news1.html
http://www.newbeetle.org/features/katie.shtml

http://www.geocities.com/junebug_n_chigger/Tribute_To_Katie.html?948291724540
 

tomo366

TDI Lifer, Member #68
Joined
Jun 30, 1997
Location
Kensington, Maryland USA
TDI
2015 Jetta SEL TDI
My Deepest Condolences Mitch!Although I don't own a New Beetle I belong to newbug and followed you and Katie around the country!
Just because you don't have a TDI you are alway's welcome!
 
S

SkyPup

Guest
I share your grief at the loss of your daughter. As a motorcyclist who has been involved in a fatal accident myself and who survived in a coma for 12 days I know the risks of highway travel. The most dangerous thing anyone here reading this does each day is put the keys into the ignition thereby creating great risk for themselves and others.

Good luck in your journey through life. Remember that life always works itself out for the best! May peace be with you......
 
M

mickey

Guest
Mitch: I concur with everything posted here. It's wonderful you were able to spend so much time with Katie last year! My deepest symathies to you and your family.

In surfing around the web, using the links you posted, I was impressed by what an impact you and Katie had on the VW community around the country, and by the outpouring of sympathy and genuine grief at her passing. Somehow I can't picture that happening if you were Corolla owners! VW owners really are a big "family." I was never a VW guy before...I just bought my Bug because of the engine. But I'm starting to realize that these cars really are special in some strange way. Especially TDIs! Please don't be a stranger. You don't have to be a current TDI owner to be a TDI fan! Good luck to you!

-mickey
 

blue909

Veteran Member
Joined
Aug 4, 2000
Location
Los Angeles, CA
I wholeheartedly echo the sentiments of everyone above... having a TDI isn't prerequisite for site participation (it didn't stop Fred, and he MADE TDIclub!). You're among friends and always welcome here.

blue909
 

riddei

Veteran Member
Joined
Feb 23, 1999
Location
Northern New England (barely)
TDI
Passat, 1997, Storm Grey
I remember this story
.

Unfortunately, This thread is 2 & 1/2 years old. I don't know why it was resurected, and I hope Mitch is doing as well as possible.

Best wishes!
 
M

mickey

Guest
It came up again because there is still a link to it in the "Gone, but not forgotten" page.

If the thread were in the General Discussion section, it would have been automatically purged.

The blurb in the "GBNF" page contains a link that says, "condolences may be left here."

-mickey
 

Mitch

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 9, 1999
Location
Groveland,FL,USA
TDI
98 New Beetle / 03 Beetle DSG
I am thinking about getting back in the Saddle again. I'm still driving Katie's Silver NB Angelisa, but as of late I am commuting 180 each way, putting about 1000/week on her and I would like to get an older (cheap) TDI. Nothing fancy, no stinkin' hole in the roof, no leather, just a strong motor and mechanically sound ride. I am looking for a 95-97 Passat, Jetta or Golf.

Since the accident, my life has had it ups and downs the last few years. The biggest up is I met the woman of my dreams and she actually married me


http://www.r2katie.com/Wedding/Wedding.html
 
Last edited:

spongebob

Veteran Member
Joined
Mar 22, 2002
Location
Mesa, AZ
TDI
Not anymore.
My belated condolences Mitch.

Great to hear things are going well and you're looking at another TDI. Check the classifieds forum here, there are a few very nice B4 Passats for sale right now at fair prices.

I guess the 'new member' tag goes away after some certain # of posts. You're the lowest 'new member' # I've seen!
 
M

mickey

Guest
Look around the For Sale section for posts by Harvieux. (sp?) He deals lots and lots of used TDIs. Its kind of his specialty. Whatever you want, he can get.

-mickey
 

Paul @ RP Spec

Veteran Member
Joined
Sep 20, 1999
Location
60 mi West of Chicago
TDI
2K Bug, Yellow, 5 speed
Mitch, just recalling my meeting with you and Katie during you US tour. Congrats on your recent marriage, hope all is well. Bye the bye. great proposal at Roswell.

Red Bug w/ BIG hole in roof.
 

Mitch

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 9, 1999
Location
Groveland,FL,USA
TDI
98 New Beetle / 03 Beetle DSG
It has been 8 years now since Katie & Blue Eyes were lost on Christmas day. Allot has changed, but I am still hoping for another TDI in my future.

My wife and I have adopted 2 special needs kids in the last 4 years, Heather almost 17 now and Donny turned 10 on Christmas Eve and his appendix ruptured on New Year's Eve. He is back home, and driving us crazy :D

I am still driving Katie's 99 NewBeetle GLS 2.0Auto, but it now has 172K miles. I have only put 12K miles on it in the last 2.5 years. I bought a Buell a couple of years ago to try and reduce the wear on her car and last month upgraded to a Triumph Daytona 675 (who knew riding was going to be so much fun :D

Our kids, especially our daughter are just getting to big to ride in the back of a bug and my wife and I both drive 99 NBs. So I am really looking forward to the new Jetta, probably the Wagon, have been reading the news here, which doesn't look to promising for an early release.

Hope to be back in the family within the next year.
 

Powder Hound

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Oct 25, 1999
Location
Under a Bridge, Crestview, FL, USA
TDI
'00 Golf 4dr White 5sp, '02 Jettachero 5sp, Wife's '03 NB Platinum Gray auto(!)
Hey, Mitch, glad you're still hanging' in there.

No, the '08s have been delayed. There was a glitch found in the emissions controls and while it was easily fixed, there's a big time penalty in gotta start over at this spot requirements. Some things, especially government required testing, can't be rushed.

Hope to see you soon, though. As always, everyone's welcome.
 

Mitch

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 9, 1999
Location
Groveland,FL,USA
TDI
98 New Beetle / 03 Beetle DSG
Hi everyone,

The 10th anniversary of Katie's passing is approaching this Christmas. Things haven't changed much since my last post. I made it to R2K this summer with my kids. Katie's 99 NB now has 189K miles. I now ride a Triumph Daytona 675 to try and reduce the wear on the Beetle.

My website has changed, it is now http://www.r2katie.com

I took a job with a little retail company in Bentonville, Arkansas about 18 months ago. Maybe you have heard of it, Wal-Mart. But we hope to return to Florida in another year and work remotely.

Here is a picture of me on my bike at Give Kids the World.

 

Mitch

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 9, 1999
Location
Groveland,FL,USA
TDI
98 New Beetle / 03 Beetle DSG
4 years since my last post. We moved to Arkansas and then back to Florida. I totaled my 2006 Triumph Daytona last March and have just been driving Katie's car since then, It has 230K miles now and is getting pretty tired :(
I was considering converting the 2.0L auto to an all electric or TDI manual. The electric sounds interesting, but the range is so low these days. I would love to have another TDI, not sure what the cost would be.
Anyone recommend a good mechanic in Central Florida?
 

Redneck Truck

Gone, but not forgotten
Joined
May 3, 2009
Location
Plano, TX
TDI
2008 Touareg V10, 2001 Audi TTQ Roadster TDI 6-speed, 2005 Jetta Wagon TDI 6-speed
I can't attest to electric cars, but having owned 3 TDIs over 250k and still trusting them not to let me down on long distance runs, I'd definitely recommend a 5-speed or 6-speed swap. As for mechanics in central Florida, I don't know, but I've heard of TDI gurus traveling to perform work, so if there are no gurus local to you, perhaps you could import one!
 
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