Hi Phil,

PUCH (to be precise, P�CH) is a brand of Steyr-PUCH (-P�CH) of Austria.
They are an automotive company who specialise in 4wd components and
technology and also made (make?) small motorcycles.  Maybe some of the
Syncro components were made by Steyr-PUCH for VAG?

Steyr-PUCH were famous for the 4x4 "Haflinger" which was a superbly robust
4x4 utility offroader which was sold as a pick-up.  It had greater off-road
ability than a Land Rover or Jeep (which says a lot).
However, most of the Haflinger's market could easily be satisfied with a
Vanagon Syncro.  I think Haflinger means "mountain goat" or something like
that.

Wurth (to be precise, W�rth) are a German mechanical engineering company who
design and manufacture construction equipment and other heavy plant and some
automotive components, especially gears.  I think they also supply high
quality steels and hydraulic systems.

I can't begin to answer your questions about 'Syncro racing', but 4x4 racing
was popular on TV here in the UK in the 60s, 70s and maybe the early 80s.  I
have no doubt it continues.  However, it is no longer televised on UK TV,
unless it's on some obscure satellite TV channel I haven't yet found!

I hope this helps (a little).

Regards,

Tony

********************

>Date:    Fri, 26 Apr 2002 20:41:30 -0700
>From:    phil stanhope <napszeerf@YAHOO.COM>
>Subject: What does PUCH mean? and Wurth?
>
>Ive got a nice poster print-out of the
>'ready-for-battle' green syncro with red rims from the
>Vanagon.com gallery. Ya know, the one with the tow
>rope wrapped around the front bull bar? Its got a
>"PUCH" logo, a "Wurth" sticker and a bunch of other
>sponsor stickers.
>
>Looks to me like some sort of rally racing vanagon.
>What kind of race was this thing in? Any quicktime
>movies? Syncro Race Website?

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