Dear members,
Just like that, July has come and gone in a flash, and we are now well into the second half of the year. This month we had lots of different events for everyone to enjoy. No matter what your passion is, whether driving on a track, touring our country roads, showing off your pride and joy, standing out on a flag point in icy central Victoria, or just joining a bunch of like-minded friends around a dinner table or two. July had something for everyone.
You should all now have Edition 4 of our wonderful idrive annual magazine. Thank you to all who contributed to the 2022 edition to help make it the world class publication that it is. Jess, our editor, does an amazing job editing and putting it all together, as does Jo, chasing everyone for stories, but it is your stories that make it as special as it is. If you haven’t received your copy yet send us an email and we’ll follow up where your copy is.
2 July saw us at Winton Motor Raceway for our yearly Cross Border Challenge with the BMW Club NSW, and Round 4 of our Traction Tyres/Yokohama Drivers Championship. We had perfect Victorian weather welcoming those from across the border where it hadn’t stopped raining for weeks! The day started out very crisp and cold but sunny, giving us perfect track conditions. The NSW Club again narrowly beat us on points to take the trophy back home again. Next year we need more of our Victorian friends to help us win it back!
5 July was our members meeting at Waverley BMW. After some snacks and drinks and a bit of a chat, we went on a tour through the service department. It was very interesting to see under one of the new hybrid cars and compare it to a normal version of the same car on the hoist next to it. Thank you to all the staff at Waverley BMW for staying behind and the very generous 30% discount off all parts and lifestyle products, which kept the staff very busy all night. There were quite a few happy members walking out with some very nice goodies, including myself and Jo. It was a great way to celebrate Waverley BMW being awarded the Best BMW Dealer in Australia, having the best BMW Club in the World visit.
9 July was our Christmas in July at Sovereign Hill with the Winter Wonder Lights festival. The weather was cold but sunny again and so many families attended to join in the fun. This was a weekend event and on the Saturday night after the amazing light show we all had dinner and it was great to see most of our members and guests wore some amazing Christmas jumpers for our annual ugly Christmas Jumper competition. One of my favourite things about these events is having families along with the kids in tow and enjoying the varied social aspects of the club.
For those who stayed on for Sunday we had time to explore Ballarat, some of us braving the cold in the very early morning to see the sky whales (balloons) being launched. Well, they tried, but the wind was a little strong and one of them popped a seam, so they gave us a show on the ground anyway. After our early morning explorations, we all met for lunch and then some stayed on longer to explore further. With the Victory Arch Memorial, the Prisoners of War Memorial, Botanical Gardens, Historical Ballarat, Lake Wendouree, Wildlife Park, Eureka Centre and so much more. Ballarat is an amazing city with so much history and as much to see. Well worth the visit if you are in the area with a few days to explore.
16 July was a great turnout for our Come and Try/Driver Training Day with E30 Racing. Another amazing winters day, with slight drizzle in the morning but after the sun came out for a fun day. We were lucky to have Eugene Arocca and Chantel Collins from Motorsport Australia attend with VFT and help as trainee flag marshals for the day. A huge thank you to you both. These events are designed to give new Motorsport enthusiast the opportunity to either go on track or officiate in a more relaxed and safer atmosphere. Thank you again for all who attended, we are so blessed to have so many officials who come along to make these days so special. Just a few I would like to thank, Angelo Carideo, who stood out at pit exit all day on his birthday, Matt Thewlis, Andy Oosterweghel, Alex Jory, who literally were in an out of cars all day. Without members like you guys we would not have such fantastic events. Jesse Bryan who gave up his day to offer hot laps to members and officials, I THANK YOU. Of course, all our officials who attended on the day, I THANK YOU. From the guys and girls in pit lane to race control, I THANK YOU. To all the members of VFT, I THANK YOU. To our administration team, I THANK YOU. And lastly to all our members who attended as entrants I THANK YOU. To the E30 committee and members who came along and volunteered, took people for rides, or hopped in cars with them, I THANK YOU. These days would be nothing if you did not attend. This day show cased grass roots motorsport at its best with E30 Racing and VFT. Was fantastic to see so many new drivers as well as new officials, all getting a taste of what we love.
On 17 July some of us stayed at Broadford for Round 5 of our Traction Tyres/Yokohama Drivers Championship on the Sunday. The weather was not as nice as on Saturday, but it gave our members a perfect opportunity to put everything they learnt the day before into action. It was great to actually get out and have a drive myself, such a great little track for practicing your car control skills in the damp conditions without the worry of concrete or armco to worry about.
On 30 July we finished the month off with Shannons Insurance and their Caffeine and Cars morning. What a fantastic turn out this was with cars lined all up corporate drive and in every available car park. Again, another amazing winters day with the sun out. So many of our members there and thank you again to Shannons for putting on free coffee and drinks. What a fantastic way to spend a Saturday morning. There were so many amazing cars out on display, not just in the showroom, but out in the carparks and street too.
Looking ahead, 9 August is our members meeting at Shannons Insurance. We’re calling it ‘Learn the Track’. This night will be for all members from beginners to more experienced. We will have officials from VFT to explain what the flags are and the importance of knowing your flags. Staff from Motorsport Australia who will explain the benefits of being part of this great association and what it means to be a Motorsport Australia licensed official or driver. We will have a presentation on everything you want to know about driving, from cornering to heal and toe, and plenty of time for questions. So, bring along your notebooks and don’t be afraid to speak up. This will be the perfect opportunity to learn more and work out what you are doing wrong on the track. Perfect for all those members who are just starting out in E30 Racing too to fine tune their skills and maybe learn a little from some of our more experienced drivers. If you have some in car video you want us the give you some tips on, by all means, bring it along too.
12-14 August is E30 Racing round 4 at Sandown. I know we have some of our members volunteering on flags for this event too, which is great. No better way to learn what the flags are for than to be out trackside.
On 18-20 August Supercars are back at Sandown and Jo and I, and a few other members, will be officiating at this one. Always a great event to go to and no better way to get up close to the action than be an official! Let’s hope the weather is kind to us both. Come by and say hi if you are there.
28 August is our “What Else is in your Garage” Coffee and Cars morning in Murrumbeena. This event is to encourage our members who not only have BMWs to bring out their other beautiful cars and bikes and show us what they have. Of course, you can bring your BMW too. All vehicles are welcome. Make sure you bring your membership card to gain a discount at the coffee shop nearby.
Jo and I won’t be at this event, we are lucky to have Mark McDermott running this event for us, so a huge thank you to Mark for stepping in and organising this event. We will be off to Armidale in NSW for my daughter’s graduation ceremony. As most of you would have read, Jess is now a fully qualified and practising lawyer and due to covid and storms her graduation was put off last year, so we will be heading up to watch her graduate. Very, very proud of you Jess. So is the club.
We have introduced a Club Permit renewal system, where you don’t need to attend to get someone to sign your renewal. This is going very well, and I encourage you to look into this and start using this new system. For all renewals follow this link and email the renewal forms to cpsrenewals@bmwdcm.com.au.
Our new merchandise range has been doing really well, we sold out of the smaller sizing within weeks, so a new shipment is arriving this week. Please place your orders as these will not last. They are a larger fit than our other ranges, so take note when ordering. The long sleeve tops and hoodies are so warm it is incredible, just the thing for a Melbourne Winter and they look so good, as you will see in event photos. Great job again Jo, another fantastic design you’ve come up with.
For those who want the full set of our idrive magazine, we have done a limited re-run of edition 1 and orders can be placed here. We also have stock of 2 and 3 for those who do not have the full set.
Some dates to put in your diaries:
Jo has been busy booking things right into 2023 already too, so keep an eye on the event notices coming through. She has some great events planned for us, both in the coming months, as well as into 2023. Always keep an eye on your emails, events often pop up that might interest you and sometimes they can be short notice, so always check the event notices we send out.
Remember we cannot run this great club of ours without volunteers. So please attend the AGM and see what you might be able to help us with to lighten the load on our very hard-working committee. It is a huge job to run a club like this and we welcome any help or input you might like to give us. You don’t need to commit to one of the four main executive committee positions, there are ways you can help us run the club, or events, with as little as a couple of hours here and there. Volunteers are the life blood of any club, so come and join us at the AGM and see what you can do to help keep DCM one of the best car clubs around.
As always, thank you for reading and thank you being a part of our journey.
Take care and I look forward to seeing you at an event soon.
Graeme Bell | President BMW Drivers Club Melbourne Inc.
P.O. Box 81, TYABB VIC 3913 Incorporated in Victoria #A0102695G BMW Drivers Club Melbourne Inc is a member of: BMW Clubs Australia and the BMW Clubs International Council Motorsport Australia Affiliated Motorsport Club
Event date: 23-25 April 2022
BP Roadhouse, Officer. Early birds, latecomers, and latecomers with traffic excuses merge on M1 heading East towards Gippsland. A cheerful morning, a few rolling convoy poses for Graeme’s video cam, and a gentle start amongst a plethora of Saturday morning traffic. The excitement was tepid, but not for long.
We rolled off the M1 and onto the old Sale Rd (C426). Old houses, peaceful paddocks, and small town-centres with little more than a general store made for a relaxing run along ancient roads. Go right, go left, but go straight ahead? Despite the initial confusion, we discover a dogleg crossing over a main road. 5 kms along this was repeated. There would be more to come in this strange region of ‘Doglegsia’ with its bitumen oddities. Amongst the farmland where patches of dark dense forest craning over the road, and it was lights on in the middle of the day. Safety first.
Early bathroom and coffee stop at Traralgon. Jo confirmed our lunch booking for Paynesville, and we drove around Sale heading for Paynesville with a growing hunger on a warming sunny day.
“Hi.” “Hi.” “We’re here from the BMWDCM club.” “Welcome.” “Hello, can we get some meals?” “Oh nah, the chef doesn’t do lunches.”
Okay, the chef is not here but they still confirmed our lunch booking. “You can get fish & chips next door and eat them in here if you like. We’ve got beer.” Strange.
Not what we expected, but we got a beer, had a feed, and accelerated onwards.
Settling into Lakes Entrance, we looked forward to dinner at the Red Bluff Brewers. A convoy formed, everyone following the lead car. Unfamiliar roads, look, well unfamiliar.
After three laps of Lakes Entrance, Jo – our Queen fish – realised the team was stuck in a fishbowl vortex. “Oh, another roundabout, oh, another roundabout, oh, another roundabout”. Jo woke the BMW Goldfish club with a loud “Does anybody have a clue where we are going? That’s the third time I’ve seen that same roundabout.” The Clownfish was replaced with a navigation system, and off we went to the small brewery for a relaxing evening.
Day 2: Buchan Caves, Orbost and Marlo, here we come. After a cruisy drive, we assembled at the caves. Martin was sporting his tough-as Merrill hiking boots, looking like he had just flown in from Mt Everest. Sally was also proud of her special hiking boots. Leather with 3-inch heels looking she had just walked off a catwalk. Clearly the technology has advanced somewhat when it comes to sexy hiking boots.
Down, down, down, we stepped, learning to duck and squat as we squirmed through the height-challenged cave. And then emerged, into a huge open cavern. High, large, and open, the cavern came with large pool, stalactites (the ones that hang from the roof) and stalagmites. Our brains trust, Tilley, asked some great questions, resulting in more detailed engagement with the tour guide. FYI: So long as water and lime are seeping into the cave network, the stalactites grow at a rate of approximately 1cm every 100 years.
Many formations, from icy/snowy looking bright white flows at edge of pool, and lots of green and rust mineral colouring contrasting the whiter stalactites. Chandeliers, the mystery of the ancient kangaroo bones (even though no visible way in or out at that stage). We left the amazing underground wonderland and noticed a lazy kangaroo lying close to the track. Clearly time for lunch and a bit of sunshine.
We left and returned on an extremely indirect road, finding more bends than a bowl of spaghetti. Legendary Pete leads the way. Martin’s petrol heart was on fire, and he outpaced us in his M3 coupe. The roads got tighter, and Pete’s mini got meaner, with modified brake-lines and tough as ironman fluid preventing break fade. He braked late, and would exit the corner early, relying on front wheel bias to drag the mini out early. We caught Martin, who appeared to have crossed that time of day when an Englishman must pull over for tea and scones. We waved to him on the side of the road, and he re-joined the front pack.
Mello Yellow, that is Angelo’s distinctly yellow SS V8 Commodore valiantly battled on. Later Angelo would explain how his suspension was shot. That is certainly not the first or last time you will hear an excuse as to why it can be difficult to keep up with a BMW. (haha)
After this invigorating drive, thanks Peter, we were off to Marlo Hotel, for a ‘Splendour on the Grass’-like arrangement with live music and good food on the grassy valley, overlooking the Snowy River.
Day 3: Sunday morning. Many got up early for the Anzac dawn memorial in Lakes Entrance and appeared to be quite moved by the occasion.
Next adventure, a large boat to Metung for lunch. We only traversed a small percentage of the Lakes, realising how awesomely large the Lakes inlets are. We saw seals, dolphins, an eagle, and ate chocolate. The young adults, Tilley, Harper and Alice, brought out the youth in us, making it a great family weekend.
Thanks to Jo and Graeme, who ran a tab for some Junior Anzacs at Metung Hotel. It feels good to acknowledge the digger past and present, and they certainly enjoyed the beers.
John Shreeve | Member #579 BMW Drivers Club Melbourne
Ulrike von Mirbach has taken over as Head of the MINI brand for Europe on 1 July 2022. Previously, Ulrike von Mirbach was responsible for the BMW & MINI retail business as part of the "new sales model Europe" project as well as for the overall development of the new sales structures for MINI. In addition to her new role as Head of Brand MINI for Europe, she will also continue working in this role.
Her predecessor Pierre Jalady has taken over the responsibility for the MINI brand in the Asia-Pacific, Eastern Europe, Middle East, Africa region.
Ulrike von Mirbach has been working for the BMW Group for around 17 years. At the beginning of her career, she was responsible, among other things, for the marketing strategy of the BMW brand in the German market. From October 2015 until the end of 2020, she headed the marketing division of the MINI brand in Germany. On 1 January 2021, she took over the management of the MINI brand in Germany and moved to the European level just one year later.
Ulrike von Mirbach has played a key role in developing the MINI brand in Germany and has successfully driven forward the electrification of the brand. For Ulrike von Mirbach the concerns of the dealer network are of central importance. The good level of cooperation between dealerships and manufacturer as well as strategic brand management and digitalising the brand were decisive success factors advancing the brand on the German market.
Stefanie Wurst, Head of the MINI brand: "I am convinced that Ulrike von Mirbach will successfully lead the MINI brand into the electric future on a European level thanks to her high level of brand and sales expertise. She will set the right strategic framework to ensure successful sales for the brand within the new sales model."
The strategic focus of the MINI brand is on expanding electric mobility and increasing the commitment to the crossover and premium compact segments. Tapping into new target groups and sales markets will be crucial for the future of MINI. The great success of the all-electric MINI Cooper SE* in Germany confirms the brand's strategy. MINI will make the transition to a fully electrified brand as early as the beginning of the 2030s.
BMW PRESS
Event date: 16 July 2022
The BMWDCM Come and Try Day was a fantastic experience that is highly recommended for both competitors and officials wanting to get their first experience of motorsport.
I am very grateful that the Club allowed me to officiate at the event and having the opportunity to experience the sport at entry level was very rewarding. In the past I have volunteered at motorkhanas and I have obviously attended many motorsport events both here and overseas, however, standing at a flag point gives you the best possible perspective on how exciting and demanding our sport can be.
Motorsport Australia has always appreciated the outstanding passion and loyalty of our event organisers and the officials who assist at those events, but the opportunity to actually “work” with them was invaluable.
I want to thank Jo Mawson and her Committee for hosting me and making me feel so welcome. I also wanted to thank all the officials that were there to encourage and support both me and Chantel Collins, who also attended from Motorsport Australia. A particular thank you to my flag buddies Bruce Cameron (post 10) and Andy Kelk (Start/finish) for their invaluable mentoring, direction and conversation.
I am also chuffed to have been invited as an honorary member of the Club (particularly as I love BMWs!).
Eugene Arocca | Member #910 BMW Drivers Club Melbourne
It all begin with a 4:45am alarm. Now just to catch you up to speed, mornings and I have never got along, but motorsport seems to be the exception. Half awake, I asked myself, why are you doing this? Because it will be worth it once you get out on the track - there is no feeling comparable. So, after arguing with myself and still only half awake I set out for the two hour drive to Broadford. Did I know where Broadford was, or if it existed until now? No. After this weekend give me a map and I’ll draw you up the coordinates! It now comes as a highly recommended travel destination. A quick trusty maccas breakfast with a then 7:30am arrival at the track. Straight into the motions - find a garage, drivers briefing, safety car circuit laps (for beginners), check in, sort your car, anticipate your first run session.
The weekend was made up of two events, Saturday 16 July BMWDCM & E30 Racing Come & Try Day/Driver Training & Sunday 17 July AROCA Sprint Event - sign me up for both!
As I have never been to Broadford before and this was my second track day, I decided my first few sessions I would go with instructors. You can never stop learning in this sport, everyone has something unique that they can teach you from their own experiences and knowledge. My first instructor’s name was Andy,. He was very informative, patient and calm all great traits for an instructor to have. But even given how lovely Andy was I wanted to add some excitement to his day, so I decided on the third lap to do a spin out on corner 9. Once we’d come to a complete stop to which Andy then said “it’s OK you just went a bit fast around that corner” while only I was left red faced, we continued on in our session. As Andy continued to teach me invaluable tips, I decided you know what Andy I think I’m going to spin out again on corner 9, as I approached at the speed, I heard Andy make a comment that didn't register until after the fact - “this is going to be interesting” he said in his calm tone. But look, this is all about learning, that’s what these days are for to do spin outs (not recommended) to find your footing, to learn the limits of your car, get the feel of the track and to develop your skills. After my session it came to my attention what happens on the track is seen and heard by everyone, but everyone's main concern is always that you are alright.
It came to my second session and a gentleman called Matt entered my vehicle, Matt pushed me to my limits and I needed that. He knew what I was capable of very early on and with that I learnt to trust him. But I thought to myself why should Matt miss out on all the fun? Surely a spin out on corner 9 would just make his day and I thought two times wasn’t enough, that a third was needed and so it was. But this time we did a 180 and ended up off the track on the wrong side facing the wrong way. I really did it, I gave it a red-hot go.
Like Andy, Matt took it rather well - explained why that had happened and how to prevent it from happening in the future (I think I got it out of my system by then and learnt my lesson, that was the last spin out for the weekend). The third session came around and I was contemplating that I would go out by myself but thought one more session with an instructor wouldn’t hurt, it would only be a benefit. So, then the delightful Rod came out with me. Rod is a really laid-back guy and such a pleasure to chat with. Unlike the previous two instructors I decided to spare Rod from the corner 9 debacle, he’s just too nice I thought to myself, don’t you do it Jessie. And so, we had a smooth and beneficial session and I knew the next session I was on my own. It was time. Feeling comfortable and confident enough to give it a go. And it felt like one of the best sessions I had all weekend. I applied what I had been taught earlier and corner 9 was just a distant memory. Finishing with a feeling of achievement, like I had really accomplished something and knew I can now do this.
The long day had come to an end and it was back to the infamous Sugarloaf Motel to check in, have a nice hot shower and just lay still for a minute. Then members of BMWDCM with the likes of Shannon, Wayne, Martin, Lawrence and of course our VP Jo, our leader and President Graeme with others went out for a good old country pub meal at the Broadford Hotel. The social aspect with belonging to this club is both important and a priority which is always welcomed.
Struggling to keep awake it was back to the Motel for a good night sleep. 6.30am alarm, Sunday morning. Back to the track.
Now sprints are a different kettle of fish - but I knew I had to keep my calm and trust I was capable. Take 2 - drivers briefing, check in, sort your car, anticipate your first run session. My first session was as a passenger this time with none other than the man, the myth, the legend, Graeme Bell behind the steering wheel. I remember when I first went in an E30 with Graeme, it never gets old. This is a privilege that should never be taken for granted. The amount you can learn from being in the car with this man at one time and be witness to the skill level that comes second nature is something else.
I was then up, it was my practice session and this time Graeme was the passenger (I started having flash backs to corner 9) keep your cool Jess, just breathe.
Off we went, as well as letting me do my own thing, Graeme gave me direction, pointers, hints & tips and praise all combined fitting nicely into one. What. an. Instructor.
Feeling confident after that, I was ready to do my first timed sprint event on my lonesome. Off I went, I got this. And I did, I had it. Something changed for me over the weekend - I got my confidence, more understanding and learned to trust myself.
But that wouldn’t have been possible if it wasn’t for all support that is constantly shown by Graeme & Jo and the members of BMWDCM. They are always reassuring and encouraging. Associating with people who share the same passion as you and want the best for you gives you a great sense of feeling safe. I have never felt more welcomed by a sporting club in all my life.
x2 Days. 500kms later. Home sweet home. Bed.
Jessie Keogh | Member #894 BMW Drivers Club Melbourne
An intensive period of testing begins in a few weeks for the BMW M Hybrid V8, with which BMW M Motorsport will be battling for overall wins in 2023 in the IMSA GTP class of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The project had already reached a key milestone before the rollout: the successful fire-up of the hybrid drive system after installation in the test vehicle at the end of June. The BMW M Hybrid V8 is powered by the P66/3 eight-cylinder turbo engine with supplementary electric drive. The combustion engine is based on the DTM unit used in the BMW M4 DTM in 2017 and 2018. During two phases of reconstruction, it underwent comprehensive adjustments to meet the stringent requirements of the LMDh hybrid drive system.
Ulrich Schulz, Head of Drivetrain Design at BMW M Motorsport, and his group had initiated an evaluation to determine which race engine would be best suited for conversion into a high-performance hybrid drive system, even before the BMW Group Board of Management had given the green light to the BMW M Motorsport entry in the LMDh category in June 2021. Time constraints and the need to consider sustainability aspects that are playing an ever more critical role in motor racing, as well as the automobile industry in general, meant that returning to the drawing board to design a completely new engine and building it at great cost was not an option. Consequently, the question was to establish which proven race engine would best meet the stringent requirements and specifications of the LMDh regulations.
The normally-aspirated P66/1 eight-cylinder engine used in the 2017 and 2018 seasons in the BMW M4 DTM was the one that got the nod. As a fully load-bearing component in the BMW M Hybrid V8, it had the advantage that it could be used in a monocoque chassis without an additional subframe and it was also the one that most closely corresponded to the regulatory requirements after conversion to a hybrid turbo engine.
“During the evaluation phase, we also took a look at the P48 four-cylinder turbo engine from the BMW M4 DTM and the P63 eight-cylinder turbo engine from the BMW M8 GTE, but potential problems with the durability of the P48 and the heavy weight of the P63 were negative considerations,” is how Schulz explained the decision to choose the P66 engine. “It is a huge plus that we were able to make use of existing materials such as steel and aluminium from BMW’s time in Formula 1 for the basis of the engine, as well as for individual components – like shafts, housing and small parts. That saved us time and a lot of money and was therefore efficient and sustainable. Efficiency is a critical factor for this project, as we have a very short period of time available between getting started and the first racing appearance at Daytona in 2023. Converting the normally-aspirated P66/1 engine into a bi-turbo and then working with the electric drivetrain colleagues to turn it into a hybrid drive system was very complex. Thanks to the expertise, the great collaboration and the high level of motivation of all departments, we managed to complete the fire-up of the complete drive unit just a few weeks ago. We now feel that nothing is standing in the way of testing.”
The first phase saw the normally-aspirated P66/1 DTM engine converted into an intermediate engine, named P66/2, primarily by adapting two turbochargers and adjusting the crank drive. The focus was on durability, increased performance and temperature management for the engine. The P66/2 completed numerous testing units, including complete racetrack simulations, on the test bench. The next step was the creation of the P66/3 race engine, including a twin-turbo version, adjustments to the specific requirements of the Dallara chassis, final exhaust system, oil tank, cabling and integration of the high-voltage environment. The cylinder block and cylinder heads were recast in the BMW Group foundry in Landshut (GER) and the injection system was rebuilt for direct injection. Engineers who already boasted plenty of experience with electric drive systems from the Formula E project were testing and integrating the electric motor in parallel. The unit that forms the hybrid drive system in the car consists of the e-motor, the inverter and the high-voltage battery. There is a separator clutch between the electric and combustion engines, enabling fully-electric driving – in the pit lane, for example.
The two drive components were connected in the car for the first time at the end of June. The first fire-up for the hybrid system was a success. At the end of July, that will be followed by the rollout in Varano de Melegari (ITA). The intensive test phase begins immediately after that.
Name
V-shaped Otto four-stroke twin-turbo engine
Capacity
3,999 cc
No. cylinders
8
Cylinder construction
Cast aluminium cylinder block and cylinder head, cylinder lining as iron layer in LDS procedure
V angle
90 °
Bore
93 mm
Stroke
73.6 mm
Cylinder spacing
102 mm
Valves per cylinder
4
Engine speed
max. 8,200 rpm
Output (regulated)
approx. 640 hp
Torque
approx. 650 Nm
Injection
High-pressure direct injection at 350 bar
Oil system
Dry sump system with six-cell oil drain pump and oil tank
Event date: 9-10 July 2022
Alarm strikes at 6am - ready for our first road trip as members of the BMW Drivers Club.
Heading for Ballarat and Sovereign Hill we pack Moby (The Corolla Hybrid) and drove through rain from Pakenham up the Monash and over the Westgate Bridge.
We can see blue skies ahead as we pull into Maccas at Derrimut to meet up with the rest of the weekend crew. We see a few BMW's of various shapes, models and vintage as we get ready to order breakfast. There's Jo and Graeme and a couple of familiar faces we had seen at the Waverley BMW visit the Tuesday night before.
Then it was convoy time (although being in 'RKS', the Corolla Hybrid we managed to remain incognito throughout the journey), we hit the Western Freeway and off to Ballarat and straight to our state's gem of a tourist attraction, Sovereign Hill. Bev and I have been here many times with our kids and with overseas family members to show off Australia's early gold mining past.
Opens at 10, so we all line up ready for the gates to open, going through as a group before dispersing into a past lifetime. Beautiful blue skies with no clouds. Perfect.
We headed straight for the old time photo studio and registered for a 1pm photo shoot, then we toured the town.
After a quick trip to the bowling alley, the Chinese village, the gold diggings, the old homes and all the buildings we head to watch the Pantomime (Blackbeard) in the United States Hotel.
Great show and suitably Christmas panto.
After a quick trip back to our hotel to check in and get our bearings we are back at Sovereign Hill as the sun goes down and the Winter Wonderlights begins.
It was fantastic, with animated scenes projected onto each building and fake snow pumping out over the crowd (some 6000 we were told) combined with the cold weather - it was a delight. We had not seen anything like it before and all the hundreds of families and kids dressed in Christmas outfits and beanies were thrilled.
Once it was over we battled the car park in Moby and headed to the Robin Hood Hotel with the rest of the crew for dinner. The club raffle and Christmas jumper competition kept everyone amused. We didn't pack our Christmas jumpers (to be honest we don't have any yet!).
Early on Sunday some of the crew went to see the hot air balloon display while we visited lake Wendouree and the Botanical Gardens. Saw the Prime Minister's sculptures (with Kevin Rudd's head made half the size of everyone else's).
Met up again with the rest of the crew at the Park Hotel for lunch and some more conversations about which BMW we all owned and whose call signs were which.
Whatsapp became our go to app over the weekend as the crew communicated where they were and what they had seen. Great idea!
Then as quickly as we had arrived we headed back to Melbourne to avoid the end of school holidays traffic jams (which we did not see).
Big thanks to the organisers and for us it was a great introduction to a club weekend away and it was great to meet other members for the first time.
The weekend flew past and we certainly had a great time.
Richard & Bev Sherman | Member #843 BMW Drivers Club Melbourne
From exploding muffins to sky divers falling from the sky, the BMWDCM trip to Sovereign Hill was set to be full of surprises.
Starting at Macca’s is always a great land mark to begin a journey with friends (as long as you know your inbound from your outbound!!)
Our BMW convoy (and a zippy hybrid Corolla) set off towards Ballarat.
Our tour guide, Peter, gave a very informative commentary along the way about extinct volcanoes, churches and temperature gauges on the cars (notable as the outside temperature was rather low).
We finally arrived in Ballarat, driving in a convoy through the beautiful historic streets with restored Victorian/Federation homes and gorgeous gardens.
BMWDCM then proceeded to fill the carpark at Sovereign Hill. Many different models and varieties of BMW were on show. Friends and families spilled from the various BMW’s (and Corolla), to excitedly start our goldfields adventure.
The goldfields involved a lot of walking and exploring. Some chose to pan for gold (unfortunately no fortunes were made), others went on a tour of the mine or watched gold being smelted. “The Red Coats” put on a performance and you could also go to a LOUD musket firing demonstration. There was candle making, bowling, coach building, coach riding and shopping – for trinkets, souvenirs or warm hats and gloves. All very necessary attire.
As with all adventures, refreshments are a necessity. The old fashioned lolly shop was exciting for big and little kids, the bakery was warm and inviting. The tea rooms were perfect for scones and coffee in front of an open fire.
After a brief exit from Sovereign Hill to book into our hotel, we returned for the main event.
The Winter Wonderlights!!! How exciting. The light show and the snow were fantastic. There were roaming choirs singing Christmas Carols and Santa walking through the crowd. Christmas trees, Christmas lights and fires to warm your hands. There were so many happy faces enjoying the snow and the total immersion in the Christmas spirit.
After a warm cup of tea and a change of clothes back at the hotel, it was off to dinner at the Robin Hood Hotel, famous for having 33 parma’s to choose from. BMWDCM had a large representation at the pub, many wearing their favourite crazy Christmas jumpers!! Not sure how many had parma’s but, we all ate well and enjoyed a glass of wine (or two) and a few beers.
Sunday morning showed who the keen adventurers were. A select few were up early and at the park to see the “Whale Hot Air Balloons”. In icy conditions they eagerly watched, took photos and were disappointed when the balloons failed to lift off.
The day was then filled with a tasty breakfast at cute cafes, walks around the Lake or Botanic Gardens, antique shopping or the Eureka Stockade. Some ventured down the “Avenue of Honour”, which seemed to go on forever (we actually lost radio reception and still hadn’t reached the end).
Some then went on to enjoy lunch at the Park Hotel prior to the return journey, while others started their trip earlier and elected to return home via the scenic route. Lots of miles were covered and lots of memories were made over the weekend.
Thanks again to Jo and her team for organising a great weekend. We had a fantastic time, and we are looking forward to our next adventure with BMWDCM.
Adrian and Patricia Masotti | Member #848 BMW Drivers Club Melbourne
It was such an awesome experience witnessing and attending the return of the Grand Prix to Melbourne in 2022, not only as a spectator but also as a guest in the BMW Driver’s Club’s Car display. The guest car display meant that you would be entitled to two four day general admission passes. A priceless price given that the tickets had already sold out for all for days due to popularity. I felt like a kid before Christmas.
On the morning of bump in I made a quick dash to the car wash to give the beloved a last minute tub before heading to the meeting point.
Looking clean and fresh..
We headed to Albert park for bump in. I was really impressed seeing all the different cars that would be on display.
The smooth and well organised bump in was a breeze, Credit to Jo and the committee. We rolled in slowly as the power of the Porsche Carrera’s Roared around the track giving us a glimpse of the excitement to come.
With all cars lined up and ready for the weekend it was time to enjoy the very thing that brings us enthusiast together…
The long awaited FORMULA 1 Grand Prix.
It sure was a weekend that didn’t disappoint and with sell out crowds and fuel filled excitement it would be crowned the best ever Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix thanks to the Staff, Volunteers, Officials and all the car clubs who came together to share in this annual sensation.
And a huge thanks to BMW Drivers Club Melbourne.
Marlin King | Member #521 BMW Drivers Club Melbourne
Month in review.
Hello and welcome to the 50th edition of Drivers Club Monthly. We hope you are all well and keeping warm.
To start with some exciting news - our fourth edition of idrive magazine arriving at your doors shortly, we hope you enjoy the read!
We started June with a Zoom meeting about our upcoming Tasmania Trip. It was great to have so many interested members along to hear from Peter Williams and Jo Mawson about the amazing trip they've got planned for us. We're really looking forward to getting back down to Tassie to see the beautiful countryside.
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On the June long weekend we spent our weekend down at Port Fairy with the hope of seeing whales, but unfortunately they were nowhere to be seen! We still had a great trip with plenty of fun drives and catching up with new and old members we hadn't seen in a while.
On 19 June we then had our annual Sandown Come and Try/Driver Training Day which is always loads of fun. We must extend a special thank you to the drivers who attended to instruct and the volunteers who gave their time to ensure everyone could have a safe and enjoyable day.
We finished the month with our first fully funded First Aid training with National First Aid, who were brilliant. The event was well attended, and we're sure those who attended got a lot more from it than just a certificate.
idrive magazine back order
We have had quite a few requests from members interested in obtaining back order copies of idrive magazine.
If you are missing any previous editions and would like to get any copies, please visit our online store and get your order in as soon as possible. Numbers of each magazine are strictly limited and will be distributed in approximately late August.
OFFICIALS REQUIRED - Driver Training and Come & Try Day - 16 July
We are in need of officials for the Driver Training and Come & Try day at Broadford on Saturday 16 July 2022.
If you are interested, please email Jo with your mobile number (for onsite contact), your licence number and licence type, as well as the role/position you wish to do on the day (ie Instructor, Scrutineer, Trackside, General etc).
If anyone has questions in regards to Motorsport Australia officials licences, please don't hesitate to reach out.
MEMBERSHIP UPDATE
Welcome to our new members Hutch Gugasyan, Bruno Morabito, Drew Mathews, Matthew Hede, Alain Karian and Ian Rees. We look forward to seeing you at an event soon!
Don't forget to catch up with this month's update from our President, Graeme Bell here.
The month ahead.
Here's what we've got planned in July:
Saturday, 2 July Round 4 | Traction Tyres/Yokohama Drivers Championship - Winton Entries are unfortunately closed for Winton. We wish our Victorian drivers good luck in the BMW Clubs Cross-Border Cup against our NSW friends! Tuesday, 5 July July Members Meeting | Waverley BMW Join us at the Dealer of the Year for 2021 for a service department tour. Our evening will start at 6pm with some light nibbles before a tour of the service department with the Waverley BMW team. Saturday-Sunday, 9-10 July Christmas In July | Sovereign Hill Winter WonderlightsThis year we're celebrating Christmas in July with a difference! Bring the family to enjoy a day at Sovereign Hill and be treated to a Winter Wonderlights spectacular once the sun sets. Saturday, 16 July Driver Training and Come & Try Day (with E30 Racing) - Broadford Our Driver Training events are the perfect place for you to experience your vehicle's limits in a safe environment. We welcome all vehicles – new, old, high or low powered, you also don't need to own a BMW to attend. This event will be shared with E30 Racing, so if you would like the opportunity to take a closer look at a race car or be taken for a ride, this is the perfect day for you. Sunday, 17 July Round 5 | Traction Tyres/Yokohama Drivers Championship - Broadford Stay overnight at Broadford on Saturday evening and turn your newly learnt skills from the Driver Training and Come & Try day on Saturday into day of sprint fun.
Be sure to keep an eye on our calendar to stay up to date with our events. If you're attending a social drive or weekend away, we recommend checking out our event tips to help you get the best out of the event.
We want you!
We are now one of the largest Official BMW Car Clubs in Australia and we need your help.
Have you ever attended one of our events and thought “wow this event was well run” or purchased some of our merchandise and thought “I really like that”? Well, all these things and more happen because your volunteer committee who all work tirelessly behind the scenes to make your day/weekend/event run smoothly and be as fantastic as it is.
Do you have skills we can tap into? Do you have a business we can engage or use the services of? Do you have some spare time you’d like to fill with an interest that gives a lot of people joy, including yourself?
We are putting out an early call to all our members to think if you would like to help our team with any of the day to day running of our wonderful club.
Click here to find out more information.
News & Blog.
Our blog page on the website is constantly being updated with not just club news, but everything BMW from all around the world! We welcome you to submit any articles of your own.
From the Welfare Team.
Click here for Welfare Team updates and their contact details.
Classifieds.
Have you seen our classifieds page?
Want to sell something? Looking for a specific item? Email us today to list your car/parts/anything BMW related!
idrive magazine.
Everyone has their own BMW story - we'd love to share yours.
Email us to feature in our very own idrive magazine.
Club partners.
Members are welcome to submit their business to be shared on the Club Partners page on our website and idrive magazine. We believe in supporting those who support us. If you would like your business listed email us with your details.
As always - thanks for reading, we look forward to seeing you at an event soon!
President | Graeme Bell 0407 186 296 Vice President | Jo Mawson 0412 661 900 Secretary | Lawrence Glynn 0414 563 290 Treasurer | Shaaron Glynn
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Once again, another busy month we have all had through June, even though it has been very cold out there, it hasn’t stopped our members getting out and about and joining us for some great events.
On 7 June we started the month with a zoom meeting about our upcoming Tasmania Trip, this was well attended and we got some really great information from Peter Williams and Jo Mawson who are co-ordinating this trip in late October. I’m looking forward to getting back down to Tassie and seeing the beautiful countryside and enjoying the wonderful roads they have down there for us to enjoy.
On 11-13 June a group of members drove down to Port Fairy for the long weekend, with the hope of seeing whales, but that didn’t happen. We still had a great trip, and it was so much fun catching up with new and older members. For us it was wonderful as we got to spend time with our granddaughter who joined us, with her parents for this trip. The drizzle over the weekend didn’t really dampen the weekend at all. We found some amazing roads, saw the Southern Ocean at its roughest but most importantly, had a great time with a fantastic bunch of friends. We also got to take our new X5 for its first club run. I am missing the note of our old X5, loved the sound and power of the V8, but pretty amazed at the economy of the turbo diesel and it does have a bit of get up and go, it’s just different to the V8.
On 19 June BMWDCM we had the Sandown Come and Try/Driver Training Day which is always a fantastic event, and we had a fabulous turn out of both entrants and officials to make this a brilliant day. Special mention to Andy Hall who took so many passengers for a spin in his Porsche, Jo was one of them and she did look a little green after a few not so hot laps. I secretly think she enjoyed it. I must thank all of the drivers that come along and offer their time and skills to teach others, this is what it’s about, giving back to others and imparting some of the skills you have learnt on the track. Also, a huge thank you to the officials that come and donate their time so that we can all have a safe and fun day doing what we love.
26 June was our first fully funded First Aid course, with National First Aid, who are very professional. The event was well attended, and I am positive all who came got a lot more from it than just a certificate. It is important to keep up to date with your first aid as the recommended procedures change all the time. If you missed it, we will look at doing a course every year to keep us all up to date and provide the Club with a stock of certified people at our events.
Looking ahead to July, it is looking like another fun month with our first event at Winton on Saturday.
2 July is Round 4 of our Traction Tyres/Yokohama Drivers Championship and Cross-Border Challenge with the NSW BMW Club and as with previous years we will fight it out for the Cup. The event is now closed to enter but there is always next year!
5 July is our monthly members meeting and this one will be at Waverley BMW in their service department. This should be something different and be sure to have all your questions ready for the team.
On 9 July we are doing something a little different with Christmas in July – we are off to Sovereign Hill for Winter Wonderlights. This event is selling out fast so if you are wanting to attend, please register now so we can pre purchase your tickets. We are also offering this as a stay over night and then a drive home on the Sunday.
16 July is a new event for us, we will be teaming up with E30 Racing and running a Come and Try Day at Broadford with them. There will be instructors and lots of E30 race cars there. YES, you can enter in your regular car, you don’t need to own a race car of any sort, this isn’t just for those who are keen to try out what it is like to drive an E30 race car, it is also for those who already own an E30 race car to join others and get some tuition.
17 July will be Round 5 of our Traction Tyres/Yokohama Drivers Championship at Broadford, so why not register for both events and really make a great weekend of it and get some practice on the Saturday and then do the Drivers Championship on the Sunday.
A few other dates to remember are:
AGM - 6 September
Tassie Trip - 26 October – 2 November
Christmas Show and Shine – 11 December at Cruden Farm
Australia Day Drive - 26 January (yes we’re already planning for 2023!)
BMW Clubs Australia Nationals 17 – 20 March in Brisbane
Due to popular demand, we have decided to do a rerun of edition 1 of our wonderful “idrive” magazine, and these are available for sale in the online store. We will be offering editions 1/2/3 for those who would like the full set. These will be posted only no pickup.
Edition 4 of our wonderful “idrive” is with the printer now so look out for it in the mail very soon. Sorry for the delay but life and other matters got in the way, but it will be with you soon.
We also have a new winter polo shirt and hoodie in the store too which looks great. Sizing is a little larger than normal so go down a size when placing your order.
In our dates to remember the next AGM is on there. Please remember we can’t run this great club of ours without your help, if you think you might be able to assist in some areas please let us know as we are growing faster than we ever thought and it needs YOU to keep this club as good as it is.
Take care out there and I look forward to seeing you at an event soon,
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