As a part of my journey into motorsport with my E30 over the last 18 months, I have enjoyed racing at all sorts of tracks, in all sorts of conditions.  Blisteringly hot and windy days at Sandown, through to blizzard like conditions at Phillip Island.

And whilst the conditions at each track often vary, one thing is of course constant- the volunteers that make the day happen.  These people get out there in all kinds of conditions to allow people like me (and maybe you) to enjoy my day out on the track safely.

Sure, I showed my appreciation to these people wherever I could- a wave to the flaggies at the end of the day, shaking hands with the pit officials, and expressing my thanks to people in admin.  But the reality was that until a few weeks ago, I didn’t realise the amazing joy that volunteering at a motorsport event actually brings.

Like just about everyone in BMWDCM, my passion is cars. If you give me anything to do with cars or racing, be it a magazine, a television show, televised races, or anything in the driver’s seat or passenger’s seat, I’ll be happier than a pig in… well you know what…

Jo and Graeme had been suggesting for a while that I should consider doing some event officiating as a part of my development as a competitor.  So when the opportunity came to learn the art of Flag Marshalling at Sandown for Round 4 of the Victorian State Racing Series (along with fellow BMWDCM member Jessie Keogh) and as a Pit and Grid Official for the Penrite Supersprint V8 event - I jumped at both of them.

And now that both events are finished- I can tell you something you all should know- it’s the big secret truth about volunteering that you won’t know unless you have done it.

Are you ready for it?

OK…

So the one, big, secret truth about volunteering at motorsports events is this: it gets you closer.

It gets you closer to the action.

It gets you closer to the drivers and teams.

It gets you closer to the cars.

It gets you special access and special permissions. You’re an official. You’re there to do a job, so you do it. If that job happens to be marshalling cars in pitlane - as mine was for Supercars- you can get closer the frenetic pit action. If your job is flag marshalling at Turn 6 (like Jessie and I did for the VSRC), the only people closer to the track than you are the drivers.  If you are a grid marshal- something else I did for the supercars, it’s only you and the drivers on the starting grid with two minutes to green.  You are so close that the V8 rumble vibrates through you like some sort of six-pointer on the Richter scale.  Or, maybe you can get the opportunity to chat with your favourite driver or TV personality- cause you are close to them too.

It get’s you closer.  That’s the thing about being a volunteer official.

And standing at Turn 6 at Sandown as a Flag Marshals, Jessie and I were close enough to the cars as the passed the fastest point on that track that we could see the whites of the drivers eyes as they tried to sum up the tricky conditions down into Dandenong Rd.

Jessie and I were schooled in all things Flag Marshalling by Vic Flags Senior Official Simon and Sector Marshall Graeme Darcy.   Although, Simon first instruction to us was  that if he pull’s us towards him and away from the wall, we need to go with him cause it probably means a car is heading straight for us, was probably not as reassuring as he had hoped.  Nor was his “If I yell “get down”, please dot straight away” instruction.  Of course, it’s all in the name of safety- but geez, Simon, you need to find a better way to welcome people!

Standing at the peak of Turn 6 at Sandown, really made me appreciate the work that a Flag Marshall does.  It requires lots of focussed concentration and decisiveness.  And some of those decisions are split second- especially in high-speed sections. 

Being privy to all the track communication throughout the day was fascinating too.  There are lots of moving parts to an event, and the work done by all involved to make sure that the day runs smoothly, safely and on-time is as challenging as predicting Melbourne’s weather.  Especially with the number of accidents and incidents that occurred.  I have even more respect for those making decisions about how to best keep the day moving forward and allowing the competition to be run fairly and safely.

Being as close to the action as we were, it was also great to watch how other drivers and cars approach the track with lines and braking points.  So it will help my driving too (I hope!).

A week later, I rose early again to head back to Sandown for the Penrite Supersprint Supercars event.  Here I was a Pit and Grid Marshal.  My Chief Official for the day was Rhys, and the generosity he showed me was second to none.  He made sure I got to do everything possible throughout the day- or maybe it was less about generosity and just a ploy to get me back!  Either way, Rhys let me roam around the pits ensuring safe and fair competition, marshal the grid into place for the Supercars- where I was able to have a chat with Chaz Mostert and his engineer Adrian deBorre (it was just the three of us in his starting box), and wave the starting grid flags for each competing class.  My feet were damn sore after all the walking.  Worth it though.

Everywhere I went across both days at each event, I met more and more amazing petrol heads, all because I took this leap of faith in deciding to be a volunteer.  I was given lunch, provided with snacks throughout the day, plenty of water, and given a full uniform to keep for the Supercars event.   

It was also a great social activity: I felt welcomed into the volunteering family- and also part of something bigger.

Everyone also really appreciated that a competitor was volunteering- it seemed like a really big deal.  Of course, for me it wasn’t- but it showed that as competitors we value what they do as officials, and want to learn from them. 

So, I am looking forward to my next event, and my next opportunity to learn and grow as a competitor and official within motorsport with the possibility of going interstate or even overseas to participate in other exciting events as an official.

Seriously, volunteering is awesome. So if you haven’t yet done so- hit Meg, GB, Jo (or even me) up and get out there!  It will get you closer to motorsport than you can possibly imagine.

Shannon Cooper | Member #599
BMW Drivers Club Melbourne

Event date: 21 August 2022

What a great day with Jo, Graeme, Tim O & John S. I started out pretty chilly, then sun baked us for a few hours, then it was jackets on to beat the cool breeze.

We got General Admission tickets with paddock passes (I was just there for the Sunday). I didn’t stray from the grandstand/western areas. Mixing it up between watching some great on-track action, checking out the show n shine display (by the Cruiser group), perusing the merch (how well would a BMWDCM stall go? Amongst all that GM & blue oval gear? [Tim’s idea!]), feeding my face. Getting access to the car prep areas was really interesting (Paddock pass), I’ll opt for that again. 

Graeme was madly rushing around on scrutineering duties and Jo was keeping us safe from race cars as they returned to the paddock (lots of whistle blowing).

Lots of great conversations, sharing stories, meeting new members and enjoying our club-stuff.

Martin Taylor | Member #598
BMW Drivers Club Melbourne

When my husband said we were offered tickets to the supercar event at Sandown my first thought was…. Oh how boring! But I went along and wow what a great day we had. 

I was blown away by the production of it all. The set up of each different race category was huge and the technology and equipment to support each car was unbelievable. I even asked questions!

60 cars in one group and they had 14 sets of tyres for each car!!!

They also mentioned they had changed 1160 tires on Friday WOW 

The crowd was buzzing which created an awesome atmosphere.

I couldn’t get close enough to watch the start of the supercars. The sound was deafening but exhilarating. 

Slightly different to our club track days but an event I’d be more than happy to attend again.

Lucy Walsh | Member #834
BMW Drivers Club Melbourne

I recently had the opportunity of a couple of hours with a G42 220i loan car.  Of course, I tried it out on some favourite rural roads as well as around town.

For those unfamiliar, the G42 is based on BMW’s CLAR platform shared by the 3er to 7er cars.  It is unrelated to the 2er Gran Coupe which shares the front drive/AWD FAAR platform with the 1er, MINIs, X1 and X2.  The G42 is offered here in 220i, 230i and M240i versions.  The 220i and 230i use the B48 4-cylinder in 135KW and 190KW versions respectively – basically the same as in the 3er – and are rear-drive only with Msport passive suspension as standard.  The M240i uses the B58 6-cylinder (285KW) and has rear-biased AWD, with adaptive suspension.  Overseas, a rear-drive M240i is available and may come to Australia.

The G42’s dimensions are surprising.  Its overall dimensions match the E90 3er.  It’s actually wider than a current G20 3er – because of the bulged wheel arches, I suspect.  It’s shorter than the G20 by only 17cm with a wheelbase just 11cm shorter.  The difference comes not so much in size, but in being set up more for the enthusiast.

BMW has got the passive Msport suspension right with the G42.  It’s firm but not harsh, as was reportedly the case with previous models.  It’s adequately comfortable around the suburbs, but stays controlled and composed even on lumpy, winding rural roads.  It’s a big step forward from the F22 2er – my former 220i was floaty on lumpy roads even with its adaptive suspension in sports mode.

Handling of the G42 is wonderful.  The car is agile, adjustable and playful.  Weight distribution is 51/49 on the 4-cylinder models, and cornering is generally neutral, with mild understeer exiting some corners.  It’s a car you can balance on the throttle quite delightfully, and trail braking works a treat.  It’s much more enthusiast-oriented than the G20 3ers I’ve had as loan cars recently, good though they were.  And all this with the 220i having tyres that were good but definitely not performance tyres.

Brakes were fine even on the 220i.  The 230i and 240i get Msport Brembo 4-pot brakes as standard, which should be excellent.  (I think those are the Brembos on my Clubman JCW, which is heavier than the 230i, and they work very well on that).

Performance was surprisingly good from 135KW, thanks I guess to its broad, flat torque curve.  The 230i should be properly fast and I continue to think it’s the sweet-spot of the range, as it was for the F22.

The ZF 8-speed gearbox is magnificent, as always.  No manual is available on the G42 (the new M2 will offer a manual) but the ZF is super-fast and smooth when driven as a paddle-shift manual.

On the debit side, the steering is almost completely devoid of feel.  Sports mode adds just a little weight but no extra communication.  Nevertheless, steering is precise and doesn’t interfere with enthusiastic driving.  The light weight does make the car very easy to handle around town.  BMW knows how to make feelsome steering (eg my Clubman, M cars) so the lack of feel must be a conscious decision, unfortunately.

Inside, the car is strictly a 2+2, despite its exterior size.  The bonnet is unnecessarily and almost comically long, and the space is removed from the back seat.  I could sit behind my seating position, but it was very snug – really only useful for older children, young teens or short trips for adults.  Up front, though, the car is spacious and it appears identical in every way to a G20 3er.  Very good sports seats are standard and, thankfully, are in Alcantara rather than leather as standard (much better suited to Australia in my opinion) but with leather options of course.  As in the 3er, a few touch points feel a bit cheap, but mostly the interior is up to BMW’s high standards of quality.  Incidentally, the 2er is built in Mexico, doubtless to help a niche model be profitable, but BMW has proven it maintains its standards wherever its cars are built.  The G42 boot is large, but sadly any type of spare wheel is notable by its absence.

I should note that the optional sunroof is remarkably quiet even when open at 100km/h.  It does impinge on headroom of course, although there is a short raised area behind it over the rear seats.

The G42 has a full suite of up-to-date safety features, although it still only manages 4 stars on the increasingly stringent Euro NCAP ratings, mainly due to a low score in cyclist detection (pedestrians are detected OK) and lack of a central airbag between occupants.

In summary, the G42 seems to be an excellent enthusiast’s 2+2 if you don’t want to (or can’t afford to) step up to an M car.  As noted above, I think the 230i is the range’s sweet spot – rear drive, quick and reasonably priced by today’s expensive standards.  The 240i would be faster and more capable, but its high price puts it in reach of some stiff competition.

Many thanks to Andrew Niemann at Waverley BMW for arranging the loan car.

Peter Williams | Member #36
BMW Drivers Club Melbourne

Since 2003, the BMW M Award has been an integral component of the close partnership between BMW M GmbH and MotoGP™ rights owner Dorna Sports. There is a double anniversary to celebrate this year: BMW M GmbH is celebrating its 50th birthday and the prize for the fastest MotoGP™ qualifier is being awarded for the 20th time. To mark the occasion, BMW M is providing an exclusive highlight as the Winner’s Car: the first BMW M3 Competition Touring with xDrive.

Since 2003, the BMW M Award has been an integral component of the close partnership between BMW M GmbH and MotoGP™ rights owner Dorna Sports. There is a double anniversary to celebrate this year: BMW M GmbH is celebrating its 50th birthday and the coveted prize for the fastest MotoGP™ qualifier is being awarded for the 20th time. To mark the occasion, BMW M is providing an exclusive highlight as the Winner’s Car: the first BMW M3 Competition Touring with xDrive (fuel consumption, combined: 10.4 – 10.1 l/100km correspond to WLTP, CO₂ emissions, combined: 235 – 229 g/km correspond to WLTP, NEDC figures: –)*, which celebrated its world premiere just a few weeks ago. The market launch is scheduled for November. The Winner’s Car for the BMW M Awards 2022 will be officially introduced this weekend at the British Grand Prix in Silverstone. The first BMW M3 Touring MotoGP™ Safety Car will also make its race debut there.

“2022 is a very special year for us at BMW M, with a host of highlights related to our 50th birthday,” says Franciscus van Meel, CEO of BMW M GmbH. “One of these is the first BMW M3 as Touring model, which generated quite a buzz at its world premiere at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in late June. It is the flagship of our BMW M model range this year, which is why it makes sense to offer the BMW M3 Competition Touring as the prize for the winner of the 20th BMW M Award. We are delighted to be able to mark this year’s special anniversary with our prize for the fastest qualifier in MotoGP this season. This shows the high esteem in which this competition is held in the paddock. We wish the riders all the best and are excited to see who will prevail in the thrilling races to claim the BMW M3 Competition Touring at the end of the season.”

“The 20th BMW M Award in the MotoGP – this sees us reach another milestone in our partnership with BMW M this season,” explains Marc Saurina, Senior Director Global Commercial Partnerships for MotoGP™ rights owner Dorna Sports. “It is brilliant that BMW M GmbH is celebrating its 50th birthday with a range of highlights in the MotoGP. That underlines how important this partnership is. These highlights include the new BMW M3 Touring MotoGP Safety Car, which will appear for the first time in Silverstone, and the BMW M3 Competition Touring as Winner's Car for the BMW M Award. This sees BWM M continue the annual tradition of handing over the newest and most exclusive BMW M automobile to the fastest qualifier. The standings for this year’s BMW M Award are hotly contested and we are looking forward to plenty more exciting qualifying sessions.”

The first-ever BMW M3 Touring combines authentic motorsport feeling with a very distinct character and a broader spread of practical qualities. Its powertrain technology is focused wholly on delivering beguiling performance and brings together the 375 kW/510 hp version of the six-cylinder in-line engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology, the eight-speed M Steptronic transmission with Drivelogic and the M xDrive all-wheel-drive system. The latest addition to the range is therefore available exclusively in BMW M3 Competition Touring with M xDrive form. The variable-use interior of the first BMW M3 Touring provides fresh scope for experiencing M-typical performance in everyday use. In a unique manner, the BMW M3 Touring links the characteristic M combination of dynamism, agility and precision with unrestricted suitability for everyday driving and long-distance capability.

The Frozen Black paint scheme provides the BMW M3 Competition Touring for the winner of the BMW M Award 2022 with a more than impressive appearance. In the interior, the electrically adjustable M sports seats with Merino/Black leather upholstery generate true racing feeling without sacrificing comfort. The M Competition brake system guarantees superior handling on the limit.

The BMW M3 Competition Touring with xDrive also provided the foundation for the first BMW M3 Touring MotoGP™ Safety Car, which was also presented to the public at the Goodwood Festival of Speed and will now be appearing on track in Silverstone as the lead car for the first time. It sports a special 50 Years of BMW M livery and all MotoGP™ Safety Cars from 1999 to the present day will be featured on the car, paying tribute to the long partnership with Dorna Sports.

Since 2003, the BMW M Award has been presented to the MotoGP™ rider with the best qualifying results. At each Grand Prix weekend, riders receive points for their qualifying positions, in the same way as points are awarded in the races. The rider who scores the most points by the end of the season will win the coveted BMW M Award.  The record winner in the BMW M Award is Marc Márquez, who claimed the prize on seven consecutive occasions between 2013 and 2019. Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner have each won three times. Fabio Quartararo has won the BMW M Award twice, in 2020 and 2021. Jorge Lorenzo also recorded two wins during his career. Sete Gibernau and Nicky Hayden have each been best qualifier once.

BMW PRESS

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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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Waverley BMW

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:

• 6 September - BMWDCM AGM at the German Tivoli Club
• 11 October - Swap Meet at Cheltenham
• 25 October - 2 November - Tassie Trip
• 24-28 November - Challenge Bathurst (booked out for competitors) but volunteer officials’ welcome
• 11 December - Christmas Show and Shine annual picnic at Cruden Farm
• 17-19 March 2023 - BMW Clubs Australia Nationals on the Gold Coast

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 becomes Head of the MINI Brand for Europe.

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 MINI brand

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