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BMW Drivers Club Melbourne

  • 20 Oct 2021 4:20 PM | Anonymous

    +++ Agreement with Swedish startup H2 Green Steel: first deliveries for Neue Klasse from 2025 +++ Up to 95% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to conventional methods +++ Delivery to BMW Group plants in Europe +++ Circular economy: Sheet metal remnants from BMW Group plants will be recycled and reused +++ Wendt: “Vital contribution to our goal of reducing CO2 emissions in our steel supply chain by about two million tonnes by 2030” +++

    The BMW Group continues to push forward with climate protection and is systematically pursuing its goal of significantly reducing CO2 emissions at their source in the supply chain. From 2025 on, the company plans to source steel produced with up to 95% less CO2 emissions and without requiring fossil resources such as coal. The BMW Group has now reached an agreement to this effect with the Swedish startup H2 Green Steel, which uses hydrogen and only green power from renewable energies for steel production. Owing to its particularly energy-intensive manufacturing process, steel production is considered one of the main sources of global CO2 emissions.

    “Our goal is to reduce CO2 emissions in our steel supply chain by about two million tonnes by 2030. Sourcing steel produced using hydrogen and green power can make a vital contribution to this,” says Dr Andreas Wendt, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Purchasing and Supplier Network. “Steel is essential for producing cars and will be no less important for future vehicle generations. Innovative technologies that enable virtually carbon-free production of steel have a significant impact on our ability to reduce CO2 emissions in our steel supply chain.”

    Closed-loop material cycle

    In addition to the delivery of steel produced using green power, the BMW Group and H2 Green Steel have also agreed to create a closed-loop material cycle. H2 Green Steel will take back sheet metal remnants, such as those produced at press plants when doors are punched out, and will process them in such a way that they can be shipped back to the plants as new steel rolls, also known as steel coils. In this way, raw materials can be used multiple times in a circular economy and natural resources protected. Since it requires less energy to produce, secondary steel lowers CO2 emissions by an average of 50-80%, compared to primary material.

    The BMW Group is already using between 20% and 100% secondary steel in its vehicles and will continue to increase this percentage in the future. BMW Group press plants in Europe process more than half a million tonnes of steel per year.

    Ideal location in northern Sweden

    H2 Green Steel is building its steel production site in the province of Norrbotten in northern Sweden, close to the Arctic Circle. The region is best known for its reindeer and spectacular northern lights, but also provides access to high-quality iron ore, plentiful energy from renewable sources such as hydroelectric and wind power, a major seaport and generations of steel production know-how.

    Unlike conventional processes that rely on coke for making steel, the company employs hydrogen produced using green power to remove the oxygen from the iron oxide. This so-called direct reduction of iron ore produces almost no CO2 at all, only water – thereby avoiding 95% of the CO2 emissions normally produced. The specially built hydrogen power plant, which uses water and green power from across the region, will be directly integrated into the steel production plant. The company also uses local green power for the remainder of the manufacturing process.

    BMW Group to source Northvolt battery cells from the same region from 2024 on

    Swedish company Northvolt, which develops and produces battery cells for electric cars, is also exploiting the potential for green power in the north of Sweden.

    Last year, the BMW Group signed a long-term battery-cell supply contract with Northvolt. The battery cells will be produced in Europe at the Northvolt gigafactory currently under construction in Skellefteå in northern Sweden from 2024. The company will use only green electricity from local wind and hydroelectric power to produce the battery cells.

    Neue Klasse poised to set new standards

    From 2025 onwards, the BMW Group will be realigning its product range – which has grown successfully over decades –on the basis of the Neue Klasse. The Neue Klasse will be characterised by three key aspects: a completely redefined IT and software architecture, a new generation of high-performance electric drive trains and batteries and a radically new level of sustainability across the entire vehicle lifecycle. These strands are interwoven within an overall vehicle architecture that has been uncompromisingly optimised for electric drive trains, setting a new benchmark in terms of digitisation and electrification, while at the same time ensuring that the characteristic flair of a typical BMW is transferred to future vehicle generations. 

    Active commitment to environmental and social standards in the steel supply chain

    As part of its involvement with the not-for-profit organisation ResponsibleSteel, the BMW Group actively participated in establishing environmental and social standards throughout the entire steel value chain, starting at the mine. This sustainability standard for production sites in the steel industry was published in 2019 as part of a multi-stakeholder process and now forms the basis for certification. ResponsibleSteel is the steel industry’s first global multi-stakeholder standard and certification initiative.

    BMW PRESS

  • 14 Oct 2021 7:57 PM | Anonymous

    Event date: 12 October 2021

    The evening was held by Zoom. Jo had a fantastic power point presentation giving an outline of what was to be discussed. Presenters spoke about different aspects of motor sport officials.

    Mark Thompson from the Victorian Flagmarshalling Team (VFT), gave a comprehensive talk about all the aspects of flag marshalling including details of what each flag represented. This part of the presentation should be compulsory for all competitors as the comprehensive information would assist all racing on the tracks to understand what is seen by officials close to the track. The information would help all drivers understand how they fit onto the track.

    Scrutineering was discussed by both Geoff Riddle and Graeme Bell and the talk was specific in that you did not have to be a mechanic to be able to be part of this team. An eye for detail is needed with expert help always by your side. Specialists can check the special requirements for each individual class.

    Rescue and medical are the areas that require prior knowledge in their field such as medical training for medical.

    There are levels of officials culminating in bronze, silver and gold. The training is recognised Internationally, and all are insured while on the job. FIA registration as an official means you can work worldwide.

    The main aspect was the importance of officials and the need for new blood.  It is an area where you meet fantastic and dedicated people.

    A special thanks to the organisers of the evening – their commitment and excitement at being an official stood out.

    Chris Allen | Member #770
    BMW Drivers Club Melbourne 

  • 9 Oct 2021 4:18 PM | Anonymous

    They will be held on 2 and 3 of July 2022 in Berlin for the first time and directly following the Pure&Crafted Festival.

    For almost two decades now, attending the BMW Motorrad Days has been a must for motorcycle fans from all over the world. Visitors from countries such as the USA, Japan or Australia, sports, touring and enduro riders, customizing freaks or motorsports enthusiasts will all find their personal highlight to feel great and have loads of fun at the BMW Motorrad Days.

    Following a two-year break - caused by the Covid 19 pandemic - BMW Motorrad invites fans and friends of the brand to the BMW Motorrad Days again on 2 and 3 July 2022. This time the location will be in the Summer Garden of the Messe Berlin trade fair grounds. The event will immediately follow the Pure&Crafted Festival, which will take place on 1 July 2022 at the same location and for which BMW Motorrad is once again the initiator and title sponsor.

    Currently, the fourth edition of the Berlin Pure&Crafted Festival held on 17 and 18 September 2021 has already impressively shown that the new location in the heart of City-West has what it takes not only to become the permanent new home for the Pure&Crafted Festival, but at the same time also offers perfect conditions for the BMW Motorrad Days.

    Dr. Markus Schramm, Head of BMW Motorrad: "The new concept is based on establishing a long-term presence at the BMW’s Berlin plant location with the BMW Motorrad Days. We can make use of the synergies with the already well-known and proven Pure&Crafted Festival. However, they will continue to be two separate and independent events: BMW Motorrad is a partner and sponsor of the Pure&Crafted Festival, while we host the BMW Motorrad Days, the brand's biggest customer event worldwide, ourselves."

    On the first weekend of July next year, Pure&Crafted will offer its magic, charm and special moments to visitors already on Friday. As a unique event, the festival will thrill everyone attending with a distinctive mix of live music, motorcycle culture and new heritage lifestyle before the BMW Motorrad Days take the reins on Saturday and Sunday.

    Lasting two days, the gathering will once again be dedicated entirely to the international BMW Motorrad fan community and riding fun on two wheels. In addition to new products, spectacular stunts, motorsports celebrities, test rides and a great deal more, guests can particularly look forward to the now legendary party atmosphere of the BMW Motorrad Days, garnished with a dash of Bavarian lifestyle. Visitors to the BMW Motorrad Days 2022 in Berlin can look forward to a varied programme of activities that is broader than ever. The tastes of both young and old are catered for with fun and high spirits being guaranteed for everyone.

    The stunt shows push the limits of driving physics and in the original Motodrom, the oldest Wall of Death in the world, the great tradition of wall-of-death riding will be revived. Customizing fans will get their money's worth in the Heritage Area where they can inspect a whole series of custom bikes and the respective equipment".

    On top of that, the Berlin hinterland can be explored by motorbike both onroad and offroad on organised tours with local guides. Once again in 2022 there will also be a wide selection of current BMW Motorrad models available for test rides.

    BMW PRESS

  • 7 Oct 2021 3:10 PM | Anonymous

    Spatial functionality, hallmark BMW driving pleasure and an extremely progressive approach mark out the new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer. The second generation of the sporty all-rounder for the premium compact segment exudes visual dynamism and imposing presence through BMW’s clear design language. Its fundamentally redesigned interior combines a variety of usage possibilities with modern geometry and a BMW Curved Display in the style of the BMW iX. Added to which, the new 2 Series Active Tourer leads the way when it comes to powertrain, driver assistance, control/operation and connectivity innovations.

    Its uncomplicated functionality, progressive character profile and range of standard equipment – which comfortably exceeds that of the predecessor model and stands out against its rivals – make the new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer a particularly attractive proposition for active, lifestyle-oriented target groups. Four model variants with front-wheel drive and outputs ranging from 100 kW/136 hp to 160 kW/218 hp will be available at launch in February 2022. The new model will be built at BMW Group Plant Leipzig and its vehicle architecture is designed to accommodate both combustion engines and electrified drive systems. Two plug-in hybrid models will be added to the line-up a few months after launch.

    Design: modern crossover character, striking front end, dynamically stretched proportions.

    The exterior design of the new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer brings lifestyle attributes and aesthetic sophistication together into a modern crossover character profile. The clean, reduced surface treatment exudes sporting prowess and assured presence. At the front end of the car, these qualities are expressed most prominently by the striking BMW kidney grille, with its increased dimensions, and the slim contours of the headlights. The new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer comes as standard with full-LED headlights. Adaptive LED Headlights with cornering light function, non-dazzling matrix high beam, urban lights, a motorway beam pattern and bad weather light are on the options list.

    Much more heavily raked A-pillars compared to the predecessor model, a stretched side window graphic, flush-fitting door handles and slim C-pillars also play their part in the new car’s dynamic silhouette. The newly designed door shoulders around the A-pillars create much improved all-round visibility. With its broad shoulders and slim LED light units, the rear of the new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer cuts a particularly muscular figure. The exhaust tailpipes are integrated into the rear apron out of sight on all model variants.

    Depending on the model variant, 16-inch or 17-inch light-alloy wheels are fitted as standard. Light-alloy wheels up to 19 inches in size are available as an option. The new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer can also be ordered in Luxury Line trim or with an M Sport package as alternatives to basic specification. Two non-metallic and nine metallic paint finishes are available for the exterior.

    Progressive premium ambience and wide-ranging interior functionality.

    The size and versatility of the new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer’s interior are emphasised by the fundamental redesign introduced by the second-generation car. The cabin geometry and a host of details take their cues from the interior concept of the BMW iX technology flagship. This creates a progressive premium ambience, the key features of which include the slim instrument panel, the BMW Curved Display, the “floating” armrest with integrated control panel and an across-the-board reduction in the number of physical control elements.

    The space underneath the armrest is used as a storage compartment, while the area in front of it houses generously sized cup holders and a newly designed smartphone slot. The phone remains visible to the driver and front passenger here and can be wirelessly charged as an option.

    The new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer offers occupants in its five seats noticeably better long-distance comfort that of its predecessor. The newly developed, multi-adjustable seats can also be ordered in optional Sensatec perforated or Vernasca leather. Also on the options list are sport seats with prominent bolsters and shoulder areas, electric seat adjustment (including memory function), lumbar support and a massage function. Acoustic comfort and occupant protection have been stepped up too. Indeed, a new interaction airbag between the driver and front passenger is added to the integrated passive safety concept.

    An array of storage areas and the multi-adjustable rear seats also contribute to the car’s uncomplicated functionality in everyday use and on longer tips away. With the rear backrests in their cargo position, boot capacity increases by as much as 90 litres. The rear seats can also slide forwards by up to 13 centimetres. This and the 40 : 20 : 40 split/folding rear seat backrests present customers with a load compartment that can be used for a multitude of purposes. Boot capacity is 470 –1,455 litres in the BMW 218i Active Tourer and BMW 218d Active Tourer and 415 – 1,405 litres in the BMW 220i Active Tourer and BMW 223i Active Tourer. Automatic tailgate operation comes as standard, while an electrically operated trailer tow hitch can be ordered as an option.

    Two-zone automatic climate control, sports steering wheel and BMW Maps as standard.

    The progressive premium character of the new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer is also underscored by its extensive standard specification. Fitted as standard alongside the BMW Maps navigation system are four USB-C ports and a 12V power socket in both the centre console and the boot, intelligent two-zone automatic climate control, a Sport leather steering wheel, a rain sensor with windscreen wiper control and automatic headlight activation, a much larger number of driver assistance systems compared with the predecessor model, and Park Assist with Reversing Assist Camera.

    Newly structured equipment packages enable extremely specific individualisation of the car. Customers can order high-quality interior trim strips, as well as Sensatec surfaces for the instrument panel and front door shoulders with eye-catching contrast stitching. Other contributors to the premium feel include a mirror package, ambient lighting, a panoramic glass sunroof and a Harman Kardon Sound System.

    BMW 2 Series Active Tourer: setting the pace in innovative powertrain technology.

    The new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer is also at the vanguard of powertrain technology. The extensively updated combustion engines increase driving pleasure while reducing fuel consumption and emissions, and the latest generation of the seven-speed Steptronic dual-clutch transmission – now standard for all model variants – is likewise extremely efficient. A new version of 48V mild hybrid technology is making its debut in the BMW 223i Active Tourer (fuel consumption: 6.6 – 6.0 litres/100 km [42.8 – 47.1 mpg imp]; CO2 emissions combined: 149 – 137 g/km in the WLTP test cycle) and BMW 220i Active Tourer (fuel consumption: 6.5 – 5.9 litres/100 km [43.5 – 47.9 mpg imp]; CO2 emissions combined: 148 – 133 g/km in the WLTP test cycle). The electric motor integrated into the automatic transmission supplements the combustion engine with a power boost now increased to 14 kW/19 hp.

    The new BMW 223i Active Tourer has an output of 160 kW/218 hp (generated jointly by the 150 kW/204 hp combustion engine and 14 kW/19 hp electric drive system), and the BMW 220i Active Tourer develops 125 kW/170 hp (generated jointly by the 115 kW/156 hp combustion engine and the 14 kW/19 hp electric drive system). Also available from launch is the 100 kW/136 hp BMW 218i Active Tourer (fuel consumption: 6.8 – 6.2 litres/100 km [41.5 – 45.6 mpg imp]; CO2 emissions combined: 154 – 140 g/km in the WLTP test cycle).

    All the petrol engines feature a new combustion process and a dual injection system. The diesel engine powering the new BMW 218d Active Tourer (fuel consumption: 5.3 – 4.8 litres/100 km [53.3 – 58.9 mpg imp]; CO2 emissions combined: 138 – 125 g/km in the WLTP test cycle) employs low-friction pistons and two-stage turbocharging with increased efficiency. Maximum output is 110 kW/150 hp.

    The line-up will expand further in summer 2022 with the addition of two plug-in hybrid models. These will feature fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology for the first time, enhancing dynamism and giving them a significantly longer electric range.

    Sportiness and long-distance comfort in perfect harmony.

    The chassis technology in the new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer has been engineered to deliver the brand’s customary sporting flair combined with impressive levels of ride comfort in every situation. With a body construction that reduces weight while increasing rigidity, a long wheelbase, and wider tracks than its predecessor, the car’s basic design provides the ideal blueprint for the job at hand.

    Steering precision and agility have been enhanced by targeted updates for the single-joint spring strut axle at the front and the three-link rear axle. The near-actuator wheel slip limitation function included as standard improves both traction and directional stability. The integrated braking system is another new feature, as is the extra, lift-related damping for the front axle. The optional adaptive M suspension includes frequency-selective damping, sport steering and a 15-millimetre drop in ride height.

    A fresh variety of systems for automated driving and parking.

    The largest selection of systems for automated driving and parking yet offered for a BMW compact-segment model are available for the new edition of the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer. Standard specification includes Cruise Control with brake function, Lane Departure Warning, the Evasion Assistant and front-collision warning. The latter now also reacts to oncoming traffic when turning left and to pedestrians and cyclists and when turning right (in countries where vehicles drive on the right). The Parking Assistant including Reversing Assist Camera and Reversing Assistant also comes as standard. Options include the Steering and Lane Control Assistant, Active Cruise Control with Stop&Go function, Active Navigation, the exit warning function, the BMW Head-Up Display and the Surround View, Remote 3D View, BMW Drive Recorder and Remote Theft Recorder functions.

    Existing functions can be improved or expanded by means of Remote Software Upgrades, and customers can also use Functions on Demand to select and import a range of functions at a later stage, such as Driving Assistant Plus including Active Cruise Control with Stop&Go function (availability depends on the hardware fitted in the vehicle and the market conditions).

    The new BMW iDrive makes its debut in the premium compact segment.

    The new generation of the control/operation system iDrive, included here in a compact-segment model from BMW for the first time, is based on BMW Operating System 8. It links up as standard with the BMW Curved Display – with its state-of-the-art graphics and menu structure – and the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant with expanded skills range. The BMW Curved Display fully digital screen grouping is formed by a 10.25-inch information display and a control display with a screen diagonal of 10.7 inches. The new BMW iDrive is built around intuitive touch control and voice control.

    The new My Modes bring together individually selected vehicle settings with the relevant interior experience worlds. The cloud-based navigation system BMW Maps can be specified as an option with the Augmented View function on the control display. The interior camera allows those on board to take snapshots during a journey and send them to their smartphone. New BMW 2 Series Active Tourer customers can also make use of a Personal eSIM designed to work with the new 5G mobile technology, as well as the BMW ID for individualisation of the user experience and further improved smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

    BMW PRESS

  • 4 Oct 2021 1:00 PM | Anonymous

    Thank you to all of those who entered our colouring competition over the school holidays.  See below for the results!

    Harlow, age 1 (special mention)


    Vivienne, age 3 (draw ages 2-4)


    Olivia, age 2 (draw ages 2 - 4)


    Elisa, age 6 (draw ages 5 - 8)


    Payton, age 7 (draw ages 5 - 8)


    Harper, age 11 (draw ages 9 - 13)


    Tim (draw ages 17+)


  • 1 Oct 2021 5:00 PM | Anonymous


    MONTH IN REVIEW 

    Dear members

    For many of us, September meant another month in lockdown so all of our in-person events were cancelled.  However we did start our month with a virtual car show.  Lots of members sent in their cars and we saw some really surprising collections out there!  Lawrence did a fantastic job of putting each of the cars into a presentation so that the owners could give us some insight into their collections.

    ____________________

    We were also asked by one of our members if we could have a children’s activity for the school holidays, so we ran a two week colouring in competition with varying age groups from 2 to 102.  We can't wait to announce the winners!  Thank you to Shannon Cooper and his family for sponsoring this competition.

    ____________________

    On 21 September we held our AGM.  The new committee were voted in as were two resolutions. We are happy to say our committee will remain unchanged for the next 12 months. Thank you all for having the faith to have us back for another year, we hope we do you all proud.

    ____________________

    On 25 September many of us got up at 2am to join the BMW Clubs and Community Management team who showed us how to access the new online BMW Archives department.   It was great seeing how easy and accessible it is to be able to source information about your car or motorbike.  There will be more of these style events in the future, they are definitely worth joining if you don't mind the late night (or very early morning). 

    ____________________

    MEMBERSHIP UPDATE: 624 MEMBERS

    Welcome to our new memberJohnathon Oliver, Brett Ditchfield, David King, Jim Graham, Marla Waak, Jason Hrvatin, Alex Caldwell and Chris Houghton-Allen. We look forward to seeing you at an event soon!

    ____________________

    NOTICE TO CLUB PERMIT CAR OWNERS

    With our cars being locked away in either our garages or storage it is easy to forget to ensure our club permits are kept up to date.

    Please take this message as a timely reminder that it is your responsibility to ensure your club permit is current and does not lapse.  If it does lapse and remains unpaid for 90 days, you will need to reapply for your club permit (which means also getting another road worthy certificate).

    When you receive your club permit renewal make sure you get them to us in time for them to be posted back, allowing extra time for delayed postage throughout Covid. Please also ensure you have a self-addressed stamped envelope in with the renewal for us to return to you.

    If you are paying your club permit electronically please make sure all the details are filled in correctly on the form before emailing it to us.

    If you have any questions, please reach out to us any time.

    ____________________

    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 October:

    Tuesday, 12 October
    Virtual October Members Meeting - Becoming a Motorsport Official
    If you are a keen motorsport enthusiast and have never been able to get on the track, being an official may just be up your alley.  Being a Motorsport Australia official will give you access to all types of motorsport, from grass roots to Supercars and F1.

    Tuesday, 26 October (member only event)
    Drop in with The Richards - Virtual Zoom Event
    Join us for an informal catch up with Steven and Clayton Richards. Steve and Clay will be chatting to us via Zoom about their motorsport careers and there will be plenty of time to chat after and ask them both lots of questions.


    Be sure to keep an eye on our calendar to stay up to date with our events.


    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. 

    Club blog.

    BMW around the globe.

    2021 AGM

    Thanks to those who attended our AGM in September.  We had 45 attendees and a quorum of 53 with 25 voting members and 28 Proxy votes received. 

    Re-elected roles: 

    • President: Graeme Bell 

    • Vice President: Jo Mawson 

    • Secretary: Lawrence Glynn 

    • Treasurer: Shaaron Glynn

    All matters from the meeting were voted in.  

    Prize winners

    • Jay Leno vouchers: Lawrence Glynn and Steve Saunders
    • Revolution Racegear: Angelo Carideo and Steve Mattingly
    • Sirene Sea Pearls: Meg Boars, Reece Todd and Adrian White

    We would like to thank our sponsor for their donations and Stephen Mattingly for chairing the meeting.

    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!

    FROM THE WELFARE TEAM

    To make a difference is someone’s life, you don’t have to be brilliant, rich, beautiful or perfect.  You just have to care.


    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

    Proudly supported by:

    All Commercial/All Residential Real Estate
    Bell Motorsport

    Berwick BMW

    BM Tech

    Creative Custom Cars
    German Auto Haus

    Mornington BMW

    Shannons Insurance
    South Yarra BMW

    Southern BM

    Traction Tyres

    Waverley BMW

    Zagame Autobody

  • 30 Sep 2021 5:00 PM | Anonymous


     


    Dear members,

    September has seen us continue another month in lockdown so nearly all of our planned events had to be cancelled or postponed, leaving us to continue with the virtual world to interact with everyone. Now that we have the unenviable title of most locked down city in the world, it is very understandable that we are all feeling the stress and depression coming from being kept from doing the things we love. I hope you are all doing as best you can to keep your mental heath up and that of those in your world. Keep thinking of the, hopefully, not too distant future, when we can get back to a normal life and see our friends and families again and enjoy all the things we love.

    Round 9 of our Traction Tyres/Yokohama Drivers Championship was cancelled which was disappointing, but we are hoping that we will be able to get a couple more rounds in before the end of the year once we start opening up again.

    Similarly, our Port Fairy Whale Watching Weekend trip, which had been moved from June long weekend until September with the hope we could get away for a few days, but unfortunately this didn’t happen either.  We will try to do the whale watching in 2022.

    We did however, start our month with a virtual car show and catch up and because this was all new we were not sure how it would work, but we were very happy that it turned out a great night.  Lots of members cars and some surprising collections out there.  We can’t wait to be able to get out and visit some of our members “man caves” once we open up again.  It was a great night and it was so nice to be able to also catch up and have a chat after the virtual car show too. Lawrence did a fantastic job of putting the cars into a presentation and each of the owners was able to give us some insight into their cars and collections and answer a few questions along the way.

    We were also asked by one of our younger members if we could have a children’s activity for the school holidays, so we currently have a two week colouring in competition with varying age groups from 2 to 102.  We are looking forward to seeing some amazing art cars, some have come in already and they look amazing.  Thank you to Shannon Cooper and his family for sponsoring this competition.

    On 21 September we held our AGM and again this was attended well with easily a quorum of 53 allowing the AGM to proceed.  The new committee were voted in as were two resolutions and we are happy to say our committee will remain unchanged for the next 12 months.  Thank you all for having the faith to have us back for another year, we hope we do you all proud. 

    On 25 September a lot of us got up again at 2am, where the BMW Clubs and Community Management team showed us how to access the new online BMW Archives department.   It was great seeing how easy and accessible it is to be able to source information about your car or motorbike. 

    We have been trying to keep things interesting for you all and through October we have a few interesting Zoom meetings to look forward to.

    12 October will be our ‘Becoming an Official’ virtual meeting, where we will have some senior officials from different areas of motorsport officialling online to answer some questions and also guide you to the correct pathway. 

    26 October will be a Catch up with the Richards, with Steve and Clay Richards joining us for an informal night chatting about their careers and answering your questions.  There is also a chance for one of our members to win a signed model of Steve’s M6 GT3, you have to be registered for the event and present when the draw is held to win.

    Again, there were some events planned for October which have either been postponed or cancelled and we are so sorry this has happened, but as you know this is out of our control. As soon as we are allowed to get back out and do anything, we will! We have so many event ideas for everyone to come along to, you won’t be left with nothing to do. We will again only take a short break over Christmas and get straight back into running all the events you love in January.

    Looking further ahead, we have some great events planned for 2022, German Auto Show, Geelong Revival, Maling Road, just to name a few.  Watch the event alerts for reminders and registrations.

    11-14 March will be the Clubs Australia Nationals, this time being held in Canberra.  We are hoping for a large contingent of Melbourne members attending, and of course Peter Williams will be planning another fantastic road trip up and back for us all to enjoy.  Get your accommodation booked early, as rooms will sell out quickly. Of course, if the current situation with borders and pandemic closures continues you will be able to cancel your accommodation and get a full refund, but better to get it booked now than try and get in somewhere last minute. The program is looking very interesting and it will be so good to catch up with all our interstate BMW Club friends again. I have been to quite a few of the BMW Club Nationals now and can assure you they are a lot of fun and something not to be missed.

    We plan on hitting the ground running once we are allowed to get out there, so be ready for a full-on summer.

    There has been talk from both the State and Federal Governments that venues will be requiring proof of you being double-vaxed to be able to attend any sort of public events.  We have put a tick box in our membership system for you to be able to tick if you are already double-vaxed or not, so we will be able to keep track if necessary. We, as a club, will not make it mandatory for you to be double-vaxed to come to our events, however we will be governed by the places we go and the laws at the time. It is something we all need to think of and accept, that it is a different world now, and will be for a while to come. So we all have to play our part in living with Covid and moving forward.

    If you link your MyGov account with Medicare, you can download your Vaccination Certificate and also add it to your wallet on your smart phone for easy display. If you don’t have a smart phone you may need to carry a paper copy with you. A lot of places we are talking to are already mentioning that people will need to be double-vaxed, so best get ready as soon as you can.

    These are very trying times and if we all work together and do the right thing, hopefully we will all be able to get out and enjoy some great events in the later part of this year and into 2022. Until we see you again, take care, get jabbed and hope for the easing of restrictions sooner rather than later to get us back out and enjoying life again.

    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

  • 26 Sep 2021 8:30 PM | Anonymous

    Event date: early hours of 25 September 2021

    For those of us that stayed up late on Friday night, or indeed got up at 2am on Saturday morning, we had a lovely catch-up and chat with our friend Eva and her colleagues from BMW Clubs and Community Management (BCCM) live from Munich. This was the second monthly video hook up, and great to see quite a few members logging in to hear all about the new online BMW Archive that is now available via the BMW Classic web site.

    We were shown through the search functions and just how much material is available for you to search. Everything from pictures to service books and workshop and parts manuals for everything you can think of. As BMW are moving their physical archives into a new building, everything is being stored digitally as well, so we can search for anything from anywhere. It's quite amazing the level of detail they have available, so go and have a look, download the BMW Museum app too and have a look at what is there! If you need a hand, let us know and we can send you directions to the web site and how to find things. 

    Eva also mentioned that starting very soon, BMW Classic will be hosting twice monthly enthusiast get togethers at Classic, so once we are able to travel again and if you happen to be in Munich, you are very welcome to drop in and say hello at one of the events. So that is another reason to let us know if you are going to Munich, we can contact Eva and you will be welcomed to Munich, as we were when last we were there. Well worth the visit, as there is so much to see at Classic.

    Hopefully, the next catch-up with Eva and BCCM will be at a more respectable time for us in Australia. If not we will again report on anything of interest, but I look forward to the next one regardless, as it is fantastic to be able to go to Munich and catch up on the news, without getting on a plane.

    Graeme Bell | Member #1
    BMW Drivers Club Melbourne 

  • 22 Sep 2021 2:12 PM | Anonymous

    Event date: 21 September 2021

    With our extended lockdown, the BMWDCM Annual General Meeting via Zoom held on evening of 21 September 2021 was well attended with 39 club members, following the week after with our September extended lockdown Zoom monthly meetings.

    In the comfort with the warmth in our own homes, an introduction to the night by the standing Vice President, Jo Mawson, it was good to see other club members and talk live to each other to break to the new routine of being restricted our homes of night.

    The conversation before any formalities and voting was quite relaxed, with the standing President, Graeme Bell, asking how we are all going with the current lockdown and general chat, as well as thanking those contributing to the clubs success for the past twelve months, especially in current circumstances, the welfare team.

    As the formality of the BMWDCM Annual General Meeting began, the standing Secretary, Lawrence Glynn, along with the standing Treasurer, Sharron Glynn, presented the BMWDCM 2020/2021 financials, taking us through the fiscal particulars.

    Next on the agenda, nominations and voting on the four BMWDCM committee positions for 2021/2022. Being only four nominations, one for each position, being President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer, each standing member removed themselves from their current roles, to be re-voted by those in attendance of this meeting back into their previous roles for the following year. Congratulations to all four committee members.

    With this formality completed, two proposed amendments were made to the BMWDCM charter that were second regarding membership pricing and future AGM formal voting.

    Upon completion and the formal part of the meeting being behind us, general discussion was back in hand, discussing future events and their postponement, new purchases, AFL grand final and for some reason, members cats, dogs and kittens wanted to intrude on in the meeting, probably being confused on what we are all doing up so late.

    Compliments to our BMWDCM Committee members in retaining their roles. I mentioned to one of the committee members last night, the BMWDCM may be the product and business, but Graeme, Jo, Lawrence and Shaaron, you four are the club. Again congratulations.

    Paul Holliday | Member #296
    BMW Drivers Club Melbourne 



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