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
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
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
If you like motor racing and can't afford the cost but still want to be in the front line you should consider volunteering to be a scrutineer. As a volunteer scrutineer you get to not only see the cars that you love, but talk to the teams and drivers as well as ensuring that the cars meet the appropriate regulations. No experience is required and training is provided at no cost to you, all you need is a love of motor sport. If you are interested go to our website which is www.scrutineering.info for more details on who to contact about becoming a volunteer scrutineer.
As a volunteer scrutineer you will be involved in the checking of a car that has been set up to go racing, rallying or off road. The main emphasis on race day is safety so the checking of drivers apparel and car safety items are a priority with non-critical checks being carried out as the day goes on. In addition you get the opportunity to get close to cars in pit lane and see them as they enter and exit the track while monitoring the support teams in action to ensure that cars are worked on in an appropriate manner and within the rules. When you gain the required qualifications and experience there are opportunities to volunteer to manage a category and get right into the nitty gritty of scrutineering.
Geoff Riddle VSAP Secretary www.scrutineering.info
I thought I’d do a quick update to check in on you and make sure you're keeping your mental health up, and also that of your friends and family. These trying times are hard for everyone and I understand can be made worse when part of the state is released from lockdown but many of us are not. Please try and stay positive and think of the years ahead when we will look back and see just how lucky we are. We have so much to be thankful for, living in the best country in the world, and this is just a small set back that will be over one day.
My other reason for a mid-month update is to let you all know that there was a quiet announcement printed in the Herald-Sun this weekend about the changes to the Club Permit Scheme.
To say we were shocked is an understatement. The Minister/Government has listened to the people that a law is going to impact and have decided not to change the 25 year eligibility rule for accessing the scheme to 30 years. This is great news for all of those who have cars approaching 25 years old, as you will still be able to get them onto a club permit when they are 25 years old and not wait an extra 5 years.
There were 1,060 submissions to the Minister regarding the proposals to change the rules and we were one of the more comprehensive he would have received. So we are very happy to hear that that part of the scheme won’t be changing.
We do still have some work ahead of us though. We will now continue to correspond with the Minister and the Department of Transport about the proposed changes to the Written off Vehicles Register and their proposals to add cars over 15 years old to the register, making it more difficult to repair historic cars and keep our motoring heritage alive and on the road.
If you would like to read more about the announcement regarding the Club Permit Scheme, you can do so here.
If you would like more information about the proposed changes or our submissions to the Department of Transport and the Minister, you can contact Lawrence: secretary@bmwdcm.com.au or myself: president@bmwdcm.com.au. We are trying very hard to get sensible outcomes for these new laws and it is fantastic to see that our submissions are being heard.
We have some online events coming up to give you all something to do through lockdown, like our coloring competition and the second catch up with BCCM in Munich later in the month. We are also organising a special Zoom or two with some very special guests! Keep an eye out for the event emails or check our events page for more details on any of these events.
For now though, take care, stay safe and get a jab so we can get past this and get back to what we love doing. Keep thinking about the future and look forward to when we can get back to normal. If you are feeling sad or lonely, pick up the phone and give me or the Welfare Team a call, we are here for you all, always and at any time.
The BMW Junior Team extends successful run at the Nürburgring Nordschleife (GER) in the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS). After recording two wins in races four and five, Max Hesse (GER), Dan Harper (GBR) and Neil Verhagen (USA) in the #44 BMW M6 GT3 remained involved in the battle for victory to the end of Saturday’s seventh race. After six hours of racing, they claimed the second spot on the podium. The new BMW M4 GT3 also made its debut at the seventh NLS race, driven by Philipp Eng (AUT) and Augusto Farfus (BRA).
The BMW Juniors secured fifth position on the grid in Saturday morning’s qualifying session. A great, error-free performance from all three drivers swiftly put the trio on course for the podium as they battled for another win. They also set the fastest race lap with the #44 BMW M6 GT3. Hesse, Harper and Verhagen finished second to secure another podium, crossing the line less than 20 seconds behind the victorious Manthey Porsche.
The new BMW M4 GT3, which is still in the test and development phase, made a racing debut out of competition in the SP-X prototype class. Cars in this class have to start at the back of the GT3 field, regardless of their result in qualifying. Farfus and Eng then worked their way up into the top ten with the #55 BMW M4 GT3. Running the tank to empty was part of the planning for the day, and the car then rolled to a stop at the entry to the pit lane once the fuel ran out in the final minutes.
The #35 BMW M6 GT3 from Walkenhorst Motorsport also recorded a top six finish. Jörg Müller, Mario von Bohlen, Dennis Fetzer (all GER) and Thomas Neubauer (FRA) finished in sixth position. Starting from tenth on the grid, David Pittard (GBR) sprinted up to second in the #34 Walkenhorst Motorsport BMW M6 GT3, before a double dose of tyre damage knocked him and his team-mates Christian Krognes (NOR) and Ben Tuck (GBR) a long way back. The team’s #36 BMW M6 GT3, driven by Henry Walkenhorst, Jörg Breuer and Andreas Ziegler (all GER), crossed the line in 14th place overall, and in second place in the SP9 AM class.
This was a first taste of the Nordschleife for Jake Dennis (GBR). Having finished third in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship 2021, he had made his GT racing debut for BMW M Motorsport last weekend in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Endurance Cup and is now aiming for his Nordschleife permit. In the seventh NLS race, Dennis shared driving duties with Niklas Krütten (GER) in the #652 BMW M240i Racing from the Adrenalin Motorsport Team Alzner Automotive. The duo claimed second place in the BMW M240i class.
Mike Krack, Head of BMW M Motorsport: “We had a successful day all round on the Nordschleife. Congratulations to our three BMW Juniors Max, Dan and Neil – they battled for their next NLS win right up to the final lap in their BMW M6 GT3 and can be very satisfied with second place. The three gave an error-free performance, delivering impressive proof that they are certainly one of the real top teams on the Nordschleife. Our new BMW M4 GT3 also enjoyed a successful race debut. The car ran like clockwork and we had no problems at all during yesterday’s testing or in qualifying and the race today. Augusto and Philipp were delighted with the performance of the BMW M4 GT3 and confirmed how great the BMW M4 GT3 drives on the Nordschleife. Overall, we are very pleased with this NLS Saturday.”
Max Hesse, #44 BMW M6 GT3, BMW Junior Team: “It was a good six-hour race for us. The team gave a top performance and it was very, very close at the end. Of course, it was a bit of a shame that we didn’t quite manage to grab the win but we will try to do that again in two weeks. To be honest, the Manthey guys are really strong here at the Nordschleife. The drivers are the reigning champions in the 24-hour race and so we can really pleased to have kept the gap to below 20 seconds after a six-hour race.”
Neil Verhagen, #44 BMW M6 GT3, BMW Junior Team: “When you are so close to the win, it is obviously a bit bitter-sweet but I think we can be super happy with today. BMW Team RMG, Max and Dan and myself, I think we all achieved pretty much the maximum that we could today. We knew that we really need to put everything together to be competitive and that is exactly what we did. So I am super happy with the team and with my team-mates. Thank you to BMW and to everybody involved to make this possible because it was definitely not easy. We fought over the entire race and it was just down to the wire. Now we keep pushing to return to the top step.”
Dan Harper, #44 BMW M6 GT3, BMW Junior Team: “Overall, I am very happy with the result. Obviously on the back of two wins, the second place and even being so close to first place, can be a bit disappointing but we can for sure be very happy. The team and us three drivers we have done a good job, we achieved the maximum that was possible and collected good points for the championship. And it is always nice to spray some champagne.”
Philipp Eng, #55 BMW M4 GT3: “That was so much fun. It was an honour for me to complete the debut race for the BMW M4 GT3 together with Augusto. The car drives extremely well. If you compare it with the BMW M6 GT3, it is even easier to drive but the performance is even better. The Nordschleife was a busy place again today and I had a few situations with other cars but it helped that you can overtake offline with the BMW M4 GT3 too, without getting yourself into trouble right away. Overall, I feel that it went great. The race was smooth and I would be happy to start the 24-hour race with this car right away.”
Augusto Farfus, #55 BMW M4 GT3: “It was a very emotional day because I remember my first rollout in Dingolfing and after so many months, we come to the Nordschleife and I did the first race start with the new BMW M4 GT3. It was just great. Thanks to BMW who did an amazing job, the car ran trouble-free. We could experience and measure the speed of the car against the competition so it was a great lesson today. The car feels very, very good and I can’t wait to be back at the Nordschleife with the car.”
Jake Dennis, #652 BMW M240i Racing: “It was fantastic to finally experience the Nordschleife. It certainly lived up to my expectations. Everybody had warned me how difficult it is and entire circuit is just impressive. There is not really one combination what makes it superior to any other, it is just 25 kilometres of challenge. It is so on the edge and when the conditions are mixed as well, as we had them in this morning’s qualifying, it makes life even more challenging. But that’s part of the Nordschleife and that’s what makes it so special. It has been a great experience and the BMW M240i Racing is a great car to learn the circuit. And to finish second in the class was obviously very nice.”
BMW PRESS
With the BMW i Vision AMBY, the first high-speed pedelec for urbanists, the BMW Group is presenting a visionary two-wheeled solution for the urban mobility of tomorrow. From the outside, the BMW i Vision AMBY looks similar to an e-bike, but it offers significantly more possibilities. It is one of five different concept vehicles with which the BMW Group is presenting its vision of individual mobility in cities and their surrounding areas at the IAA Mobility event. Under a single umbrella spanning electric mobility, digitality and sustainability, the five pioneering concepts create a versatile mobility mix on two and four wheels fuelled by sustainable thinking which comprehensively addresses an extremely wide range of mobility needs.
AMBY is a neologism for “adaptive mobility”. The BMW i Vision AMBY and BMW Motorrad Vision AMBY Vision Vehicles (see also the separate press release on the BMW Motorrad Vision AMBY) interpret the basic idea of adaptive urban mobility on two wheels in different ways. The two vehicles are both fitted with an electric drive system with three speed ratings for different types of roads. The drive system enables speeds of up to 25 km/h (15.5 mph) on cycle tracks, up to 45 km/h (28 mph) on city-centre roads and up to 60 km/h (37 mph) on multi-lane roads and outside urban areas. However, insurance plates and a corresponding licence are required for the higher speeds. While users of the BMW i Vision AMBY high-speed pedelec have to constantly pedal in order to benefit from the assistance of the electric drive system, the BMW Motorrad Vision AMBY accelerates via a throttle grip/throttle lever and has motorcycle-style footrests instead of pedals.
The modes available to the rider are stored in the app on the smartphone linked with the “AMBY” Vision Vehicle. Manual selection of the modes is perfectly feasible, as are automatic recognition of location and road type via geofencing technology and the associated automatic adjustment of top speed. In the absence of any existing legal framework for a vehicle of this kind with a modular speed concept, the “AMBY” Vision Vehicles set out to prompt the introduction of such legislation and by consequence developments of this nature. The BMW Group is therefore showing its keenness to remain part of the mobility conversation in cities, even if in the years ahead those cities offer motor cars an increasingly small space in which to function.
“Everywhere you look, apparently established categories are being blown apart – and that’s a good thing. In the future, classifications such as ‘car’, ‘bicycle’ and ‘motorcycle’ should not determine the nature of the products we think up, develop and offer,” explains Werner Haumayr, Vice President BMW Group Design Conception. “Rather, this paradigm shift gives us the opportunity to tailor products to people’s lifestyles – as we can see with the BMW i Vision AMBY high-speed pedelec. This vehicle occupies the space between a bicycle and a light motorcycle and allows our customers to decide for themselves which roads or routes they want to travel on through an urban area. They have all the flexibility possible, at the same time as turning the pedals and keeping themselves fit. The modes and clever route selection are intended to make it one of the fastest travel options through a city.”
The BMW Group views the BMW i Vision AMBY as an attractive means of transport for the future in larger cities. As a second vehicle for a family or an entry point into the world of pedal-driven, electrified two-wheeled vehicles, the BMW i Vision AMBY offers an extremely varied range of applications. It hugely expands the usage scope of a conventional e-bike through clever technologies related to the three riding modes.
The design of the BMW i Vision AMBY is defined by visual lightness and powerful athleticism. And every detail promises that it is capable of more than a regular e-bike. The frame structure is larger and the impression is one of greater strength and stability in every respect. The modern frame geometry feels like a mixture of racing bike and sporty e-bike. The upper frame tube, crafted from four sculptural aluminium profiles, represents an expressive and modern statement of intent – and not only in visual terms. A slightly rising sweep to its design underscores the dynamic intent. The space between the profiles also offers stowage room for a backpack or laptop bag. Located just before the handlebars is the smartphone integration pad, which holds the device safely in place using magnets and ensures it is highly visible.
The battery is positioned in the centre of the frame. Its 2,000 Wh enables a range of up to 300 km (186 miles), depending on the riding mode. Thanks to fast charging technology, it recharges in only three hours. The drive unit, which is positioned close to the pedals and is also black in colour, only provides assistance when the pedals are being turned. Power transfer is by low-maintenance toothed belt, and the transmission is integrated into the drive system. A sophisticated single-sided swinging arm otherwise unique to BMW Motorrad links the rear wheel with the frame. 120 mm of suspension travel front and rear is ideal for all applications in and around town at speeds of up to 60 km/h (37 mph). The 27.5-inch wheels are fitted with larger and wider tyres than normal in order to ensure exceptional comfort and safety even at higher speeds.
The design of the handlebar stem as part of the frame has a very technical and high-quality feel. A slim, horizontal LED light strip is integrated into the wide handlebars and underscores the cutting-edge, technical look of this frame section. Likewise fully integrated brakes and internally routed cables set the seal on the aura of technical modernity covering the handlebar area. The vertical LED rear light is integrated into the seat post. Below it, an e-ink display shows the riding mode in use.
The rear wheel with central fastening can be released and removed easily for optimum ease of transportation. The wheel in the front suspension fork can likewise be removed in the classical way with a screw. The result is a compact construction, and the battery can also be removed and stored separately, which reduces load weight.
A pedal-driven two-wheeled vehicle brings many benefits to urban conurbations as a means of transport – in terms of zero emissions functionality, traffic area development and energy efficiency – through its underlying concept alone. The BMW i Vision AMBY two-wheeler also forms part of the circular economy messaging for the BMW i Vision Circular, which is likewise celebrating its premiere at the IAA 2021 Mobility. The frame can be clearly recognised as being made from the same anodised secondary aluminium as the main body of the BMW i Vision Circular. Added to which, parts of the handlebars and battery cover are manufactured from “floating grey polymers”, a recycled plastic also employed in the bumpers of the Vision Vehicle. These materials can be fed back into the BMW Group materials cycle more easily once the product has reached the end of its life. An oil derived from rapeseed is used as brake fluid. And the BMW Group was also careful to ensure the components of the BMW i Vision AMBY were produced locally in Germany and – with the supply chain in mind – transportation distances for them were kept to a minimum.
More details on the sustainability-related themes around the BMW Group’s concept vehicles at IAA Mobility 2021 can be found on the BMW Circular Lab microsite at bmw.com, in the BMW Circular Hub at Max-Joseph-Platz in central Munich and in connection with the BMW i Vision Circular Vision Vehicle.
Users can prime the BMW i Vision AMBY for use, load their stored licence classes and apply the required level of insurance cover on demand using a specially developed app. The app therefore takes on the role traditionally performed by a vehicle key. It uses familiar smartphone identification functionality (e.g. facial recognition) in the same way as the Digital Key, which was introduced by the BMW Group in an automotive industry first and turns a compatible iPhone into a digital car key by allowing customers to unlock, lock and, of course, start their BMW safely and easily. Other basic functions and status requests (e.g. the current and scheduled charge level) are also available, as when using the BMW app. The electrically adjustable seat post is optimised biometrically to match the profile stored in the app, with the settings adjusted according to pre-entered data – such as the height and inside leg measurement of the user – before setting off. Over-the-air updates allow customers to download software updates and adjustments at any time. The smartphone shown on the Vision Vehicle charges inductively on the magnetic bracket low down in the rider’s field of view. These connectivity options also bring theft-proofing and the free programmable immobiliser as a basic function. And the search function “Where is my BMW i Vision AMBY” is just a click on a smartphone away.
Instead of the user choosing the riding mode themselves, geofencing technology – in combination with the detailed HERE map service – is able to create the relevant parameters for automatically setting the speed mode (25/ 45/ 60 km/h [15.5/ 28/ 37 mph]) and corresponding insurance cover. This geofencing technology enables the vehicle to recognise the type of road being used and automatically adjusts the maximum permitted speed accordingly. This means the BMW i Vision AMBY can turn from a pedelec into an S-pedelec-type vehicle or even one similar to a motorcycle. Manual mode control is, of course, also provided in order to give the user maximum freedom when it comes to using the various types of route. However, intelligent technology ensures the relevant traffic and safety rules are still kept to at all times. The mode engaged is shown on the display using e-ink technology – this makes it easy for other road users to identify the mode activated/selected.
Other technological functions that could be included in the BMW i Vision AMBY are an ABS system optimised for bicycles, an automatic high-beam assistant and brake light assistant, and a daytime riding light – all of which could increase safety. A tyre pressure monitoring system similar to that fitted to BMW Group motorcycles is also a possibility. Meanwhile, a proximity radar operating over a range of up to 140 m gives the user a visual and acoustic warning (via the app) of vehicles approaching from the rear, and rounds off the range of possible safety features.
MONTH IN REVIEW
Dear members
You may have been wondering whether we'd forgotten about our newsletter this month because we're a little late! We were holding off on the hope we'd be able to give you some new information about the Club Permit Scheme, however the news hasn't come through just yet.
We were lucky to start August with a weekend at Broadford for round 7 of our Traction Tyres/Yokohama Drivers Championship with AROCA. We are hoping it won't be our last outing of the year!
____________________
Our August members meeting was luckily already planned to be a virtual meeting. It was great to see quite a few members log on for our short presentation on some of the new initiatives we've introduced to the club, such as our Welfare Team and our Officials Officer.
Some of us then got up (or stayed up) in the early hours of the morning on Saturday 28 August to join BMW Clubs and Community Management in Munich for a tour of BMW Classic and a casual chat with the team. We are hoping to see more of these in the future, and hopefully not all in the early hours of the morning!
Unfortunately we did have a number of events we had to cancel over the last month and some we've had to cancel coming up this month. We are hopeful that soon we will be able to see you all again in person.
We did receive some good news in August. We were successful in applying for some Government grants, giving us $11,000 to spend on new equipment for the club and sending some of our officials to first aid training.
MEMBERSHIP UPDATE: 626 MEMBERS
Welcome to our new members Mark Mackenzie, Chris Kondos, Nashwa Salib, Anthony Saint Ange, Blake Atkinson, John Chiodo, Kelvin Khoo, Mark Grover, Mat Shields and Samuel Cox. 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 September:
Tuesday, 7 SeptemberVirtual car show and catch upIf you haven't registered or sent photos of your car through to Lawrence, please do so as soon as you can! Tuesday, 21 September Annual General Meeting All members should have received their notices about the AGM now. It's definitely worth all members attending to select the committee for the next 12 months. There will also be some raffle prizes up for grabs!
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.
Motorsport Australia.
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
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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Waverley BMW
Zagame Autobody
Unfortunately, August for most of us, has been spent in lockdown, and I know we have all been suffering with these current restrictions, but we have been doing our best to keep in contact with you all and give you something to look forward to. It is looking like we will be restricted for a while yet, so keep positive and look forward to when we can get back out and together again.
We did manage to get out for one weekend on 1 August for round 7 of the Traction Tyres/Yokohama Drivers Championship at Broadford. It feels like a distant memory now but it was great to see so many take advantage of it and have a great day out at Broadford. It was a beautiful sunny day and fun was had by all.
Our August members meeting was always scheduled to be a catch up via Zoom and it was great to see so many of our members log on. We had a short presentation explaining some of the new initiatives we have introduced to the club, like our Welfare Team and our Officials Officer.
It was great to be able to introduce all of the Welfare Team and our Officials Officer to those who logged in and to also explain what their roles are within the club. Members can view the August update from the Welfare team here. At our meeting we also just had time to chat and go over some of the new merchandise items now in the store, so if you missed out be sure to check out our new items here.
We were then invited to join BMW Clubs and Community Management in Munich for a video tour on Friday 27 August, which was actually 2am on Saturday morning for us. A few of us logged in and were treated to a tour of the BMW Classic warehouse and a casual chat with the BCCM Team. It was great to chat to our friend Eva and see what is happening in the world of BMW. This virtual meeting will become a monthly item on our calendar and we have been assured that it won’t always be at 2am our time. They will try and make it a better time for us that will suit everyone else as well. They are very happy to answer any questions about BMW Classic or particular cars, so, if you want to know anything look out for the link to the next one and log in.
As a result of lockdown, we did have to cancel quite a few events, such as:
Where possible we will postpone our own events to later dates, rather than cancelling them. As we go from week to week we will keep making announcements about the upcoming events. With this week’s reports that lockdown will continue into September, we will just have to keep playing it as it comes. This means Saturday’s Traction Tyres/Yokohama Drivers Championship Round 9 at Sandown is cancelled and the following weekend, our already rescheduled trip to Port Fairy to go whale watching will be postponed again, likely until 2022.
We have been invited to join the BMW Drivers Club NSW on Friday, 3 September for an online Trivia night. If it’s like the one we held last year it will be a bit of fun to join in on.
Then, until we can have some certainty in life again, we will go back to virtual events again, starting with a Virtual Car show via zoom on 7 September. If you haven’t registered or sent photos of your cars into Lawrence at secretary@bmwdcm.com.au please do so as soon as you can. It will be great to see what we are all hiding in our workshops and garages. We will be happy to look at any projects you have happening too so these do not have to be photos of perfect cars, or even BMWs, we would just like to see what it out there.
The next display event was going to be at the Shannons Nationals at Sandown on 18-19 September, but the event has also been cancelled.
Our AGM will be held this year via Zoom on 21 September. You will have received your notices about the AGM, there are some great raffle prizes on offer for those logged in on the night, so make sure you register here and if you are unable to log in on the night, please send through your proxy vote so that the event can go ahead. We do need a quorum to hold the AGM, so please do virtually attend if you can.
We did receive some good news in August. We were approved for two of the Government grants that we applied for. One for equipment and one for training, totalling just over $11,000. Once we can, we will be sending 10 of our members/officials to do a first aid course at no cost to them, see the expression of interest on the website if you are interested in doing a first aid course to help us at events. We will also be purchasing more equipment that we need to run the excellent club events we run. Things like the hi-vis official’s shirts, UHF radios and other items we need for track days. So, thank you to the Victorian Government and Minister Ros Spence for granting us the money to help our club grow. A full report on the grants received and how we spend the money will be tabled at the AGM in September.
If you have nothing to do one of these lockdown days, you should download the Wild Apricot Member App (click for Android or Apple) to your smartphone, log in to our database and update all your details - from cars you have, to just checking your contact details are up to date. You can now also opt in or out of having a physical membership card because every member now has a digital card in the App. So if you don’t want to receive a plastic card each year, you can now let us know not to send you one.
Until we see what happens with this current lockdown and how long we are kept restricted we will just have to be patient and follow the rules. As soon as we can, we will set up events again and get back out and do the things we all love. Keep an eye on your emails and our Facebook group to see what is coming up. We have a lot of event ideas, as always, and we will get back out again as soon as we are allowed.
For now, take care, stay safe and get a jab so we can get past this and get back to what we love doing. Keep thinking about the future and look forward to when we can get back to normal. If you are feeling sad or lonely, pick up the phone and give me or the Welfare Team a call, we are here for you all, any time.
Event date: early hours of 28 August 2021
For those of you who couldn't stay up late last night, you missed a great catch up with Eva and the BMW Clubs and Community Management Team in Munich.
Members were invited to join in the video hook up for the first of what will become a monthly casual catch up with the BCCM Team to keep up to date with what is going on and coming up in the world of BMW.
Last night we met the team and had a tour of the display housed in the original BMW building that is open for members to go and see, once we can travel again.
We have been there a few times and it is well worth the visit if you get the chance. But for now, it's great to be able to have a video tour of the facility and see some of the cars that make up the BMW Classic Collection, as well as catch up for a chat with the people that run the BMW Club network worldwide.
The BMW Collection comprises more than 1,500 cars and bikes a couple of boats and even an Aeroplane, but there are only a hundred or so on display at any one time. It is very interesting to note that nearly all of these cars and bikes on display are registered for use on the roads and are often used for displays and historic events. Some are even raced in historic race meeting still.
Was great seeing the new Motorrad gallery, that has been added since we were last there, too.
We will let members know when the next hook up is scheduled, and you too can log in and have a chat with the team. They were very happy to answer questions and asked if there is anything we would specifically like to see to let them know.
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