Event date: 30 January 2022
German Auto Show (GAS) has been running now for over seven years and previously successfully run by the VW Club of Victoria. Previously, events were held at the Deaf Children’s Association in St Kilda. The last event in 2019 was hugely successful (2020 was cancelled due to Covid) and they were bursting at the seams with so many wonderful cars.
After the cancelation of 2020, BMW Drives Club Melbourne approached VW Club early in 2021 to ask if they wanted us to help and run the event for 2021. After a meeting with their committee and some agreements made not to change key things, we all agreed that for 2021, BMWDCM would run the GAS event.
Unfortunately, COVID struck again, and the event scheduled for August needed to be postponed until further notice.
January was looking free from lockdowns and other events so 30 January was booked in.
After months of planning and a full day of setting up on Saturday, 6.30am Sunday morning our band of merry volunteers all turned up to assist in what turned out to be an epic event. Over 500 German Cars and 1000+ walk ins and a bright sunny day was a fantastic cocktail for success.
We had a steady stream of cars entering from 7.30am until 10am and then more after that, it just didn’t seem to stop.
Our volunteers were amazing, hardly stopping for a break, but I insisted they all sit for at least 20 minutes, re hydrate, eat and at least charge their batteries. With over 40 volunteers this was managed well, and we had no casualties except two blisters on my heels.
We would like to thank our major sponsors for the day Shannons Insurance, who brought their Super Rig and John Bowe along to entertain all our attendees. Traction Tyres/Yokohama, Bell Motorsport, Jay Leno Garage Products, All Commercial All Residential, Southern BM, Makulu Vehicle Storage, German Auto Haus, E30 Racing, Victorian Flag Marshalling Team, SONAX, Adex Detailing and German Tivoli Club.
This year’s event was to raise funds for Beyond Blue and we were hoping for somewhere in the region of $3-$5K when planning, however, after counting all collected before and on the day, our final tally was, $10,372.97, which BMWDCM rounded up to $10,500.
Winners on the day were:
We would like to thank all our volunteers who gave so much of their time, without them we would not have been able to achieve such an amazing day.
We are not sure who will be running this event next time, but it grows and grows each year and I am sure 2023 will be even bigger and better.
Jo Mawson | Member #2 BMW Drivers Club Melbourne
Event date: 26 January 2022
I had the pleasure to have my first drive as a member of the BMW Drivers Club Melbourne, on Australia Day, accompanied by my lovely wife and daughter, my best mate (a proud owner of a BMW X5) and the rest of the club members! I would like to thank you all for this amazing experience! I was absolutely thrilled to find out, that the club was recently awarded with "BMW Club of the Year 2021"! How cool is that! Thank you Graeme for sharing a spare radio with me. It certainly helped me a lot. I will be definitely getting my own for our next drive.
Everything was very well planned and the drive went smooth. The route was magnificent, I love curvy mountain roads where I can enjoy pushing the car and this one did not disappoint!
Lunch was great, but most importantly, having the opportunity to share my passion with other BMW enthusiasts and finding new friends was far more greater.
See you next time!
Martin Manev | Member #803 BMW Drivers Club Melbourne
For BMW M Motorsport and BMW of North America, this weekend’s Rolex 24 At Daytona (USA) represents one of the highlights of the season, even this early in the year. The new BMW M4 GT3 is set to make its debut at the endurance classic in Florida. BMW M Team RLL and Turner Motorsport were in action last weekend at the test and qualifying event, Roar Before the 24, where they secured their start positions for the 24-hour race. The big race is the perfect stage on which to mark the 50-year anniversary of BMW M GmbH, which will celebrate the occasion with a top-class programme both on and off the track.
The sporting foundations for the coming weekend were laid over the last few days, within the many test sessions and the 100-minute qualifying race. The two MOTUL BMW M4 GT3s run by BMW M Team RLL qualified 12th and 13th in the GTD-PRO class. At the wheel of the #24 car were BMW M works drivers Sheldon van der Linde (RSA) and Nick Yelloly (GBR), gaining as much experience as possible. Their team-mates Marco Wittmann (GER) and Philipp Eng (AUT) were only in action in the test sessions. In the #25 car, Augusto Farfus (BRA) and Jesse Krohn (FIN) skipped the qualifying race, while John Edwards and Connor De Phillippi (both USA) shared the cockpit. Turner Motorsport, with drivers Bill Auberlen, Robby Foley, Michael Dinan (all USA) and Jens Klingmann (GER) in the #96 BMW M4 GT3, failed to finish in the GTD class following a collision. As a result, they will start from the back of the field at the weekend.
“The 24 Hours of Daytona is a very special race for BMW M Motorsport in many regards – and for me personally,” said Mike Krack, Head of BMW M Motorsport. “For the first time this season, the 50-year anniversary of BMW M will be duly celebrated, thanks to the efforts of BMW of North America at the racetrack. From a sporting perspective, we are extremely excited about our IMSA debut with the BMW M4 GT3. We have already seen at the Roar that setting up and classifying a totally new GT car can pose challenges that need a little time to master. However, the drivers and teams are constantly making progress and will continue to improve over the course of the race weekend. I am confident that we will see good performances at my final race as Head of BMW M Motorsport. I am really looking forward to it.”
MOTUL is partner of BMW M Motorsport and lends its name to the BMW M Team RLL cars. “After two years of successful partnership, including the 2020 24h Daytona win, we are very proud to continue our adventure together,“ said Romain Grabowski, Head of Brand MOTUL. “This is not only a partnership renewal, it is a real challenge for our two companies with the introduction of the brand new MOTUL BMW M4 GT3 as we have both been working together on its technical development. We are hoping to provide BMW fans from all over the world with great excitement as well as top quality engine oil, allowing them to extract maximum power output from their BMW engines while benefiting from maximal protection.” Fellow partners Akrapovič, H&R, Michelin and Puma are also working closely with BMW M Motorsport. They are joined by BMW of North America’s partners BMW M Performance Driving School and Global Medical Response and BMW M Team RLL’s partners Aero and Rousseau.
As well as the race action, BMW M Motorsport and BMW of North America will also mark 50 years of BMW M with a host of highlights on the support programme for the Rolex 24 At Daytona. Directly before the start of the race, there will be a parade of vintage and current BMW M cars, including a BMW M1 from 1980. Three race cars that made history by winning IMSA races will be on display at the ‘Rolex 24 Heritage Exhibition’ in the ‘Daytona Fan Zone’: the BMW 3.0 CSL from 1975, the 2015 BMW Z4 GTLM, and the BMW M8 GTE that triumphed at Daytona in 2019.
Once again, BMW M is also the title partner of the BMW M Endurance Challenge, the 4-hour race that kicks off the season in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge. Four BMW M4 GT4s run by the Turner Motorsport, Stephen Cameron Racing and Random Vandals Racing teams will compete in the race on Friday. The field will be led by BMW M3 and BMW M4 safety cars. Attending as representatives of BMW M GmbH are CEO Franciscus van Meel and Timo Resch, Vice President Customer, Brand and Sales at BMW M GmbH.
The BMW M Endurance Challenge gets underway at 19:35 CET on Friday 28th January. The Rolex 24 starts at 19:40 CET on Saturday 29th January.
Bobby Rahal (Team Principal BMW M Team RLL): “We are very proud to have played a role in a good portion of the history of BMW M Motorsport. For us, signing with BMW back in 2008 for the 2009 season was a huge honour – so for us to be part of this 50th anniversary of BMW M is really something special. We are super excited about racing the new BMW M4 GT3, once again introducing a new race car to BMW fans like we have done with the M3 GT, Z4 GTLM, M6 GTLM and M8 GTE. We have been fortunate to have success with each of those cars which makes it exciting to embark on this new project and hopefully have more success with this great new chassis in 2022. BMW M Motorsport has assembled another great driver line-up and our drivers will have to give us their best. There are a lot of good drivers in GTD PRO and we’re looking forward to the competition.”
Sheldon van der Linde (#24 MOTUL BMW M4 GT3): “Not a great qualifying race for us. Obviously, we would have liked to be further up on the grid. Our job is to make sure that everything runs smoothly within the team. For me personally it’s the first race with the RLL team, so I was getting to know everybody during these days. My first time with BMW M Motorsport at Daytona means there’s a lot left for me to learn.”
Nick Yelloly (#24 MOTUL BMW M4 GT3): “We could see in the qualifying race where we are at the moment – and that’s not where we want to be. Now we have to stick our heads together in the days to come. In general, it’s pleasure to drive the BMW M4 GT3 and work with BMW M Team RLL. Now we just have to find some speed.”
John Edwards (#25 MOTUL BMW M4 GT3): “The qualifying race didn’t end up great but fortunately there are no points awarded for it. Now we have a week ahead of us where we’ll put our heads down and prepare for the 24-hour race to go for the result when it counts.”
Connor De Phillippi (#25 MOTUL BMW M4 GT3): “Not the result we wanted, obviously. We executed well and had a clean race. We just didn’t have the package to challenge for top positions. Let’s hope it will be different next weekend and we can put on a fight.”
Jens Klingmann (#96 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3): “For us the focus was on set-up work. It’s important to find a good balance between racing day and night. There are still a lot of things to learn and discover with the new car. I think we made good progress and the car is in a good window. It is easy to drive which is important for a 24-hour race. Now we just got to make it fast. I am confident we’ll get there soon.”
BMW PRESS
Outstanding performance, fascinating luxury and a confident appearance characterize the BMW M8 Competition Coupé (combined fuel consumption: 11.4 – 11.0 l/100 km according to WLTP; combined CO2 emissions: 260 – 251 g/km), the BMW M8 Competition Cabriolet (combined fuel consumption: 11.6 – 11.2 l/100 km according to WLTP). LTP; combined CO2 emissions: 265 – 255 g/km) and the BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupé (combined fuel consumption: 11.6 – 11.2 l/100 km according to WLTP; combined CO2 emissions: 265 – 256 g/km). Design modifications and optimized operation.
The new edition of the BMW M8, which is available in three body versions, is particularly popular with additions to the range of exterior colours and the M alloy wheels. Additional possibilities for individualising the appearance are provided by the M lights Shadow Line, which are available for the first time for the luxurious high-performance sports cars. Full leather Merino/Alcantara in the new Black/Sakhir Orange colour variant provides fresh impulses in the interior. In addition, the operating comfort is increased by the 12.3-inch touch display of the BMW iDrive operating system.
The BMW M8 Competition Coupé, the BMW M8 Competition Cabriolet and the BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupé together mark the top position in the model range of BMW M GmbH, which has a strong presence in the luxury segment with this model series. With their independent body concepts, the three top models each embody an individual expression of M of typical performance in the prestigious competitive environment of luxury sports cars.
Their central common feature is the drive and chassis technology designed for an extremely emotional driving experience. Power for outstanding performance is provided by a V8 engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology, which mobilizes a maximum output of 460 kW/625 hp and a maximum torque of 750 Nm. Due to its typical M high-speed character, the engine develops high drive torque over wide load ranges, which is optimally placed on the road via an 8-speed M Steptronic transmission with Drivelogic and the M xDrive all-wheel drive system. Their precise coordination enables exciting sporty driving manoeuvres, such as accelerating from a standstill to 100 km/h in just 3.2 seconds (BMW M8 Competition Coupé and BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupé) or 3.3 seconds (BMW M8 Competition Cabriolet).
A chassis technology developed with racing know-how and tailored to each model guarantees the characteristic harmony of dynamics, agility and precision in driving behaviour of BMW M Automobile in every situation. The experience gained during the development of the BMW M8 GTE racing car was also used.
Powerful shapes, generous, elegant surfaces, aerodynamically optimised lines and M-specific design features that are geared to the functional requirements of a high-performance sports car characterise the unmistakable appearance of the BMW M8 Competition Coupé, the BMW M8 Competition Cabriolet and the BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupé. The clear surface design of the exterior is now particularly intensively underlined by new exterior colours. The update in the body painting program includes eight variants available for the first time for the three models.
The new range includes the exterior colours Skyscraper grey mectallic, Brooklyn grey metallic and Isle of Man green metallic as well as the BMW Individual lacquer tansanite blue metallic. In addition, four new variants of the particularly high-quality Frozen finishes are available, which impressively highlight the modern design language of the BMW M8 models with their silk-matt finishes. The BMW Individual special finishes Frozen Pure Grey metallic, Frozen Deep Grey metallic, Frozen Deep Green metallic and Frozen Tanzanite Blue metallic are also available.
The BMW Laser Light with adaptive cornering light and glare-free main beam assistant BMW Selective Beam provides optimized visibility in different weather conditions and driving situations as standard. As an option, they are now also available as M lamps Shadow Line for the new edition of high-performance sports cars. The dark design of the inserts and chrome elements inside the headlamps, in combination with the high-gloss black frame of the BMW kidney as standard, contributes to a particularly striking and sporty look on the front of the vehicle.
The chassis technology of the new BMW M8 models includes electronically controlled shock absorbers and an electromechanical M Servotronic steering system, as well as an integrated brake system that enables the display of two pedal characteristics. This allows the rider to choose between a comfort-oriented and a sporty-direct pedal feeling. As an alternative to the standard M Compound brake system, an optional M Carbon ceramic brake is available.
The DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) driving stability system allows the driver to activate the M Dynamic Mode, which allows greater wheel slip. In combination with the rear-wheel-driven design of the M xDrive, particularly sporty driving maneuvers including controlled drifts can be experienced. The standard equipment also includes 20-inch M light alloy wheels equipped with high-performance tyres in the sizes 275/35 R 20 front and 285/35 R 20 rear. Other M light alloy wheels in the same format are available as special equipment, including a new variant in star-spoke design and in bicolor black/grey version.
The interior of the new BMW M8 models combines a typical M cockpit design with modern luxury. The standard BMW Head-Up Display offers M-specific displays. The Setup button on the center console allows direct access to the settings for the engine, damper, steering, M xDrive and brake system. Two variants of the individually created M Setup can be permanently stored together with the preferred settings for the drive sound, the gearshift characteristic, the driving stability control and the Auto Start Stop function. They can then be accessed by pressing one of the two M buttons on the steering wheel. In addition, the M Mode button on the centre console can be used to control the driver assistance systems as well as the displays in the instrument cluster and the head-up display. You can select the settings ROAD, SPORT and TRACK.
The standard M sports seats also support the intensive driving experience in the high-performance sports car. The optionally available M Carbon bucket seats create an unadulterated racing feeling for the driver and passenger. With their structure-based design, visible carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) surfaces, integrated headrests, openings in the backrests and side cheeks and guides for multi-point seat belts, they combine racing functionality with long-distance comfort and luxurious workmanship. They are heated and also offer electrical adjustment options, an illuminated “M8” lettering on the headrests and a memory function on the driver’s side.
In combination with the M Sports seats and the M Carbon bucket seats, a full-leather Merino/Alcantara trim is standard on board the new BMW M8 models. It is now also available for the first time in the colour combination Black/Sakhir Orange. In addition, the black Alcantara dimensions in all versions of this equipment are now being extended to the instrument panel and the upper areas of the door sills.
The BMW Live Cockpit Professional is also part of standard equipment in the BMW M8 Competition Coupé, BMW M8 Competition Cabriolet and BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupé. It includes a control display whose screen size has now grown from 10.25 to 12.3 inches. The touch function of the large on-board monitor allows a particularly fast, comfortable and intuitive operation of numerous vehicle functions.
The BMW Live Cockpit Professional includes the online navigation system BMW Maps and the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant. In addition, the standard equipment with the Driving Assistant, the Parking Assistant including reversing assistant, the telephony with wireless charging and the Harman Kardon Surround Sound System underlines the exclusive character of the new BMW M8 models.
The Verona Motor Bike Expo has been the perfect stage to bring to the eyes of Italian and European enthusiasts two exclusive motorcycle customization projects based on the iconic BMW R 18.
These are the result of the collaboration of BMW Motorrad Italy and its dealer network with some of the historical players of this world.The R 18 M is a project developed by Italian Magazine LowRide and created by American Dreams. The R 18 Aurora, was created by Garage 221 that was engaged by BMW Motorrad Roma.
M is the letter that distinguished the sport versions of BMW four-wheeled models, and today it also includes two-wheeled vehicles. The source of inspiration for the BMW R 18 M project by the editorial staff of LowRide is the following: the idea is to give the BMW Cruiser a more streamlined and sportier look, avoiding exaggerations and especially without forgetting the reference to the BMW R 18 retro lines.
"Stability, long wheelbase and readiness of the 1800 cc big boxer instigate lightning starts and deserve, in our opinion, a sporty and retro look. In the R 18 M design, we find suggestions from BMW Motorrad tradition and cues from the four-wheelers: M stands for Motorsport” as Giuseppe Roncen, director of LowRide and a great expert of the world of specials, described the BMW R 18 M project.
The work has focused on chassis, suspension set-up, bodywork, and accessories, leaving mechanics and electronics unchanged as the natural strengths of the R 18. Lightened and with a different riding position, the BMW R 18 M promises to be even more fun to ride: "We remain curious to experience its potential. Significantly lightened, the bike should also be easy to handle due to its riding position, which is more compact and forward loaded, without exaggeration."
The R 18 M project was made possible by BMW Italia and was born in the wake of the emotions that this bike can give: a fun cruiser, powerful and lively, with a big heart and an infinite torque. LowRide has involved some of the best Italian craftsmanship and companies specialized in the sector. The realization of the sketches was entrusted to designer Oberdan Bezzi, already a partner of LowRide in the past. He has managed to make it an exciting power cruiser without upsetting the essence of the BMW R 18. American Dreams handled the assembly and coordinated the work; Elaboratorio, specializing in prototyping and modeling, created tail, tip and fiberglass windshield from scratch. Carbon Italy handled the head covers, intake ducts, and other carbon fiber details. The short exhaust pipe, designed to make the line more compact and allow greater lean angles, bears the signature of ER Exhaust Revolution. The short exhaust pipes also give greater prominence to the splendid uncovered nickel-plated shaft, an evocative detail that deserves to be highlighted. L.R. Leather covered the saddle in leather, while the paintwork was entrusted to Dox Art Factory. Rizoma provided mirrors, grips, and universal indicators for the accessories, perfectly in line with the bike's character.
The idea and desire of Garage 221 to create a custom bike based on the BMW R 18 found its origins a while ago, at the presentation of the bike at EICMA 2019. The lines of the new BMW cruiser, innovative and at the same time faithfully traditional, deserved "complementary elements and an even more Heritage spirit, starting from the soft lines of the tank to the characteristic shapes of the boxer," in the opinion of Pier Francesco Marchio of Garage 221.
The project initially focused on the study of the different sections of the bike, keeping in mind the need to connect the new elements in a unique harmony of lines, taking inspiration from the cruisers of the 1970s, which have always particularly involved Pier Francesco "for their impressive aesthetic fluidity." Distinctive elements of the BMW R 18 Aurora by Garage 221 are the wraparound fenders and adherent to the wheel, like the "batwing", to leave space and thus highlight the central area of the bike.
The modifications that led to the R 18 Aurora stem from Garage 221's experience in the BMW world and indeed all used elements come from other models of BMW Motorrad. The saddle was borrowed in its entirety from a BMW 1200 C of 2005, the Batwing supports were made using the supports for indicators of a BMW R 100 of 1982 and a part of the rear frame of a BMW K 75 of 1991. Even for the color of the body, the code of a 1983 BMW RT 100 was taken as a reference, customizing the graphics in its shades and intensity. The front and rear fender supports, saddle supports, and license plate holder arms are entirely handmade.
The exhaust pipes were made in collaboration with Leo Vince, taking particular care of the sound, to make it even more full-bodied and captivating. Their design has been specifically studied to give a very personal and muscular line to the central part of the R 18. The R 18 Aurora's oil cooler grille gives a classy natural touch, inspired by the grille of BMW's cars from the 1960s. "It was a lot of hard work," said Pier Francesco, "but the result is truly stunning. The textured paintwork of the cylinder head covers, the injection housings, the central crankcase and our oil cooler grille make everything look homogeneous, creating a unique effect with the cylinder block and the bevel gear."
Disclaimer. The vehicles shown may be modified and fitted with third-party accessories and/or proprietary parts that are not manufactured, distributed or tested by BMW. BMW accepts no liability for the modifications (including the fitting, characteristics and use of the accessories shown). NOTE: Modification of series production vehicles (including the fitting and use of third-party and self-made parts) can impair riding characteristics! Riding our vehicles in modified condition is at your own risk.
Month in review.
Dear members,
Happy New Year!
As quickly as it came, December is already gone but it left us with some really exciting news that we can't wait to share with you in the coming weeks.
Looking back on the month that was, it was quiet in comparison to the norm as we took an opportunity to wind down for a break over Christmas and New Year.
Our month started with a twilight drive led by Peter Williams, leaving from Jay Leno's Garage Car Products. Nev and Evan put on a fantastic BBQ for us before we began our drive and gave us an opportunity to test drive some of the products on our cars too. The drive itself took us to South Werribee beach, where it was too cold to swim but not too cold to catch up with everyone for one last chat before we drove home.
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On 12 December we were also invited to Cars and Coffee with Jay Leno's Garage Car Products. Those who attended had a great time, with so many different cars to see.
Our month then finished with our final live catch up with the BMW Club and Community Management Team at a much easier time of 8pm. We were taken on a tour of the facility and found out about some exciting things that will be happening in 2022. Be sure to watch out for these events in future as we can expect more to be held at 8pm (Melbourne time), which is a much nicer time for us to attend.
Late in December we also opened our Expressions of Interest to display at the 2022 Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix. We've received a high number of responses already - please note expressing your interest doesn't automatically guarantee you a spot as we are only able to display 20 cars.
MEMBERSHIP UPDATE: 650 MEMBERS
Welcome to our new members Kam Hayar, Ben Goodfellow, Jeremy Blaze, Michael Christopoulos, Dale Uren, Patrick Kearns and Paul Stewart. 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 January:
Sunday, 16 January Round 1 | 2022 Traction Tyres/Yokohama Drivers Championship Get your entries in as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. Tuesday, 18 January Special Zoom Meeting We have some really exciting news to share! Make sure you don't miss this one. Wednesday, 26 January Australia Day Drive and Lunch in Marysville We'll meet at 9.30am in Officer and make our way to Marysville for lunch at Elevation 423. Friday, 28 JanuaryBMW Clubs Team Special Announcement live from Munich Make sure you register to receive the meeting link! Sunday, 30 January German Auto Show - vehicle registration German Auto Show - officials registrationThe German Auto Show brings the best German vehicles together in Melbourne in one spot, with some of the quirky and now defunct brands being included.
Be sure to keep an eye on our calendar to stay up to date with our events. If you're attending a social drive or weekend away, we recommend checking out our event tips to help you get the best out of the event.
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.
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Want to sell something? Looking for a specific item? Email us today to list your car/parts/anything BMW related!
New BMW, BMW Motorrad and MINI ranges.
You can now order BMW Group Calendars and more from the BMW, BMW Motorrad and MINI Range. Click the links below to view the products available and don't forget to use this code at checkout for an additional 10% off: KAL4U22A
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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!
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Farewell to 2021 and Happy New Year to 2022! I hope the new year brings us all good health and good fortune.
I hope you are all enjoying a break from the craziness that has been the last 12 months and enjoying some family time again, or a trip away for some R&R, like Jo and I are.
December came upon us quicker than we were all expecting, and just like that it is gone, but it has left us with some very good news we will share with you at a very special member Zoom meeting in the second week of January. Keep an eye out for the event notice because it is really one you don't want to miss!
10 December was our first event for the month, which was a twilight drive leaving from Jay Leno Garage Car Products. Thank you to Nev and Evan for putting on a fantastic BBQ with all our members being well fed. It was great to be able to get to see all the products and also to test drive some on our cars, thanks again guys. We set off on our drive with Peter Williams at the helm, leading us on another fantastic drive through some roads I had forgotten were even there. One of my favourite parts was going down the Memorial Avenue which has trees dedicated to our fallen soldiers of WW1 and along the old Calder Highway. When I was a child mum used to pack us in the back of the station wagon and head off home to Mildura every chance we got. We must have driven up and down the old Calder hundreds of times. Ah, the memories… We ended at South Werribee beach which was another spot I had not known of and if it had been a warmer evening it would have been lovely to explore, but the winds were cool so we all huddled around our cars and chatted. It was great to see so many new members attending and some really amazing cars. Look out for more Twilight drives throughout summer.
On 12 December Jay Leno Garage Products invited us and many other car clubs to join them for a Cars and Coffee morning. This again was well attended with some great cars on show.
17 December was our live hook up with the BMW Club and Community Management Team, which was at a much more respectable 8pm, so more Australians could attend. This was not a disappointment and as per usual, we had a great tour of the facility and found out about some amazing things that will be happening in 2022. Be sure to watch out for these events as they are now going to be held at 8pm so we can all enjoy them.
We have opened EOI for AGP and we have had a massive response to this as per normal. As mentioned, this is just and expression of interest and not all cars registered will be able to be on display, as we only have 20 spots and we do want a wide range of cars and colours, to make it more interesting. Personally, I’d like to see more M cars too, to help celebrate 50 years of BMW’s M division in 2022.
Some of you may have noticed that Jo and I officiated at the Bathurst 1000 this year. Wow this was an amazing event and to be in the thick of things officiating was just awesome. As an official at Supercars events you get well looked after. At Bathurst we got free camping in the officials’ campground, which is in the middle of the track just behind the pit area, near where all the trucks park. Each official is given a guest ticket for the whole event, so even if you are wanting to officiate and your partner doesn't they can still attend and join in most of the fun. You are given breakfast, lunch and some nights dinner - food is no issue, if you come away from this event and you are hungry, I will be very surprised. On hot days you also get ice-creams and plenty of drinks. They cater for all dietary requirements as well. You are also given a very smart uniform. At Bathurst we all got two shirts, a warm jacket, a cap, a bucket hat, thermos flask, diary and much more. They really do appreciate all the hard work the officials do for them, and they look after you. I was a scrutineer which enabled me to go pretty much anywhere which was awesome. I looked after the GT cars and the Supercars. Jo had it tough and was in the Supercars office, which she said was hard, but someone had to do it (LOL). She was in the main office above pit straight with her own private balcony, aircon, full catering, you name it, and drivers popping in daily. We intend to do this and other Supercars events in 2022, Covid permitting, so if you think this would be a great way to watch the race, and it is, make sure you have your Motorsport Australia licence and Working with Children Check and look out for my emails letting you know when the registrations are open. We will be running a few officials training events through the year again, so keep an eye out for them.
I hope you all had an amazing Christmas with your family and friends. Our hearts go out to those who were not able to be with their loved ones, due to Covid restrictions or any other reason. I'd also like to extend our sincerest condolences to one of our members who lost his son just before Christmas.
Looking ahead to 2022 - as I mentioned, keep an eye on your emails for notification of our first Zoom event in the second week of January. It will be something very special.
On 16 January we are back into the full swing of things again, with Round 1 of our Traction Tyres/Yokohama Drivers Championship at Phillip Island. Entries are open now, so get in quick to avoid missing out!
We are hoping to have a Coffee & Cars meeting at some stage in January, so keep an eye out for your email alerts.
26 January is our Australia Day drive and lunch to Marysville. There will be prizes handed out for best Australiana car and people. Join in the fun of the day.
The last Friday night of the month will again be an online event with the BCCM Team in Munich, which will be one not to miss. Put this in your diary and log on at 8pm to hear from BMW Classic in Munich. They will have some very good news for us, so we encourage you all to log in.
30 January is German Auto Show at Sandown Red Hill area. We really need some officials to attend on the day. If you are interested, you can register to be an official here.
If you are wanting to display your vehicle there is still time to get your entries in. It doesn’t need to be a car, nor a BMW, as long as it is a German vehicle of some description. Don't forget, this is a car show, not a concours or show and shine, it doesn’t have to be perfect, just wash it and come along and join in the fun and make this a fantastic event to kick off the year. This is going to be a huge event with plenty of trade stands and food vendors. If you are wanting accommodation, be sure to give the Park Royal Monash a call and let them know you are attending this event and you are a member of BMWDCM and they will look after you. We are staying there for a couple of nights this is a great new venue very close to Sandown.
We will also be having our big reveal of our new club trailer at this event. Some of you may have seen it at the Christmas Show & Shine, but it will be unrecognisable now with its new wrap.
We have also booked in some Driver Training and Come & Try Days for the year ahead. If you're interested in finding out what all of the motorsport fuss is about, these days are perfect.
In March we also have the return of the BMW Clubs Australia Nationals, hosted by BMW Car Club Canberra. We have already got a large number of members attending. If you haven't yet registered, we recommend you do so as soon as possible. Many of us are staying at the QT, but it is up to you of course where you want to stay. We will also be doing a drive up for those who want to do a more scenic drive and then there will be others who will be towing and/or will just do the quickest route up. This is going to be a great event and there is something on everyday which will suite you all.
We have also released an expression of interest for a first aid course which will be funded by a grant which we have already received. There will be limited spots and preference will be given to officials of the club. The date and venue will be confirmed early in the new year once the calendar is final.
I would like to also take this opportunity thank Shannon Cooper and his family for their ongoing support of our Welfare team. You may not know but our Welfare team have been doing some great work with some of our members who have been in need. I am very proud of this group of people, keep up the great work.
We have applied for more Government grants to assist us with making our Come & Try days more affordable for those who would like to attend. Thank you also to Makulu Vehicle Storage for coming back on board with a scholarship grant for 1 person per Come & Try day. This will pay for the winning member's entry and day licence. You will need to provide your own vehicle and safety gear for the track. If you'd like to apply, keep an eye on the entry forms for the Come & Try events.
I would like to thank all our sponsors and advertisers for their support in 2021 and those who have renewed for 2022. Your support of our club is greatly appreciated. To our members, make sure you mention you are a BMWDCM member if you use any of our sponsors so they see the value in advertising with us.
In 2022 we are hoping to re-visit some of the events which were cancelled due to Covid, such as whale watching in Port Fairy and the Tassie trip. Look out for emails and keep a check on our calendar throughout the year for updates on these.
Our online store is always open and remember if you are wanting a radio, mic, or antenna before a drive event, be sure to pre order and we will make sure we bring them with us on the day fully charged. The same goes for any merchandise orders, we can deliver them at any event as long as you let us know which event you are wanting to pick them up from. Postage is also available at an extra cost.
There is limited stock of the Steven Richards BMW GT3 M6, so if you are wanting one, don’t leave your order too long or we will be sold out. Once all stock is gone, they will not be replaced.
Looking back at 2021, I am very proud of our club and how we still managed to hold events and interact with all our members either in person or via zoom. Our membership also reached 650. Considering we have only been up and running for not quite 4 years, this is just astonishing. Well done to you all and thank you for your ongoing support.
Looking ahead to 2022, we are all praying will be a much better year but I am not too sure with the ever-growing Covid numbers. Rest assured we will do our best to keep you entertained and engaged with the fantastic events you love, working with the ever-changing covid safe environment we are now living in.
On behalf of myself and my very hard-working committee, I would like to wish you all a very safe and Happy New Year and we look forward to seeing you all out and about in the new year. Remember we are a proud BMW Club, but we also love to see your other cars too, so when applicable bring out your other pride and joys too.
Drive safe and I look forward to seeing you in 2022.
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
What is it? Jay Leno’s Garage Car Drying Towel
What does it do? Err, it, well, dries your car. Replaces the long established chamois.
Does it work? Yes, very well. It is softer than a chamois, easier to keep clean and soaks up more water needing less wringing out. Unlike a chamois it does not need to be “conditioning” by getting it a little bit wet and softened up.
Is there a snag? The only drawback is towards the end of drying a larger car it can get properly wet and can not be wrung out to be properly dry again. It will still work but just not quite as well – still as good or better than a chamois by this stage. But if you want to go and dry another car, best get two towels.
In fact, I would suggest two towels anyway and use the second one to dry up any traces left behind, get the water out of crevices, behind trim etc which is almost impossible with a chamois. And you can use this second one for a final buff.
What does it cost? $33.96 with club discount.
Where can I get it? Online at jaylenosgarage.com.au.
Anything else? They’re a club sponsor and great people mad keen on cars.
Lawrence Glynn | Member #3 BMW Drivers Club Melbourne
The test phase for the BMW M4 GT3 drew to a close in December with the final tests in Daytona (USA). The new GT flagship is now ready for its first races in the hands of BMW M Motorsport teams. First up are the endurance highlights in Dubai (UAE) and Daytona in January 2022. BMW Team RLL, Turner Motorsport, Schubert Motorsport and ST Racing have already received their cars ahead of their starts in the two 24-hour races. Meanwhile, delivery of the BMW M4 GT3 continues.
“After all the testing, we can hardly wait for our BMW M Motorsport teams and drivers to finally go head to head with quality opposition on the racetrack,” said Mike Krack, Head of BMW M Motorsport. “So far, everyone who has driven the BMW M4 GT3 has been extremely positive about it. As such, we are confident that we will be competitive from the word go and in a position to challenge for top results. The extremely high demand for the BMW M4 GT3 has exceeded our expectations. We are very pleased and honoured by this trust. We are now looking forward to seeing how our new car fares in the hands of many different drivers and teams at racetracks and in racing series all over the world.”
First up, on 14th/15th January, is the 24h Dubai, for which Schubert Motorsport has already registered BMW M works driver Nick Yelloly (GBR), Jordan Witt (GBR), Marcel Lenerz and Jens Liebhauser (both GER) for the #30 BMW M4 GT3. ST Racing lines up with two cars. Jon Miller, Chandler Hull (both USA), Nick Wittmer and Louis-Philippe Montour (both CAN) will be at the wheel of the #28 BMW M4 GT3, which, like Schubert Motorsport, is registered for the top GT3 class. In the Pro-Am class, Samantha Tan (CAN), Bryson Morris, Anthony Lazzaro, Harry Gottsacker and Tyler Maxson (all USA) will share the driving duties in the number 1 car.
Two weeks later, BMW Team RLL and Turner Motorsport will start with a total of three BMW M4 GT3s at the “Rolex 24” in Daytona. At the wheel for Turner Motorsport in the GTD class will be BMW M works driver Jens Klingmann (GER), together with the US trio of Bill Auberlen, Robby Foley and Michael Dinan. The drivers for the two BMW M4 GT3s in the GTD-PRO class will be announced in January.
The season kicks off in February for Walkenhorst Motorsport. The team from Melle (GER) plans to run two BMW M4 GT3s in the Asian Le Mans Series. The #34 car will be driven by Nick Catsburg (NED), Jon Miller and Chandler Hull, the #35 by team principal Henry Walkenhorst, Jörg Breuer, Friedrich and Mario von Bohlen (all GER). The very compact season consists of two 4-hour races in Dubai on 11th/12th February, and two 4-hour races in Abu Dhabi (UAE) on 19th/20th February. All the other teams will receive their cars in good time ahead of the start of the season in their respective racing series. It is already confirmed that the BMW M4 GT3 will race in the most prestigious GT series in Europe, North America and Asia, as well as highlights like the 24-hour races at the Nürburgring (GER) and Spa-Francorchamps (BEL).
Event date: 10 December 2021
A joy of being in the BMW Drivers Club is the opportunity to get up close and personal with classic BMWs of the past. And so, it was when a rare metallic green E31 840ci, one of my favourites, turned up at the final club event of the year, a twilight drive after checking out the range of car care products from a club partner.
The team at Jay Leno’s Car Garage put on a traditional sausage sizzle and gave everyone the chance to sample and buy a range of their specialist car care products. Before setting off for the drive, many members tried out products to put finishing touches on their already gleaming cars. I came away with two wash mitts and a drying towel, which I look forward to using on the next hand wash of my BMWs.
An early highlight of the drive route was Annandale Road, a twisty and undulating road on the outskirts of Melbourne Airport. I was pleasantly surprised to discover such a great road so close to Melbourne’s urban fringe.
The fantastic drive route took us on a circuit from Airport West, through Bacchus Marsh, before heading to Wyndham Harbour at Werribee South. A highlight of the drive through Bacchus Marsh was the Avenue of Honour, a 2.8km road with 281 Elms planted on either side, in honour of those who served and the fallen in World War One.
Despite chilly weather at Wyndham Harbour, there was an opportunity to mingle and admire members’ cars that participated in the drive. Unfortunately for the coffee connoisseurs and those that needed to warm up a little, the local cafes were closed when we arrived, however, this did not put a dampener on an enjoyable final event for the year.
Thanks to all who organised this event, in particular our drive master and lead navigator, always highly informative and entertaining on the UHF radio along the way.
Jean-Dominique Abraham | Member #681 BMW Drivers Club Melbourne
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