MONTH IN REVIEW 

Dear Members

And so the countdown to Christmas begins, welcome to December!  Before we get too excited about Christmas (or is that just this editor?) let's recap our November.

We began our month still in lockdown, with our first event a virtual trivia night.  Our members enjoyed some general knowledge questions and some funny questions about our committee members.  Prizes were given to the top 3!  Congratulations to you all.

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By mid-month we had finally received the OK to get back out and about with our members.  On 14 November we hosted a "Welcome Back Cars & Coffee" at Albert Park.  It was so good to see so many members and also be joined by the Audi Club.

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On 15 November we were then invited to AROCA's sprint day at Winton.  A large group of members made the trip to Winton for some much-needed fun on track.  Thank you to the Alfa Club for inviting us to come along, we look forward to sharing more events with you in 2021!

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On 22 November we enjoyed our first drive event our of lockdown.  We began our trip in Templestowe, stopping at Yan Yean for a picnic and morning tea before taking some fun driving roads to Yarra Glen and finishing up at Warrandyte.  It was fantastic to welcome some new members to their first event.

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On 26 November we held our first mid-week Twilight Drive in Geelong.  Keep an eye out for these events because we plan to do more over summer, with our next one being on the Mornington Peninsula (keep an eye on your emails for the invite!).

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We finished November with our Annual Show & Shine at the Park Hyatt, Melbourne.  There was rain on and off over the day, but thankfully no one was deterred from attending.  We even had some members join us from BMW Drivers Club NSW.  

Graeme and Jo also had a 430i Coupe for the weekend from Melbourne BMW, which was definitely a fan favourite over the weekend!  Many other people at the Park Hyatt over the weekend stopped by to check it out!  Thanks very much to Melbourne BMW for lending it to us! 

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MEMBERSHIP UPDATE: 494 MEMBERS

Welcome to our new members, we look forward to seeing you at an event soon!

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Don't forget to catch up with this month's update from our President, Graeme Bell here.

THE MONTH AHEAD

Sunday, 6 December
2020 Yokohama/Traction Tyres Drivers Championship | Round 10
One last day on track before Christmas! Only limited entries remaining, be sure to get in quick!

Sunday, 6 December
Mornington BMW car display with a little twist
An invitation only event, we have a very special event at Mornington BMW on Sunday.   Entries are already at capacity but be sure to sign up to the wait list in case someone else cancels! 

Tuesday, 8 December 

Christmas Theme Members Meeting via Zoom
Our last virtual event of the year - join us virtually in your best Christmas outfit for some Christmas fun.  

Saturday, 12 December
Geelong Revival Motoring Festival Shannons City Cruise  
With the cancellation of the 2020 Geelong Revival, Shannons and the Revival team are running the famous city cruise, which usually marks the start of the Revival.  You can join us on the drive or join in from home via the live stream of the event. 

Sunday, 13 December
Christmas lunch and drive to the Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery
Join us for a fun, last event of the year.  We'll start at Geelong McDonalds and drive through Deans Marsh and Lorne along the Great Ocean Road, finishing at the Chocolaterie for lunch. 

NEWS & BLOG 

MEMBER CAR OF THE MONTH

CLASSIFIEDS

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!

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As always - thanks for reading, we look forward to seeing you at an event soon!

President | Graeme Bell 0407 186 296
Vice President | Jo Mawson 0412 661 900
Secretary | Lawrence Glynn 0414 563 290 
Treasurer | Shaaron Glynn

Proudly supported by:

All Residential/All Commercial
Creative Custom Cars
Melbourne BMW
Mornington BMW
Shannons Insurance
Southern BM
Traction Tyres
Waverley BMW
Zagame Autobody

 

Dear Members,

In this ever-changing world of COVID, we started November still in lockdown, not really knowing when we would be able to get out and start our events. We had so many events set up ready to go, so as soon as we could we opened the flood gates! How wonderful it is to get back to some kind of normal, you just don’t realise how much we love seeing all our friends and sharing our love of our cars and driving together.

Our first event for November was a Virtual Trivia night, which had some great general knowledge questions and some even funnier questions about the clubs’ committee members.   Prizes were given out to the top 3 and I think all who logged in, had a really fun night.

Once we finally got the all clear from Premier Andrews that we were able to get back out again and this sparked off a stream of event emails, with events being released at a very fierce pace.

On 14 November was our ‘Welcome Back to Melbourne’ Cars and Coffee day at the Carousel, Albert Park. Like the last time we did this, we had an amazing turnout of cars and people! With lots of our members and friends turning up, all following the new COVID guidelines, and enjoying the cars on show, having a coffee and a much missed chat. The Audi Club also turned up with a bunch of cars to join us for some friendly inter-club-inter-brand-interaction. Lovely to meet up with them too.

Jo and I were lucky to have been given a new X7 for the weekend from Mornington BMW, and this was a really interesting ride. It is a very spacious vehicle, so much room for all the stuff we cart to events and yet still loads of room for passengers. Looking in the mirror, the rear window is a long way back and you can feel how big it is, yet it is very easy and light to drive. For me, possibly too light in the steering and you notice the long wheelbase, but if you had a few kids and need the room, it would be the perfect car. Of course, it has all the tech and gadgets to aid driving and safety and is a very, very comfortable car to drive. Would be perfect on a long trip. Thank you Mornington BMW, we loved driving it and if it weren’t just the two of us now, it could be on the short list to replace our trusty X5 one day.

On 15 November we had our long-awaited return to the track, with an invite to an AROCA Sprint at Winton. A large group of members made the trip up there to have some much-needed fun on the track.  The weather was very hot and sunny but all who were there had an awesome day, running the long track in the morning and then the short track in the afternoon  just for a change.  Thanks again to the Alfa Club for inviting us to enjoy their sprint days again this year.  We will be sharing a lot of their days again next year for our 2021 Traction Tyres/Yokohama Drivers Championship.  It's great to have Traction Tyres/Yokohama back on board again next year as our major sponsor for the Drivers Championship for a third year. If you need tyres, give Andrew and the team a call and mention you are a club member and they will look after you.

On 22 November we went on our first drive day out of COVID. We again had a fantastic attendance, starting in Templestowe and stopping at Yan Yean and enjoying a lovely picnic morning tea, then heading off along some fantastic driving roads to Yarra Glen and then finishing in Warrandyte, where some enjoyed a stroll along the river to the tunnel and others enjoyed their lunch before heading home after a fantastic day out again.  Thanks again Peter, another amazing meander through roads seldom driven, but lots of fun.

On 26 November we ran our first mid-week Twilight Drive. This will become a new ‘thing’ through summer, as it proved quite popular. With the longer summer days and plenty of lovely places quite close to Melbourne, watch out for these popping up in the event emails through January and February. A great turn out for this one with some amazing cars and all enjoyed a very nice dinner at the end of the drive.  It's great to see some new members attending too. This one was out west for our west-side members, the next one will be out South-East or down the Peninsula.

We finished November with a big bang with our Annual Show & Shine at the Park Hyatt Melbourne.  Some of us chose to stay at the Park Hyatt for the weekend, which made it even more special.  Thank you Melbourne BMW for the loan of the wonderful, just launched, 430i Coupe which really did look impressive in the foyer of the hotel and it attracted a lot of attention.  We also had Lawrence Glynn’s little 700 on display inside too and it really made a great display, having the old and the new for everyone to check out. We didn’t even get it set up inside before a group of people, at the Hyatt for a wedding, came to have a look at the Coupe and wanting to know all about it. The tech and drive of these new cars is amazing, I love the coupe body style and the 430i feels great on the road. It definitely gets the looks from the public, driving through Melbourne, and you know what, I don’t even mind the grille! All the press photos taken from down low seem to over emphasise it. From normal eye level and looking at it more and more, yes, it’s not that bad. 

After a week of wonderful weather, we awoke to a soggy Sunday, but it didn’t turn out too bad with some very large breaks in the weather allowing the cars  to be set up into class groups, without us getting too wet. And wow did they all look amazing.  The hotel guests checking out on the day really loved all our cars and some also purchased goods from Jay Leno Garage Products who sponsored the event, thank you. We were a little worried how it would all work, but the staff of the Hyatt had done it all before and nothing was too much trouble and it went off without a hitch.

After judging was completed, we all headed inside to the Trilogy Lounge to hear the announcement of the winners, it was very close in each of the classes and I think we were all happy with the winning cars.  I would like to thank Josh and Edward from BMWDCNSW for driving down from Sydney for the weekend to be part of our event. We always welcome members from all of the other BMW Clubs around Australia. They did an amazing job of cleaning the car too, when it arrived the night before it was absolutely covered in bugs, so well done to win the class prize indeed.

After presentation was finished and thank you’s said, we all enjoyed a lovely lunch which was absolutely delicious.   Thank you to all the staff at the Park Hyatt for all your friendly professional help, everyone had a great day.

I am very happy how this event turned out, with all the hard work Jo and Lawrence put into getting this set up, I would like to thank them both for all their effort. Everyone was impressed with the show, the location was superb, the lunch delicious and the accommodation was truly 5 Star. If you want to stay in town for a night, the Park Hyatt is coming on board as a Club Sponsor for 2021, so if you mention you are a BMWDCM Member you will get a special rate. I can highly recommend it!

On the way in to town on Saturday, Jo and I dropped into Essendon BMW to catch up with the team after such a long time in lockdown, it was really nice to see the dealership so busy and everyone enjoying all the beautiful cars. We checked out the new GP3 Special Edition Mini, pretty cool little car - if you get a chance, go and have a look at one.

It was the same at Melbourne BMW, when we dropped in to pick up the beautiful 430i Coupe, the atmosphere was electric with all the staff attending to customers all wanting to test drive some of these amazing cars. Great to see the dealerships all busy and doing well, now they are allowed to have customers back in the door.

On our way home from the event on Monday we popped into Waverley BMW and chatted with the team.  It is great to hear that they are expanding and have now taken over South Yarra BMW and also to hear that our members discount and benefits will be honoured at South Yarra as well. Thank you for supporting the Club and we look forward to extending our relationship into the new year too.

The new dealership at Berwick, which is also owned by the same group as Waverley and South Yarra BMW, is running ahead of schedule and will be open and trading this side of Christmas.  Keep an eye out for some events we will be holding from the new Berwick BMW dealership in the nearly New Year.

December will be busy with some more fun events coming up.

The first weekend will see two events to choose from on Sunday, 6 December, our joint Motorsport event at Philip Island with the Alfa Club and also the Mornington car display which is now sold out. Please remember, this is a closed event, so only those who have registered will be allowed in. Due to the COVID restrictions still in place, we are limited on how many can attend. If you have registered for this event and will be unable to attend, please let us know asap, as there are limited spaces, and we have members on the wait list.

Our December Members Meeting will be via Zoom on 8 December, it will be a chance for us to say thank you for the year and have a bit of fun with a bit of Christmas dress up, without going out in public and making a goose of yourself, so join us for our last member zoom meeting for 2020.

On 12 December some of us will join the Shannons Geelong Revival Drive, a drive around Geelong area, to sort of replace the cancelled Geelong Revival Weekend. Check the calendar for info or watch out for the email about it in the coming days. You need to book with the Geelong Revival group so see the event for the link. Looks like a bit of fun.

13 December will be our last official event for the year, being our Christmas Lunch drive to the Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie. Look on the website for details and come and join us for one last run and meal before Christmas.

Some of our members will be racing at the Shannons Motorsport Australia Festival at Sandown with the E30 Racing Club, over the weekend of the 12/13 December and this will be a great way to end the year. Like everything else, it has been quite a few months since we had a race meeting to go to, so we have not been able to race for a good part of the year.  I am even entered for this event and might I say, I am looking forward to getting back out on the track and racing again. I loved getting out and having a drive at Winton and teaching some of our members the correct lines, so I thought I might have a race with them too to end the year.

After this your committee will be taking a very short break and then we will have some great events happening in the new year, including an informal members meeting at Jay Lenos Garage on 5 January, a Sunset drive around the Mornington Peninsula on 13 January, and on 23 January we will be off for a long weekend to Beechworth for the Australia Day weekend.

Keep an eye on your emails as there will be some amazing events coming your way right through summer, we have a lot of events to catch up on and so many ideas to put into operation. The 2021 Motorsport and Driver Training calendars will be out very soon, just finalising a couple of dates with event organisers, as well as a lot of other event dates for you to add to your calendar. So, keep an eye out for an email about what we have coming in 2021, it will be a fantastic year!

Now we are back, there will be no letting up, you just never know what the new year will bring, so we will make the most of our freedom. As always, if you have an idea for and event, or somewhere you think we should go, let us know. Always happy to take inspiration from our members.

I look forward to seeing you at an event soon, until then, drive safe, stay healthy and, if we don’t see you before, have a very Merry Christmas and a Safe and Happy New Year!

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: 29 November 2020

Thanks very much to Paul Holliday for capturing our annual Show & Shine event at the Park Hyatt, Melbourne on video.

We are very lucky, as a Club to have such a great relationship with both BMW Australia and with their dealer network around Melbourne.

When we run events, our friends at the BMW dealerships that support us, lend us cars to take out and show you, our members, and the public at large, and get an idea of what the new models and range of vehicles has to offer. It allows us to get up close and personal to some of these amazing cars BMW are producing, drive them out in the countryside and really get a taste of all they have to offer.

This last weekend we were very fortunate to have the just released 4 Series Coupe to take to the Club’s annual Show and Shine from Melbourne BMW. I was lucky enough to drive it around town and can say I quite like the proper coupe shape and feel. I love 2 door cars, the body is more rigid and you feel it in the handling and driveability. The adaptive M suspension helps too and changes the ride noticeably with the touch of a button. Whilst it isn’t a small car, it feels quite nimble and not too big on the road. The twin power turbo engine is quiet and smooth, yet plenty of go, hard to believe it is only a 2 litre 4 cylinder. I love the all-round cameras and park assist, very handy when trying to get into underground parking bays, or hotel foyers… I would love to get one out in the countryside for a squirt on some fun roads, but we didn’t have time this time.

Of course, the on-board technology is amazing, it has so many gadgets and gizmos it would take more than a weekend to learn to use and enjoy it all. But I do love all the driver aids that are pretty much standard now, some of them take a little getting used to, like steering assist, but I love the driving experience in all the new models. As a driver you appreciate what a great car BMW build and am very that BMW continue to turn out cars that give us that Sheer Driving Pleasure.

One of the most talked about features is the new grille. Spending the weekend with the car, it grows on you. The 430i we had was Black Sapphire, so the black grille disappeared to a degree and walking around it or looking at it from a distance, it just looks right. I think the press photos you see must be taken from ground level, to accentuate it, as it doesn’t look as bad as everyone thinks when you see it in the flesh and I don’t mind it at all.

All around, I very much like the new 4 Series. If you can, get into a dealer and check one out.

Graeme Bell | Member #1
BMW Drivers Club Melbourne

Since the times of Empress “Sisi”, the spa town in the South Tyrolean Adige Valley has been a popular destination for those seeking relaxation, taking the route across the Alps to enjoy not only the varied mountain landscape but also the mild climate and Italian way of life. In the MINI Cooper SD Countryman ALL4, even the journey over winding mountain passes becomes a grandiose experience.

Spring comes earlier, summer stays longer, and autumn also has its special charm in the South Tyrol region. Italian lifestyle meets Austrian-German culture before a spectacular mountain backdrop. Active holidaymakers will find ideal conditions for cycling and hiking tours between Mediterranean vegetation and spectacular rock formations, especially in the area around the traditional spa town of Merano. And after the fruit and wine harvest, numerous regional folk festivals and culinary specialities turn the trip to South Tyrol into an journey of culinary delights.

Even Empress Elisabeth "Sisi" of Austria took on the rather arduous journey at the time across the Alps to seek relaxation in Merano and enjoy a breath of the South. Today, visitors can reach the Etsch Valley quite quickly and comfortably via the Brenner motorway and an express road called "MeBo", which connects Merano with Bolzano, the capital of South Tyrol. But the fastest route is rarely the most beautiful route to reach your destination. When driving in a car which has been designed for versatile driving fun, such as the MINI Cooper SD Countryman ALL4 (fuel consumption combined: 4.8 – 4.6 l/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 127 – 121 g/km) the desire to take a more scenic route arises almost automatically.

Delivering a top output of 140 kW/190 hp and a maximum torque of 400 Nm generated by its 2.0-litre 4-cylinder diesel engine with MINI TwinPower Turbo technology, the MINI Cooper SD Countryman ALL4 takes on steep mountain passes in spirited style. Dirty or wet road conditions don’t stand in its way since the electronically controlled ALL4 all-wheel drive system responds to changes in traction conditions within a few milliseconds. It distributes the power precisely between the front and rear wheels and always directs it to where it can be most effectively converted into driving fun. This also applies to sporty cornering on the hairpin bends, where the ALL4 system is backed by Performance Control and Electronic Differential Lock Control (EDLC).

There are a number of high alpine roads which cross the border from Austria to Italy. At a maximum altitude of around 1,500 metres, the Reschen Pass, which is passable in all seasons, is the lowest Alpine crossing in this region. From Landeck, the road leads across the Inn valley and the Nauders plateau to the Reschensee lake. The church tower of Alt-Graun, which juts out of the water, still reminds us of the villages that sank into the waters of the dammed lake after the construction of a storage power station 70 years ago. Anyone leaving the Brenner motorway near Sterzing can reach Merano via the Jaufen Pass, which is located at almost 2.100 metres above sea level. This connection is comparatively short, but with around 20 narrow bends it offers plenty of opportunity to experience hallmark MINI go-kart feeling. Even higher up is the Timmelsjoch, which connects the Ötztal region in Austria with the Italian Passaier valley. Along the route, at up to 2,500 metres, there are magnificent views of snow-capped peaks and a landscape of alpine meadows, forests and barren rock.

Once in Merano, visitors immediately become aware of the Mediterranean climate. This is due to the city's location in a basin into which mainly warm air from the south flows. And this is also why palm trees and other Mediterranean plants thrive, as do the colourful flowers and plants in the public parks in the city centre. Historical buildings such as the municipal theatre and the Kurhaus (spa house) remind us of Merano's boom as a tourist resort in the late19th and early 20th century. The extensive spa promenade on the banks of the river Passer was also built at that time. The centre of the city, which is closed to car traffic, is characterised by its picturesque arcades (Lauben). Beneath magnificent arches, it is home to old-established shops, cafés and restaurants that attract locals and visitors alike.

You can enjoy plenty of sunshine and mild temperatures until well into the autumn in South Tyrol. Not long afterwards, the action shifts from the valley to the mountains. As soon as the first slopes are covered with snow, numerous ski areas attract winter sports enthusiasts. The youngest attraction for skiing enthusiasts is located about 50 kilometres south-east of Merano. In the Carezza ski area, a new cable car is currently being built featuring a mountain station which is integrated into the rocky landscape almost invisibly. The arrival hall is designed in the style of an atmospherically illuminated cave and is thus reminiscent of the crystal palace from the legend of the dwarf king Laurin, which is widespread in South Tyrol. The Carezza ski area covers around 40 km of slopes and is a popular destination for excursions and holidays, not only in winter. The tourist area stretches from the high altitudes of the Dolomites to Lake Carezza, where Empress "Sisi" spent the early summer days more than 120 years ago.

BMW PRESS

Event date: 26 November 2020

Great little event on a lovely evening, driving roads that were made for the BMW’s we love.  We started at Ceres, where a lovely array of cars arrived for the Twilight Treat. Well organised by Lawrence.

The drive duration was 45 minutes, on some lovely country roads, where we could use and experience the cars the way they were meant to be driven.

The drive was spirited and enjoyable but when we arrived at the Inverleigh Hotel, and took the time to appreciate each other’s cars and the company and conversation was fantastic. This was also matched by the quality service and food delivered by the Inverleigh Hotel.

Looking forward to the next event and more good times ahead.

Len & Cate Unsworth | Member #490
BMW Drivers Club Melbourne

A round trip by car is a good way to experience the diversity of the island state's landscapes in the North Atlantic. The road network is thin and four-wheel drive is highly recommended for some excursions. The MINI Cooper S Countryman ALL4 can prove its talent as a robust all-rounder for any terrain on a tour to discover and explore fjords, lakes, glaciers, geysers and volcanoes.

Iceland is a country of contrasts on the north-western edge of Europe. The island state in the North Atlantic is as famous for its hot springs as it is for its huge ice fields. Traditional horse breeding is still as successful here as is the internationally significant aluminium production. Tourism has also recently become increasingly important as an economic sector. The pristine natural beauty located near the Arctic Circle, the fascinating variety of the landscapes and the contrast created by active volcanoes and snow-covered glaciers attract visitors from all over the world.

A weekend trip is definitely not enough time for exploring Iceland’s main attractions. The special charm of the island is only revealed on a round trip. However, Iceland's road network is thin. Many places are only accessible via gravel roads, especially in the interior of the country. Iceland's most important road link, Ring Road 1, is no exception. It has been developed into a multi-lane motorway around the capital city of Reykjavik, while some other sections of the Hringvegur are not even asphalted. The MINI Cooper S Countryman ALL4 (combined fuel consumption: 6.5 - 6.2 l/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 149 - 142 g/km) is the ideal all-rounder for going on an Icelandic adventure amid glaciers and volcanoes. Its ALL4 all-wheel drive system distributes the power of its 131 kW/178 hp 4-cylinder petrol engine with MINI TwinPower Turbo technology between the front and rear wheels as required on any surface and in any driving situation. 16.5 centimetres of ground clearance ensure sufficient clearance even on rough surfaces. A storage volume of between 450 and 1,390 litres is available under the tailgate of the five-seater so that the luggage required for a longer tour can be easily accommodated.

Ring Road 1 runs along Iceland's coast for 1,350 kilometres, sometimes right on the coast and sometimes a bit further inland. The starting point is the ferry pier in Seyðisfjörður, where the MINI Cooper S Countryman ALL4 sets foot on Icelandic soil for the first time. On the way south, the road follows the coastline, which features many fjords, for about 200 kilometres. Soon Vatnajökull comes into view. With a surface area of more than 8,000 square kilometres, it is the largest glacier in Europe. Vatnajökull is located at the centre of the national park of the same name, which also includes picturesque river landscapes, waterfalls and active volcanoes.

Further along the route, detours into the interior lead over unpaved roads, across gravel deserts and through seemingly unreal landscapes of cooled lava rock. Near the village of Selfoss, it’s worth leaving Ring 1 and heading north for about 60 kilometres to see a spectacular natural spectacle. The two-tier Gullfoss waterfall together with the neighbouring geysers forms the "Golden Ring", which is one of Iceland's greatest sights.

After returning to the Hringvegur, we soon reach the island’s capital. More than 60 percent of the 350,000 Icelanders live here and in the neighbouring region. Reykjavik is a modern metropolis with a lively art and music scene as well as two special landmarks. The Perlan geothermal power plant, together with restaurants and leisure facilities, is located under a large glass dome and uses hot water from deeper layers of the earth to heat not only the city's residential buildings but also the pavements of the main shopping streets. A similarly spectacular example of Iceland's modern architecture is Hallgrímskirkja, built on a hill in the centre of the city. It was designed in the 1930s, but was not completed until around 50 years later. The concrete pillars on the front side, reminiscent of basalt columns, are particularly striking. A viewing platform on the 74.5 metre high church tower allows visitors to look far beyond the city limits into Iceland's natural landscape.

On the northern section of Ring Road 1 the landscape is also characterised by the contrast between the icy glacier surfaces and the hot springs, whose water rises from the volcanic interior of the earth. Iceland lies on the so-called Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The North American and Eurasian plates meet directly under the island. That is the reason why hot thermal water and molten rock rise to the surface and keep changing the island’s landscape.

The MINI Cooper S Countryman ALL4 makes full use of its four-wheel drive on a detour to the Vestfirðir peninsula, which features many rugged fjords. The craggy coastal landscape of this arctic region in the extreme northwest of Iceland is mostly only accessible via unpaved gravel roads. The path to the fishing village of Reykhólar, located in the far west, leads past massive mountain formations of volcanic origin. After the strenuous tour we relax in one of the natural pools, which are widely used in this region and are pleasantly warm in all seasons.

Just like its breathtaking natural beauty, the island’s history as a base for trade and fishing can be seen in almost every village along Ring Road 1. In Sauðárkrókur it’s worth stopping to refuel at the Verzlun H. Júlíusson general shop, which still exudes the charm of the early 20th century. The small town has a fishing port and is also considered to be the main Icelandic horse breeding centre. Nowhere else on the island will you find more horse breeding farms than in the region around Sauðárkrókur.

Iceland's varied nature has more surprises in store even after having travelled more than 1,000 kilometres on Ring Road 1 and having gone on numerous trips across unpaved terrain. Near Reykjahlið, the bluish shimmering geothermal water in Jarðböð Cave really invites you to take a dip. Going for a walk on the steaming sulphur gas fields of the surrounding area is also a great thrill. And Europe's mightiest waterfall also awaits in Iceland’s north. The water masses of the Dettifoss waterfull plunge about 100 metres into a gorge of about the same depth.

The magnificent landscape and the many ways you can experience nature at its most pristine, make Iceland such an exceptionally alluring destination. And in spite of the sporty temperament of the MINI Cooper S Countryman ALL4, the beauty of the island simply makes you want to "slow down". Only on the way back to Seyðisfjörður's pier, however, travellers should not trundle along but should rather get a move on in order to board the ferry on time. Because the ferry that connects Iceland with the rest of Europe leaves port only once a week.

BMW PRESS

Event date: 15 November 2020

As the Victorian Covid lockdown continued with no sign of easing, a song from my youth with the lyrics adjusted for our plight kept coming into my mind:

Me: "Am I ever gonna get to race again?"
Premier "No way get f... f .... off!"

Eric my beloved E30 318i had had a roll cage installed in preparation for some door to door racing one day. At one stage it looked like that would never happen so why did we bother?! Eventually an entry for a sprint at Winton showed up and I was entered and looking forward to getting on the track again. Returning to race COVID style!

Days before, I went through the checklist - shoes, socks, fireproof underwear, race suit, hans, helmet. Where is my balaclava? It has to be here somewhere? Oh well, it'll turn up. Where's my licence gone - right there where I left it. OK all set.

Early starts are a part of racing life it seems and I don't mind. I couldn't remember the last time the alarm went off at 4am since I haven't travelled for work for so long. Anyway, all packed up, fire up the mighty M10 and we're on our way up the Hume to Winton.

Could I beat my best time there from August? Oooh the anticipation.

Eventually we got out on the track and Graeme Bell kindly let me tag along behind him and Rod Martin for the first session. Bit rusty but it was great to be out there heel toeing again, turning in, opening up and having a blast.

I pulled back in and a few minutes later Graeme poped over to my carport to give some well appreciated advice on how to go faster! My own personal coach! Awesome.

A few more sessions and it was home time. Given the temperature I must be honest to say it was tougher than I remember, and no, didn't get close to my best time there. I blame the hot day and reduced engine performance but it was probably the lockdown exercise program (none) and the diet (lots of easy bad comfort food) that slowed me down.

Thanks to our good friends at AROCA Vic for letting us come and play, and can't wait 'til the next one - Phillip Island!

Darryl O'Neill | Member #52
BMW Drivers Club Melbourne

I am both thrilled and honoured to receive the “Presidents Award” for 2019. 

It is a privilege to be a member of the exceptional club. 

Every event is an absolute joy, and the people I have had the pleasure of meeting at club events, I now class as my friends.  All of which, like me, have an unbridled passion for the Marque.

I am delighted that my name will be added to the perpetual trophy, as a permanent record of me being a member of this fine club,  a club by which all other clubs should be measured. 

Stephen Garth | Member #40
BMW Drivers Club Melbourne

The development of the new BMW M4 GT3 is in full swing – and BMW M Motorsport can count on the support of a number of proven, strong technology partners. They are contributing components for various areas of the new GT3 flagship. The collaboration with these technology partners is set to run for several years.

The development of the new BMW M4 GT3 is in full swing – and BMW M Motorsport can count on the support of a number of proven, strong technology partners. They are contributing components for various areas of the new GT3 flagship. The collaboration with these technology partners is set to run for several years.

“We can all hardly wait to see our teams in action with the BMW M4 GT3 at racetracks around the world from 2022,” said Markus Flasch, CEO of BMW M GmbH. “We want to provide our racing customers with a car with which they can seamlessly follow on from the success they have enjoyed with the BMW M6 GT3. We also want to impress more customers with the BMW M4 GT3 and win them as teams. The new car offers state-of-the-art technology, thanks in no small part to our technology partners. They are among the best in their respective fields, and we are delighted that they are supporting us in the development of the BMW M4 GT3 with their specific expertise and components. This is the perfect basis for a successful new race car.”

Shell and Akrapovič are among the long-term technology partners of BMW M Motorsport, and are also involved in the BMW M4 GT3. As ‘Premium Technology Partner’ of BMW M Motorsport, Shell Lubricants contributes state-of-the-art lubricants and transmission oils, and also provides the fuel for tests. Slovenian company Akrapovič is the leading manufacturer of premium exhaust systems and has its roots in motor racing. Akrapovič has been an established name in international motorsport for almost three decades and, with its innovative exhaust systems, has been instrumental in countless titles and race wins for its motorsport partners.

Endless Advance Co. Ltd. is ‘Official Partner’ in the field of brake technology. The Japanese company, its European subsidiary Endless Brake Technology Europe AB, and BMW Motorsport have already worked together for several years. Endless plays its part in the BMW M4 GT3 project with the development of sophisticated racing brakes and also provides technical support.

Another innovation in the BMW M4 GT3 is the new hydrostatic modular clutch actuator from Schaeffler. This technology, which heralds the next generation of clutch automation, has recently been introduced in production vehicles and has impressed from the word go. The Schaeffler clutch actuator is now finding its way to the racetrack in the BMW M4 GT3 and, with its innovative technology, will allow far more dynamic starts.

When it comes to the chassis, BMW M Motorsport is also extending its collaboration with two proven technology partners to include the BMW M4 GT3. Special springs from H&R and racing dampers from chassis manufacturer KW automotive will ensure that the new race car holds the road perfectly in any conditions.

BMW PRESS