Dear Members,
It has been fantastic to get out and see everyone again and run some events this month.
June started off with a great virtual meeting about becoming a Motorsport Australia official, and we were joined by some of the heads of different officiating groups. We were overwhelmed by the number of members who joined us. The meeting started with our guests explaining the process of starting out and then touched on some of the job descriptions of different officiating positions. Q&A time came around and there were a lot of great questions asked by our members. I am happy to say that from this meeting, quite a few of our members have started the process of becoming an official. Well done all!
Our first social drive since lockdown was to Mount Macedon. It was fantastic to see so many of you again. Jo and I were also lucky to have been given a beautiful X4M from Mornington BMW. Three of their sales managers (also club members) attended in equally spectacular cars. You will have to look out for my write up on the X4M in the next edition of idrive! It was a pleasure to drive, excellent through the hills, plenty of overtaking power and very comfortable. I was very impressed.
The drive was amazing, thank you again to Peter for such amazing roads and great route instructions. The day was enjoyed by all that came, and it was great to see so many new members out in their cars. It was lovely to see our French members there too in a very peculiar not-quite-BMW. It's so nice to have international members.
On June 14 we had our first motorsport event after the COVID-19 restrictions, our Sandown Driver Training and Come & Try day. We were the first event under a Motorsport Australia permit since the easing of restrictions. The preparation for this event was enormous, as it had never been done before, but I am happy to say that the event sold out within four days and after many sleepless nights, lots of back and forward with Motorsport Australia and Sandown, the day arrived and the sun was out and it went off without a hitch.
It was different to how we normally run these events, but with a great team behind us and many of the new officials signed up after our June virtual meeting, we pulled off, what many say was an outstanding event. Thank you all who came along to helped on the day. Without our volunteers these events just can't happen. It was also fantastic to have Motorsport Australia media come along and do a video of the day.
We are still being very careful with social distancing and take all our event preparation very seriously. We ask all members if you are feeling slightly unwell, please do not attend an event and do seek medical advice.
We have invested in temperature checkers, signage, sanitiser and other PPE to ensure all who are attending events have their temperatures checked and we have all the necessary safety equipment, to make all volunteers and attendees feel comfortable. We also ask for all who attend events have the COVIDSafe app downloaded, so if anyone does fall ill, you will be able to be contacted immediately.
We finished out June with a return to go-karting at Auscarts, Port Melbourne. Only having competitors and no cheer squad in the gallery was a bit strange, but great to see our up and coming next generation of drivers teaching the old dogs new tricks. Well done Royce Lyne on your win!
Some interesting stats from our stat-guru-secretary this month - the Auskart event on Sunday was our 100th event! In a little over two years, no-one could say we don’t do much. The last 6 months alone we have run 16 events, even through lock down, which equates to more than one a fortnight. With our first motorsport event back after lockdown attracting 65 members, plus a few non-members.
Membership has continued to grow! We are now at 479 members and still growing, fast approaching the magical 500 mark! It still amazes me the passion and vibe of our little (or should I say not so little?) club, the atmosphere at events is always positive and happy and I am very proud of everything we have built together and just love it now we can get back out to what we love, even if ever so tentatively and carefully.
July is looking like an equally fun month starting with Round 5 of the BMWDCM Traction Tyres/Yokohama Drivers Championship at Winton, also encompassing the BMW Clubs Cross Border Cup with the NSW BMW Club on 4 July (there are still a couple of spots left if you are very quick!). Our virtual meeting with our major sponsor, Traction Tyres is on 7 July. We also have our Christmas in July drive coming up on 18 July. Depending on how restrictions go over the next few weeks, this will either just be a drive, or we will be able to do lunch too. We also have another Come and Try day at Broadford on 25 July and Round 6 of the BMWDCM Traction Tyres/Yokohama Drivers Championship at Broadford on 26 July. Entries for each of those will open soon.
It's so great to be back doing events and having a full calendar again. There may still be some challenges and last-minute changes depending on whether there are further restrictions. Be sure to keep an eye on our calendar and your emails for event alerts. Of course, you can always call or email too, we are always available to chat to members. Through lockdown we have had a few brilliant ideas, so there will be some new and interesting events coming in the later half of the year.
You may have noticed we have updated our website to a new, fresher look too, thank you Jess! Along with the amazing edition 2 of idrive magazine (which you should all now have), Jess is always busy in the background doing an absolutely amazing job making sure the club looks fantastic and runs like digital clockwork. Again, thank you Jess, we would be lost without you.
Take care stay safe and good health to you all.
Graeme Bell | President BMW Drivers Club Melbourne Inc.
P.O. Box 81, TYABB, VICTORIA. 3913Incorporated 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: 28 June 2020
Hi my names Royce Lyne and I’m part of the BMW Drivers Club Melbourne, and I’m going to tell you about what happened on Sunday at the Port Melbourne go kart track.
The day started out with dad and I Getting up at 7am and driving up to Port Melbourne with dad’s old phone that constantly kept on rerouting itself all the way through the city, so in the end we had to use my phone which wasn’t much better.
When we finally got there dad walked up to three strangers and said where do we go for the drivers club meeting, and they all starred at us and said what you are talking about “thinking we were weirdos” because they weren’t even in the drivers club.
Then we saw Lawrence pull up and he helped us find our way to the meeting. When we got inside, dad and I met Chris who was new to the club and was very friendly. After that I was looking every were for Critter and Blake so that we could race, but mostly Jo and Belly so that I could say thank you.
After waiting for everyone to get there we went into the room where we got told the rules and everything we could do and couldn’t do, then on the way to the go karts I was so excited that I had to go to the toilet quickly so I wasn’t put off my concentration on the track.
Before we went out on the track dad and I were watching what go karts were the fast ones and what ones we needed to get to before anyone else, but sadly we couldn’t choose our kart, so we had to go with what we were given.
The first session was practice to get used of the karts and see the lines that you should take. During that session I got spun around by Alex on the fast corner of the track and it was really fun.
The second session was qualifying for all the races. Straight away I sour how fast Alex was and I couldn’t believe how fast I was catching dad. I think he’s loosing the edge, he knew I was coming and I knew that as soon as I caught him it was going to be foul play. So I was ready for anything and there was nothing that was gonna stop me from taking him down and showing him who is the master!
It wasn’t long before I caught him and made a smooth transition from fifth to fourth place in times, of course I got the old excuse “oh I had a slow kart and if I had a kart the same speed as yours id be lapping you” but I knew that wasn’t the case and so did he, and the fastest time was by Alex and that was a 26.989.
The first race started and we all got pretty good starts. All the karts were basically the same speed and it was a good race. Then the final came and I had to go to the toilet again. I started fourth. Then we were of to the races for most of the race I was in third and then Alex had a crash with second place, and I wasn’t stopping so I just rammed straight through both of them and got to the lead. Then I was pushing so hard to keep in front of Alex and then I saw I was just pulling away and that I had won the race. I was so happy that I almost threw my hands up in the air.
Thankyou Jo and Belly for everything and I can't wait for Winton.
Royce Lyne | Son of Simon Lyne, member #406 BMW Drivers Club Melbourne
Being an Official BMW Club, we are incredibly lucky to have the support of BMW Australia and the BMW Dealer Network and as such we have developed a great relationship with some of them. Mornington BMW, being the closest dealership to us.
The Team at Mornington BMW have supported quite a few of our events with cars to show off and have given us a few cars to take on drives to test and show to members as well.
For our first drive event out of lockdown we ran a drive from Warrandyte through some amazing roads to Mt Macedon, via Wallan. As luck would have it, it fell on a long weekend and Alex at Mornington BMW offered us the new X4M Competition, not only for the drive, but for the whole long weekend.
Jo went and picked it up on Saturday morning and parking it next to our X5. I wasn’t surprised to see it was slightly longer and wider than our old E53. With each model upgrade every model gets a little larger and now the current version of ours is quite large. So, no, not really surprised the X4M is a bit bigger.
Looking around and sitting in it is a huge jump forward in technology and styling and I really like the feel of everything. From the infinitely adjustable seating position, to the different driving, steering and suspension modes. Love the head up display and all the other toys that come with a top of the line model. The one thing I was surprised about though, no electric adjustable steering column, you only get that on 5 series and above I am told. Pity, I love the automatic memory adjustments when I jump in our X5. That would be the only small item I found I didn’t like.
Driving it is, of course, a very satisfying thing, especially to a lover of fast cars that actually do their job well. Now I have driven a lot of fast cars, both in my personal and professional life and I must say, this car is amongst the best when you take into account everything it has and does and how it drives and delivers the driving experience.
Some cars are outright fast and somewhat scary in some situations, or have way too hard suspension for our roads, or no room for adults in front and back as well as a lack of luggage space. But the X4M Competition has pretty much everything you would want. Around town it drives beautifully, nice high seating, good vision and plenty of go, even in economy/comfort mode, handles stupid speed humps, that are popping up everywhere, with ease, room for the shopping in the back and all the parking cameras and radar sensors one could ever need.
On the freeway it is a pleasure, easy to drive and all the cruise gadgets you could want, almost drives itself with steering assist, adaptive cruise, etc.
Get it on the backroads and press a few buttons and it really comes alive! Through the windy or open country roads where you can have some fun without breaking the law, it delivers the power easily and handles curves and hills without a blink or hint of slip or slide. An amazing thing to play with, on a track would be very interesting indeed! We had to pass a horse float on one of the back roads and the ease with which it got up and galloped past was amazing. Definitely doesn’t drive like the large SUV type vehicle it is and you almost forget what you are actually driving.
I would happily park one of these in my driveway, and who knows, with our old Helga approaching her retirement date, An X4M Competition could definitely be on the shopping list.
Be sure to pop into Mornington BMW and speak to them about the new X4M Competition, and be sure to take one out for a test run, I promise you will not be disappointed.
Graeme Bell | Member #1 BMW Drivers Club Melbourne
Fascinating dynamic performance is the striking quality of the BMW 8 Series models. The premium automobile manufacturer's luxury sports car is now due to be enhanced with a touch of extravagance in all three body variants. Specific design accentuations in gold along with high-end BMW Individual equipment features for both the exterior and interior ensure an incomparable blend of sporty flair and luxury.
The BMW 8 Series Edition Golden Thunder demonstrates once again the capacity of BMW Individual to turn special vehicles into unique automobiles for customers with the very highest expectations in terms of style and quality. The exclusive design exterior and interior design features add unmistakable accentuations that give the edition models the character of a custom-built vehicle.
The Edition Golden Thunder is available for all model variants of the new BMW 8 Series Coupé, the new BMW 8 Series Convertible and the new BMW 8 Series Gran Coupé – from the BMW 840i and the BMW 840d xDrive through to the BMW M850i xDrive. The edition vehicles will be produced at the BMW plant in Dingolfing starting from September 2020. The M sports package is always a standard feature in these vehicles.
A body finish in Sapphire Black metallic or Frozen Black metallic and carefully selected colour accentuations in gold underscore the athleticism of the luxury sports cars. The dark look is supplemented by BMW Individual High Gloss Shadow Line with extended features and black brake calipers for the M sports brake system. Here, a striking contrast is created by means of golden accentuation lines running from the front apron to the side skirts and on into the rear apron. Other features finished in gold are the exterior mirror caps, the M rear spoiler (exclusively available for the BMW 8 Series Coupé) and the 20-inch M light alloy wheels in double-spoke design.
Sports car flair and individual luxury are also combined in the interior of the edition models to create an extravagant ambience. This is ensured not only by the extended BMW Individual Merino leather trim in black with the “Edition Golden Thunder” inscription embroidered on the front headrests and the BMW Individual Alcantara Anthracite roof liner for the BMW 8 Series Coupé and BMW 8 Series Gran Coupé, but in particular by the interior trim finishers in Aluminium Mesh Effect Gold. On the centre console, the finely structured and high-end shimmering surfaces are supplemented with an edition emblem. The edition models also feature CraftedClarity glass applications for selected controls and the Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound System.
BMW PRESS
Leelee Chan’s BMW Art Journey “Tokens From Time” intends to trace material culture from the past, present and future. The artist will visit artisan families that practice ancient craftsmanship techniques using copper, silver and marble, among other materials, some of which play a role in the artist’s own sculptural practice. Along her journey, Chan will engage in dialogues with scientists and experts to understand how natural materials may be substituted by synthetic materials in the future.
Investigating ancient materials and their future substitutes from the emerging fields of nanotechnology and biotechnology, Leelee Chan’s BMW Art Journey project gives expression to the evolving relationship between people and materials, and touches on contemporary debates surrounding ecological and cultural sustainability. Spanning from the hand-crafted to the industrial to the post-industrial, the artist's investigation of materials ultimately asks the question, “What does it mean to be a sculptor today?” In search of an answer, Leelee Chan plans to visit destinations in Europe, Japan and the Americas. Her final travel itinerary will be determined in observance of current travel and health regulations tied to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I am beyond excited to be selected for the BMW Art Journey. Material objects have always been at the core of my practice. The journey will allow me to dig much deeper by discovering new processes, by encountering the people who work with them in their everyday lives, and, thereby, to make them meaningful for me as a sculptor working in this current uncertain moment,” says Leelee Chan.
The international jury consisted of Claire Hsu, Director, Asia Art Archive, Hong Kong; Matthias Mühling, Director, Städtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus und Kunstbau, Munich; Patrizia Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, President, Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, Turin; Philip Tinari, Director, UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing; and Samson Young, artist and winner of the first BMW Art Journey.
“Leelee Chan’s journey spans across time and space to consider the stories of materials, including metal, stone and crystals, and explore how they have shaped our human experience,” noted the Jury in its statement. “From ancient crystal caves in Mexico to marble workshops in Italy to high-tech synthetic quartz factories in Japan, the artist plans to investigate materials with the help of experts and craft practitioners, both as a source of raw material and as an inspiration for reflection. We were impressed by how Leelee Chan engages with materials that are charged with needs, values and ideas, to ask what it means to be a sculptor working today and tomorrow.”
In addition to Leelee Chan, the shortlisted artists for the BMW Art Journey 2020 were: Jes Fan (represented by Empty Gallery, Hong Kong) and the artist duo Amy Lien & Enzo Camacho (represented by 47 Canal, New York).
Launched in 2015, the BMW Art Journey is a collaboration between Art Basel and BMW, created to recognize and support emerging artists worldwide. Now in its sixth year the initiative is evolving. Since 2020, the circle of eligible artists has been broadened. For the first time, eligible participants included not only emerging and mid-career artists from the Discoveries sector, but also artists presented by participating galleries founded no more than ten years ago. As this year's Art Basel show in Hong Kong had to be cancelled due to the outbreak and spread of Covid-19, the jury conducted its selection process online. Artists and their galleries were invited to submit digital applications, including a short video by the artists explaining their work and process.
Past winners of the BMW Art Journey include sound and performance artist Samson Young (represented by a.m. Space, Hong Kong at Art Basel's Hong Kong show in 2015); video artists Henning Fehr and Philipp Rühr (represented by Galerie Max Mayer, Dusseldorf at Art Basel's Miami Beach show in 2015); Abigail Reynolds (represented by Rokeby, London at Art Basel's show in Hong Kong in 2016) as well as Max Hooper Schneider (represented by High Art, Paris at Art Basel's Miami Beach show in 2016), Astha Butail (represented by GALLERYSKE, New Dehli, Bangalore at Art Basel´s Hong Kong show in 2017), Jamal Cyrus (represented by Inman Gallery, Houston at Art Basel’s Miami Beach show in 2017), Zac Langdon-Pole (represented by Michael Lett, Auckland at Art Basel’s Hong Kong show in 2018) and Lu Yang (represented by the gallery Société, Berlin at Art Basel in Hong Kong 2019).
BMW has supported Art Basel’s shows in Basel, Miami Beach and Hong Kong for many years.
Event date: 14 June 2020
My son and I recently joined BMWDCM, and whilst this process was completed online and during COVID19, it didn’t take away the warm greeting we received from Graeme Bell at the workshop to sign off our car for club reg and the follow up call to welcome us to the club by Jo Mawson. Within weeks we engaged in a club meeting via Zoom, pursued Lawrence in a club social drive to Mt Macedon, met a bunch of friendly members and registered for the Sandown Driver Training and Come & Try Day.
Given that this was our first Sandown Driver Training and Come & Try Day, I was both excited and nervous, but rest assured our registration was followed by a prompt courtesy call from Jo giving us the full rundown of required paperwork and gear in preparation for Sandown. So I was still excited, but more nervous. Jo kept on our tail until we dotted all of the i's and crossed the t's, and she waived a bit of magic and all was in place and ready for Sandown!
One day before Sandown we detailed the cars, rechecked fluids, fuel, paper work, safety gear and put our cars to bed. Later that night the heavens open up and normally the sound of rain brings thoughts of tranquillity, but this night it brought thoughts of understeer, oversteer, missed the apex, overshot the corner, sand trap parking, social distancing, traction, safety car, etc.
The big day came - morning coffee 6.30am, rain has stopped, cars loaded with gear, outside was crisp, quiet and a fresh morning, something was missing - ah yes - the beautiful sound of the E90 M3 cold start – music to the ears (maybe not so much to the neighbours). We make a gentle exit from our home to Sandown track with M3 and Audi Quattro.
We made a pit stop at Sandown Caltex and checked our tyre pressures. The clouds were clearing with the sun breaking through, the day was looking good! On arrival we glance across the car park, BMW X3 Alpina towing an E9 CSL in full motorsport livery – the day just got a whole lot better!
The final leg over the Sandown Bridge to gate entry, we were greeted by volunteers, had our temperatures and paperwork checked, and we were reminded by officials of our COVID safe responsibilities. Next stop was registration, stick numbers on cars, get comfortable in our pit lane garage, have a chat to fellow drivers Ian, Simeon, Frans and Peter, all drivers stoped what they were doing to listen to the drivers briefing read out over the PA.
It was then time to get on the track - so I got my car up to temperature, familiarised myself with wearing a helmet, made a note of marshals, kept an eye out for fellow drivers - a squeeze of the brakes, punch of the throttle and let the sweet sound of the engine sing! An exhilarating adrenaline rush for the drivers on the day and similarly for the mechanics the day after…
We appreciate successful events don't just happen without all of the hard work behind the scenes! From a participants point of view, it was seamless, especially your patience and understanding for first timers like us and keeping everyone COVID safe. Nothing was too difficult, and all details were considered including the weather! An amazing day enjoyed by all of the participants.
Congratulations to the committee, officials and volunteers in delivering a successful event for the members and friends of BMWDCM.
Michael & Marcus Mimmo | Member #523 BMW Drivers Club Melbourne
The MINI John Cooper Works (combined fuel consumption: 7.1 – 6.9 l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 162 – 157 g/km) is the apogee of extreme driving fun in the premium segment for small cars. Its inspiringly sporty characteristics are surpassed only by a rare gem: the new MINI John Cooper Works GP (combined fuel consumption: 7.3 l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 167 g/km). The full potential of its engine and drivetrain engineering unfolds above all on the race track. The fascinating character of the model manufactured in a small series of just 3 000 units can now be transferred to everyday life on the road in the MINI John Cooper Works. From July 2020, the John Cooper Works GP Pack is being supplied factory fitted for this car. The pack with exclusive design and equipment attributes will bring authentic race-track flair to the road.
The John Cooper Works GP Pack offers some ideal options for especially intensive expression of motor-sport passion. The entire pack content is perfectly harmonised with the design and character of the MINI John Cooper Works. The content was developed on the basis of expert know-how gathered in the white heat of the race track, which has assisted all the models of the John Cooper Works brand to achieve inspiring performance, and is derived directly from the development process for the new MINI John Cooper Works GP. This content enables the MINI John Cooper Works to hone its sporting profile in a particularly authentic approach.
Racing Grey metallic for the body and the contrast colour Melting Silver metallic for the roof, John Cooper Works rear spoiler and mirror caps, have been reserved exclusively for the coachwork livery of the new MINI John Cooper Works GP so far. Together with the black engine bonnet scoop, black door handles and black fuel lid they now highlight the intimate relationship between the two extreme athletes. The 18-inch lightweight alloy wheels in the design John Cooper Works Cup Spoke are emblazoned with the “GP” badge on the centre caps. The Piano Black headlight surrounds and the blackened inner parts for the headlights and rear lights, the black MINI logo on the bonnet and tailgate, as well as the entry strips, which also bear the “GP” logo, additionally highlight the impressive appearance of the vehicles fitted with the new John Cooper Works GP Pack.
Notwithstanding the exceptionally marked inspiration derived from motor sport, the MINI John Cooper Works is a winner with unrestricted everyday roadable capability. The inimitable race feeling can be experienced in the car interior on four seats, while the MINI John Cooper Works GP has been designed as a two-seater to consistently epitomise elite sporting performance. The new John Cooper Works GP Pack includes John Cooper Works sports seats in a Leather Dinamica finish with the “GP” badge. The logo is also featured in the floor mats for the driver and front passenger, and both front and rear mats are finished in red stitching. The John Cooper Works leather steering wheel, which is also part of the new GP Pack, has been designed in a unique concept. The steering wheel is covered in Walknappa Leather, features red stitching and 3D printed metal centre marking for the 12 o’clock position. Associated with the optional 8-speed Steptronic Sport transmission, the metal shift paddles on the steering wheel with the “GP” logo are also produced in a 3D printing process.
The MINI Original range of accessories includes a large choice of appealing products for additionally creating an individual identity that is tailored precisely to the motor-sport flair of the John Cooper Works GP Pack. The dynamic charisma of the MINI John Cooper Works can be further enhanced by a bonnet scoop, side scuttles and a tailgate handle in stitched carbon, alongside the black waistline finisher. An even more intense sports-car ambience in the interior is enhanced by a number of features including the John Cooper Works shift knob and the John Cooper Works hand-brake grip in carbon fibre with Alcantara gaiter.
Event date: 8 June 2020
I am a relatively new member to the BMWDCM and I already feel so welcome.
My name is Jacob and I recently purchased my first BMW, a 2004 325ci e46 and the only thing I wish I had done is purchase it sooner! I am in love with my car an absolute pleasure to drive. It may be 16 years old but something about being behind the wheel of a BMW makes it feels like a touch above.
I joined BMW Drivers Club Melbourne about 3 weeks ago to be able to interact and meet fellow BMW enthusiasts but little did I know I was joining a family, a great group of people. I had my first virtual club zoom meeting last week held by Jo, and Graeme. There were some special guests, reputable people in the motorsport industry who have been involved in Marshalling and officiating for a very long time and were very generous with the knowledge and open to many questions, a great way for me to be introduced to the club by hearing what is involved behind the scenes on race weekends and track days.
Then today I went along to my first social meet and drive to Macedon on Queens Birthday Public holiday. What an amazing day, I came up from Geelong to meet at meet point 1 at Warrandyte, we then headed to Wallan for meet point 2 and then off we went to our final destination Macedon Memorial Cross. The weather was sensational, the cars were sensational and the company was great. It was my first time meeting many members face to face.
The club organised a great day and had everyone's best interest at heart through the COVID-19 pandemic with social distancing, the drive was amazing great landscape and to top it off some of the best BMWs I have seen, 47 in fact I’m told.
Highly recommend BMWDCM to any BMW enthusiast out there or anyone wanting to be in a club who put on great gatherings very helpful and just have a liking for cars.
Jacob Bennett | Member #514 BMW Drivers Club Melbourne
I've just bought my first BMW, and to put it mildly, I'm super impressed. It's a fabulous driving experience.
A friend told me about the club, so I decided I'd join up and see what goes on in the BMW community. From the info that's hit my mailbox to date, quite a bit!
The drive on Sunday followed a fabulous route, great scenery, and a variety of road types. Well done to whoever spent the time mapping the route and providing the instructions, top job.
There wasn't a lot of time/opportunity to mingle, apart from Wallan but I realized this was just a drive only event and we needed to adhere to the COVID restrictions. If the objective was to blow the cobwebs out, objective achieved. My friend and I had a great day, and I got to have my first decent drive.
That's enough from me for now. Loving the Beamer and very happy to get my backside in a car that's designed to be driven.
Graham Thomas | Member #534 BMW Drivers Club Melbourne
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