As a visitor from overseas , this iconic motoring spectacle is a must see event.
It is a festival of great passionate enthusiasm which resonates through all attendees and the fantastic friendly welcome which is given.
As a guest of the BMW Drivers Club of Melbourne we were treated to an outstanding display of cars which were showcased in an exemplary professional way allowing all visitors to gain the full benefit of these fantastic cars.
This event allows spectators to get close to the action, clear access to pit lane areas and encourages people to embrace the culture of the motorsports on display. It was a real pleasure to have had the opportunity to drive a couple of laps on the track in a classic BMW E21 318i and an experience I will never forget.
It is true testament to those that give their time freely by virtue of their passion and enthusiasm and should be applauded.
It is noticeable that the committee dedicate a great deal of their time in providing a first class operation and this was reflected on the day by the number of people who attended the display. There was always someone available to answer questions and more importantly gave a warm friendly welcome.
Adam Williams | International GuestBMW Drivers Club Melbourne
From March 29 to 31, the Art Basel show in Hong Kong will open its doors offering again extensive insights into the modern and contemporary works by emerging and established artists, presented by 242 of the world’s leading galleries. As an official partner of the show, BMW will not only provide the VIP shuttle service, but also present the world’s first BMW Art Car (BMW 3.0 CSL, 1975), created by legendary artist Alexander Calder, in the BMW Lounge at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Furthermore, the latest BMW Art Journey awardee Zac Langdon-Pole will be on-site documenting his journey and the next BMW Art Journey shortlist will be announced. BMW Art Journey at Art Basel in Hong Kong 2019In 2015, together with Art Basel, BMW enabled an initiative to support young emerging artists: the BMW Art Journey. Latest awardee Zac Langdon-Pole (represented by Michael Lett, Auckland) will be on the ground in Hong Kong for the documentation of his BMW Art Journey project “Sutures of the Sky”. His journey took him across a world that humans and birds have been navigating through millennia. He followed the flight paths of birds like the white stork or the arctic tern, traveling along the earth’s axis where the Northern and Southern Hemispheres’ summers intersect. Migrating birds cover some of the longest distances traveled by any living being. Their routes have guided the Polynesian pathfinders across the seas. Inspired by this ancient celestial tracing, Langdon-Pole's journey questions the position of humans as the center of the world. Weaving through Europe and the Pacific Islands of Samoa and Hawaii, his BMW Art Journey seeks to understand how culture intersects with the science of celestial mapping – and from there flows into larger existential inquiries about who we are and how we are situated in the world. Zac Langdon-Pole will take part in the Art Basel´s Conversations series on Saturday, March 30, 2019 “Artists Telling Stories: Narrative Forms and Strategies”. For further information, please click here. An international jury of experts will gather again at the upcoming Art Basel show in Hong Kong to select a shortlist of three artists from the Discoveries sector for the next BMW Art Journey. Members of the jury are Claire Hsu, Executive Director Asia Art Archive, Hong Kong; Matthias Mühling, Director Städtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus, Munich; Patrizia Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, Presidente Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, Turin; Phil Tinari, Director Ullens Center for Contemporary Art (UCCA), Beijing; Samson Young, artist and winner of the first BMW Art Journey. The shortlisted three artists who will be invited to submit their proposals for a journey will be announced at the BMW Lounge on March 28, 2019, at 5.30 PM. That evening, BMW will host an exclusive VIP cocktail reception to celebrate the announcement of the BMW Art Journey shortlist. BMW Art Car #1 (BMW 3.0 CSL, 1975) by Alexander CalderThe first ever created BMW Art Car will be on display at the BMW Lounge at Art Basel in Hong Kong 2019. By painting the BMW 3.0 CSL in 1975 Alexander Calder laid the foundation stone for the Art Car Collection. It was also one of his final works of art before he passed away. As a sculptor who normally devised his own shapes, Calder managed to free himself from the formal structure of racing cars and, by painting them, aspired to give them his own distinctive mark. As in the case of his sculptures and mobiles, he used intensive colors and gracefully sweeping surfaces which he distributed generously over the wings, bonnet and roof. It was originally the French racing driver Hervé Poulain who had the idea of letting an artist have his or her way with an automobile. Poulain commissioned American artist and friend Alexander Calder to paint his BMW racing car in the early 70's; this was the spark which led BMW to establish the Art Car Collection. Since then, prominent artists from throughout the world have designed BMW automobiles of their times, all making extremely different artistic statements. The nineteen exhibits created for the Art Car Collection until now include works by well-known artists such as Frank Stella, Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, A.R. Penck, David Hockney, Jenny Holzer, Jeff Koons, John Baldessari and Cao Fei. The Art Cars reflect the cultural and historical development of art, design, and technology. BMW is a global partner of Art Basel also supporting the shows in Basel and Miami Beach as a long-term partner. Furthermore, BMW and Artsy joined forces to collaborate on promoting the arts on a global scale. Following "The Future of Art", a series of short videos, which were published in 2017, the next joint collaboration as a result of the long-term partnership will be presented in the evening of Wednesday, March 27, 2019 in Hong Kong.
BMW PRESS
About Art BaselFounded in 1970 by gallerists from Basel, Art Basel today stages the world's premier art shows for Modern and contemporary art, sited in Basel, Miami Beach and Hong Kong. Defined by its host city and region, each show is unique, which is reflected in its participating galleries, artworks presented, and the content of parallel programming produced in collaboration with local institutions for each edition. Art Basel’s engagement has expanded beyond art fairs through a number of new initiatives such as Art Basel Cities, working with partner cities on bespoke cultural programs. For further information, please visit artbasel.com.
About BMW Group Cultural Engagement For almost 50 years now, the BMW Group has initiated and engaged in over 100 cultural cooperations worldwide. The company places the main focus of its long-term commitment on contemporary and modern art, classical music and jazz as well as architecture and design. In 1972, three large-scale paintings were created by the artist Gerhard Richter specifically for the foyer of the BMW Group's Munich headquarters. Since then, artists such as Andy Warhol, Jeff Koons, Daniel Barenboim, Jonas Kaufmann and architect Zaha Hadid have co-operated with BMW. In 2016 and 2017, female artist Cao Fei from China and American John Baldessari created the next two vehicles for the BMW Art Car Collection. Besides co-initiatives, such as BMW Tate Live, the BMW Art Journey and the “Opera for All” concerts in Berlin, Munich, Moscow and London, the company also partners with leading museums and art fairs as well as orchestras and opera houses around the world. The BMW Group takes absolute creative freedom in all its cultural activities – as this initiative is as essential for producing groundbreaking artistic work as it is for major innovations in a successful business.
The March Members Meeting at Shannons featured a fascinating presentation on car manufacturing and assembly by Lawrence Glynn.
Lawrence worked for the Department of Transport for many years, auditing car makers’ processes for meeting Australian Design Rules (ADRs), and he drew on his experience to outline the key principles of mass production. Contrary to popular belief these weren’t invented by Henry Ford, although he was certainly the first to put them into practice at scale, thus revolutionising (some might say inventing) the global car industry.
Lawrence highlighted the importance of consistency and repeat-ability in mass production, and the vital role of design and production engineers in achieving this in the most efficient manner.
Lawrence enlivened his presentation with some great stories from his assembly plant visits all over the world, although unfortunately he adhered to the mantra of “no names, no pack drill”! He finished with a YouTube video showing the new 3 Series being manufactured and assembled. The video revealed the widespread use of robots and advanced sensors to achieve quality, but also showed the many human checks that are still required. None of the workers managed to crack a smile for the cameras however!
The presentation was attended and enjoyed by approximately 20 members.
David Francis | Member #243BMW Drivers Club Melbourne
Premium automobile manufacturer BMW is consistently moving ahead with the electrification of its drive portfolio and now presents its latest plug-in hybrid models at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show. At the same time, BMW also announces the market launch of an additional sports activity vehicle (SAV) with electric drive. The globally popular BMW X3 will likewise be produced in a plug-in hybrid variant as of December 2019. This makes it the first model of the brand to be offered with both a conventional combustion engine and a plug-in hybrid system – with the addition of a purely electrically powered version in 2020.
Once again in 2018, the BMW Group further consolidated its status as a pioneer and market leader in the field of electrified automobiles (source: IHS Markit New Registrations 2018 Report 04. 01. 2019). With a market share of more than 9 per cent, the company leads the worldwide ranking of established premium providers of vehicles that are purely electrically powered or run on plug-in hybrid systems. In 2018 the BMW Group was the market leader in the premium segment of electrified vehicles in both Germany and in China. With a share of more than 16 per cent, the company also once again led the overall European market for electrified vehicles. BMW Group achieved a new worldwide sales record in 2018 with more than 140 000 units of electrical and plug-in hybrid vehicles sold – an increase of 38.4 per cent over the previous year. As one of the four future-oriented ACES topic areas (Autonomous, Connected, Electrified and Services/Shared), electromobility is one of the key elements of the company’s strategy NUMBER ONE > NEXT. The aim of the BMW Group is to have put more than half a million electrified vehicles of its brands on the road by the end of 2019.
With the purely electrically powered BMW i3 (BMW i3: combined power consumption: 13.1 kWh/100 km*; BMW i3s: combined power consumption: 14.6 – 14.0 kWh/100 km*), the BMW i8 Coupé (combined fuel consumption: 1.8 l/100 km; combined power consumption: 14.0 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions from fuel: 42 g/km*) and the BMW i8 Roadster (combined fuel consumption: 2.0 l/100 km; combined power consumption: 14.5 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions from fuel: 46 g/km*), the plug-in hybrid variants of the BMW X5 and the BMW X3, the BMW 2 Series, BMW 3 Series, BMW 5 Series and BMW 7 Series, the BMW X1 xDrive25Le produced in China for the local market, the MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 (combined fuel consumption: 2.5 – 2.4 l/100 km; combined power consumption: 13.7 – 13.4 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 56 – 55 g/km*) and the purely electrically powered MINI, the BMW Group will have 12 electrically powered models in its programme by the end of 2019. Not only is the sheer number of vehicles available unique but also their variety – from the premium compact segment through to the mid-range, upper mid-range and luxury performance segment, and also including the sports car and sports activity vehicle categories. By 2025 the BMW Group will have increased the selection of its brands’ electrically powered vehicles to at least 25 models.
World premiere: the BMW X3 xDrive30e with plug-in hybrid drive. BMW starts production of another SAV with plug-in hybrid drive in December 2019, thereby further expanding its range of electrically powered vehicles. Seeing its world premiere at the 2019 International Geneva Motor Show, the BMW X3 xDrive30e combines the versatile properties of a premium mid-range sports activity vehicle with cutting-edge BMW eDrive technology. Its robust characteristics, sporty driving performance figures and all-wheel drive system BMW xDrive – also active when running on electric power alone – are combined with outstandingly low levels of fuel consumption and exhaust emissions. Due to the use of the very latest battery technology, the BMW X3 xDrive30e achieves an electrically powered range of up to 50 kilometres*. Thanks to BMW eDrive technology, its combined fuel consumption is reduced to up to 2.4 litres per 100 kilometres*, with CO2 emissions of up to 56 grams per kilometre*.
The plug-in hybrid system in the BMW X3 xDrive30e consists of a 4-cylinder petrol engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo Technology and an electric motor. Both drive units put their power on the road – or unsurfaced terrain – via an 8-speed Steptronic transmission and the intelligent all-wheel drive system. Their joint system output of 185 kW/252 hp can be increased by up to 30 kW/41 hp by temporary use of the electric motor's peak output. The BMW X3 xDrive30e takes just 6.5 seconds (provisional figure) to accelerate from zero to 100 km/h.
The latest BMW plug-in hybrid model is fitted with a lithium-ion battery which is positioned under the rear seat in order to save space. With a luggage volume of 450 litres, the transport capacity of the BMW X3 xDrive30e is at the level of those model variants which are fitted with a conventional engine.
Other world premieres in Geneva: BMW 330e Sedan, BMW X5 xDrive45e and the plug-in hybrid models of the new BMW 7 Series. The leading role of the BMW Group in the area of electrification is also reflected in its current engine range. At the 2019 International Geneva Motor Show, BMW presents the second generation of plug-in hybrid models in as many as three vehicles segments.
The new BMW 330e Sedan is especially impressive due to an increase in electrically powered range as compared to its predecessor model of some 50 per cent to up to 60 kilometres*, a level of fuel consumption that has been reduced to up to 1.7 litres per 100 kilometres* and CO2 emissions reduced to 39 grams per kilometre* – all combined with the sports sedan’s hallmark driving pleasure. The system output of its plug-in hybrid drive amounts to 185 kW/252 hp – with the possibility of a temporary increase by an additional 30 kW/41 hp using the standard XtraBoost. As a result, the new BMW 330e Sedan does the sprint from standing to 100 km/h in 6.0 seconds (provisional figure).
Increased output, efficiency and electrically powered range are also offered by the latest version of the BMW X5 with plug-in hybrid drive. The new BMW X5 xDrive45e is now fitted with an in-line 6-cylinder petrol engine adapted on a model-specific basis combined with an electric motor – with a system output that is now increased to 290 kW/394 hp. 5.6 seconds (provisional figure) is all it takes the sports activity vehicle to accelerate from zero to 100 km/h. Its electrically powered range is now approximately 80 kilometres*, almost three times that of its predecessor. As such, day-to-day commuter runs can easily be covered on electric power only, thereby reducing local emissions to zero. With its 69-litre fuel tank, the BMW X5 xDrive45e is also perfectly suited to use over long distances. Its progressive plug-in hybrid drive technology reduces combined fuel consumption to up to 2.1 litres per 100 kilometres* and CO2emissions from fuel to up to 49 grams per kilometre*. The qualities of the BMW X5 xDrive45e as a travel vehicle are likewise borne out by its versatile luggage compartment: here the storage volume of 500 to 1 716 litres is only very slightly less than that offered by variants of the SAV that are powered by conventional means. The ground-breaking all-round properties of the BMW X5 xDrive45e are complemented with the intelligent all-wheel drive system BMW xDrive. This transfers the power of both drive units to all four wheels, providing sports-style driving pleasure on the road and supreme off-road performance over unsurfaced terrain.
In the plug-in hybrid models of the new BMW 7 Series, the sporty flair, travel comfort and feel-good ambience of a luxury sedan are combined with the ability to enjoy locally emissions-free and virtually noiseless mobility. Their electrically powered range has been increased by almost 30 per cent as compared to the predecessor models, now at a distance of between 50 and 58 kilometres*. The model range comprises the BMW 745e (combined fuel consumption: 2.3 – 2.1 l/100 km; combined power consumption: 15.6 – 15.1 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 52 – 48 g/km*), the long version BMW 745Le (combined fuel consumption: 2.3 –2.2 l/100 km; combined power consumption: 15.7 – 15.6 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 53 – 50 g/km) and the BMW 745Le xDrive (combined fuel consumption: 2.6 – 2.3 l/100 km; combined power consumption: 16.3 – 15.8 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 59 – 52 g/km*) with extended wheelbase and intelligent all-wheel drive. Its drive system now comprises an in-line 6-cylinder petrol engine adapted on a model-specific basis together with an electric motor. By setting the drive experience switch to SPORT mode, the driver can tap into a system output of 290 kW/394 hp. The new BMW 745e accelerates in 5.2 seconds from zero to 100 km/h, while the new BMW 745Le takes 5.3 seconds. Meanwhile the new BMW 745Le xDrive reaches the 100 km/h mark from standing in 5.1 seconds.
BMW 530e Sedan and BMW 225xe Active Tourer with further developed lithium-ion batteries and increased electrically powered range. The latest progress in the field of battery cell technology has also led to an extension of the options for locally emissions-free driving in the plug-in hybrid models of the BMW 5 Series and BMW 2 Series. Although its dimensions remain unchanged, the new lithium-ion battery for the plug-in hybrid model of the BMW 5 Series Sedan now has a gross energy content that has been increased from 9.2 to 12.0 kWh. This means an increase in electrically powered range by more than 30 per cent to 64 kilometres*. The BMW 530e Sedan now achieves a combined fuel consumption of at least 1.7 litres per 100 kilometres* and CO2 emissions of at least 38 grams per kilometre*. As an additional model variant, the all-wheel drive BMW 530e xDrive Sedan will also be included in the programme worldwide from July 2019 onwards. The latter achieves an electrically powered range of up to 57 kilometres*. Its combined fuel consumption is at least 1.9 litres per 100 kilometres*, while CO2 emissions are at least 44 grams per kilometre*.
In the BMW 225xe Active Tourer, state-of-the-art battery cell technology paves the way to further reduced consumption figures as well as an increase in the electrically powered range of more than 25 per cent to up to 57 kilometres*. While retaining the same dimensions as before, its lithium-ion battery now has a gross energy content that has been increased from 7.7 to 9.7. The combined fuel consumption of the BMW 225xe Active Tourer is at least 1.9 litres per 100 kilometres*, its combined power consumption is at least 14.7 kWh per 100 kilometres and its CO2 emissions level is at least 43 grams per kilometre*. The hybrid-specific all-wheel drive system contributes to the BMW 225xe Active Tourer's sporty and versatile driving properties. Its standard and optional fittings include numerous modern driver assistance systems as well as the current innovations in the field of intelligent connectivity and digital services – for increased convenience when charging the high-voltage battery and an even more intense electrical driving experience.
Cutting-edge battery technology, new operating system and innovative digital services for an optimised electric driving experience. In addition to the very latest battery technology, the plug-in hybrid variants of the new BMW 3 Series Sedan, the new BMW X5 and the new BMW 7 Series also feature a new display and operating system as well as innovative digital services for an even more intense electric driving experience. Their standard fittings include the BMW Live Cockpit Professional with newly designed screens in the instrument panel and the Control Display, which also provide clearly laid-out details of the battery charge state, electrically powered range and operating mode of the plug-in hybrid system. The buttons used to select the drive mode are now integrated in the drive experience switch unit. Here, a press of the button is all that is needed to activate the modes SPORT for a particularly dynamic set-up and ADAPTIVE for a set-up that is geared towards the relevant driving style and situation, as well as the three operating modes HYBRID, ELECTRIC and BATTERY CONTROL. HYBRID mode serves as the standard setting that ensures a balanced set-up and optimised interaction between the combustion engine and electric motor. It also possible to select ELECTRIC mode as the standard setting via the iDrive menu. The HYBRID button is pressed twice to activate this operating mode in an efficiency-optimised version (HYBRID ECO PRO). The coasting function is one of the factors that contributes to a further reduction in fuel consumption.
The technology of the intelligent energy management system has likewise been further optimised. Since this is now linked to the navigation system, the interaction between combustion engine and electric motor can be adapted more precisely to the route and driving situation. In the new BMW 330e Sedan and the new BMW X5 xDrive45e, a control unit that draws on navigation and sensor data is also able to optimise brake energy recuperation efficiency in HYBRID ECO PRO mode. When approaching a junction or a vehicle driving ahead, for example, recuperation can be put to particularly intensive use for the purpose of deceleration.
During the charging process, the fully digital instrument panel provides graphically displayed information on the battery's current charge status and therefore the car’s potential electrically powered range. The graphic display – designed individually for each vehicle – also shows the amperage available at the charge station being used, as well as indicating when the battery is fully charged.
New digital services help make it more attractive and convenient to charge the high-voltage battery when out and about. For example, the navigation system shows the driver nearby hotels, restaurants, cafés and sights or cultural facilities when a public charging station is being selected. Customers are also given a forecast as to the occupation status of charging stations. In addition, BMW enables ChargeNow customers to reserve an enabled charging station for a limited period based on in-car activation.
A distinctive sound created especially for electrified BMW models is used for the purpose of acoustic pedestrian protection, emitted via a speaker system. The sound design in the low speed range radiates a vibrant acoustic presence, though without impairing the acoustic comfort of vehicle occupants.
Fuel consumption, CO2 emission figures and power consumption were measured using the methods required according to Regulation VO (EC) 2007/715 as amended. The figures are calculated using a vehicle fitted with basic equipment in Germany, the ranges stated take into account differences in selected wheel and tyre sizes as well as the optional equipment. They may change during configuration.
The details marked * have already been calculated based on the new WLTP test cycle and adapted to NEDC for comparison purposes. In these vehicles, different figures than those published here may apply for the assessment of taxes and other vehicle-related duties which are (also) based on CO2 emissions.
It must have convertible weather as we had four tops down on the Apollo Bay run along the Great Ocean Road, with the return route heading in land. With the roof down as we turned along Skenes Creek Road under the trees the air felt cool and fresh, a perfect compliment to the excellent lunch we had just enjoyed at the Apollo Hotel.
The Great Ocean Road is, of course, renown for its aquatic scenic beauty and we took full advantage of that at Torquay to get some photos of our assembled cars. Our route had taken us there via the aptly named Horseshoe Bend Road which features a series of bends which gave it its name.
Magnificent vistas of the coastline and swell enliven the otherwise rather frustrating drive to Lorne along one of the most popular stretches of the road. It is somewhere everyone wants to be but nobody wants anyone else there! The absence of a burning sun made the otherwise highish temperatures for open top driving a delight as the air moved briskly past our heads, protected by the wind deflector and side glass.
Once past Lorne, the road opens up a bit and the traffic thins, but brisk progress is still intermittent all the way to Apollo Bay. Although that matters little when enjoying the sounds of a M2 not too far back and the delights of being in the open.
I can recommend the Apollo Hotel for quick service and tasty meals. Being in a line of cars behind two coaches which stopped at the Hotel, it didn’t look too promising. I don’t know where the passengers went, but we had plenty of space and attention in the bistro and it was quiet enough for easy conversation, getting to know a couple of our newer members and two prospective members.
A few made their own way home and the rest of us returned to the Prince’s Highway in convoy along the in land route which made for some more uninhibited spirited driving within the legal limits.
My thanks to all those who came out on the drive and to Peter Williams for another set of excellent route instructions.
Lawrence Glynn | Member #3BMW Drivers Club Melbourne
The development of a BMW two-man bobsled, which is the result of the partnership with the German Bobsleigh, Luge, and Skeleton Federation (BSD), has reached an crucial milestone: Test rides at Königssee and in Altenberg delivered promising results. The sled concept developed exclusively using computer simulations and verified in the BMW Aerodynamic and Research Center has proven successful. Additional optimisation potential for the prototype will be identified during further test rides in the coming weeks and will feed into the design of a new sled. The goal is to use this in the coming 2019/2020 World Cup season.
At the end of a development and test phase that lasted ten months only, the BMW prototype passed its baptism of fire with flying colours. With double Olympic champion Francesco Friedrich, world champion Johannes Lochner and junior world champion Christoph Hafer on the steering handles, the run times at the test rides at Königssee and on the demanding track in Altenberg were within a few tenths of a second of the current World Cup bob.
A measuring system provided by BMW Motorsport and modified for bobsleds evaluated and compared all of the rides. Friedrich’s impressions were extremely positive.
“It’s fascinating: BMW takes something on, and at the first attempt it is really very good. So many companies have already tried to build a sled, which was then mothballed after three days. In contrast, the BMW prototype has already come a long way. The bob runs really well and you can steer it precisely,” said the overall World Cup winner. “The BMW engineers work very meticulously and with a lot of passion to make sure it is as fast as or faster than the others.”
The innovative approach to the development of the new two-man bob started from nothing, oriented itself on BMW vehicle development and focused on the replicability of the sled. It was also about finding the perfect balance between the stability and agility of the sled.
Initially, the design was developed exclusively using computer simulations and the aerodynamics were optimised using the “computational fluid dynamics (CFD)” numerical method. Around 10,000 different forms were calculated, including “digitalised athlete dummies”: To develop sporting equipment with the ideal ergonomics for the various BSD drivers and crewmen, the athletes were scanned, and their body dimensions were incorporated into the calculations.
The design developed this way, considering aerodynamic and ergonomic aspects was initially milled as a foam model, the values calculated on the computer were verified in the BMW Group Aerodynamic Test Centre and optimised in line with the analysis results obtained. This form was manufactured using carbon to ensure reproducibility. The cutting of the individual carbon layers was computer-controlled, and these carbon layers were placed such that the sled is able to absorb the huge G forces in the ice track optimally. Then, the model was baked in an autoclave at 175 degrees. Thomas Hahn’s, head of the BMW technology transfer, development team received support from the BMW partner network in the motorsport sector.
“The approach and pioneering spirit of our technology partner BMW is impressive time and again,” said Thomas Schwab, general secretary and sports director of the BSD. “We are delighted that in the BMW prototype an innovative approach demonstrated its great potential right from the start and are excited to see what further development brings.”
Hahn is very pleased with the intermediate result and said: “The initial test results are promising – both at Königssee and on an extreme track like the one in Altenberg. We started with a blank sheet of paper and it turned out that our calculations stood the test in practice. Now we need to push the limits further in additional tests and based on these results, identify the areas in which we can make improvements.”
On 7 March 2019, the anniversary of the company’s establishment was celebrated for the 103rd time. During this period, a small aero-engine factory transformed itself into the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles. This development reflects the character of the company and the key people who shaped its success. The company ethos is based on the courage to innovate, the readiness to go the extra mile, the drive to compete with the best and the ability to overcome special challenges. In 2019, BMW Group Classic looks back on numerous events, outstanding achievements and innovations that are based on precisely these principles.
100 years ago: A high-altitude flight as the first record for BMW. On 17 June 1919, the experienced test pilot Franz Zeno Diemer set out to help the fledgling company BMW achieve a first world record. He took off from Munich’s Oberwiesenfeld airfield piloting his aeroplane manufactured by Deutsche Flugzeugwerke and powered by the BMW IV aero-engine on the route to a sensational record attempt. The 230 hp engine was designed on the basis of a principle conceived especially for flying at great altitudes. Diemer took around one and a half hours to fly his machine up to an altitude of 9,760 metres. In the open cockpit, he had to contend with temperatures down to minus 50 degrees and breathe in air with gradually diminishing oxygen levels. Never before had an aircraft flown so high.
90 years ago: The BMW 3/15 hp – launch on four wheels. Ten years later, BMW had already expanded its product portfolio with motorcycles – then came the next step. The Board of Management decided to get involved in the automobile business. The Chairman was Franz-Josef Popp, who had held a management position with the company in the early stages of aero-engine production. “Our experience in the area of motorcycle construction encouraged us to embark on the production of small cars, for which there appears to be a promising domestic market. With this end in mind, we purchased automaker Fahrzeugfabrik Eisenach,” announced Popp in the company’s Annual Report. On 22 March 1929, the first BMW 3/15 PS left the assembly halls in Berlin-Johannisthal. Almost 16,000 units of the new small car followed in the years up to 1932.
60 years ago: Debut for the classic Mini.He sketched out the first design drafts on a napkin. The designer Alec Issigonis created a revolutionary small car on the basis of the resulting plans. On 4 April 1959, the first classic Mini rolled off the assembly line at the Austin Longbridge plant in Birmingham. In spite of an external length of 3.05 metres, the little car provided sufficient space for four occupants and their luggage. Issigonis applied a completely new design at the time, with front-wheel drive, a four-cylinder transverse engine mounted at the front of the car, and the gearbox configured beneath. This design layout was soon adopted by virtually all manufacturers in modified form. It offered the best prerequisites for the principle of creative use of space and for excitingly agile driving performance – attributes which characterise the models of the British premium brand to this day.
60 years ago: The turnaround was achieved with the compact BMW 700. During the 1950s, the company made significant contributions to getting people in the young Federal Republic of Germany on the road with the BMW Isetta and the BMW 600 that was derived from it. However, the aspirations of the customers continued to rise and it was necessary to create a new small car with a conventional design in order to compensate for falling sales. The Viennese BMW importer, automobile designer and former racing driver Wolfgang Denzel provided the key impetus. He presented the BMW Board of Management with the design for a two-door notchback car that had been designed by the Italian designer Giovanni Michelotti. The prototype formed the platform for the BMW 700, which was presented for the first time on 9 June 1959. By 1965, more than 190 000 units had been sold and BMW succeeded in ascending out of the economic trough.
60 years ago: Small shareholders defend the independence of BMW. Sales problems in the automobile and motorcycle business had caused BMW serious financial difficulties during the 1950s. At the Annual General Meeting held on 9 December 1959, the takeover of the company by Daimler-Benz AG was therefore an item on the agenda. However, the restructuring plan associated with the takeover was opposed by many of the small shareholders. During the course of a turbulent discussion, the lawyer Friedrich Mathern managed to depict inconsistences about the official figures. He objected that all the development costs for the BMW 700 had unjustifiably been included in the balance sheet for 1958. He also criticised the fact that the value of the BMW brand and its employees had been valued much too low. The meeting was then adjourned – with the result that the time-limited offer from Stuttgart expired. BMW remained independent but the financial crisis had not been resolved. The increased commitment of major shareholder Herbert Quandt ultimately provided the assurance needed to move forward. In the following year, he submitted a new restructuring plan which also took account of the interests expressed by the small shareholders.
50 years ago: A new era of motorcycle production begins. Aero-engines had already been manufactured in Berlin-Spandau under the direction of BMW since the 1930s and after World War II motorcycle and car compnents as well. In 1969, the entire production of motorcycles was relocated from Munich to Berlin. The start of production for the BMW /5 Series went hand in hand with the move. The technical director at the time, Helmut Werner Bönsch, presented it with self-assured words: “There is no doubt that BMW has been building the best and most advanced motorcycle in the world for many years. Our ambition is to maintain this reputation into the future.” This was indeed the case. The BMW 50/5, BMW R 60/5 and BMW R 75/5 models had been developed as sporty touring motorcycles in a modern design, and they had a completely new chassis with telescopic fork for the front wheel and variable rear-wheel suspension. And for the first time, customers were able to choose between versions with different colours.
40 years ago: The BMW M1 lined up on the grid in the Procar Series. The BMW M1 mid-engined sports car was already irresistible when it was standing still. But it developed its true fascination on the racing track. This emerged above all in the Procar Series initiated by the Managing Director of BMW Motorsport GmbH at the time, Jochen Neerpasch. The races were staged in 1979 and 1980 as part of the warm-up for the Formula 1 World Championship races in Europe and they developed into a runaway success with the public. The protagonists themselves were also captivated by Neerpasch’s idea of staging races between Formula 1 drivers and touring car drivers piloting vehicles with identical engineering and generating 470 hp. On 12 May 1979, the first race in the Procar Series started in Zolder, Belgium, and 16 more races were to follow.
20 years ago: World premiere for the BMW X5. An all-rounder with all-wheel drive which was not only capable of impressive driving on off-road terrain but also demonstrated excellent performance on the road – this was how the BMW X5 was presented in autumn of 1999, as the world’s first Sports Activity Vehicle. A few months later, the BMW X5 Le Mans demonstrated its huge potential for dynamic driving. This was an experimental vehicle with a V12 engine generating more than 700 hp. Racing driver Hans-Joachim Stuck achieved a top speed of 309 km/h in this car on the Nürburgring. 20 years after the debut of the first SAV, the family of BMW X models has grown to seven model series. In 2018, 37.3 percent of the brand’s total sales were generated by BMW X models.
20 years ago: The BMW Z8 exerts fascinating appeal with classic aesthetics. In 1999, BMW also presented a milestone in its roadster history, which was certainly not lacking in highlights. The BMW Z8 styled by Danish designer Henrik Fisker created a sensation at its world premiere on the occasion of the International Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA). The elegant lines recalled the legendary BMW 507 and the luxurious cockpit make it an eye-catcher to this day. The classic forms clothed innovative engineering: a self-supporting aluminium frame with the external skin bolted on, powered by a 400 hp V8 engine. A total of 5,703 units of the BMW Z8 were manufactured between 2000 and 2003 at a dedicated production facility established especially for this vehicle at the BMW plant in Munich.
BMW Group Classic will be saluting these anniversaries in a variety of events and publications during the course of 2019. In the meantime, the Press Department of BMW Group Classic is providing more detailed information on the topics outlined above.
MONTH IN REVIEW
Firstly, thank you to all those who completed our survey last month. It's always great to understand your preference to ensure that we're bringing you the right events. We were encouraged by the results, in many cases, supported what we had already assumed. We'll certainly use this information as a guide when planning future events.
Now on to February - it was absolutely packed with an event to interest everyone.
We started our month with the Bathurst 12 hour. A small group of members joined us, some opting for the corporate package and others opting to camp on top of the mountain. Read more about the weekend here. We highly recommend you put this one in your calendar for next year!
On 9 February we held a drive to Geelong Museum of Motoring. Our day started at Lorbek Luxury Cars where we had a chance to check out some of the exotic cars currently on sale and also have a chat with the staff. We then left for Geelong Museum of Motoring, with many staying over night for the Torquay Motor Show the next day. Read more about our day here.
On 10 February we then attended the Torquay Motor Show. It was great to be part of the annual display, organised by the Rotary Club. Read more here.
We then held the first round of the 2019 Traction Tyres/Yokohama Drivers' Championship at Sandown on 16 February. Thanks to all the members that made it out to Sandown, it was a great start to the 2019 motorsport year. Read about Royce's day here.
The following day, we joined up with Club MINI on a drive to Mitchelton Winery. We met at Zagame Autobody and were given a guided tour around their state of the art facility. Thank you to Jessica from Zagame for having us. Read more about our day here.
Just to finish off an incredibly busy month, on 24 February we had another display, this time at the Yarra Glen Racecourse for the RACV British and European Motor Show. Always a great show, with lots of interesting cars to see and again, a perfect summers day for a drive to see all the cars on show.
Did you see our competition to name our magazine?Click here for entry and to find out more information.
Our First Birthday Celebration!
12 months.. where did it go?
We are excited to be able to celebrate 1 year of operation of our club. Join us at The Vincent, Albert Park on 13 April 2019 to celebrate all that was in our first year.
We will also be presenting awards for the 2018 Drivers' Championship, the Cup Day Show & Shine, Member of the Year, the President's Award and Special Recognition Award.
We will also be launching our brand new magazine.
If you attend only one event this year, make sure it's this one! Details and registration here.
Update: Eastlink Great Australian Rally
You may remember we attended the Eastlink Great Australian Rally in January - we're happy to let you know that the rally raised $58,000 for Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation for Cancer Research. An absolutely brilliant effort for a worthy cause.
MEMBERSHIP UPDATE: 333 MEMBERS
Welcome to all our new members, we look forward to seeing you at an upcoming event!
Don't forget to catch up with this month's update from our President, Graeme Bell here.
THE MONTH AHEAD
Miss an event in February? Let's catch up at one of the following events:
EVENTS AHEAD
Keep an eye on our calendar for events coming up, we’re always adding something new.
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President | Graeme Bell 0407 186 296 Vice President | Jo Mawson 0412 661 900 Secretary | Lawrence Glynn 0414 563 290 Treasurer | Shaaron Glynn
BMW Drivers Club Melbourne Inc.
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Dear Members,
I usually start off welcoming our new members, saying how proud I am of our club and how many of you have joined us, but this month there is one very, very, special new member that arrived in a hurry, some 15 weeks before she was due! I am very proud to say welcome to the world, to our family and to our club, our newest, youngest member, Olivia McKenzie Bell, my very first Grandchild! Congratulations to Sean and Jenna, so very happy for you both.
Memberships are also still bubbling along nicely, we must be doing something right, 332 (at time of writing) and counting!
2019 really has started with a rush, in more ways than one! Whilst the sun is shining and the weather has been perfect, we have been out enjoying it in our cars, all over the country-side. February has been an incredibly busy month with events on every weekend, with lots of members coming along to enjoy the wide range of things on offer.
We started off the month with our club trip to the Bathurst 12 Hour, what a fantastic event! Both for the race and for the weekend away, read the story about it here. Whether you come and do it in style in the corporate suite or camp on the Mountain, it really is a must do, whether you love racing or not. Lots more to do and see that just the 12 Hour race. Look out for the event to be listed for 2020, we will definitely be doing it again!
On the Friday after the 12 Hour we were invited to go to the CAMS Victorian Motorsport Awards Night, to receive a certificate for our inaugural year of being a Member of CAMS. I was very proud to represent the Club and accept the award.
That second weekend saw two more events. A cruise down to Geelong to the Motoring Heritage Museum on Saturday, to check out some of the history of motoring in Victoria. Very interesting and a great place to spend the afternoon. We then drove on down to Torquay, where we had a group dinner before retiring for the night so that we would be nice and close for the Torquay Motor Show on the Sunday. Another fantastic display of Members car’s there, with lots of interest from the public for our club and some of the beautiful cars our members bring out to show.
We had our first members meeting for the year on the second Tuesday, due to a few of us being at Bathurst the first weekend. It was a fantastic night. Ewen gave a very interesting talk on his and Emma’s jaunt through the high country on the Targa Rally, then Jo let everyone know about the array of upcoming events and other information about what has gone on over the summer break. Lots of people came and enjoyed a relaxed and informative night. Unfortunately, I couldn’t be there, as I was in a video conference with all the delegates from Clubs Australia. You can read the minutes of that meeting here (if you're logged in). We do like to keep our members informed of what goes on in Clubs Australia and Internationally as well, you can read any of the newsletters we get on our blog and website, should you like to keep abreast of all things club related in Australia and around the world.
Continuing a busy month, the third weekend was again a busy one with events on both days. Saturday was the first round of the 2019 Traction Tyres/Yokohama Drivers Championship at Sandown, hosted by AROCA. A beautiful sunny day to be out enjoying some track time with lots of cars and fun to be had. Several members were posting personal best times in the near perfect conditions.
Sunday started with a very interesting tour of Zagame Autobody, our new club sponsor, where we were treated to a fantastic morning tea and we were the first to be shown the nearly completed high end body shop upstairs that will be exclusively for the more valuable cars. What a facility! Definitely second to none in the repair business and some of the cars they have out the back are just amazing! From Zagame we enjoyed another of Peter Williams’ fantastic country drive routes, winding through our beautiful countryside and ending up at Mitchelton Winery for a late lunch and a wander around the beautiful grounds. If you are up that way, it is a definite must visit place, the food was amazing and the views from the tower definitely worth seeing. Also, there is a rather large museum of Aboriginal art and history hidden away underground that is also very much worth looking at.
Just to finish off an incredibly busy month we had another display, this time at the Yarra Glen Racecourse for the RACV British and European Motor Show. Always a great show, with lots of interesting cars to see and again, a perfect summers day for a drive to see all the cars on show.
We now head into another busy month, with big displays at the Phillip Island Historics, both Saturday and Sunday; our display at the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix to look forward to; our members meeting at Shannons on the 5th and our first Hillclimb at Haunted Hills to finish off March. We are definitely keeping up the momentum with lots of things for you to choose from.
It should be noted that the Hillclimb will be our first Motorsport/Driver Training event that we are running ourselves. So, whether you would like to compete or have a little instruction or even if you’d like to just come and have a look, you are very welcome to join us and see what makes for a great day out. We are always looking for helpers too, so if you’d like to see what is involved in running events, we would love you to come and help there too.
We would also like to remind you that the BMW Clubs Australia Nationals is on in Melbourne over Easter. As members of an Official BMW Club, you are invited to go to any of the events on offer and meet up with your interstate and interclub friends, new and old, and enjoy this bi-annual event. It is only held every 2 years, the last in Brisbane and the next in Canberra in 2021.
As always, if you have any ideas for events, or go somewhere you think others might like too, drop us a line and tell us about it. Whilst we do come up with some great ideas, we are always on the lookout for new ones! Same goes for our merchandise lines, one of our soon to be available club items comes directly from a member mentioning an idea he had. So, next month we will have BMWDCM Club Plate Log Book covers available, thanks Paul, a great idea! Can’t wait to see them when they arrive.
I look forward to catching up with you all at an event or club meeting soon.
Take care and drive safe.
Graeme Bell | President BMW Drivers Club Melbourne Inc.
P.O. Box 81, TYABB, VICTORIA. 3913 Incorporated in Victoria #A0102695GBMW Drivers Club Melbourne Inc is a member of:BMW Clubs Australia and the BMW Clubs International CouncilCAMS Affiliated Motorsport Club
Zagame’s facility for the repair of exotic and prestige cars is astonishing. It’s located in the enormous, former “The Age”, building near the airport. BMW Drivers Club Melbourne and clubMINI Victoria joined for a tour of the facility on 17 February, attended by about 40 people. In a hall running the length of the building is a state-of-the-art repair facility with multiple sealed paint cubicles, sealed restoration rooms, panel preparation area and a large assembly/disassembly area. Behind that is an enormous parts warehouse for Audi and other brands, and behind that again is storage for 500 cars undercover where predelivery detailing can be performed. We were also treated to a preview of their upstairs repair area for supercars, with yet more sealed repair and paint cubicles and two bays with simulated daylight to ensure precise colour matching. Zagame have recently added BMW to their approved repairer appointments.
After the tour, most of those present headed off on a convoy drive to Mitchelton winery near Seymour. We travelled via the enjoyable Wallan-Romsey road then had a brief stop in historic Lancefield. Our route then took us via Pyalong to Seymour, through part of the volcanic countryside of the area with stark, rocky outcrops on hilltops and ridges. The roads offered excellent scenery and good cruising, with some twistier sections for entertainment.
To call Mitchelton a winery is to greatly undersell it. The complex is on the banks of the Goulburn River and has a large cellar building, an administration complex, a two storey hotel, a café and the restaurant where we had a good, if overly slow, lunch. And it has its own 3-storey tower too, offering outstanding views of the river, the surrounding vineyard and the distant hills. Under the tower is a large gallery that was empty of people but full of large, expensive aboriginal artworks. Everyone seemed to enjoy the good company over lunch and most of us had a bit of a look around the complex before leaving. One couple even stayed in the hotel to make a relaxed long weekend of the trip. A simple drive home down the Hume wrapped up a very interesting and enjoyable day.
Peter Williams | Member #36BMW Drivers Club Melbourne
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