MONTH IN REVIEW
November was a busy month for BMWDCM!
Our first event was the first 8 Fest Show & Shine on Melbourne Cup Day. The miserable weather did not deter the 40+ cars from attending. Read more about our day here.
We then attended the Sandown Historics on the weekend of 10/11 November. We had over 15 cars in attendance on each day, also winning the best car display of the event. Read more about it here.
Our November Members Meeting was then held at Shannons Insurance. We had a very special guest - the 530d Highway Patrol. Thank you to Leading Senior Constable Mick McGill and Acting Sergeant Heather Allen for bringing the new car. Read more here.
On a cold 24 November, we attended Geelong Revival. The Revival is always a fantastic event to attend, whether you're displaying cars or just attending for a look. Read more here.
From Geelong Revival one day, we were off to a beautiful sunny Winton the next for round 3 of the Drivers' Championship run by AROCA. Read more here.
MEMBERSHIP UPDATE: 267 MEMBERS
Welcome to all our new members, we can't wait to welcome you in person at the next event!
Don't forget to catch up with our November update from our President, Graeme Bell here.
THE MONTH AHEAD
EVENTS AHEAD
NEWS | BLOG
CLASSIFIEDS
BMW E52 Z8 Roadster European Spec BMW E52 Z8 Roadster in 354 Titansilber, with Black Soft Top and P1SP Softleder/Sportrot interior. Built October 2000, just ticked over 1500km. Original LHD, never registered, one of less than 5 in Australia. Featuring the S62 V8 powertrain from the legendary E39 M5; enjoy 294 normally aspirated kilowatts, 6 forward gears, and a limited slip differential.
For more information, or to submit your vehicle for sale, visit the Classifieds page on our website.
MEMBER SERVICES
BMW CLASSIC NEWSLETTER
The official BMW Clubs around the world are supported by BMW through its BMW Clubs and Community Management section of BMW Classic. They produce a fantastic newsletter which you may be interested in reading. Click here to subscribe now.
As always, thanks for reading. If we don't see you, we hope you have a fantastic Christmas and New Year period. We look forward to seeing you all in the new year!
President | Graeme Bell 0407 186 296 Vice President | Jo Mawson 0412 661 900 Secretary | Lawrence Glynn 0414 563 290 Treasurer | Shaaron Glynn
Dear Members,
Another great month has passed with so many brilliant events.
Cup day was our first annual show & shine and 8-Fest. The weather wasn’t too kind to us, but I am proud to say we have such wonderful members who braved the rain and came out and made this event a fantastic success. After the show & shine, we all retired to the warmth of the restaurant and joined in some games, fashions on the field and a few raffles. Everyone had a lot of fun and some great prizes were won. These prizes were all donated by Celebrations of Clarinda. A huge thank you to Ross and Celebrations Clarinda!
At Sandown Historics, we had a display on both Saturday and Sunday. It was fantastic to see so many new and existing members come out and enjoy the racing, drop in for a chat and catch up with each other. Our Club won Best Club Display of the event which I am extremely proud of! It's so great to see the effort our committee goes to in organising these events getting rewarded by the organisers.
We had our exclusive, members only meeting at Shannons, with the new BMW 530d Highway Patrol vehicle and this was one of the best evenings I have been to with the club. The car was outstanding but the presentation from both officers was captivating and very interactive and informative. We have had so many emails back from members letting us know that it was one of the best nights they had been to. Well done team and watch out for another evening with the Highway Patrol next year, when they add the new X5 to the Police Fleet.
Last weekend was very busy, we had the Geelong Revival Club Display on Saturday, with a couple doing the Sunday display as well. Again, it was great to see lots of different cars coming from all over to put on a great display for the public, talk to lots of people and have a look at the speed trials.
Sunday we were up early again and off to Winton for the third round of the Drivers' Championship, run by AROCA. The weather was just perfect, beautiful sunshine and just perfect for good lap times. For something different, the whole day was on the short track, so the times were pretty quick considering what we are used to at Winton.
Looking forward, our final members meeting for the year will be at Waverly BMW with an exciting unveiling. Make sure you come along and join in the fun and witness the very special event!
I would like to thank our team who have helped make our first year run so smoothly, without their tireless work we would not be achieving such amazing results! The club is still in its first year and so many of you have come on board and made the journey so worth it. Today, membership is at 267 and we are seeing more coming in every week. Thank you for joining us.
I hope you all have a great Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year, and I look forward to seeing you all at an event in the New Year. Keep an eye on the calendar, there are lots of events coming in the New Year. If you have an idea or have been somewhere you think might be great for us to do, get in touch with any of the committee and let us know! We're always happy to listen and help you get out of the club what you want, it is your club!
Graeme Bell | President BMW Drivers Club Melbourne Inc.
P.O. Box 81, TYABB, VICTORIA. 3913 Incorporated in Victoria #A0102695G BMW Drivers Club Melbourne Inc is a member of: BMW Clubs Australia and the BMW Clubs International Council CAMS Affiliated Motorsport Club
Far more than a vehicle alone, the BMW Vision iNEXT represents a building block for the future of the BMW Group, encompassing technology, design and new ways of thinking that are set to filter through across the company and its brands. This is the first time all of the BMW Group’s strategic innovation fields – Autonomous driving, Connectivity, Electrification and Services (ACES) – have been incorporated into a single vehicle, while its design lends them visual expression (D+ACES) and offers a look ahead to the future face of driving pleasure.
Human-centred design. Mobility is an intrinsic part of our lives, our experiences, our sensory beings. It is, in short, a basic human requirement. Consequently, deliberations about the future of mobility revolve more than ever around people, our emotions and our mobility needs and preferences. The possibilities offered by autonomous driving, electrification and ever-greater connectivity will in future open the door to completely new experiences and ways of shaping a journey by car. At the same time, they also promise to change our desires and lifestyle habits.
A boutique ambience on wheels. Drivers will have ever greater freedom to decide how they wish to use the time spent travelling in a car. The design of the vehicle’s interior will become increasingly important, with the feel-good factor playing a more prominent role. The all-electric BMW Vision iNEXT has therefore been created as a mobile space that offers real quality of life and addresses the need for a new “favourite space” in which we can be ourselves and relax. The resultant design exudes emotional appeal and conveys a positive sensation when entering the vehicle.
The geometry of the iNEXT cabin is composed of just a few, clean-cut lines, placing the focus on materials and colours. A mix of cloth and wood creates the kind of sophisticated feel associated with furniture design, helping to give the interior its special “boutique” character. The inside of the car is awash with warm, welcoming colours, such as the nude shade Purus Rosé, Brown and Beige, while the shimmering metallic Mystic Bronze accentuates their effect. The rear compartment is dominated by the petrol-coloured Enlighted Cloudburst cloth upholstery with its intricate Jacquard weave, which runs asymmetrically across the seat area and extends into the side panelling and parcel shelf.
Smart technology – integrated out of sight. Smart technologies will help people in an ever more unobtrusive way in the future. In the BMW Vision iNEXT, these technologies stay in the background and out of sight – hence the name Shy Tech – and are only deployed when needed or at the driver’s or passengers’ request. There is virtually no need for either screens or buttons. Functions can be operated using surfaces made of materials such as wood or cloth, like the Jacquard cloth upholstery in the BMW Vision iNEXT. Control of the vehicle is therefore tailored in every respect to the requirements of the people travelling in it.
The exterior: precision and clarity. The exterior of the BMW Vision iNEXT is also brimming with innovations. The new BMW i design language is clearly visible with its striking lines and clear forms, including powerfully sculpted surfaces curved like muscles onto the flanks. The stunning Liquid Greyrose Copper paint finish, which gradually changes in shade from warm copper to dark rose, projects unbridled dynamism and gives the exterior still greater impact.
The BMW Vision iNEXT features a very modern take on the classical BMW four-eyed front end, complete with super-slender headlights, while cameras (rather than exterior mirrors) show what’s happening behind. The windscreen merges seamlessly into a large panoramic roof, providing a clear view of the car’s innovative interior.
At the rear, the horizontal lines and surfaces create a wide and dynamic stance, and the slim rear lights cut deep into the car’s tail. The air flows along the roof of the BMW Vision iNEXT all the way to its trailing edge, and this combines with a diffuser – illuminated for extra effect – to enhance the car’s aerodynamics. The diffuser is an attractive styling element and a highly functional one, too: besides its positive influence over the Vision Car’s aerodynamics, it also increases electric range. Taking its cue from racing cars, the diffuser adds to the sporting presence for which BMWs are renowned – without a single exhaust tailpipe in sight.
World premiere in California. The BMW Vision iNEXT is celebrating its world premiere at the Los Angeles Auto Show 2018. The BMW Group’s Vision Car will herald the beginning of a new era in driving pleasure and mark the next step in the Munich-based company’s ongoing model offensive. The BMW iNEXT production model will roll off the assembly line at Plant Dingolfing from 2021, the new technological flagship transporting the company’s strategic innovation fields (D+ACES) onto the road.
BMW PRESS CLUB
VicRoads is introducing a new number range for club permit number plates. The current series of plates for club permit holders ranges from 00000.H – 99999.H. Plates from 95000.H onwards are currently being issued and this series is expected to be completed in the coming months. The number series in the next release will range from 0002.H.2 – 9999.H.9. This new series will run on our existing plate design (dark red background/white lettering). To ensure the plates are readable by electronic readers and intelligent management systems (used by the Victoria Police and tolling organisations), there will be some combinations in this new number range that can’t be used, particularly those with the numbers 0, 1 or 5 directly before or after the H. CPS plates Are plates transferable on sale of the vehicle? When a CPS vehicle is sold, the permit is not transferable and must be cancelled with the purchaser to apply for a new permit. When the permit is cancelled, there is no requirement for the plates to be returned to VicRoads unless VicRoads specifically requests the plates to be returned (which is done when a permit is cancelled due to a breach.) CPS plates are not transferable except where: (1) the owner changes clubs; or (2) the vehicle is sold to a member of the same club.
There have been some instances of significant plates where re-use of plates has been allowed. These are considered on a case by case basis for rare and unusual circumstances.
Graeme Bell | Club Permit Officer BMW Drivers Club Melbourne
At the CUSTOMBIKE SHOW, the world’s largest show for customised motorcycles, the hippest customisers from all over the world come to the East Westfalian town of Bad Salzuflen to celebrate the world of customised motorcycles from 30 November to 2 December 2018. More than 300 firms will present over 1,000 custom bikes on an area covering 28,000 square metres in four halls – with BMW Motorrad right in the middle. For the sixth time already, BMW Motorrad is highlighting the customising potential of its models in cooperation with selected customiser garages.
Stylish BMW Motorrad custom bikes. With a total of 15 models, the entire customising range will be on show at the stand of BMW Motorrad extending over an area of approx. 180 sqm – from the individually customised series production bike, moderate custom builds to true custom bike treasures requiring a great deal of craft skills. Striking examples are the “SoulFuel Bikes”, spectacular conversions by renowned customisers based on the current R nineT such as the Giggerl by Blechmann, theIron Racer Mark 2 by KSpeed as well as the SMW 61-B by Sosa Metal Works. The Maximator based on the BMW R 1200 C is another highlight. The custom bike was built with meticulous manual care by the BMW Motorrad development engineer Ulf Musekamp, who was involved among other things in the realisation of the BMW R nineT family. His Maximator took 5th place among 100 bikes in the “Custombike Magazine” readers’ choice. Exclusive: BMW Motorrad Spezial. The “BMW Motorrad Spezial” range shows how much customising is already possible ex works. The high-grade customising parts highlight the great degree to which customers can already customise their BMW bike ex works with special equipment, original accessories and the BMW Motorrad Spezial range. All this and a great deal more awaits visitors from 30 November to 2 December 2018 at the CUSTOMBIKE SHOW in the Bad Salzuflen trade fair centre. Opening hours are: Friday from 12 am – 8 pm, Saturday 10 am – 6 pm and Sunday 10 am – 5 pm.
After the rainy Melbourne weather, it was a breath of fresh air to get on the sunny side of the Great Dividing Ranges and the lovely weather at Winton.
As always, a flurry of activity before the racing with cars off trailers and drivers putting the finishing touches on car preparation followed by the drivers briefing with the familiar group of officials.
My racing story is that after seeing a nice fleet of E30 racing cars outside Bell Motorsport I dropped in to see what was going on and maybe get my E46 325i serviced.
Frustrated by slow speed limits and fast speed cameras town, I had been thinking about doing track days and driving with no risk to licence. Needless to say, Jo and Graeme quickly signed me up with the BMW Drivers Club and I signed on for the sprint events.
I was looking forward Winton, as I thought this would be a great opportunity to test my skill and car on a slower more technical track.
Earlier, after torturing my Michelin Pilot Sports at the Haunted Hills and Broadford sprint days, Graeme suggested Yokohama racing tyres, to save the Michelins and do more enjoyable track work.
My car has done 200,000km and needed new front shocks to reduce vibration and the car had a lot of body roll, so replaced the springs, shocks and added a hefty sway bar. I was really keen to try out the new setup at Winton as the car is driving brilliantly on the road.
Winton is a special track with short straights, sweeping corners and a few very tight corners. I was thankful for that my car is now handling well and I was able to go full throttle earlier out of corners. Interestingly my best lap times for 5 stints were all within 0.4 seconds apart.
Every session on the track put a smile on my face for a different reason, whether it was feeling harmony between the braking and throttle applications, finding the sweet line for turns 5 and 6, catching an MX5 or the raw squeal of tyres and raging noise of a supercharged Alfa Romeo working hard to overtake me out of a tight corner with the sounds stirring my petrol head soul.
As always, I looked forward to hanging out with the BMWDCM “family” as all are genuinely good people and have this enjoyable common interest. Thanks especially to Team Kertes for Paul supplying me with petrol and Rachael some useful track advice.
Rod Martin | Member #29BMW Drivers Club Melbourne
In 1992, the Targa Tasmania was run for the first time and I was smitten. What I didn’t know was that a work colleague had come third outright. I only found out a few weeks later when lazily watching the TV footage on Nine’s Wide World of Sports as it showed his BMW M5 “daily driver” flying along twisty closed public roads at what seemed like silly speeds. It was an instant addition to my “Bucket List.”
Fast forward a few decades and, following the mid-life purchase of a mint BMW Z4M Coupe a few years ago, I felt I was finally equipped with the appropriate car to take on the Targa challenge. Having family living in Mansfield, I decided that the three-day Targa High Country was a good first outing for a “newbie” as I was familiar with the roads in the area and the logistics were relatively simple.
The next question was which category to enter? I decided that it was not worthwhile to effectively destroy my classic car with roll cages and other safety modifications, just to drive in a road rally. The only two categories not requiring major modifications are the competitive TSD (time, speed, distance) category and the non-competitive Targa Tour category.
While the TSD category stirred my competitive juices and required only fitting a $500 RallySafe GPS computer, I decided the safest (and cheapest) option was to enter the Targa Tour category. An “early bird” entry fee $2,000 was enough for my daughter Emma and I to become “co-drivers” of car number T62. We also decided to support the BMWDCM and the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation to raise awareness of safe and legal motorsport. A big thank you to Jo Mawson for help with printing and to Dale at Sign Point in Lilydale for signage.
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect of a “Tour”. I suspected it was going to be a relatively pedestrian cruise on the closed Targa Rally roads, effectively sweeping them for the “real” competition road rally cars to follow. I was wrong!
The Targa Tour category is open to any vehicle and does not require any modifications. All we needed were current driver’s licenses, a roadworthy car, CAMS L2S licenses and an intimidating first aid kit with emergency triangles and “kitty litter” for any oil spills.
The Tour cars are grouped into “packets” throughout the Targa. Each packet contains about six to eight cars, which run behind a “Packet Leader” in a separate vehicle, which is fitted with a RallySafe GPS computer and is in radio contact with Targa Rally Control. The packet leaders are experienced road and rally drivers. Their task was to lead each packet of cars at high speed through the closed-road rally course and ensure that we travel safely between each stage on open public roads without attracting the attention of the Victoria Police.
Our packet comprised a former rally-car Porsche 944S2, three HSV Commodores ranging from 317 to 427 kW, a BMW E46 M3 SMG, a Mercedes E220d and us in a BMW Z4M Coupe. Other packets included a posse of Porsches, a plague of Lotuses, a herd of V8 Mustangs and a particularly swift group comprising a Ferrari, a new Nissan GTR, and a few other outrageously expensive toys. We were all followed by a packet including a beautifully restored Mini Cooper S and a Peugeot 205 GTI.
Having completed all the preliminaries of scrutineering and driver briefings we settled down for a very cool evening in the Mount Buller alpine village in preparation for a 7am muster the following morning.
We were greeted with a bright clear morning of sub-zero temperatures and about 50 teams of drivers happily observing the “ankles to cuff” clothing requirements while being breathalysed for zero blood alcohol prior to the start.
Each of the three days started with a 6.76 km stage downhill from Mount Buller to Mirimbah at the bottom of the mountain. This was our first experience of using both sides of the closed road. The ability to apex corners in both left and right turns was a thrill. Our packet leader, in a lightly race-prepared Golf R, set a pace which we could barely match given our inexperience and desire to preserve our much loved machinery. This was definitely NOT a cruise-day drive and I was blessing the team at BMW who fitted E46 CSL brakes to the Z4M.
The 8.26km second stage and 10.52km third stage were conducted on the Eildon-Jamieson Road. This is a twisty monster of a road well known to participants on BMW drive days. We were grateful for the 29km transport section between the stages to get adrenalin levels and heart rates back to near normal. The fourth stage of the morning was a fast 10.38km run near Alexandra, which delivered us to a much-needed break at the Lake Eildon picnic ground.
After a very tasty lunch provided by the Targa organisers, the afternoon comprised four stages basically the same as the morning, but in reverse direction. Weirdly, the reverse direction didn’t equate to familiarity as the “open corners” became “closed and tightening” and fatigue eroded confidence. The final stage was an 18.29km blast up Mount Buller from Sawmill Settlement. It is a road familiar to anyone in an SUV who likes skiing or snow boarding. The elite racing categories completed it in close to nine and a half minutes. We took a little longer, but much quicker than I had ever thought possible.
Day One was a total of 83.5km on eight closed road stages with a total 349km driven in the day.
Day two of the Targa comprised another eight stages with six of them taking the cars out to the north of Mansfield towards Whitfield and a welcome lunch break at the Pizzini Winery. Frustratingly all teams were required to remain at zero blood alcohol so the winery lunch was a very sober affair.
The final Targa stage of day two was a street circuit held in the middle of Mansfield. We actually got to drive past my parent’s old house in Hunter Street at well over the 50kph speed limit and only slightly airborne. This stage was followed by the “Targafest” street festival. Here all competitor cars were displayed in the main street and the locals held a carnival while we sought coffee and a cool place to relax.
An evening transport stage back up the mountain was a tense journey being watchful of both wandering wildlife and the speed-enforcing police. Many competitors were able to have a “quiet meal” in the Mount Buller village being able to walk back to their accommodation (but mindful of the early morning breathalyzer!)
Day 2 covered 72.2km in eight competitive stages and a total of 233km driven in the day.
The final day of the Targa High Country 2018 was always destined to be a marathon. Only four competitive stages, but some real whoppers! As always we started with the quick 6.76km stage down the mountain to Mirimbah, which cleared the cobwebs and warmed the tyres.
The real monster of the day was found by returning to the Eildon-Jamieson Road. This time the stage ran for 48.77 tortuous kilometres of twisting, climbing and diving bitumen. A couple of the Porches and a Lotus decided that “Touring” didn’t required staying on the road and the lunch break in Eildon was extended to allow retrieval of these “sightseers” with a flatbed tow truck.
Thus warned, the Tour group tackled the reverse journey on the same road with a little more respect and some morbid curiosity to see where other had been less careful. These two marathon stages left everyone exhausted and a bit wary as we approached our final run up the mountain from Sawmill Settlement.
The final Mount Buller stage was a celebration of the three days of apex hunting, tyre burning and brake frying thrills. Most drivers had secretly timed themselves on the previous run up the mountain so set themselves the challenge to do better in the finale.
As we shot off up the mountain weaving across both lanes, every part of our Targa experience came together. A series of tight and fast hairpin bends at the summit saw us drifting across the finish line to wild applause from the waiting crowd. Medals and beers followed with many promises to ‘see you next year!’
Day three comprised 113km in four stages over a total of 273kms in the day.
As newbie Targarians we safety completed 268.7km of closed road ‘touring’ in three days. Apart from fuel, entry and accommodation costs, I will need two new rear tyres, some fresh brake pads and about 500ml of lemon juice to get the smile off my face.
Ewen McConchie | Member #70 BMW Drivers Club Melbourne
Well what can I say after a fantastic day out with the club and its members.
The display was very well organised by the BMWDCM committee (Jo Mawson, Greame Bell, Lawrence Glynn and the rest of the team).
The day was a fantastic family orientated day and felt very welcome to have the car on display as well as feeling very welcome and friendly in the club as a financial member.
Both children and I had a ball on the day and enjoyed chatting amongst the club members as well as watching the car racing and cars on the skid pan.
We loved the atmosphere of the display cars and the variety of cars that were there on the day both from BMWDCM and other clubs that were present on the day.
Geelong revival committee had all classes and vehicles covered from racing cars, open wheelers to motorbikes, historic vehicles, fashion parades as well as different food Van's to wet your appetite.
If you are not a financial member, I suggest joining up to an awesome club with even better people with a passion of driving cars. You won’t be disappointed in a fantastic club that goes beyond means to keep club members happy in a fantastic family friendly environment.
We will be coming along to Geelong revival again to display my car, as well as other club runs and highly suggest other members to come along to a fantastic day.
Hoping to see other members around.
Joel Robin | Member #41BMW Drivers Club Melbourne
Virtual reality is increasingly finding use in BMW Group production. A few months before production of the new BMW 3 Series ramped up in Munich, BMW Group planners have completely laid out individual workstations in a virtual world. This includes cockpit preassembly, for example, where the cockpit is put together before being installed in the vehicle. For the first time, building, systems, logistics and assembly planners, together with production employees, were able to assess the whole of the new production area in virtual reality and test new procedures in 3D.
Matthias Schindler, responsible for Virtual Planning and Implementation in Production at the BMW Group: “Virtual reality technology has enabled us to set up cockpit preassembly workstations quickly and efficiently. Time-consuming trial installations that replicate the workstation in its actual dimensions were no longer needed. And the fact that all the specialists involved – from logistics experts to systems planners to production employees – were easily able to exchange ideas in the early stages was an important added benefit for the team. We were more transparent, more flexible and faster overall.”
Production of the existing cockpit continued during preparations without any constraints, since planning only took up space in the virtual world. Being able to work with the same data and software also saved specialist departments and production staff a lot of time. Because it is so easy to use, experts were able to assess how much space the new system needed, for example, quickly and easily and incorporate production employees’ know-how in planning from the beginning. Following a brief introduction and without any specialised knowledge, the team of representatives from different specialist areas was able to launch the project immediately. The software handles complex calculations for real-time rendering of all objects in virtual-reality glasses and simulations.
The basis for this kind of planning is digitalised 3D factory data. For the past several years, the BMW Group has been capturing the real structures of its plants in digital form with millimetre accuracy, using special 3D scanners and high-resolution cameras. This creates a three-dimensional image of production in the form of a so-called cloud diagram. Time-consuming, digital reconstruction of real structures and manual recording on site are no longer needed. Whether planning future workplaces or entire assembly halls, BMW Group departments can now combine existing data with a virtual "library" of shelves, lattice boxes, small load carriers and around 50 other widely-used operating resources.
The chequered flag drops to end another championship and the mighty E30 M3 has bagged another touring car title, 31 years after its first and very successful launch year of 1987. The gulf in budgets means that those fake newspaper front pages the drivers so proudly display from the podium at places like Bathurst, would more likely resemble a ransom note made from cut up newspaper headlines glued back together again from my budget constraints than the perfectly printed examples of self-promotion the media departments of those professional teams so spontaneously produce. For me, I’d be happy with the former as long as they spelt my name right.
“Towe wins championship” is not something anyone typed too often I would imagine.
I have competed in the championship for the now “Historic” classified Group A Touring Cars for 16 years now and have managed to win it twice in that time. The first time was in 2004 in the ex Tony Longhurst JPS Team BMW M3 in a championship which was then decided on one race meeting but the interest and professionalism of the category; now competing as “Heritage Touring Cars” which incorporates genuine Group A Touring Cars which were the main touring car category around the world from 1984-92 and Australian Group C Touring Cars (73-84) as well, has risen to a championship which is decided over 5 rounds spanning most of the year. A change of car to the later built ex Richards/Longhurst M3 which was the last car built by Frank Gardner’s JPS Team at the team HQ in Terry Hills NSW in 1987 reaped rewards for me. The car still uses the same spec motor the brilliant 2302cc, S14 twin cam, four cylinder screamer but the shell is 20kgs lighter and has newer suspension components that were homologated that year make it a better package overall. We regularly beat the Walkinshaw Commodores, Falcon and Torana V8s at many circuits through the M3’s balance of power, braking and handling.
The car is in very original condition with the only real changes from how it was when it took 4th outright at the Bathurst 1000 in 1987 being the fuel cell had to be replaced due to its’ age and the ECU has been updated to a Haltech PS100 because no one had the technology to tune the old ECU these days. Still running the Getrag 265 that it ran all those years ago and the same wheel rims too the car is little changed from those glory days of 1987 and then when the legend Peter Brock ran it in 1988.
Heritage Touring Cars was the first category to officially compete at The Bend Motorsport Park, the spectacular new track in South Australia where we had mixed fortunes over the weekend. It was the first round of the championship and the infield had not had chance regenerate so the howling southerly wind whipped up a fierce dust storm covering the track so badly that you couldn’t see the apexes until you were just about on top of them. I managed to not qualify due to an electrical gremlin which was easily fixed back in the pits and then went onto take 4th after starting from the rear of the grid, second in the next race and sadly DNF the third race putting me out of the rest of the meeting with a spun bearing in the engine. It showed me that I had built a fast engine and The Bend is a place I really want to compete at again.
The second round of the championship was at the rescheduled Muscle Car Masters meeting at Sydney Motorsport Park at Eastern Creek where we again had mixed fortunes. We managed to take another podium at a “muscle car” meeting, third outright in a rain hit final race but at the expense of yet another engine. This time there was a slapping noise from number two cylinder and upon stripping it down we discovered deep score marks in the piston and bore. Sadly this was discovered the day we were loading to go to Morgan Park in Warwick for round three so we had to pull out and set our sights on building the third engine for the year.
Round four took us across Bass Strait to a gem of a track called Baskerville near Hobart and a reuniting with former BMWDCNSW club member David Hall who became part of the crew for the weened. The smoothest meeting of the year saw us qualify 2nd and take 3 podiums including a race win from the 4 races held over the weekend. The tight, twisty nature of the track nullified the horsepower advantage the VL Walkinshaw Commodores and the turbo Sierras normally have over us allowing us to compete for outright placings in each race. During a personal photoshoot the day after the meeting, idiot me broke my beautiful Huon Pine trophy by allowing it to slide off the highly polished roof of the M3 smashing into 3 pieces on the main straight. Lesson learned there.
Now with a handy lead thanks to the massive points haul from Baskerville we set our sights on the less desirable horsepower heaven of Sandown in Melbourne for the last round. The surprise non entry by the ex Bob Holden Toyota Sprinter for the final round meant that we were pretty much assured of the title with the ex Garry Wilmington Jag XJS only a mathematical chance of beating us. After race 2 for the weekend where we took 4th outright the Jag’s challenge was now ended and we secured the Heritage Touring Cars “Peter Brock Trophy” for Group A Touring Cars, an achievement I’m immensely proud of.
Throughout this article you may have noticed me using the term “we” instead of “I”, that’s because although I’m the nut behind the wheel of the car, I simply couldn’t do it on my own. I have family and a few mates who work as my pit crew for each round and their help is invaluable to a season long challenge.
I need to acknowledge the help of a couple of long term BMWDC (NSW) members/sponsors whose knowledge and professionalism assisted greatly. Nick Peak from Peak Performance for his problem solving skills and advice, Andrew Schmitt from ALS Performance who has helped with parts and advice and a few of sponsors who’ve been supporting me for many years now, ADG Welding Supplies in St. Mary’s, Gearbox Express in Ingleburn and Peninsula BM in Melbourne for parts and last but not least my own employees at E.S.S. Garage Doors who keep the business running when I’m competing.
David Towe
© 2025 BMW Drivers Club Melbourne Inc. All Rights Reserved.
