When planning an event there are a lot of things to think about and to try and control.. The weather can be one of those but I haven’t found a way of controlling it yet (the Chinese Government famously controlled the raid for the Beijing Olympics but only in a very limited way in a very limited area).
So, it was more by luck than good judgement that we enjoyed glorious views from SkyHigh at Mount Dandenong at the end of our short cruise on the Queen’s birthday.
The photos I took with my phone do not do justice to the view. I should, it turns out, have taken my better camera, but who carries one of those anymore?
The service road outside Waverly BMW proved to be an ideal starting point, with the minor exception that there was no coffee on sale (surely a mandatory item in Melbourne but we seemed to survive) and no toilets (which became more of an issue for me once we actually reached SkyHigh – the transition from seated to standing seems to release something!).
Not only were we blessed with good weather but we had a good turnout too. It was great to see some families attend with younger children who seemed to be having a good time.
This event was the first time we’d used the new sign in process – designed to meet all the requirements for public liability insurance from CAMS – including approved non-members as day members on the spot. It worked well, just a signature against your name.
There was also time to showcase some of the merchandise we now have and have a chat.
Thanks to the numerous traffic lights our convoy got a little broken up and the climb up to Mount Dandenong was disrupted by other slower moving traffic. Nonetheless, the views on the way up and the little villages we passed through made a very scenic and enjoyable drive. The road was twisty and very much like being well out in the countryside in the foothills of the Victorian Alps, yet so close to Melbourne. A few brief bursts of spirited driving where the visibility and traffic permitted made it interesting and fun.
SkyHigh is clearly very popular but we managed to find enough parking spaces close together and then set off to explore the many features.
The view is obviously the main draw, and it was very pleasant to sit outside and admire the vista stretching across Port Phillip Bay to Geelong, the You Yangs, the Brisbane Ranges and beyond. Some made it into, and thankfully out of, the Maze and others just strolled around the grounds.
A coffee and a prolonged chat lead onto lunch and then people drifted off home.
A fun way to spend some of a public holiday!
Lawrence Glynn | Secretary BMW Drivers Club Melbourne The Ultimate Driving Club
For our June members meeting I put together a few fun facts from BMW’s history. I’m glad to say that those who attended found it interesting and entertaining!
I will not try and write out the entire presentation, mainly because I type too slowly!
For those who could not make it I’ll briefly cover the first of the questions - Have you ever wondered why some think the BMW logo is a spinning propeller?
From this very question you can deduce that the “roundel” is not based on a spinning propeller, but BMW used a picture indicating that it was in some of their advertising in the 1920’s. To make the advertising seem credible they even invented a back story to go with it.
The story goes that a BMW engineer was watching a plane landing after a test flight (of the engine – BMW originally made aero engines) and saw the pattern made by the propeller and thought what a great logo that would make. Just add the letters BMW in the area around the edge of the propeller and its done.
Sadly, there are two major issues with that story.
The first, and most obvious, is that a spinning propeller is nigh on invisible to the naked eye. The “four quadrant” effect is a device used by artists to convey motion, you can not actually see it. Spinning propellers on film sometimes give this effect due to the synchronisation of the camera shutter and the propeller rotation.
The band around the end of the propeller, onto which the BMW letters are imposed, is actually there because the end of the blades are painted white to help you see the prop spin!
So, the engineer would not have seen the 4 quadrants at all.
The second issue is that by the time any plane took off equipped with a BMW engine, the engine would already have the roundel logo cast into the side of the block. All BMW engines did (and do).
The roundel logo for BMW was adapted from the roundel logo used by Rapp Motor Works, a company which was renamed by Austrian military supervisor, Franz Joseph Popp, who was sent to Rapp to supervise the manufacture of 224 Type IIIa engines to the Daimler design.
German military engines were built to an interchangeable design, so any Type IIIa engine could be used in a Type IIIa plane. The actual design of the engine was determined by the manufacturer.
Rapp’s engines were of variable quality and performance, varying from bad to dreadful. So much so that they were not even trusted to make engines to a proven good design without outside supervision.
Ex Daimler engineer Max Friz, now at Rapp, had developed a carburettor and engine design which would fly higher (a key military advantage to this day) and use less fuel. Tests proved this to be so, and, ignoring orders from High Command, Popp had engines to the Friz design built instead of the Daimler design.
Popp recognised the need to distance the company from the reputation of the Rapp era so he took on the imprimatur of the regional government calling the new company Bavarian Motor Works and adopting the white and blue state colours. It was illegal to use a national or state logo as a company logo, so the quartered white and blue fields were reversed. This idea was applied to the existing Rapp Motor Works roundel logo to make the BMW roundel we know today.
The name BMW and the roundel design were registered in March 1917 (not 1916 as you may have thought – have you ever wondered why that is?)
The BMW engine went on to be the aero engine of choice for German WW1 pilots and Opel were commissioned to build engines of the BMW design.
Popp realised that pilots not only liked the performance of this engine but the way it delivered that performance, the feeling of pleasure and confidence it gave.
This became the company mandate, known today by the tag line from an American advertising agency as “sheer driving pleasure”.
MONTH IN REVIEW
May was a fantastic month for BMW Drivers Club Melbourne! We had a very successful launch night, which was held at the Naked Racer Bar at Antique Motorcycles in Cheltenham. We had over 70 members attend to celebrate our launch.
Read more about our launch night here.
Following our launch night, we held a display event at the Shannons Nationals at Sandown where we also sent one lucky member, Sam O’Neil, for the ride of his life with Steve Richards in his GT4 M4. “Half way round the track Steven did the thumbs up just to check if I was still with him, and boy was I ever!” - It’s safe to say Sam enjoyed himself. It pays to register for events! You never know what can happen.
Read more about the Shannons Nationals and see photos here.
Our friends at AROCA then invited us to attend their sprint dat at Sandown Raceway. While we're still getting our Drivers' Championship sorted this was a great opportunity to get out on trach and we had a number of members attend. the day started out quite wet but turned into the perfect day! Keep an eye on our calendar for more chances to get on track.
THE MONTH AHEAD
June is set to be a busy month with a number of events coming up:
EVENTS NOT TO MISS!
Keep an eye on our calendar for events coming up, we’re always adding something new. Click on any of the following events for more information.
Jindivick Cruise
BLOG
1 Minute Review: Bowden's Own Snow Blow Cannon
Covers the car in a snow like foam blanket to soften and lift dirt – hose it off and possibly avoid the need to hand wash. Helps reduce swirl marks and cleaning effort.
But the car looked very clean after just a rinse which got most of the baked on bugs off – the rest were much easier to get off than normal.
The kit costs $99.99 and the Snow Job solution is $54.99 for 20 or more washes.
Online or through most auto accessory retailers. Autobarn carry most of the Bowden’s range.
They’re an Australian company with a real interest in cars. The family has a fantastic collection of important historic touring race cars two beautiful JPS 635.
Lawrence Glynn | BMW Drivers Club Melbourne The Ultimate Driving Club
2018 Shannons Nationals at Sandown
We had a cracking day's racing at the second round of the Shannons Nationals at Sandown on 13 May 2018.
There was plenty of overtaking and enough for a BMW fan to cheer at, even if the Roundel was not first over the line in the headline Australian GT race.
To make the weekend even more special, one of our attendees, Sam O’Neil scored a hot lap with Steve Richards in the GT4 M4, courtesy of BMW Australia.
Sam collected his pass from BMW Australia’s headquarters in Mulgrave on the Friday in his E30 convertible, which attracted the attention of several staff members. “Cool E30” was the remark. Despite the inclement weather they had him line the car up in front of the corporate signage for a photo or two!
He described his hot lap as awesome. “WOW, that thing flies, the sheer force when Steven braked, I thought I would hit the screen. And the way it was gripping around the bends and hitting the apex, the car just does not slide at all. Half way around the track Steven did the thumbs up just to check if I was still with him, and boy was I ever!”
Needless to say he was very happy.
The great thing about racing at this level is you can go into the pits and chat with the drivers and the crew, as long as they are not too busy or just getting ready to send the car out.
The Steve Richards Motorsport (SRM) pit was not only welcoming, but professionally kitted out with nice white wall with a count down timer and TV screen, floor matting and all the gear you could need neatly stowed - almost F1 level.
Sadly the results on the track do not match the dedication of the team, stuck as they are with the rigid “balance of performance” settings, which are applied worldwide in GT3 racing.
Basically all the GT3 cars from all the manufacturers are adjusted to give identical lap times on a FIA designated circuit with a FIA designated driver. Those settings result in quite a variation in performance at any given track.
The BMW M6 does well at Bathurst, especially over the top of the mountain, at Phillip Island and The Bend, where SRM finished third in Round 1.
Sandown does not suit the M6 as well, but it is fearsome under brakes.
Starting race 1 on Sunday in seventh spot, Steve had made up one place before the compulsory pit stops.
Here is another form of handicapping unique to Australia - all drivers are graded. Grade 1 drivers have to have a driver swap and a longer pit stop.
Steve is a Grade 1 driver so the car resumed with Ricky Capo in the drivers seat in tenth. Unfortunately he had a spin and finished the race in 13th.
This meant a starting position of 13th for race 2. Steve managed to work his way up to tenth before the pit stop. Ricky then finished in tenth, not far behind ninth, being the fastest car on track in clear air.
For the M6 overtaking at Sandown is tricky with the best spots being under brakes at the end of the back straight, or through the S bend to the start of the front straight.
To make easier for spectators each car carries a digital display, just above the race number in the windscreen, which shows their race position in class or how long the car has been stopped in the pits (minimum pit stop times apply).
The other race featuring BMWs was the Production Car race which was won by BMW in all four starts over the weekend. BMWs 1st and 2nd in the final race and 3 or 4 in the top 10 in each race.
Sadly, due to the weekend being on Mother's Day, the crowds were low. However we proudly showed our BMWs to the few who were there.
The next round of the Shannons Nationals is at Phillip Island June 1 – 3.
The Committee | BMW Drivers Club Melbourne The Ultimate Driving Club
BMW Drivers Club Melbourne
Launch Night Success!
On Tuesday, 1 May 2018 we held our launch night at Antique Motorcycles in Cheltenham.
After starting up our new club just under three weeks ago, we had a lot of planning to do for future events. We decided to kick things off at the Naked Racer Bar at Antique Motorcycles in Cheltenham, feeling that it had something for everyone.
With 57 registered attendees, we were very excited for the night. Arriving just before 6.30pm people were already starting to follow, it was overwhelming with new members flooding in and more signing up on the night.
In the end, we had over 70 people attend, which was absolutely fantastic! All attendees had a ball, chatted with friends, the night was a complete success! We are so grateful for the support we have received from all of our members. We are so very proud that in a little over a week after opening up for member registrations, we now have over 100 members!
"I personally want to thank you all, you are the reason we have taken this road and all the work that has gone on over the last few weeks, which has been considerable, is more than worth it when so many people come out and enjoy the company of like-minded friends in such a great atmosphere! Also thank you to John for hosting us, it is an awesome venue and we will be back again soon!" – Graeme Bell.
We are now up and running 100% and looking forward to giving you the members, the ultimate club experience. It is your club and we are here to run the club for you! So please tell us if you have any ideas for any kind of events at all. We mentioned at our launch night some of the events we have in store, but please don't hesitate to contact us if you have something you think will be fun to do!
"The last few weeks have seen a lot of work by some amazingly hardworking, dedicated, passionate people, it's not just me and Jo that have done all the work getting BMWDCM off the ground, initially yes, but since the word got out so many have come on board and helped be a part of this and get it up and running, I want to especially thank Lawrence and Shaaron Glynn, Jess, Chris and Sean Bell, Jenna Patan, Jason Gibson, Garett Sandeman, Alex Jory, Rob and Mia Pavlov, Andy Kaos, Peter Williams and anyone else I have forgotten to mention! (sorry) Also, I want to thank the Executive of BMW Clubs Australia and the International Council for their help, advice and assistance in getting BMWDCM off the ground and accepted as Member of the worldwide BMW Club family, I am incredibly proud and excited about the future with you all on board for the ride!" – Graeme Bell.
Keep an eye on the website for updates on upcoming events. We will send out notices to full financial members but non-members are also very welcome at our events. So keep checking and see if there is something you might like to come along to, or even help organise or run.
Thank you to all those who attended and gave their support, without you this wouldn't be possible.
Looking forward to seeing you all at the next one!
BMW Clubs Australia
PRESS RELEASE
It is this special enthusiasm that connects BMW enthusiasts with each other around the world. Whether on two wheels or four, BMW vehicles were and continue to be exceptional, the joy of driving is synonymous with BMW.
BMW Club and Community Management publish a newsletter each quarter which showcases BMW Clubs around the world.
Included in the latest Newsletter is a history of the BMW factory at Dingolfing, an hour's train ride from Munich.
The output from the Dingolfing plant is 1600 BMWs per day. Each vehicle is bespoke. The painted body, wheels, trim, seats, arrive just in time. All marked by bar codes. At a single point the 2 separate assembly lines converge. The painted body shell arrives from one side and the chassis with motor and differential from the other side. The two are bolted together and continue on as you watch as electrics, interiors, seats, windscreens, wheels are installed on the assembly line.
These include:
BCCM would love to receive an article from a club from BMW Clubs Australia to include in a future newsletter.
Trevor Dean International Delegate | BMW Clubs Australia
Be sure to register now to receive the BMW Clubs Newsletter by clicking here.
BMW Drivers Club Melbourne would like to invite all friends and family to attend our Launch Night at Antique Motorcycles, Cheltenham.
Come and meet the team behind the new BMW Club in town and enjoy the wonders of some classic bikes and more.
Entry is free to members, including those who sign up on the night, or $20 for non-members.
To find out more and register see the event page here.
It is our pleasure to announce that we are now on the Victorian Club Permit Scheme.
Visit our Club Permit page to find out more!
We are excited to announce our affiliation with CAMS!
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