by Bob Morin

Sheila and I have just returned from Pasadena, CA and our 19th BMW CCA Oktoberfest.   The gang from the Central California Chapters joined together to provide this year’s event and, as always, it was great to see all our O’fest friends once again.   Thanks to everyone who helped put on the event so that we could come out and play.

Our next Chapter event is something we have kicked around trying in the past, but it never got off the ground until now.   Bristol Dyno is hosting us on Saturday, August 21 and this is your chance to see if those modifications have paid off in real horsepower or not.   I hope many of you will have the opportunity to take advantage of this event.

We have a very rare opportunity over the Labor Day weekend this year.   The BMW Vintage Marathon will be passing through Lime Rock as part of their 2500 mile journey over the Eastern Seaboard.   This could be a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see some very rare BMWs up close and personal.  

Other upcoming events include our annual ’02 Fest East on September 12th and a newly added to our calendar ’02 Fest Rally the day before.   This rally is open to all members as well as any ’02 Fest visitors who might wish to participate.   There is a dinner following the rally that I’m sure if you ask jerri nicely, you can attend, even if you didn’t rally.  

Of course, September also is our annual Humpa Picnic on the 26th.   This event has really grown to its former glory in recent years and there are always gobs of doorprizes and plenty of free food and drink. Don’t forget, it’s rain or shine, since they have a marvelous pavilion for our use and even a fireplace if we get a cold, damp day.

It is difficult for me to even bring up the F1 season anymore.   Thank goodness the Hoosier Chapter does such a great job with their corral because it was another wasted trip to Indy for Sheila and me again this year.   Most of you know by now that Ralf Schumacher crashed heavily and Juan Pablo Montoya’s car could not leave the grid on the warm-up lap and he sprinted to the back-up car, starting from pit lane where he managed to run as high as second, before 56 laps in, the officials determined he could not legally use his back-up car due to some rule he violated about 15 seconds to make the decision or some such nonsense, so he was disqualified.   So, for the second weekend in a row, BMW Williams came home with no points and I’m starting to wonder if they will even be able to hold off the resurgent McLaren Mercedes for 4th in the Championship.   It is such a lame duck effort at this point with both of their drivers leaving at the end of the season, that I wish they would just release them early and start the auditioning now.   You’ve got to love the silly season rumors though.   How about this team for next year?   Has-been Jacques Villeneuve and Jeff Gordon are two names in the rumored list which also includes Mark Webber, Nick Heidfeld and David Coulthard among current F1 drivers and several current test drivers and young up-and-comers among the non-current crop of drivers.   Rumor has it that even Frank Williams is considering retirement.   How much longer will BMW put up with these results?  

News From National shows that we almost got back the members we lost last month, as we were up 214 nationally for the month and 5.18% over last year.   As of June 22 nd, the National Office had enough raffle tickets sold to give away 8.83 cars, with a few days left to get it up to around 10.   Hope you get a call that you’re a winner!   The National Office is putting out a Request for Proposal for updating the club’s website and integrating it with the database.   If interested, check out www.bmwcca.org.   Hoosier Chapter has accepted the challenge of hosting next year’s Techfest.   This should be a great event based our experience with their Indy F1 Corrals.   Welcome to our neighbors to the North as the Green Mountain Chapter has applied for a charter from National.   Don’t forget that Avis and Hertz offer special rates to ‘CCA members.   Check out:

         Avis                          800-831-2847                       Corporate number AWD #L358190

         Hertz                        800-654-3131                       Corporate number CPD-ID #289425

 

That takes care of another month.   Hope to see you at event soon.