auf bergstrassen auf bergstrassen

Blue Ridge Chapter—BMW Car Club of America
auf bergstrassen
Vol. XXXII Issue 2
June/July 2013
Mark calendars It’s time for go-kart
on Aug. 11 for competition July 27
annual picnic
by Brad Day
by Lisa Cunningham
What would summer be without the annual
club picnic? Dull? Dreary? Well, fear not!
The date has been set, the shelter reserved,
and Hamdinger’s contacted.
Please come out and join us at Darden
Towe Park just outside Charlottesville on
Sunday, August 11. The fun begins at noon
with the free catered lunch dished up around
12:30.
Activities include cornhole (a beanbag
toss game for the uninitiated), car oogling,
and perhaps a return
of last year’s popular
RSVP by Aug. 5
scavenger hunt.
If you’d like to bring a dessert to share,
that is always appreciated, but not required.
Everyone’s favorite addictive chocolatey
treat will make its usual appearance—it does
go fast so if you miss out, or need more, the
recipe will be in the next issue.
All we do require is advance notice that
you plan to attend so we can be sure to have
enough food and drinks for everyone. RSVP
to Steve Cunningham by Monday, Aug. 5 to
[email protected] or 434-962-9540.
The picnic will be held rain or shine as the
pavilion provides plenty of cover from a
summer shower.
It’s time for our Summer intra-club go-kart competition! Join the Blue Ridge Chapter
on Saturday, July 27th for some go-karting at G-Force Karts in Richmond. Feel free to
bring a friend even if they aren’t a club member.
Refreshments will be provided at the track. Members
RSVP by July 22 to Brad
will be responsible for paying for their own races ($18
at [email protected] or
per race). We will again be giving out prizes in three catcall 434-207-8008
egories: Fastest Overall Time, Fastest Newcomer and
Fastest “Big Karter” (for us husky characters).
After we’ve had our fill of racing and have worked up hearty thirst (karting is tougher
than you think for those who not tried it) we’ll adjourn to the Capital Ale House for
further refreshments. (Members will also be responsible for their own adult beverages.)
If you’d like to join us for some karting please RSVP so we can get an accurate head
count when planning for snacks. We will meet at the track at 1pm. To reserve your spot
please e-mail Brad Day at [email protected] or call 434-207-8008 by July 22nd. GForce Karting is located at 4245 Carolina Avenue, Building B just to the east of Richmond International Raceway. See you at the track!
Street Survival ahead on Oct. 26
by Frank Gorse
2013 marks our sixth year for Street Survival in central Virginia. We’ve already helped
150 young drivers become safer and more confident at the wheel of their cars, and we’ll
add 30 more to that tally on October 26.
The full-day school, which teaches hand-on car control skills to drivers aged 15–21
using their own cars and under the watchful eye of an in-car coach, will be held on the
grounds of Richmond International Raceway. Space is limited to 30 participants, and
with 25 on the roster as this is written, there’s still some space. Should a prospective
driver end up on our wait list, they shouldn’t despair as we usually find a way to get
Continued on p 3
INSIDE:
Seen at The Vintage, p 7
•
Continued on p 9
Chapter financial statement for 2012, p 9
•
Take your tires seriously, p 10
from the editor
On the cover: Panorama of wine tour participants.
photo courtesy of Brad Day
Didn’t know that Virginia has a monsoon season?
Neither did I. All I can say about all the rain is that
at least my well is happy! Hope you’re able to find
some dry spots to get out and enjoy your ultimate
driving machines.
=00=
We just returned from a week-long adventure to
Cincinnati, Canton (NFL Hall of Fame), and
Pittsburgh. Max made the trip comfortably, and
like last year, I did most of the driving. The last
time I had driven the stretch of interstate between
Beckley and Charleston, WV, I was behind the
wheel of my dad’s Buick. What a difference in
handling! There are a lot of banked curves as you
wind through the mountains on a road not
designed for 70 mph speed limits, and Max glided
through them with much more agility, as one
would expect.
=00=
New location for C’ville monthly
Starting with the July monthly gathering on Tuesday the 16th, the Charlottesville contingent is going to try a new location. The Sedona Taphouse
recently opened on Millmont Street behind the Barracks Road Shopping Center. The location was previously home to the Millmont Grille and before that,
Sloan’s. It’s a bit more centrally located for folks than making the trek up 29
North to Forest Lakes. Sedona Taphouse has a Richmond location at the Manchester Commons in Midlothian. They boast a huge selection of craft beers on
draft and the food menu has a variety of options. Visit their website at
http://www.sedonataphouse.com. They also have a Facebook page specifically
for the Charlottesville location. Looking forward to giving it a try next week—
hope to see you there!
Meet the crew at monthly gatherings
Come on out for food and conversation with fellow enthusiasts!
I read a few minutes ago on a BBC Auto blog (that I
linked to from an unrelated article) that the last M3
coupe has been produced. All good things must
come to an end, I suppose. The article does go on
to say that a new M4 is in the works. Is it just me,
or are we getting too many numbers and models to
keep track of?
=00=
Summer still holds a karting spree at the end of
July and then a fan favorite—the picnic—on
August 11. See page 1 for more details on both
events. We have a few things in the works for the
remainder of the year and are open to suggestions
for events. Reach out to any board member or area
rep if you have an idea you’d like to see us do!
=00=
Looking ahead a bit, fall is a fine time to show off
your car at a concours or check out others on display. A number of opportunities across our region
are outlined for you on page 6. There’s a corral at
VIR for the American Le Mans, another at the
Richmond International Raceway for a NASCAR
event, and more!
=00=
’Til next time, happy motoring!
—Lisa Cunningham
First Wednesday of each month:
Richmond, 5:30–7:30 at Champps, 9202 Stony Point Parkway, contact
[email protected]
Lynchburg, 5:30–7:30 at Benjamin’s, US 221 in Forest, contact Nick Frye,
[email protected]
Third Tuesday of each month:
Charlottesville, 6–8 at Sedona Taphouse, 1035 Millmont Street behind Barracks
Road Shopping Center, contact Brad Day, [email protected]
The Fine Print
Auf Bergstrassen (On Mountain Roads) is the official publication of the Blue Ridge Chapter of the
BMW CCA, Inc., (the Club) a not-for-profit organization in no manner connected with BMW or
BMWNA. All information furnished herein is provided by and for the members of the Club and the
Club assumes no responsibility for any of the ideas, opinions or suggestions contained herein. The
contents of this newsletter remain the property of the Club. Persons wishing to communicate with
the Club or submit articles for publication in the newsletter should address themselves to:
Blue Ridge BMW Chapter
P.O. Box 4381
Charlottesville, VA 22905
Display advertising space is limited and preference is given to businesses within the region
that Blue Ridge Chapter serves. Inquiries should be directed to the editor. Note: Blue Ridge
Chapter does not endorse the products and/or services offered by the businesses
advertising in this publication.
Please send address changes directly to:
BMW CCA, Inc
640 South Main Street, Suite 201
Greenville, SC 29601
or call: 1.800.878.9292
Also visit www.bmwcca.org and log in to change address, phone, email, car models.
Log in instructions are provided after clicking the login button at the top of the home page.
2
Who’s who in
Blue Ridge
welcome,
new Blue Ridge
members!
Barry Scott Brown
Bill Burnett
Jana Maas Burnett
Roscoe Cooper
Zachary Todd Dehli
Larry Garcia
Mike Grappone
Chris Hagen
Geraldine Marie Hayden
Peter H. Johnson
Sodora Jones
Dan Komorowski
Brent Lenz
Casey Liss
Paul McDaniel
Stuart Noel
Patrick John O’Leary
Ron Ramkirpaul
Matthew Roose
Cameron Rushing
Jerome Paul Sobacki
Thad Ray Starkes
Officers
President: Brad Day
434/ 207-8008
[email protected]
Vice President: Nick Frye
434/ 229-9369
[email protected]
Secretary: Dennis Topper
804/ 380-5843
[email protected]
Treasurer: Byron McCauley
434/ 296-3772
[email protected]
Newsletter Editor: Lisa Cunningham
434/ 971-1361
[email protected]
Richmond Rep: Paul Coakley
804/ 261-5928
[email protected]
Richmond Rep: Dennis Topper
804/ 380-5843
[email protected]
Charlottesville Rep: Steve Cunningham
434/ 962-9540
[email protected]
Charlottesville Rep: Phil Marx
434/ 979-4919
[email protected]
Valley Rep: Butch Eskey
540/ 289-9872
[email protected]
Lynchburg Rep: Nick Frye
434/ 229-9369
[email protected]
Blacksburg Rep: James Millhiser
[email protected]
Clifton Forge
Charlottesville
Charlottesville
Richmond
Moneta
Glen Allen
Richmond
Richmond
Palmyra
Christiansburg
Charlottesville
Richmond
Harrisonburg
Glen Allen
Charlottesville
Marion
Roanoke
North Chesterfield
Glen Allen
Richmond
Danville
Louisa
Chapter Adviser: Tom Millhiser, [email protected]
Picnic—cont.
Darden Towe Park is in Charlottesville, on Route 20 about a mile north
of US 250 at Pantops. From I-64, take the Shadwell exit (124), head west on
US 250 toward Charlottesville. After you pass Charlottesville BMW on the
left, you’ll take a right at the next light at the foot of the hill onto Route 20.
Turn left at the first light on Route 20 into the park. When the road comes
to a T, turn right, and the shelter is at the end of the parking lots. We often
park the group in the field behind the pavilion, so drive on past the soccer
crowd and look for all the BMWs.
July 19–21: Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix features Z cars
Don’t miss the annual BMW gathering on German Hill overlooking
turn 13 at the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix! This year’s corral will
feature BMW Z Series cars including the Z1, Z3, Z4, and Z8.
The Schenley Park weekend of events kicks off on Friday, July 19,
with a scenic driving tour and dinner. On Saturday
and Sunday, there will be over 2000 cars in an
international car show plus a catered lunch and
all-day hospitality tent courtesy of BMW CCA’s
Social Partner Spaten beer.
Location: Schenley Park, Pittsburgh, PA
Member Services
Membership Coordinator: Frank Gorse
804/ 360-1481
[email protected]
Tool Steward: Paul Muskopf
[email protected]
Autocross Coordinator: John Harmon
804/ 360-1947
[email protected]
Webmeister: Brad Day
434/ 207-8008
[email protected]
Newsletter submissions
Please submit all classifieds, photos, announcements,
articles, etc. by Sept. 1, 2013, to guarantee inclusion in
the next newsletter issue. Unsolicited articles and
photos are always welcome. Send to Lisa Cunningham at [email protected]. Thanks!
Check out our web site
for current news and more
www.blueridgebmwcca.org
Classifieds can be found on page 11.
3
Vintages enjoyed
on annual tour
by Brad Day
The annual wine tour was a success yet again! Our three winery locales were gracious hosts with great wine for all. Horton
started us off with a wide selection of grape and fruit wines
and we enjoyed a scenic lunch with blue skies all around at
Early Mountain. Sixteen cars wound their way through some
excellent backroads and we ended the day at DuCard with a
mountain view as a back drop. Scott, the winery owner, lead
the tasting and guided us through his wine making process as
well as his vines as we took to the fields to see the literal fruits
of his labor.
Thanks to everyone who made it out on a lovely May day!
And if wine isn't your thing, keep your eyes open for the fall
brewery tour event.
Willkommen: Early Mountain
(above) offered a lovely lunch
spot and DuCard put out the
welcome sign for us.
photos by Brad Day
New Address Reminder
If your mailing address has changed, please
contact the National office to update their
records. National supplies the mailing labels
both for the Roundel and our chapter
newsletter. We are unable to make changes
at the local level.
Update on Donation Needs
to Support Animal Care
Companion Animal Fund no longer
needs to collect the sheets and
towels for the feral cat spay/neuter
clinics, as CASPCA has stepped up
to help. Thanks to all of you who
contributed. We still need printer
cartridges, cell phones, lap tops,
MP3, iphones and digital cameras
to raise funds to support clinics in
surrounding areas, as well as a pet
food pantry. Check CAF out at
www.cafva.org. Please give your
donations to Byron McCauley or
Sueann Meskell.
4
F1 viewing party
a fun gathering
VIR loses its iconic oak tree
By James Millhiser
It has been a while since we had a F1 viewing party. The first one
had to be the most significant result for BMW, as Brenda and Lee
Thomasson reminded me at the beginning of the event. Back in
2008, when we first did this event, BMW took their first win since
their return. I wish I could say we planned this and it happened
again but since BMW is no longer in the series we did not have
such luck.
This year's race ended up being dominated by Sebastian Vettel,
who had his first F1 start in a BMW so we will say it counted on
our end. That being said, the rest of the pack had a close battle. We
all enjoyed watching their tight maneuvers while stuffing ourselves with food and conversation. I got the pleasure to talk with
Skip Oxford for the first time who used to work in Europe and was
able to spend some of his free time at different F1 events, including Monaco. I also got to meet a group that is active with the Z
special interest side of the club who joined us after another event
in the area.
Thank you for everyone who came out to join us on June 9
and for Buffalo Wild Wings for hosting us and providing such
great hospitality.
From VIR —There is no easy way to say this – The Oak Tree is
down. The iconic landmark that has come to symbolize VIRginia International Raceway has fallen, broken at the base.
“We are in shock and mourning,” said track owner Connie
Nyholm. “We’re too busy right now trying to get the racetrack
cleared of debris. We are grateful no one was at the corner
station or on track when she fell and that there is no damage
to the track surface.”
The massive oak stood sentinel at the south end of the
racetrack, looking out from the highest point on the property. Its branches shaded the apex of the legendary Oak Tree
Turn, looking down on the likes of Roger Penske, Walt Hansgen, Tom Kristensen and Richard Petty as well as a host of
race drivers from the brilliant to the not so.
5
Variety of regional races and shows to see
American Le Mans Series (ALMS) presented by Tequila Patrón
at VIR October 2–5
VIRginia International Raceway is proud to present their fans and
sponsors with the leaders in cutting edge racing technology and
the global leaders in Green Racing—racing at speeds never before
seen at VIR’s historic track. The American Le Mans Series will
deliver this assault. This is truly an event not to be missed. For
more information, visit www.americanlemans.com.
The Tarheel and NCC Chapters of BMW CCA are excited to
announce that we will have a Car Corral and Reception Tent at this
event. We look forward to offering our members and fellow BMW
CCA members in our region a good location to park, a great place
to watch the race, and food, fun and fellowship with fellow enthusiasts. (See map below for the location of the BMW tent and parking). Registration opened on June 1st for tickets to the race and for
the Club Corral on MotorsportReg. Hotel blocks at special rates
are available.
Shenandoah Valley British Car Club’s British Car Festival to feature
MINIs and Minis, October 4–5
Shenandoah Valley British Car Club will hold its Annual British
Car Festival for the 32nd year in Waynesboro, VA on October 4th
and 5th, 2013. This year’s featured marque is the MINI/Mini. The
Mini is a British icon and SVBCC will have special classes for both
vintage and modern models.
SVBCC expects up to 200 entrants from over 10 states to participate. All British marques in all conditions are welcome. You do
not have to have a show car to share in the fun of this event.
Saturday’s car show is staged over several acres among the massive oaks of Ridgeview Park in Waynesboro. Awards are based on
voting by participants and are presented at a banquet on Saturday
evening. Go to svbcc.net for registration, accommodations, directions, maps, classes and more information.
Shenandoah Vineyard Concours on Sept. 7
John Estep of E & E Restorations and Service announces that the
Shenandoah Vineyard’s Concours is on for this year and will be
held on Saturday, September 7, 2013. Show starts at 10:00 a.m. but
you may arrive as early as you like. No entries will be accepted after
12:30 p.m. Food, wine and trophies will be provided.
The Charlottesville Chapter is cordially invited to participate
with the National Capital Chapter. For more information, call
540-421-1095 or email [email protected]
Looking forward to seeing everyone. Let's make it a good one!
Classics on the Green Sports & Classic Car Show
and Wine Festival, Sept. 15
Classic Automotive Events of Virginia, Inc., in conjunction with
the Central Virginia British Car Club (CVBCC) is pleased to
announce its 29th annual Classics on the Green – Sports and Classic Car Show and Wine Festival. The show and wine festival will
be held on Sunday, September 15, 2013, at the New Kent Winery,
8400 Old Church Road - just off Route I-64, Exit 211 - in New
Kent, Virginia. The event opens to the public at 11:00 AM and will
continue until 4:00 PM (rain or shine). The fun begins on Saturday, September 14th, with driving tours, sightseeing, shopping,
and a dinner at the winery.
This year’s featured marque celebrates the heritage of MercedesBenz which will include a very special 50th anniversary display of
the classic Pagoda SL. Advance purchase admission to the car show
and wine festival is $25.00. Admission for the car show only is
$10.00 for adults. A portion of the proceeds from the car show are
donated to charity. Our charity again this year is the Richmond
Fisher House at the McGuire Veterans Medical Center.
Additional information and ticket purchases available through the
COTG website: www.classicsonthegreen.com. Information about the
New Kent Winery can be found at www.newkentwinery.com.
RIR offers race day corral for NASCAR Sprint Cup race Sept. 7
Federated Auto Parts 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race Saturday, Sept. 7 — $75 per car corral package
Car Corral Includes:
• Two race tickets in the Dogwood Grandstands ($90 value)
• Two pre-race pit passes
• Designated, on-site, and marked car corral lot with easy entry
and exit points*
• Commemorative Dash Plaque
• Post-Race Weekend Track Laps Day on September 29th
Non-competitive car corral. Parking gates open at 7 a.m. *Cars
must be driven in to car corral site, no haulers or trailers.
Call Scott Byer at 804-228-7649 or email [email protected]
6
10 years has Vintage at its prime
Saturday’s show opening was precluded by an hour long
‘Lewisville Loop’ tour along country roads near the winery. There
was a photographer strategically stationed at one intersection
snapping pictures of the vehicles as they drove by to be displayed
on the Vintage website. A car wash station was set up at the Fire &
Rescue Station just outside the vineyard entrance to clean up any
road dust, pollen, and bugs before entering the property.
The vintage cars were parked on the grounds and hillside of the
vineyard with public parking across the road at the tasting room
location. There were vendor tents along one end that included
Moosehead Engineering, Bentley Publishing, and several parts
suppliers.
Spaten again anchored the center of the largest parking area in a
tent with the Tarheel Chapter BMW, Dachshund Rescue, and
BMWCCA tables. There was German music, videos, and a 506
restored BMW racecar on display as well as free beer.
The Sunday drive home offered the opportunity to return via
VIR racetrack and participate in parade laps on the track. Sponsored and led by the dealer, nearly 35 cars made the hour and a half
trip as a group from Winston-Salem to the track. VIR was in use
by the Mustang club and they had scheduled charity rides between
their activities so we were able to use the track once they had finished their laps. The group met at the dealership for coffee and
refreshments (and signing the waivers) before taking off for VIR.
Although there was a little rain falling in the morning, we were
able to drive out from under the weather on the way. Once at the
track, the group was staged to enter the track and then assembled
under the bridge 3 abreast for photos. We had enough time to run
about 5 laps in single file as a group before leaving the track.
The weather was cooperative, the beer cold, and friends new and
old had a great time at Vintage. Mark your calendar for next
Memorial Day and plan to attend this great event.
by Dennis Topper
Memorial Day weekend heralded the convergence of Vintage
BMWs from all across the U.S. for the 10th annual “the Vintage”
meet in Winston-Salem, N.C... The Blue Ridge Chapter was well
represented by several members attending with either vintage or
non-vintage cars and the event drew participants from as far away
as Ottawa, CN; Yuma, AZ; and Omaha, NB. The host location for
this year was a return to the place where it originally started, Westbend Vineyards and Brewery just a few miles from the downtown
host hotel. The event, which was started by organizer Scott Sturdy
as a 2002 club focus, now brings over 300 cars. This year’s attendees included an Isetta, NK 1600 & 2000, 3.0 coupes, 5 and 6ers
as well as newer models. As expected, there is always a mix of
fairly stock cars as well
as those with creative
and impressive upgrades
and improvements.
The Friday activities
included an autocross
with approximately 40
cars participating, a local
fun drive for the non-autocross attendees, hospitality and registration in the evening at the Hawthorne Hotel and Conference Center. Sponsor Spaten was in attendance again this year providing
beer, glasses, license plates and key chains. Rob Siegel of “Hack
Mechanic” notoriety presented his “Who Am I” pictures that many
of our members enjoyed at the annual chapter brunch in March.
This event was the official release of his book so Rob was also available all weekend for autographing copies of his book Memoirs of
a Hack Mechanic as well as repair questions and
colorful story telling.
Vintage: A wide variety of classic BMWs
were on display at Westbend Vineyards
over Memorial Day weekend.
photos by Brad Day
7
Testing the waters with club races
by Nick Frye
Rebecca had been bugging me about seeing a race at VIR,
as she had never been. Not wanting to spend big bucks for
the ALMS race (in case she truly did not enjoy it), club
races and a Tarheel corral in April were the perfect opportunity. Also, they were offering Parade laps during lunch so
she would get the chance see the track from the other side
of the wall. Plus it would give us a chance to get some awesome pictures of vintage racers, seeing as it was a split
weekend between Club Racers and the Vintage guys.
Upon arriving we checked in, and caught up with some
fellow Lynchburg guys that we didn’t expect to see. The
Tarheel Chapter did a great job, and provided light refreshments as well as a good group of enthusiastic BMW owners to meet.
Over all, the trip was a success! Rebecca enjoyed herself
(no complaints about heat, noise, or smell!!). She enjoyed
being paraded around the track, and my currently unborn
son (which might change by the time you get this) got to
have his first trip around the famed Virginia International
Raceway!
Many thanks to the Tarheel Chapter for sponsoring such
an awesome event! We should try to get a large Blue Ridge
contingent at the ALMS Corral they are putting on this fall.
Ed. note: see page 6 for more info about the ALMS race and
Tarheel Corral in October.
Taking turns: Club racers and vintage racers shared the
track at VIR.
photos by Nick Frye
8
Financial Statement January 1, 2012 to December 31,2012
Begining checking account balance
Income
Membership Dues
Street Survival
Advertising Fees
Event fees
Rebates
Merchandise
Other
Expenses
Newsletter Printing and Postage
Misc Postage
PO Box
Web Site
Office Supplies
Events
Annual Dinner 12
Carting at G force
Rally/ Tour
Wine Tour
Picnic
Misc
Insurance
Meetings/Congress
Trophies/Prizes
Street Survival
14616.24
13443.81
1716
220
2900
2484.85
4155.61
18
70
125.82
2225.65
309.82
1143.31
1512.8
Street Survival—cont.
285
1788.19
15.23
4511.89
Ending Checking Account Balance
them into the school. Information and registration can be found
at www.streetsurvival.org.
Street Survival only comes off with the advance planning and
hard work by a small group of dedicated chapter members (especially Holcombe Baird, Matt Slatner, Steve Arritt, Ricardo De
Moraes and Brad Day) and the good folks at Virginia Motor Sport
Club. And, there’s the large number of volunteers from both clubs
who pitch in on event day to make for a productive, safe and fun
school. If you’d like to volunteer, drop a note to [email protected].
19104.66
Prime Savings Account
Begining Acount Balance
Interest Income and deposits
13989.57
19.54
Ending Savings Account Balance
14009.11
Total Chapter Funds
33113.77
FACTORY TRAINED
TECHNICIANS FOR
Audi • BMW • Mercedes-Benz
Porsche • Saab • Volvo • VW
Loaner Cars For Your Convenience
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
European Sales & Service
540-337-3676
• 108 Kerry Ln, Staunton, VA 24401
www.foreignaffairs.us
9
Tech Notes
the
tool
box
Don’t shirk on the
tires for your ride
Paul Muskopf, tool steward
[email protected]
by Paul Muskopf
If you’d like to borrow a tool, contact Paul and
he’ll make arrangements to get the tool to you.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Tires are the only part of
your car that touches the road. All that precision engineered suspension, all that power, and those fantastic BMW brakes are all for
nothing if you are running the car on dreadfully worn or cut-rate
junky tires.
Let’s face it, tires are not cheap. Nothing will ruin your day (and
bank account) like finding out you need to pony up for new rubber on your car. Driving around on bad tires is like playing Russian Roulette. The car may seem fine in a straight line on a sunny
day, but the first hint of rain and you may find yourself upside
down in a ditch. In Virginia, inspection laws state that your car
will not pass if the tires show any cord, or are worn down to the
wear bars in two adjacent tread grooves on three spots around the
circumference of the tire. This is pretty lax given that it means the
insides of your tires can be worn almost all the way to the belts
and still pass.
A better rule of thumb is that your tires should have 3/32" of
tread across the tire (you should not be able to see the top of Abe’s
head if you put a penny with the head pointing toward the center
of the wheel.) That’s what should be considered absolute minimum. Why? Because with very worn treads the grooves, or sipes,
become shallow. They are there to remove water from between the
road and the tire. Without these sipes the tires are more prone to
hydroplane, or skip over the surface of the water like a flat stone
being skipped across the surface of a lake. This can lead to total
loss of control, which is nothing like fun. Traction control or allwheel drive may not be able to save you in that situation.
I realize that many people feel they need to have adversarial
relationships with repair shops, so when you are told that you
need to replace your tires you may be skeptical. A good mechanic
will be happy to explain to you or show you the problem. If they
can demonstrate worn tread, dry rotted and cracked sidewalls, or
other issues, replace those tires.
So what do I buy? That depends on your needs. All-season tires
used to be iffy at best, but they have made great strides in recent
years. They should still be viewed as most-season tires. We don’t
live in the North, but the weather here does vary enough to consider having dedicated tires for various seasons. We don’t necessarily need snow tires here in Virginia, but you can increase safety
and driving enjoyment if you get a set of all-season tires that are
biased toward working well in cold weather and dedicated summer tires (a good combination for performance oriented drivers
or cars that see little winter use) or a set of high- or ultra-high
performance all-season tires that work well in 3 seasons, and a set
of winter tires. For the general all around commuter type, per-
The tools:
• Electronic troubleshooting manuals on CD for
e23, e24, e28, e30, e31, e32, e34, and e36
models. Easily navigated wiring schematics (in
English) showing colors and sequence of wires
and connectors.
• Hub and rear wheel bearing R&R kit
• Master bushing kit for subframe bushings
• 16 1 050 - fuel line disconnect tool
• LT-940 - fuel pump retaining ring removal tool
• Tool for removing cooling fan from older models
• Reset tool/code readers for service indicator
lights for models through 2007
• Windshield lock trim tool
• Anti-theft radio screwdriver
• Clutch alignment tools for various models
• Bentley manual for the e30 (3-series 84–90)
• Bentley manual for the e34 (5-series 89–95)
• Bentley manual for the e36 (3-series 92–98)
• Bentley manual for the e39 (5-series 95–03)
• Bentley manual for the e46 (3-series 99–05)
• Parts CD BMW Mobile Tradition: includes e12,
e21, e30, motorcycles to ‘69.
• G-Tech accelerometer
• Pressure brake bleeder by Motive Products
• Tie rod end puller
• Complete set of hex wrench sockets
RICHMOND TOOLS
contact Jeff Gilbert at [email protected]
• Reset tool/code readers for service indicator
lights for models through 2007
• Pressure brake bleeder
Don Elliott
804-222-2806
D. H. Elliott’s
Jewelers
20% savings to BMW CCA members
Watchmakers & Jewelers Since 1894
Laburnum Green • 5257 S. Laburnum Ave. • Richmond, VA 23231
Continued on p 11
10
Tires—cont.
you must know when the tire has lost pressure so you know when
you must drive slowly and how far you can go before you must
stop driving. They have very stiff sidewalls, which make for a harsh
ride. Just because your car was equipped with them from the factory does not necessarily mean you have to put them back on when
it is time to replace them. Most people report that the handling
and ride are improved when changing to traditional tires from
run-flats. Of course, this comes with its own trade-off. Many new
cars simply do not have space in the trunk to store even a compact
spare tire, so if you get a flat you are stuck where you are.
Finally, how do you protect your tires? Monitor the pressure regularly and rotate the tires if possible. On cars equipped with a tire
pressure monitoring system, checking pressure is as simple as
pressing a few buttons. Those without TPMS equipped cars should
carry a tire pressure gauge and check them when getting fueled up.
If you haven’t got time, at least walk around the car when fueling
up and look at the tires. Tires without enough air will appear
bulged out on the sides. Underinflation causes premature wear
from excess heat building up in the tire carcass. Severe underinflation will lead to very quick tire destruction- sometimes a tire can
be destroyed in less than a block if driven on at speed while nearly
flat. Overinflation causes excess wear by not presenting the entire
tread of the tire to the road surface, though tires don’t overinflate
themselves.
Tire rotation is also important. It is not possible to rotate the
tires on some cars, particularly those with directional tires and
staggered wheels, but rotating the tires when possible ensures even
wear, which prolongs the life of your tires.
formance all-season tires are adequate, but don’t push them like
dedicated summer or winter tires.
Don’t cheap out on tires, either. Cheap tires that last forever
might as well be made of stone. Sure, they will last, but they won’t
perform well and you may hate every minute of driving on them,
especially if they are loud. If you monitor your tires and note when
they are becoming worn, you will have time to research what is
available, and maybe even catch a special deal or rebate before the
tires finally need replacing. This also helps you plan for the
expense of getting new tires without it being a shock to your wallet. I do all of my tire research at tirerack.com. Tire Rack is a longtime supporter of the BMW enthusiast community and of the
Teen Street Survival program. There are reviews on practically
every tire made that will fit your car. Even if you don’t purchase the
tires from Tire Rack, it is a great resource.
What about run-flats? Many newer cars, and most new BMWs,
are equipped with run-flat tires. The reason is safety related. They
allow you to drive a specific distance (around 50 miles max) at a
reduced speed. This prevents you having to stop and change the
tire on the side of the road and increases trunk space since there is
no longer a spare tire or jack. There is a tradeoff, though. Run-flat
tires usually cannot be repaired after they sustain damage. Because
of their design, and the fact that they are usually installed on tall
wheels, they are more prone to pick up foreign object damage
(nails, etc.) They require a pressure monitoring system, because
Classifieds
shocks. It has a new clutch and slave cylinder, intake manilold gaskets, and right bank AFM along with full tuneup. Heater control valve
and all hoses, and all gas lines replaced as well. I installed xenon bulbs
with 100W high beam and driving lights. The list goes on and on. If
you are looking foe an E31 sorted out without major problems this is
the car for $10,500. Call Linwood Mingis at 804 314-8718 or email me
at [email protected]
2007 M Coupe – Being between garages necessitates the reluctant
sale of Charlie Sheen—my fast and oh-so-handsome 2007 Z4 M
Coupe. One of only 1,815 cars in North America. 330 bhp/8,000 rpm
S54 motor from the contemporary M3, six-speed manual gearbox,
LSD, Premium and Cold Weather packages. Silver-Gray with black
leather, 36,000 miles, excellent condition, well cared-for and maintained. Comes with pretty much new Conti DW tires on CSLs, plus
very good Dunlop Star Specs on the factory wheels. Has a host of
subtle cosmetic and purposeful handling modifications, and all original
parts come with the car. $31,500. Call Frank at 804-387-1887.
Radio specials!! – I have the factory radio cassette with CD changer
and codes. This is what came in e34, e31 and e32 cars. I will throw in
an extra radio with code....all for $100.00 I have a Blaupunkt Munich
cd player/radio in good condition, A very high end and expensive radio
in the late 90's early 2000's This priced at only $100.00 All of the
above is for pickup in Richmond only. call Linwood Mingis at 804 3148718 or email me at [email protected].
New OEM E34 Wheel – Brand new, never mounted, OEM crossspoke 7Jx15 BMW wheel from 1991 535i – BMW Part # 36 11 1 179
774. $250.00, plus shipping. Contact Steve Rosenthal at: (804) 3508148 or [email protected]
Tire special – Two 245/40X18 Dunlop sp9000 with abouy 40% tread
left and two 275/35x18 of the same with about 20% tread left. All four
tires for $50.00 To be picked up in Richmond only. Call Linwood Mingis
at 804 314-8718 or email me at [email protected]
1991 850i 6speed – Laguna green with parchment leather. 138K miles
I just bought a Dakar yellow 850i that stole my heart, so this one
needs to go. It iis a very rare 6 speed, car with less than 900 ever
made for the US in the model run of 1991 thru 1997. This is a west
coast car I bought 3 years ago in Las Vegas. The interior is in excellent
condition and the paint has a deep shine. It has a Blaupunkt Hamburg
in dash cd and BBS 17" RX wheels.It has ceramic non dusting brake
pads. I have spent many thousands of dollars in the last 3 years sorting things out including a new starter, radiator, hoses and belts with
new tensioner. I have had the front suspension replaced and new rear
Classified Info: Ads are free to Club members listing personal, BMWrelated items. All ads will run in one issue only unless otherwise requested.
Submit ads to Lisa Cunningham: [email protected] or snail mail to PO
Box 4381, Charlottesville, VA 22905
11
on the horizon
JULY
16: Charlottesville monthly gathering, 6:00–8 at Sedona Taphouse†
22: RSVP for go-karting, see page 1
27: Go-karting in Richmond, see page 1
AUGUST
5: RSVP for picnic, see page 1
7: Richmond monthly gathering, 5:30–7:30 at Champps*
7: Lynchburg monthly gathering, 5:30–7:30 at Benjamin’s ‡
11: Picnic in Charlottesville, see page 1
20: Charlottesville monthly gathering, 6:00–8 at Sedona Taphouse†
SEPTEMBER
1: Deadline for submissions to next newsletter issue
4: Richmond monthly gathering, 5:30–7:30 at Champps*
4: Lynchburg monthly gathering, 5:30–7:30 at Benjamin’s‡
7: Shenandoah Vineyard Concours; RIR NASCAR corral, see page 6
15: Classics on the Green, see page 6
17: Charlottesville monthly gathering, 6:00–8 at Sedona Taphouse†
For up-to-date event info, see our website: www.blueridgebmwcca.org
For VSMC autocross dates, visit www.vmsc.org/?hf=schedule.
*9202 Stony Point Parkway, contact [email protected]
†1035 Millmont Street, contact Brad Day, [email protected]
‡US 221 in Forest, contact Nick Frye, [email protected]
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