Die Sonn Oct 11

OCTOBER — DECEMBER ¡ 2011
u IT’S TIME TO PLAY THE MUSIC, IT’S TIME
TO HIT THE LIGHTS, IT’S TIME TO DRESS
UP RIGHT! WHY? BECAUSE IT’S HOLIDAY
2012 PARTY TIME! . . . PAGE 5
BMW
Die Sonnenkueste
NEWS FROM THE FLORIDA SUNCOAST CHAPTER OF THE BMW CAR CLUB OF AMERICA
This edition of Die Sonnenkueste is packed with reports on Chapter events, news from BMW and we see that the BMW
is not the only car some of our members are driving, we take a trip to a museum but first let’s get in the drivers seat ...
Notes from a Track Day at Sebring May 17,
2011 Breathe. Pause. Relax. Breathe. Pause….
wall defining the inside. Your task is to slow the
car slightly from top speed, gently steer left to folSo much to remember. God, there’s been so much low a close arc next to this wall then gradually
advice and you’re sure some of it is essential but
apply the throttle to maximum to finish the turn
which part? Breathe. Don’t crash. Go fast. Be care- with your right-side wheels on the edge of the
ful. Watch your mirrors. Look where you want to
pavement. Sounds simple but what’s really hapgo. Things are happening real fast now but seem to pening?
be in slow-motion. Breathe. Everything’s good.
The walk-over bridge towards the end of the
Time to check the mirrors. That black Mustang you straightaway is a good conservative brake marker.
passed on the back straight is nowhere to be seen
so you must have done the last corner somewhat
right. Glance at the temp gauge. OK. Little high,
but OK. Fuel OK. Oil pressure normal. Tachometer's telling you to get ready to shift into high gear.
Breathe. This concrete runway sure is bumpy.
Light touch. Let it flow. Shift. Good. We’ve sure
got some speed going on here now. The vibration
from your helmet touching the seat back causes
your eyes to bounce like crazy. No one told you
about that. Gotta remember to learn forward.
Breathe. Relax. This is fun.
Turn one is a large radius left-hander, continuous
u BMW WINS DRIVERS AND TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS. . . PAGE 6
You want to go deeper so the traffic cones on the
right-side of the track occupy your attention. They
flash by 1, 2, 3, NOW! Ease on the brake pedal,
increase pressure, then ease off at the moment
you’ve slowed to the speed you feel you need to
safely change direction. Most people don’t know
what goes on mechanically when you step on the
brake but you do. The brake pedal pushes a rod in a
hydraulic cylinder containing a non-compressible
fluid. At the end of this rod is a small (less than
one inch diameter) rubber think-wall rubber cup
(Continued on page 5)
u UDATES, REMINDERS
AND A LOOK AHEAD INTO
2012 EVENTS . . . PAGE 7
FSC BMW CCA Welcomes
New Members to the Club
Mark Campbell
Alan Cribb
Brian Mccarthy
Margret Scott
Owen Berg
Ana Valdez
Michael Williams
Bob Richards
Dennis Popa
Bruce Shapiro
Steven Zimniewicz
Josh Fanelli
John Wing
George Lazenby IV
Monique Odriscoll
John Bache
Richard Demby
Richard Scoby
John Trudeau
Peter & Donna Morris
Mark Burfield
Tom Shafer
Adam Dickey
William Conroy
Peter Field
Casey Fulp
Ryan Anderson
Kyle Dolan
Lilia & Jivko Varlakov
Daniel Singleton
(Continued on page 6)
u A HELLO TO OUR
MEMBERS - BOREDOM IS
NOT AN OPTION. SERIOUSLY. IT’S NOT. . . .
PAGE 7
PAGE 2
DIE SONNENKUESTE
Web: www.fscbmwcca.com
Hot Line: 813.653.4651
BMW Car Club of America Info.
Florida Suncoast Chapter of BMW
CCA
PO Box 10666
Tampa, FL 33679
BMW Car Club of America (BMW
CCA)
640 S Main St
Suite 201
Greenville, SC 29601
South Atlantic Reg. BMW CCA
Paul Dunlevy, S. Atlantic RVP
[email protected]
336.996.3149
Phone: 864.250.0022
Fax: 864.250.0038
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.bmwcca.org
Calendar of Events
I Get out & join us!
Oct 10 FSC BMW CCA Monthly Meeting. Logan’s Roadhouse 9218 Anderson Rd. Tampa, 813-8845229. Join us; 6:30PM dinner, 7:30PM news, friends, guest speakers and an overall good time.
Oct 10 -16 BMW Oktoberfest. Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, AL. www.BMWCCA.org for
all the information. Jim Ringold is leaving Sunday morning, 9 Oct. and looking to do a one day drive to
O’Fest with a nice lunch stop along the way and arriving at about 4pm. If you are interested in caravanning with Jim and Sydney contact him at [email protected] .
Oct 14 – 16 Euro Auto Festival 16th Annual Event. Zentrum, Spartanburg SC. Featured Cars will be
Jaguar XKE and MG/Austin Healey Spridget both celebrating their 50th anniversary of introduction.
Oct 15 – 17 Lake Mirror Classic. Lakeland, FL. For more information go to their website
www.lakemirrorclassic.com The Host Hotel will be the Hilton Garden in Lakeland, 3839 Don Emerson
Dr. Lakeland Fl. 33811. 863-647-0066 for reservations.
Oct 29 – Nov 6 Hilton Head Concours d’Elegance. This year’s featured marque is BMW. There will
be a vintage race on 29 and 30 Oct. 30 at Hilton Head/Savannah Speedway. Please go to their website
www.hhiconcours.com for more information and to register.
Chapter Officers
Bob Ziegler, President
[email protected]
954-294-1432
Bob Louty, Vice President
[email protected]
813-960-8688
Dennis Costantino, Treasurer
[email protected]
813-293-1827
Jim Slane Secretary
[email protected]
941-360-1680
Board of Directors
Russ Garvey
[email protected]
813-230-5705
Edd Weimar
[email protected]
727-784-5821
Phil Howe
[email protected]
941-729-5833
Bill Caldwell
[email protected]
727-669-7954
Leonard Sixt
[email protected]
Chairpersons
Nov 12 Ero’s European and Domestic Auto Repair. 18857 Sakera Rd., Hudson, Fl. 727-819-8900.
Grand opening and open house 12—4pm. Food provided, DJ and prizes. Please bring a canned food donation for Joseph’s House in Brooksville.
Angela Carlascio, Newsletter Ed.
[email protected]
813-787-7838
Nov 14 FSC BMW CCA Monthly Meeting. Tiffany’s Restaurant 3300 US HWY 19, Palm Harbor,
FL. Join us; 6:30PM dinner, 7:30PM news, friends, guest speakers and an overall good time.
Jim Ringold, Contributor
[email protected]
727-738-4554
Nov 19 DuPont Registry Cars and Coffee. Innisbrooke Resort, Driving Range. Palm Harbor, FL. 8 10am. You must pre-register. Registration is Free. Entrance is on US 19 in Palm Harbor (look for entrance sign on US 19).
Dec 3 FSC BMW CCA 3rd Annual Picnic & FSC Annual Concours d'Elegance. John Chestnut
Park, East Lake Blvd., Palm Harbor, FL. This event is free to FSC members and $10 for non-members.
Food donations for charities welcome. Multiple classes to enter, People’s Choice award and much more!
Dec 12 FSC BMW CCA Monthly Meeting. Mimi’s Café, Dale Mabry, Tampa, FL. Join us; 6:30PM
dinner, 7:30PM news, friends, guest speakers and an overall good time.
Every THIRD Saturday of the month Cars and Coffee at the DuPont Registry. St. Petersburg, FL.
Come early for parking in the lot. Starts around 7am and concludes at 9am.
Every WEDNESDAY Wesley Chapel Car Show. Dairy Queen and Tuffy’s Automotive, SR 54 and Old
Pasco Rd., Wesley Chapel, FL. 5:30 - 8:30pm.
Please go to www.fscbmwcca.org to see future dates for our events.
Russ Garvey, Motorsport Dir.
[email protected]
813-230-5705
Barry Miller, Autocross Coord.
[email protected]
813-684-9988
Edd Weimer, New Member Chair
[email protected]
Leonard Sixt, Webmaster
Like us on:
www.facebook.com/pages/
Florida-Suncoast-BMW -CCA
To Join BMW CCA Call:
1.800.878.9292
Next article deadline, December 5, 2011 I To submit: [email protected]
Annual Membership $48.00
Associate (family mem,) $10.00
Important Legal Information
•
•
•
Die Sonnenkueste is the quarterly publication of the Florida SunCoast Chapter, BMW CCA (“FSC”). The ideas, suggestions, and opinions expressed
in articles are those of the individual authors, with no authentication of that material by the FSC editor, officers and directors. By submission of an
article, individual authors represent and warrant that the submitted work is original and that all rights to material / photographs contained in the work
are currently available. Published contributions become FSC property; copyright ©2008. Submitted material will be returned on request with selfaddressed envelope and appropriate postage affixed. Email submissions are accepted.
The Club assumes no liability for any of the information contained herein. None of the information bears the status of “Factory Approved” unless so
indicated. Note: Modifications to your vehicle within the warranty period may void the vehicle warranty.
Advertising: Web Ads for the chapter website are being accepted; please see www.fscbmwcca.org for more info. Print ads are not currently being
accepted.
October—December ’11
Page 3
FSC BMW CCA 2012 Official Ballot
Election of Club Officers and Board Members
President
Bob Ziegler
---------------------
Vice President
Bob Louty
---------------------
Secretary
Jim Slane
---------------------
Treasure
Dennis Costantino -------------------Write In Candidate --------------------
Bill Caldwell, Board Member
---------------------
Russ Garvey, Board Member
---------------------
Phil Howe, Board Member
---------------------
Barry Miller, Board Member
---------------------
Leonard Sixt, Board Member
---------------------
Edd Weimar, Board Member
---------------------
Write In Candidate
---------------------
Please either vote on line at the clubs website www.FSCBMWCCA.org or return this ballot by
mail to the club address which is:
Florida Suncoast BMW CCA PO BOX 10666 Tampa, Fl. 33679-0666
Make your choices known by voting today!
All Ballots must be received by January 15th 2012
Dream Car Museum The week of June 20th was an interesting and view the museum and then have lunch at Jeremiah’s Restaurant.
busy week for Florida Suncoast members. First on Wednesday and
Friday of that week members were invited to Ferman and Reeves
BMW, two of our local dealers, to partake in the USA Drive. The
event is to raise money for the USA Olympic hopeful’s for both the
Olympic and the Para-Olympic games.
There were a group of about 16 FSC members who took part at
Ferman BMW where Joanne and I went to participate. Ferman did
their usual outstanding job of providing food and drinks for all during the
event. The fruit, sandwich wraps,
cookies, cakes etc. were excellent.
Once registered for the drive, we ate
lunch while we talked about the cars
we would be driving. Like most of
the group, Joanne and I drove the
new 650i Cabrio. Wow what a car.
Not only the power and the handling
were nice but the interior seating and
the quiet cabin while you were driving were amazing. UNTIL that is you
“kicked” it, then the entire interior
filled with the sweet sound of this
terrific exhaust note!
I think all of us were impressed
with the new 6’er. Joanne and I were
given the opportunity by our salesperson and fellow FSC Club member John Crapper, to drive a new 135 Coupe. We were both impressed with the handling and the comfort of the car. It truly has the
“DNA” of BMW’s historical sport sedans.
On Saturday a group of about a dozen FSC members made their
way over to the Cracker Barrel Restaurant in Brooksville for breakfast. After we headed over to the Dream Car Garage in Mt. Dora to
Unfortunately Bill and Mary Caldwell had some tire issues about 7
miles into the trip. We were not able to resolve the issue and they
were not able to make the rest of the trip. Sorry!
The Museum, though small in size, is packed (as shown in this
picture) with not only very interesting cars but more memorabilia
than you would think a museum of this size would have. I was
“blown away” by the Neon sign of a smiling face that welcomed me
as a child growing up in Brooklyn
into “Steeplechase Park” located at
Coney Island back in the midnineteen sixty’s. In fact, the collection of neon lighting alone were
enough to make you want to view the
museum. They also had two wonderful Hearses’ - I think the entire group
was surprised by both of them. Especially the one from the 1930’s with
the hand tooling on the outside. After
the museum we traveled down the
block for lunch where Jeremiah’s
Restaurant was waiting for us. The
food was good, the conversation was
interesting and the rain held off until
we were about to leave.
A few of the group, Joanne and I
included, could not pass up the opportunity to make a stop at Renninger’s Antique Mall. We spent about an hour looking around before heading back to the Tampa area. One couple in our group took a
detour on the way home and stopped at the Yalaha Bakery for some
sweets. Hope you enjoyed yourselves Len and Sandy!
As I said it was a busy week! Ž Bob Ziegler, President
For more info. on this museum visit: www.classicdreamcars.com
PAGE 4
DIE SONNENKUESTE
My First New American Car After fifty years of driving and own- Fit and
ing approximately fifty cars, owning my first new American car is a
wonderful experience. Can you imagine it? Four cylinders, turbo
charged, variable valve timing, six speed manual transmission, .4
inches lower and 250 pounds lighter than stock, full belly pan, shutter controlled airflow, electric power steering, reduced rolling resistance tires, stability and traction control, and an assortment of other
technical features - who knew that Chevrolet makes such a comfortable, fun, economical and technically advance car, better known as
an Eco Cruze?
Instruments: Many of the readouts available in the Eco Cruze are
similar to a BMW. It also has a compass readout as an available
choice. You can select a digital speed indicator in the center of the
instrument panel which is much easier to read than the analog speed
reaout on the left side of the panel. I used to think shift point lights
were of questionable use until now. With a very quiet engine they
are of a real help.
Appointments: This is not a car for you if you are touch deprived.
Except for the seats and your passengers, everything else is hard
plastic, nicely dimpled but hard. The two-toned dash reminds of
Toyota and BMW color treatments. The seats are hard, like an old
Mercedes. The car does have more interior room than a Honda Civic
or a Hyundai Elentra. The back seats fold down for almost level
space from the front seats to the end of the trunk. With no spare tire
there is additional storage in the lower trunk area.
Performance: Magazines report 60 mph is available in 8.? seconds. I
can report that 60 mph is available at less than 2000 rpm. 90 mph is
available at less than 3000 rpm. Isn’t that Corvette territory for low
rpm for speed? Specifically the 1.4L (85 cubic inch) engine produces
138 hp @ 4900 rpm with 148 ft/lbs of torque @ 1850 rpm or roughly
100 hp/liter. The gear ratio is .614:1. Compression ratio is 9.5:1.
Finish:
After
owning
two
Toyotas
and two
BMWs
in succession,
I believe
the Cruze is up to those standards.
Operations: Steering is quick, shifting is positive and fun. Third and
fourth gears really let you experience the turbo charger come on.
Firth and sixth gear are for flat ground or passing downhill and
down-wind. Reported mpg is 26+ city, 42 highway. I experienced 38
mpg over 400 miles.
Communications: The Cruze came with Sirius Radio ™ and On-Star
™ for a trial period. What Italian driver wouldn’t want the 24/7
availability of Frank Sinatra? Other connectivity options are available.
Less Well Known Facts: This Lordstown, Ohio plant made car
comes with years of prepaid roadside assistance and 100K mile train
warrantees. The passenger compartment is surrounded with airbags.
This basic car with the communications package costs less than
$20K. Interested? Then see chevroletcruzeforum.com for additional
technical details.
Ž Chuck Privateer, Contributor
Collection of FSC BMW CCA Member Car Stories from February 2011 Meeting
FSC BMW CCA Club Member Chuck Privateer took the time to ask 71 BMW 2002, 73 BMW Bavaria, 71 Citroen DS, 57 Chevy conour fellow club members and car nuts about, well you guessed it,
vertible
their car history. Since I wasn’t there I decided to add in some anWorst Car Owned: Citroen SM, Subaru GL, Chevy Blazer, Buick,
swers myself as well. I bet you can’t guess which are mine. Enjoy!
GMC Yukon, 87 Toyota Camry, Nissan, 84 Corvette, 64 Ford, 54
Desoto, Datsun, Jaguar, Chevy Vega, Renault Dauphin
First Car Owned: 71 VW Squareback, 71 BMW 2002, Henry J, 52
Most Humble Car Owned: Pontiac 1000, Ford Pinto Wagon, 47
Karmann Ghia, 52 Plymouth Convertible, 64 TR4, 50 Ford Convertible, 95 BMW M3, 54 Austin Healy 100-4, Cutlass Convertible, Willy Jeep, 64 Ford, 61 VW, 54 Ford, Chevy Blazer, Buick
57 Chevy, 47 Cadillac Hearse, 54 Corvair, Renault Dauphin, 60 TR Car Most Desired and Never Owned: 40s Tatra, 2011 Audi TT,
3, 78 Honda Civic Hatch
60-63 Alfa Romeo Sprint Veloce Zagato, Bentley, 2002 BMW, FerFirst New Car Owned: 81 VW GTI, Subaru GL, Ford Galaxie
500, 89 BMW 325i, 65 MGB Roadster, 77 Buick Rivera, 74 Cutlass
Salon, 71 Chevelle Convertible, 97 BMW ti, 72 Datsun 510, 66
Ford LTD, 65 Corvair, 75 Opel Sportwagen, 91 Honda Civic Hatch
rari GTO SWB, Maserati 300S race car, any M3, 57 Cadillac
Brougham, Honda K-RZ
Most Memorable Car: Ferrari, 60 Impala Convertible, Corvair,
loce, 82 BMW 320i, 64 Vetta Ventura, 68 Dodge Monaco
Volvo 444 (first date car), 61 Rambler, 76 Pacer, 66 MGB, a daily
driver for 10 years with racing 8 of those years, RHD classic Mini
Cooper
Most Awesome Car Owned: 71 Citroen SM, 2002 Mercedes
Worst Constructed Car: 75 Cosworth Vega, 64 Ford, MG
E320, 68 Pontiac Firebird 400 Convertible, 86 Mustang SVO, 65
Pontiac GTO, 69 Mustang Mach 1, 74 TR-6, 73 Porsche 914, 2009
BMW M3, 2011 335is, 54 AC Ace w/289 Ford V-8, 2001 325i, 07
BMW 530i, 58 Rolls Royce, 79 MGB, 69 Camaro Z28, 67 427 Corvette coupe
Midget, 87 Camry, Peugeot 505 Turbo, 69 Corvair
Classic Cars Owned: 85 Euro ? CSI, 54 Volvo 444, 69 Camaro,
tins, Mercedes SLR and others in Monte Carlo, MB 300 SLR race
car on transporter, Bug Eye Sprint, Multiple at Pebble Beach, Amelia Island, etc., Isetta in Germany, 55 Chevy, Audi R8
Best Field/Barn Find: 69 Baur 1600, 61 Alfa Romeo Sprint Ve-
57 Chevy, (2) 78 Porsche 911 SC, one with a Max Moritz engine,
Austin Healy 100-4, AC Ace, 65 Corvair Turbo, 66 Ford T-Bird, 73
Porsche 914, 77 MGB, 74 TR 6, 84 BMW 633 CSI, 66 MGB, 61
Alfa Romeo SV, 59 Turner, 60 Alfa Spider, 73 BMW 3.0 CS, 57
Austin Healy 100-6, 36 Ford Woodie, 67 Mustang, 75 Saab 99 EMS,
Cars I Wish I Still Owned: Citroen SM, 68 Firebird, 36 Ford, Kar-
mann Ghia, 76 Ford Ranchero w/big block 460, 50 Ford, AC Ace,
69 Camaro Z28, 90 BMW E30, 57 Chevy
Most Memorable Car Sightings: Assorted Ferraris, Aston Mar-
And there you have it. Conversation starters for days on end if you
ask me!
October—December ’11
Page 5
(Continued from page 1)
that will push the brake fluid through a hose to the back side of a
caliper piston which will in turn press a friction material, the brake
pads, against the rotating disc which is attached to the wheel. Pressing on the brake pedal converts kinetic energy into heat, over one
thousand degrees Fahrenheit of heat. All of the power of your speeding vehicle is arrested by a small rubber cup which costs a couple of
bucks. Force equals mass times acceleration so if any of those small
parts fail you and your car will smite the outside wall a mighty blow.
All of the forces your car generates are transmitted to the road
through the tire contact patch which is basically the size of this sheet
of paper. Tires are at their simplest are nothing but rubber and string.
Modern tires at the correct inflation pressure do an amazing job, so
much so that many consider them the most complex component of a
car.
Now you’ve slowed your car and turned it in the desired direction.
Your job as a racer is to always maximize your velocity so you
dance on the edge of the “friction circle.” Too much speed and you
slide off that circle. Too little and a Chevy Chevette passes you. How
humiliating. As in all things in life there is a fine line between too
much and too little; a wise person is always alert to the clues. Too
much speed in a corner causes the tires to scream a warning before
ultimately losing all adhesion. Too little speed is eerily quiet. The
tires should speak in a happy voice of “Yes, you’re using me to the
max and I’m going to give you my max.” At the limit the balance
between steering and throttle input is a dance of small movement.
Turn one was a wide open gently flowing bend. Turns three and
four are a nasty, narrow left-right switchback outlined by serrated
curbing affection ally referred to as a gator back or rumble strips.
Breathe. The choreographer’s voice from the right seat fills your
helmet. “Slow it down. Third gear. Turn at that patch in the road.
Harder. Aim for the apex. Squeeze on the gas. Now floor it! Good.
Good. Good. Hands follow eyes, car follows hands.” You’re totally
into it now, the complex co-ordination of eyes, hands, feet and seat
of the pants. At your command the car slows rapidly, turns hard left,
wheels riding up onto the curbing rattling the ribs
badrdrdrdrdrdrdrdrup then just as quickly switches your vector to the
right. Breathe. Done correctly it’s the most exciting exhilarating
mash up of motion. Done incorrectly, well you don’t want to think of
the consequences. Breathe. But you did well this time. Relax as you
let the car flow through the short chute towards turn five. Ah, turn
five. Turn five is a favorite of Sebring spectators because, well stuff
happens. Often. With dire results. From the viewing berms it looks
easy, maybe tightens up a little bit on exit, but wide and fast.
Strapped in your seat, peering out of your helmet, your perspective is
similar but oh so different. Yes it is fast but you’re carrying a lot of
speed so a light squeeze on the brakes are required. Yes it is wide but
you must turn on the mark your instructor pointed out in order to hit
that late apex sweet spot. And yes, it does tighten up on the exit. A
lot. Since turn five leads to a long straightaway, every bit of speed
you carry on exit results in a higher velocity on this important
straight. So you push hard, not forgetting this turn tightens noticeably on exit. Tires on pavement good. Tires in dirt bad. It’s up to you
and physics to determine how much speed will keep those tires on
the pavement. Breathe. This really is fun.
Twelve corners to go in this lap. Nine laps to go in this session.
Three sessions to go in this day. Breathe. So much to remember.
All thanks to Marc Dana for his excellent expert instruction.
Ž Jeff Buckley, Contributor
The 2012 FSC BMW CCA HOLIDAY PARTY
Hours of Party Operation
BASCOM’S CHOPHOUSE
7:00—11:00 PM
JANUARY 21, 2012
Dessert
Cocktail Hour
Key Lime Pie
Hors D’ Oeuvres
Cheesecake
Beef Tenderloin Spring Rolls
Chocolate Torte
Crab Meat Stuffed Mushrooms
Bacon Wrapped Scallops
Cheese & Fruit
Buffet Style Dinner
Prime Rib of Beef
Sautéed Florida Grouper Provincial
Chicken Dijon
Chicken Florentine
*Garlic Mashed Potatoes & Vegetable Medley included
Please make checks payable to:
BMWCCA Florida Suncoast Chapter
Enclose:
Member Name(s), Membership #, Guest Name(s)
Mail Payment to:
James Slane – FSC Sec.
6610 Copper Ridge Trail
University Park, FL 34201-2111
$35 per
person
BASCOM’S CHOPHOUSE
3665 Ulmerton Rd
Clearwater, FL
Cash Bar
DJ & Dancing
www.bascoms.com
Photo: slacker gurl
Loc: Picher, OK
PAGE 6
DIE SONNENKUESTE
Willisch new
president of BMW
of North America
Munich/Woodcliff
Lake Ludwig Wil-
lisch (55), currently
responsible for the
BMW Group’s
European sales region, will take over from Jim O’Donnell
(61) as president of BMW of North
America, effective October 1st, 2011.
Willisch, who holds a degree in economics, began his career with the BMW
Group in 1996 as manager of the BMW
branch in Düsseldorf. He gained further
national and international sales experience as head of the local sales subsidiaries in Germany, Japan and Sweden. Prior
to assuming his current position as head
of European sales, Willisch was president
of BMW M GmbH. O’Donnell, who has
managed the BMW Group’s North
American sales since 2008, will be retiring.
The BMW Group achieved a substantial
increase in sales on the U.S. market in the
first half of the year. A total of 143,974
vehicles (+18.1% year-on-year) were sold
in the U.S. through June, making the region the BMW Group’s second-largest
market in the first half of 2011. Last year,
the company delivered 266,580 automobiles to U.S. customers – an increase of
10.1%.
Ian Robertson, member of the Board of
Management, responsible for Sales and
Marketing at BMW AG: “I would like to
thank Jim O’Donnell for his tireless commitment during his successful career. I
would also like to wish Ludwig Willisch
every success. With his many years of
solid experience in the automobile business, I am confident that he will maintain
our successful course in the U.S. in the
future.”
A successor to Willisch for the BMW
Group’s European sales region will be
announced at a later date.
Art Singleton
Matthew Cannarsa
Kelly Rodriguez
Susan Chiaramonte
Lambert Miedler
Mike Zenone
Michael Morales
Scot Congress
Tobyn Deyoung
John Salzer
Stacey Addams
David Amore
BMW Manufacturing Receives Exporter of the Year Award Spartanburg, S.C. September 29, 2011 BMW Manufacturing Co. announced today that the National Association of
Foreign Trade Zones (NAFTZ) recognized the company for its significant contribution to the
U.S. export industry.
BMW's plant in South Carolina has steadily increased its export activity. In 2009, the plant
contributed more than $3.1 billion in exports. In 2010, the company's export value grew to well
over $4 Billion annually. According to data from the U.S. Department of Commerce, the current
value of BMW exports confirms the company’s Spartanburg facility as the largest vehicle exporter from the U.S. to non-NAFTA countries.
BMW’s plant in Spartanburg currently produces approximately 1,000 vehicles each day and is
the exclusive exporter of passenger vehicles through the Port of Charleston. This year, the plant
is projected to produce more than 260,000 vehicles and will export approximately 70% of those
vehicles to more than 130 global markets. Ž www.bmwusa.com
BMW wins the Driver and Team Championships Munich/Atlanta 1st October 2011
BMW has written another chapter in motorsport history in the USA at the finale of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS), the 1,000-mile Petit Le Mans, at Road Atlanta, in Braselton,
Georgia. BMW Team RLL won a second consecutive manufacturers’ championship in the GT
class to complete a 2011 hat-trick of titles. The drivers’ and team championships had already
been secured two weeks ago with one race still to go. The last time BMW achieved this feat was
in 2001 with the BMW M3 GTR. BMW only returned to the ALMS with the BMW M3 GT in
2009.
After a thrilling race, Dirk Werner (DE), Bill Auberlen (US) and Augusto Farfus (BR) ultimately achieved a third place finish, completing 367 laps around the 2.54-mile circuit. After an
incident with a slower car in the closing stages of the race caused two pit stops to repair the
damage, their teammates Dirk Müller (DE), Joey Hand (US) and Andy Priaulx (GB) finished
the race in ninth place. At least one BMW M3 GT finished on the podium in every single race
this season. Dirk Müller and Joey Hand secured first place in the drivers’ championship, ahead
of Oliver Gavin and Jan Magnussen (Corvette). Dirk
Werner and Bill Auberlen (US) finished third overall.
BMW Team RLL clinched victory in the team competition, ahead of Corvette Racing. In the Manufacturers’
Championship, BMW finished ahead of Porsche.
With this strong result, the BMW drivers scored valuable points for two championships. The 1000 mile race
at the roller coaster Road Atlanta circuit not only counts
towards the American Le Mans Series, but also the 2011
Intercontinental Le Mans Cup. Ž www.bmwusa.com
BMW Named “Official Luxury Car of the Houston Texans” Woodcliff Lake, NJ October 3, 2011 BMW of North America and the NFL’s Houston Texans announced today that
BMW has been named the “Official Luxury Car of the Houston Texans,” as part of a four-year
partnership, kicking-off this weekend with the Texans’ game versus the Pittsburgh Steelers and
continuing through July 2015. Ž www.bmwusa.com
Miguel Bladuell
Tom Bobbitt
Nicolas Galantino
Patricia Gardner
Dan Griffin
David Karins
David Lewis
Steven Locatell
Brent Meyer
Jack Miles
Daryl Naskale
Susan Nguyen
Gary Porter
Arthur Rodriquez
Daniel Schultz
Welcome to the Club
We hope to see you out at one of our events
soon. It is a great way to meet other members.
Keep checking your emails for the calendar
which has updated event information.
Do you have a story to share? A car that you
want to talk about? Write it up and send it in.
[email protected]
October—December ’11
Page 7
Update from Our Leader… You can’t say there is nothing to do around here
Well it is the last quarter of the year and as a club
we could not be busier. Please check your events calendar update or the FSC website to see what is coming
up.
As usual with the end of the year looming in front of us we have
the FSC annual elections. The members running are listed on the
ballot attached. Please vote for your officers and Board of Directors.
You can write in any name you like to the ballot. Votes will be
counted by our election Chairman, Alan Barnes, and the results will
be announced at our Club Holiday Party on January 21st.
FSC’s Motorsport team has tried to put together a HPDE at local
track in Starke. Unfortunately we did not receive the participation we
were hoping for and as a result we had to postpone this event indefinitely. I personally would like to thank Russ Garvey, Craig Brinker
and the rest of the Motorsport team for all the time and effort they
put into trying to make this event happen.
I am pleased to announce a change to the annual FSC Picnic. This
year we will run our annual Concourse’ Elegance along with the
picnic. AS usual the cost is free to FSC members in good standing
and a small fee for nonmembers. We will have both a Judged Concourse’ along with a People’s Choice Class. This will be the first
time that we will allow other German Marks to participate in this
event. We are hopeful that this event will attract some new members
to the club.
If you have never been to the Florida Suncoast Holiday party you
are missing a fun time and a great bargain. Members are asked to pay
$35 per person with the Chapter picking up the balance of the costs.
If you have had a catered affair lately, you know that $35 per person
for a full cost dinner including a cocktail hour with pass around hors
d’oeuvres is a great price. Please come out and join the rest of our
members at this event. Even if you have never attended an event
before. See Page 5 for the details!
Finally I would like to address our FSC website. I was hoping to
get 200 of our members registered on the site. At the writing of this
President Message we have almost 190 members signed up. I’m
confident we will hit our 200 members before the end of the year.
One of the purposes of the website is for members to get to know a
little about each other. Where they are located, what type of BMW
they drive, what their interests are, etc. Here’s the problem! We have
190 odd members signed up but only about 20% list any information
on themselves.
So please do me a favor if you have already signed up for the website please go back and check to make sure you told us something
about Yourself! We really want to know more about the makeup of
our Florida Suncoast Chapter and their interests.
Happy Holidays
Say goodnight Gracie,
Bob Ziegler, President
pect the other two 2012 dates to again appear in May and September.
Starke
Autocross
Next Event: Sunday, Brooksville: 12/04.
The 12/04 date will also be the first round of the annual PCA/FSC
Autocross Challenge. Round two will take place at PCAs home
course in Zephyrhills on 12/11. Please mark your calendars and plan
on attending these two December events to help your Chapter compete!
The FSC Track Familiarization Day (TFD) was unfortunately cancelled due to lack of registration entrants. Another try for a TFD
event may happen in 2012. Please contact me
([email protected]) or Craig Brickner [email protected]) with any questions or interest.
Car Control Clinic
November 12-13 remains on our calendar and is reserved for the
2011 CCC. Remember, the clinic will only go forward with a new
volunteer administrator. I will still be available on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and continue to handle all the on-site duties as I
have in the past, but FSC needs help for the CCC. Duties would
PBOC and FSC
include on-line registration, scheduling vendors, answering questions
The first Sebring combined event in May went well. The apron at
turn 16 met or exceeded our expectations in providing enough space from students/parents (phone and e-mail) and whatever else might
arise in the six weeks or so leading up to the event. Please help your
for an interesting and challenging course. We found that FSC can
chapter by considering your participation in FSC’s educational drivhandle the initial on-site duties with a minimum of two people, although three would be ideal. Barry Miller and I arrived on Thursday ing program.
evening and designed and set up the course and timing and scoring
Registration Reminder
on Friday in between our scheduled instructor day driving sessions. Please remember that all events must be registered and pre-paid on
We also handled the Friday and early Saturday check-in. Several
motorsport.reg. No more on-site registration or payments, please.
FSC members showed up early on Saturday and were a big help in
Ž Russ Garvey, Motorsport Dir.
finishing the various loose ends to be tied on Saturday before dropping the flag for the first car on the grid.
The PBOC organizers were pleased with our classroom and oncourse instruction for the Novice DE students. We placed them in
the morning “A” run group and then released them back to the regular DE schedule as we began the “B” run group. The turn-out of
regular AutoX entrants was less than we would have liked – about 18
cars or so. But everyone who participated had a great time.
Remember, all FSC members have the yearly PBOC membership
fee waived. Any FSC AutoX instructor who helps with the DE students will receive a discount for a Sunday DE day.
Next year? We expect to continue this relationship with PBOC in
2012. In fact, they want us to run our AutoX at all of their Sebring
DE weekends next year starting with Winterfest on January 14. Ex-
PAGE 8
DIE SONNENKUESTE
PRESORTED
STANDARD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Tampa, FL
Permit No. 2876
Florida Suncoast Chapter
BMW CCA
PO Box 10666
Tampa, FL 33679
Check our website at www.fscbmwcca.org—Updates at our hotline 813.653.4651
Hello from the Newsletter Editor and an apology as well. I am writing this to
update to you with what has been going on this past summer. On 14 June I was sent
to Picher, OK to start a demolition project. To start the trip, I needed to stop off in
Joplin, MO where an F5 tornado hit the main area of town on 22 May. Our site storage
trailer was part of the path of that tornado. The pictures shown to the right are from
that area. Our storage trailer (not pictured) was the only one out of the 40 on the lot
that floated straight up into the air, flipped over, came back down and then had a
trailer—like the one pictured—pierce it on its side and survived. All others were reported as found 3—5 miles away. I don’t know how many of you have ever been
through a tornado but seeing the damage it leaves behind is surreal.
After surveying the damage, I started on the demolition job in Picher, OK. I was
on-site for a week and then was given the opportunity with my company to work as a
Site Manager with our FEMA contract to haul and install FEMA mobile and park model
homes in Joplin, MO. I can only say the heat that we worked in over the summer
made Florida seem like the South Pole. No matter how many non-stop long days we
had in the heat of 105 deg. + and the stress of getting things done, seeing a family
move back into a home, however temporary it may be, made it worth every hour
spent out there. The men and women who work on the crews to set up the homes are
simply amazing. They deserve so much of the credit for putting those families into
their homes. I can’t thank them enough for all their hard work while I was there.
When my original project started back up in Picher, OK, I returned there until 4
August. I got home, stayed a night or two in my bed and then headed to Washington,
DC for a vacation. If you haven’t been to our Nations Capitol, then I suggest you take
the trip and bring a good pair of walking shoes. You simply can’t see it all, even in one
week. It’s amazing. And amazingly cheap.
I returned, caught up at work, then hit the road again to attend the SCCA National
Championship for Autocross in Lincoln, NE where I fought for sixth place in a Street
Touring Civic owned by Stephen Yeoh and Jason Wong and won. I also witnessed the
damage the Missouri River had done while driving from Kansas City into Lincoln. The
Mid-West is definitely having some re-work done by Mother Nature. I really thought I
would be able to work on this newsletter while I was out on the road but I simply
wasn’t. And for that I apologize. Ž Angela Carlascio, Newsletter Editor