September 2012 Newsletter

Transcription

PRST STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PORTLAND, ME
PERMIT # 64
P.O. Box 803 / Portland, ME 04104
— October 2012
Pine Tree Chapter BMW CCA
Bavarian Bylines
Inside This Issue
(Tony & Kathy Fontaine)
Advertising
Autowerkes
New Members
VP’s Letter
President’s Letter
Chapter Officers
2,4,9-11
8
3
3
3
2
CO & Beyond In Z3 1,5-7
To Colorado and Beyond In a Z3
The weekend of June 8-10, 2012, marked
the 60th anniversary of the longest continuously-held time/speed/distance (TSD) rallye
in North America, an event that has been
faithfully organized and run each year since
its’ inception by the Rocky Mountain
(Colorado) chapter of the MG Car Club.
Having owned numerous English cars
during the 20 years we lived in the Denver
area, we have enjoyed taking part in this
event what with its’ many challenges and the
camaraderie of its’ participants.
Since moving from Colorado in 1996 and
having returned to the rally only once, we’ve
had a hankering to give it one last shot, trying our hand at again winning the Barker
Award, the trophy for overall best place in
the multi-day event. What better time than
now, it being the 60th anniversary event
coupled with our personal planets being in
alignment.
…………... (Continued on Page 5)
Pine Tree Chapter BMW CCA - Bavarian Bylines
Chapter Officers
President: Andrew Wilson, tel. 207-319-5653
Disclaimer
Email: [email protected]
This publication, and all of the contents, remain
solely the property of the Pine Tree Chapter of BMW
Vice President:: Baer Connard, tel. 207-807-8300
CCA, Inc. All of the information furnished herein is
provided by and for the Chapter members only.
Treasurer: Peter Sottery, tel. 207-773-1044
Secretary: Voit Ritch, tel. 207-865-6600
The Chapter assumes no liability for any of the information contained herein. Unless otherwise noted,
none of the information bears the status of “factory
approval” modifications within the warranty period of
your BMW may void your warranty. The ideas,
opinions and suggestions expressed in regards to
technical subject are those of the authors and no
Newsletter Editor/Advertising: Lisa Shelton,
authentication is implied by the editors or publishers.
tel. 207-626-5681, Email: [email protected]
Webmaster: Paula Lungren, tel. 207-329-7938
The products and services advertised in BAVARIAN
BYLINES do not necessarily imply endorsement or
approval by the Pine Tree Chapter.
Permission is granted to reproduce any material
published herein provided credit is given to the author
and to BAVARIAN BYLINES.
2
VP’s Letter
Where has the summer gone?
President’s Letter
What a great driving season this summer offered!
No matter what your interest, there was something
for everyone.
One minute we are anxious for winter to end, for
spring to come along in anticipation of summer.
And now, as I write this, summer is over. By the
time this is published, fall, with all its’ wonderful
colors, will be with us.
As an owner of a 330Ci convertible who drives the
car year round in Maine, I look forward to spring,
summer and the fall when I can drive around with
the top down and enjoy all that Maine has to offer.
While last winter has been described as the winter
that wasn’t, this summer was the summer that was.
One of the problems with summer in Maine is that
there are too many events and not enough weekends
to fit them all in without having to make choices.
In order to fix this problem, next year I am going to
go on a three-year schedule. That way, the things I
do not get to do one year, I will schedule for the
following year or the year after that. Sort of like a
bucket list. But unlike one-time events, I can repeat
the cycle every three years.
Fall, with its’ cooler nights and not quite so hot days.
The leaves are changing which means an October
'Leaf Peeping' Tour. We’ll be heading North toward
Fort Knox State Park.
In November, we will have our Annual trip to Maine
Indoor Karting.
Drive safely
Andrew
New Members
Wayne Antworth
Surry, ME
Jonathan Little
S. Portland, ME
Ruth Reeve
Monson, ME
Terrance Turner
Cumberland Foreside, ME
I have to admit that I have not practiced what I
preach and have left some of the maintenance on the
car go way too long. Since I only drive short
distances now, I became somewhat complacent.
Because the car is now twelve years old, it needs
more attention, just as my body needs more attention as I get older. Once I have the car back and can
enjoy it on the open road once again, I will not
neglect the maintenance again. Just as I head to
MGH every other week for my health, the 330 will
once again be on a regular service
schedule.
Nicholas Dargie
Oxford, ME
Mark Ettinger
Kennebunk, ME
Timothy Fong
Rockland, ME
Evan Gallant
Portland, ME
Amy Gubrud
Scarborough, ME
Malcolm Henry
Portland, ME
Alexander Sirocki
Scarborough, ME
Natasha Staples
Kennebunkport, ME
Chandler Sturgeon
Portland, ME
Paul Triggiani
Lisbon, ME
Enjoy your fall drives.
Ralph C. White Jr.
Falmouth, ME
Scott Babbidge
Windham, ME
Jeff Rioux
Kennebunk, ME
Mihail Soare
Brewer, ME
My BMW just went to my son’s shop, Ace Performance Shop, in Tewksbury, MA, for some muchneeded TLC and when I have it back, I will be able
to enjoy the fall driving season.
Baer
3
Now we're upon one of the best seasons in Maine,
4
To Colorado And Beyond In Z3
,,,,,,,,,,(Continued From Page One)
When we first encountered the Glenwood Rallye
in the mid ‘80s, we were active members of the
Colorado Association of Tiger Owners, a club
dedicated to the vehicles of the Rootes Group,
including Sunbeam Alpines, Tigers, and other
models in lesser numbers. Our ride of choice was
a lovingly-restored 1967 Sunbeam Alpine, our first
car owned as a couple back in the 1980s.
Being involved with all things British presented
us with opportunities to meet many others with
British car leanings and many good friendships
were made. It didn’t take us long before we discovered the Glenwood Rallye, an event promoted
locally through Denver area British car services
and clubs.
At the time of our introduction to the rallye, it
consisted of events over two days; a 200 mile or
so TSD rallye from the foothills of the Rockies to
the canyon environs of Glenwood Springs, followed by an auto-X and car show on Sunday.
Our first attempt at this event ended shortly
after it began when our seemingly well Sunbeam
decided that it didn’t favor my installation of new
U-joints and spit out a freshly-rebuilt driveshaft.
So much for my shade tree mechanical skills.
After my brother-in-law towed the car home and
we obtained a back up vehicle, we went through
the motions and followed the route instructions
although all the check points were long since
vacated by the time we passed in route to Glenwood Springs. I don’t recall many of the weekend’s other details other than we received the
Hard Luck Trophy for our catastrophic failure.
Maybe this wasn’t going to be as easy as first
thought.
Over the ensuing years, my wife/navigator
Kathy and I tried our luck at the often times devious event, sometimes doing well and at others,
well, not so well. Our vehicle of choice always
5
varied depending on which car (or truck!) in the
driveway was running that particular weekend and
we always competed in the “seat of the pants”
class wherein nothing other than a notepad and
were allowed. Yes, we even drove our Ford
pickup one time when nothing more sporting
would move under its own power. On occasion,
we managed a few well placed finishes, sometimes even winning our class. And then one year
we hit the jackpot when we were pleasantly surprised to win the overall weekend trophy after
placing well in the rallye on Saturday and first in
class in Sunday’s auto-X. Suddenly, we were
hooked. The following year’s event couldn’t come
quickly enough as the competitive spirit built up
preceding the competition
Over the course of many years, we managed
to bring the travelling Barker Trophy home again,
being one of three teams to ever do so. And then
disaster - - overconfidence took root and when
we just missed bringing home the bacon on a third
occasion by a mere 0.05 of a second (the amount
of time we lost by to the first place auto-X winner
that year), the competitive flame seemed to
wither.
So a person can only stew about such devastation for so long. Having not tried our luck at the
rallye in over a decade, I drew up a scheme
wherein I convinced Kathy that we needed to drive
from Maine to Colorado so as to try our luck one
last time. This was to be a road trip on a massive
scale, at least by our standards. Although the
rallye was to be the centerpiece of our trip, we
decided to include some other activities to justify
the lengthy drive, not the least of which was to
take my dad’s ashes out west. Born a Mainer and
having travelled the world with the Naval Air Force,
his heart belonged to the landscapes and cultures
of the western US. Along with my dad’s final
wish, we also decided that visiting in-laws and
some friends not seen in many years would break
up the lengthy days behind the wheel.
,,,,,,,,,,(Continued From Page Five)
But what to drive? As in decades past, not
every vehicle in the fleet was operational. Our Triumph would have been a logical choice given its
English heritage. As equipped from the factory, it
even has factory AC! But alas, its’ engine is tired
and consumes oil to the point where people in its
wake fall to the ground in coughing fits. Our low
mileage Jaguar two door sedan (39 years w/ 44K
miles) was in a state of partial disassembly, the
engine tightly wrapped in plastic and the car under
cover. The family Volvo would be a comfy ride
over the thousands of miles but about as exciting
as sliced bread. Hmmm… How about the Z3? It
certainly would be in the spirit of the event though
considerably newer than the majority of other
entrants. And with our tight schedule and limited
time off from work, a reliable sports car that could
eat up the miles and with AC fit the bill to a T. As
an aside, just what does that expression mean
and where did it come from? What “T”?
We had purchased our ’96 1.9L Z3 a bit over a
year ago where we had found it hibernating in an
airplane hanger outside Chicago with a mere 29K
miles on the clock. Having flown out to drive it
home, I knew it was capable of a lengthy road
trip. However, a bit of prep work was in order
prior to departure. A complete cooling system
service was performed (certainly didn’t need those
nasty plastic bits failing mid journey), new shocks
6
installed, all fluids changed, and the tires
balanced. Threw a spare cam shaft sensor in the
trunk along with a handful of tools and diagnostic
reader and we were off.
Given our lack of spare time to complete the
journey, every day was carefully choreographed
with routes pre-identified and nightly accommodations prearranged. The plan was to start from
the Sunday River Resort in Newry, Maine. This
departure coincided with the weekend of heavy
rains we had at the beginning of June and true to
its known faults, the Z swallowed a significant
amount of rain water while parked overnight in the
parking lot. Not a good way to begin a trip of
6,000+ miles. But, wet butt aside, the first day’s
ride through northern NH, VT, and upstate NY was
splendid. Going through Canadian customs at the
Ogdenburg, NY crossing proved uneventful and we
found ourselves on the 401 in Ontario cruising
right along to our first night’s destination in Ajax,
ON.
Day Two was a relatively short one as we
headed towards central Michigan with plans to
visit Kathy’s family in and around the Mount
Pleasant area. After motoring on the smooth
highways of Ontario, the brutally-decrepit concrete
roads of Michigan came as a shock as they
always do when we make the trip. A stop in Frankenmuth, MI for a fried chicken lunch was mandatory as we hadn’t been there in a long time.
Chicken lovers the world over owe it to themselves
to visit this small town between Flint and Saginaw
for the fantastic fried chicken served family style.
We departed early on Tuesday from the
in-laws’ lakeside residence in order to arrive in
Muskegon, MI to catch the high-speed ferry to
Milwaukee. The ride across Lake Michigan was
smooth and the extra expense of the ferry always
beats the heck out of driving through Indiana and
around Chicago. Having once broken down on a
cross-country trip with a faulty generator (yes,
generator, not alternator) in a 1960 Sunbeam
,,,,,,,,,,(Continued From Page Six)
while driving this stretch of road in a snowstorm
has always left me with an aversion to that
particular part of the country. Can’t imagine why.
Leaving Milwaukee, we made for Cedar
Rapids, IA over a variety of state highways and
two lane roads, arriving in the late afternoon at a
B&B tucked away on top of a hill, smack dab in
the middle of a 1960s vintage neighborhood.
Nestled away in the trees, you would never have
known we were in the middle of suburbia.
Searching about for an evening meal, we discovered an Irish Pub downtown where we were befriended by the owner’s aged and mildly confused
father. We invited him to our table while dining
and had a thoroughly entertaining time listening to
stories of Cedar Rapids’ history (which were repeated throughout the meal many more times as
the charming gentleman hadn’t a clue what he
had previously been talking about). All in all, a
wonderful evening.
The next day saw us again on lesser-travelled
roads where we stopped by to visit with a
coworker of Kathy’s from her days working in
Colorado. The ladies swapped stories while her
husband and I poked around his beautifullyrestored Buick Riviera, parked in his 60’s themed
garage/hobby room. Yet another pleasant diversion from the many miles of driving.
It was then on to the flatlands of Nebraska
where we encountered our first dollop of cultural
shock upon arriving at our evening’s lodging in a
small farming community. We should have been
forewarned about the nature of the establishment
when we booked it on-line for a fee of only $50
per night. Turns out, $50 was overpriced! And
just who were these people on TripAdvisor.com
that left glowing reports of their stay at this place?
Having recently watched a YouTube video on how
to search for bed bugs (yes, there really are such
educational films available), we promptly set
7
about stripping the bed and searching all crevices.
Our inspection having failed to find anything
terribly alarming, we cautiously propped a chair
against the door, took one last peak out the window to make sure the car was OK (all while hoping
we wouldn’t be murdered in our sleep and that we
would wake to drive once again).
A night of fitful sleep ensued. Awaking early
the next morning, we hustled out as quickly as
possible and were surprised to find a Starbucks at
the edge of town before getting on the Interstate.
Good coffee in this god forsaken part of the world
certainly helped make everything better.
With well-caffeinated coffee came the urge to
push the pedal down and make some miles while
cruising across the plains. That and a 75 mph
speed limit. By late morning, we found ourselves
in Denver and familiar territory once again. But
wait, this wasn’t the Denver we had left 16 years
ago. Funny how things change when you’ve been
gone for awhile. And then the realization: we had
left Denver all those years ago because it was
changing so rapidly. Where did all these cars
come from? And who turned up the temperature?
Yeah, yeah, it’s a dry heat they all say, but hot is
still hot! And where in the heck do all these new
roads go?
After our initial shock wore off, we began the
process of visiting family and friends, some not
seen for nearly 20 years. Time was short and
each visitation ended too soon.
We even
squeezed in a quick trip to the BMW dealer to pick
up an oil filter, then headed to my nephew’s
where, in exchange for allowing him to take the
car for a spin around the block, he gladly helped
change the oil.
The remainder of our adventure will be featured in
the 4th quarter newsletter. Stay tuned!
Autowerkes Maine—New Facility
Autowerkes Maine, in Freeport, has opened their
brand new, state-of-the-art facility. It is a truly
unique building that was designed to be the
perfect place to care for today’s complex BMW’s.
Autowerkes Maine has been servicing BMW’s for
over 27 years now - - since before most people
had even heard of BMW. This new building is the
result of all this experience and knowing what the
cars demand and what the owners deserve.
The new facility is still located on Route 1 in Freeport—-virtually across the street from the old
location. It has a very distinctive facade so it will
be hard to miss. It is also four times larger to keep
up with the ever-increasing demand for their
services.
Customers will appreciate the spacious showroom
and reception area. It has floor to ceiling glass,
comfortable seating and the service counter is
large enough to accommodate multiple customers. The front canopy is not just for looks either. It
is a parking area for completed cars. So when
picking up your car, it will be protected in the
shade as well as the sometimes inclement Maine
weather.
The facility includes the usual:
•
8
The shop itself is extremely well lit, fully airconditioned and there is a mile of pipe
supplying radiant heat from the floor.
Above all, it was designed so everything is
at hand for the technicians. We have a
new Bosch alignment system, which was
designed in Germany specifically for German cars.
•
Central to all this is the well-organized
parts room and the offices where they keep
track o everything.
•
Last, but not least, is the carwash room.
Finally—space to clean and detail the nice
cars that grace this fine, new facility.
The new facility has made space on its’ second
floor for other needs, too:
•
An employee break room.
•
A research area (in a much quieter environment) as keeping current with today’s cars
is a real challenge.
•
Training classroom where the personnel
can learn from professional educators. This
room can also be used for group functions
like car club events or customer education
and appreciation as well. The room will
hold 30+ and is wired for any media. All
this can be accessed from either the shop
or the showroom.
Above all, this great, new building and grounds
were built to last. It’s designed to be efficient and
environmentally conscious. It is as energyefficient as possible using the most modern
materials, technology and an extreme level of
insulation. It meets the standards of “Maine
Advanced Building” which is an Efficiency Maine
program.
With this exceptional new facility, Autowerkes
Maine continues its’ long-term dedication to BMW
cars and their owners. All this surrounds the same
familiar staff always ready to help!
Voit Ritch
http://www.autowerkesmaine.com/
When you are ready to purchase the BMW of
your dreams, we can help you find the exact
car that exceeds your expectations. We have
an in-depth knowledge of fine automobiles
and the Northeast market.
Visit our website to view current inventory.
We can also find or rebuild to perfection the
BMW you’ve always wanted.
www.ayereuropeanauto.com
(207) 582-7372
Brunswick Road, Gardiner, Maine
Here’s what our customers say...
“They are much more hands on
than the dealer. You can talk
freely with the people who work
on your cars. The people are very
knowledgeable and if they don’t
know the answer they will find it.
Everyone is extremely courteous
and I believe very fair.” Jim E. –
Numerous BMW, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz and Ferrari vehicles
“Great staff! Technicians explain
the problem found and why they
would recommend you do the
following to correct the problem
or potential problem. Always willing to share their knowledge with
you… You treat customers they
way you would want to be
treated: fairly and courteous.”
Ray J. – BMW 740iL
“Amy and Aaron run a great shop.
I like knowing the service technicians by name and knowing that
they care about my cars. Everyone
there is willing to explain and show
me anything, which I enjoy. I love
the waiting area with magazines
and coffee for waiting on quick oil
changes. They also have loaners
which is great for those of us who
don’t live in the immediate area.
One of my vehicles lost the transmission on I-95 after hours and I
called in a panic. Aaron happened to be there, and called a
tow truck and came to pick me up
himself. He set me up with a loaner
car and I was on my way. That kind
of customer loyalty inspires loyal
customers!” Adam K. - BMW 528
“European Auto Surgeons knows the details of my BMW. At the 60,000
mile service they replaced the water pump when the [BMW dealership]
was not going to do this.” Steve B. – 2003 BMW 330xi, 2006 BMW Z4
9
“Your customer service is perfect. I
have said, and would continue to
say it is worth the drive from Cape
Elizabeth. Your mechanics are top
notch; trust worthy and at
“Gardiner” prices.” Gail B – 528i
“I am thrilled with the service quality,
price and responsiveness of European Auto Surgeons! Great customer service!” Dr. C – ‘04 Phaeton
European Auto Surgeons
Gardiner, Maine
europeanautosurgeons.com
207-582-2302
Monthly Meetings
The Pine Tree Chapter of the BMW CCA meets at
Buck’s Naked BBQ on Route One in Freeport.
Advertising
Commercial Advertising:
1/8 page = $75 / year
The meeting is held on the second Monday of each
month at 7PM, unless otherwise noted in the Calendar
of Events.
1/4 page = $100 / year
These are informal gatherings of fellow BMW enthusiasts who swap tales, ask advice, give advice, eat
great food and discuss various Bimmer activities. We
also occasionally discuss club business issues and
upcoming events.
Back cover (color) = $500/year (when available)
This is a great opportunity for members to meet and
find out what’s happening in our local chapter. It’s
also a chance to check out some great Bimmers
driven by fellow club members.
1/2 page = $200 / year
Full page = $400/year
Deadlines:
Bavarian Bylines is published quarterly and deadlines
for all material are as follows:
1st quarter—Feb 1
2nd quarter—May 1
3rd quarter—Aug 1
4th quarter—Nov 1
Mark your calendar and join us for the next meeting!
Classifieds
Visit us on line at: pinetree-bmwcca.org
n
e
Northeast Mechanical
& Energy Management Services, Inc.
Bowdoinham, Maine…………...North Waterboro, Maine
Commercial Refrigeration
Non-commercial Classifieds are FREE to BMW CCA
members. Ads are limited to 40 words each, and
one B&W photo and allowed two ads per member
per issue. Please include your name, address and
phone number.
Non-member classified of general BMW interest
may be accepted, space permitting.
Deadlines: Bavarian Bylines is published quarterly and
deadlines for all material are as follows:
Heating
1st quarter—Feb 1
2nd quarter—May 1
Air Conditioning
3rd quarter—Aug 1
4th quarter—
Ventilation
Energy Management Systems
& Building Controls
Manitowoc Ice Systems
Certified Service Representative
1-800-975-8330
PO Box 335
Bowdoinham, ME 04008
Fax: (207) 666-8328
10
Change of Address
All address and telephone number changes must be
made through the National Office in writing.
Please do not send change of address information
to the local chapter.
Send your change via mail to:
BMW CCA
640 So. Main St., Suite #201
Greenville, SC 29601
11

September 2012 Newsletter

Transcription

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