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PresidentStephen [email protected]
Vice PresidentOpen
SecretarySandra [email protected]
Annual Banquet 3Stalls 4by Thomas B. Nast
Motorsports 5BMW ACA and BMW CCAImpacts of Joining the CCA 6
BMW ACA Club Racers 9by Lance Richert
Technik 17edited by Greg Mierz
M Formation 18from the editors
Classified Marketplace 20
January 2000
Volume 30No. 1
January 6Board Meeting hosted by the Lightfoots. Call David or Lucetta at206-282-2641 for driving directions. All members welcome as always.
January 14Deadline for the February Zündfolge.
January 29Annual Banquet at the Bellevue Harbor Club. Plan now to attendthis outstanding event.
February 3Board Meeting at the Spornitz home. Call Bill at 425-836-2760 fordriving directions.
February 12General Meeting at Griot’s Garage. The time is 9:00 until noon.See Lance Richert’s article on this session.
March 5Karting Enduro at Crazy Redhead’s. See Karl Seeger’s article.
March 18General Meeting at Vintage Racing Motors. Don’t miss this chanceto see some of the most exotic racing cars in the Northwest. Incredible!
TreasurerRoger [email protected]
MembershipLance [email protected]
Roster ManagerGreg [email protected]
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Please limit phone calls to these volunteers to between the hours of 9am and 9pm.
Zündfolge EditorsLucetta & David LightfootSee Info at Left Column
Driving EventsJacqueline [email protected]
BanquetRick [email protected]
Concoursd’EleganceBill [email protected]
Technical EventsRay [email protected]
Tour CoordinatorKarl [email protected]
INHALT
KALENDER
Club Websitewww.bmwaca.org
Zündfolge Staff
Editors-In-ChiefLucetta and David Lightfoot2641 39th Ave. W.Seattle, WA 98199206 282-2641Fax 206 [email protected]
Production EditorWilliam Linder
Editor EmeritusDenny Organ
ColumnistsThomas B. NastGreg Mierz
Postal NoticeZündfolge is published monthlyby the BMW ACA Puget SoundRegion. Office of Publication:2641 39th Ave. West, Seattle,WA 98199. USPS publicationnumber 715250. Subscriptionsare $10 annually (available onlyas part of the $25 membershipfee). Periodicals postage paid atSeattle, WA Postmaster, sendaddress changes to:
ZündfolgePO Box 1259Bellevue, WA 98009
BoilerplateThis magazine is the monthlypublication of the BMW ACA,Puget Sound Region, andremains its property. All infor-mation furnished herein isprovided by the membership formembers only. Ideas, sugges-tions and opinions, technical orotherwise, are those of theauthors, without authenticationby or liability to the editors orthe Club.
Zündfolge design and layout byPaulette Eickman 206.283.1423
COVER CAR: Thismonth’s cover features therace cars of fourmembers. It also show-cases four generations ofBMWs. The orange andblack 2002 at upper left isTerry Forland’s (photo byEd Millman). The E30
325is at upper right belongs to JacquelineKahn (photo by Lance Richert). The E36 M3 atlower left is Alex Long’s steed (photo by RozRosintoski).The black E21 320i featuringcolorful tulips at lower right is raced by DougJennings (photo by Lance Richert). See LanceRichert’s feature article on some of the racersin BMW ACA. The centerfold features moreBMW race cars.
Your presence isrequested. This isthe last reminder forthe annual BMWClub Banquet. Ifyou have notreserved your spot,do so now. The
spaces are filling up quickly.The Banquet is scheduled for Friday,
January 29th atop the Bellevue HarborClub. The food is always excellent andplentiful. This year we have three choicesof entrees all served with a selection offresh winter greens topped with a citrusvinaigrette:
• Alder Smoked Salmon with spicedapple cider sauce, wild rice medleywith fresh market vegetables
• Roast Strip Loin of Beef with aCabernet sauce, whipped garlicmashed potatoes, fresh marketvegetables
• Red wine-spiced Chicken witha ground mustard cream sauce,parmesan risotto, fresh marketvegetables
• The dinner will be topped of bya lemon meringue tartlet.
Our evening will begin with a silentauction in the Cascade room. The dinnerwill follow the silent auction in theOlympic dinning room. Before and duringdinner the live auction items will bedisplayed for you to view. The live auctionwill follow dinner. The Club will be ableto accept Visa, Mastercard and Amex forauction items. Bid early and often. We’vegot some great stuff available.
After the live auction we will betreated to a wonderful talk by Phil SmartSr. Phil Smart will be talking about hishistory in the automotive industry and
Annual BMW Club Banquet
Name Mem #
Address
Phone No. Home ( ) Work ( )
Entree Choice (indicate number in box)
❑ Alder Smoked Salmon
❑ Red Wine Spiced Chicken
❑ Roast Strip Loin of Beef
Please note: Make checks payable to BMW ACA. Mail to: Rick Brown, BMW ACABanquet, P.O. Box 1259, Bellevue, WA 98009.
BMW ACA Banquet Registration
Saturday, January 29, 2000 • The Harbor Club — Bellevue
Total Number of Dinners
Total Amount Enclosed($55 per Dinner Entree,
SCHEDULE
6:00 PM - Silent Auction7:30 PM - Dinner
8:15 PM - Verbal Auction9:00 PM - Phil Smart’s Talk
also his involvement with Children’sHospital.
The auction items are flowing in andwe are getting some outstanding dona-tions from area businesses. Don’t forgetyou too can make a donation to theauction. Part of the proceeds from theauction are going to Children’s Hospital.Also remember to bring a can of food fora donation to Northwest Harvest. We lookforward to seeing you at the Banquet.
Rick Brown, Banquet [email protected]
Auction Donors (So Far)Car Tender BMW SeattleBellevue BMW Albert Ltd.Dinan Blowsion KolorsBradley’s R-sportsKISS 106.1 Seattle T-BirdsTacoma Sabercats Dent WizardNancy Sporntiz ExeterCrazy Redhead RacewayColormasters NorthwestDavid and Lucetta LightfootCarburetor and Fuel Injection Connection
Join your fellow BMW Club mem-bers at Griot’s Garage R & D Centerfor a fun and informative session oncleaning and detailing your winter-ravaged car. You’ll get a hands-ondemonstration of their fine products.In addition there will be several vintagerace cars on display and a special gift forattending. Drive your BMW and join us
Griot’s Garage Tech SessionSaturday, February 12 • 9:00 am till 12:00 noon
for some fun. There will be free car careproduct samples to all those attendingplus breakfast eats, coffee and juicecompliments of Griot’s Garage. Direc-tions and a map will be published in thenext Zündfolge. Griot’s Garage is locatedat 2004 48th Ave. Ct. #E in Fife.Contact Lance Richert with questions at425-644-8009 or [email protected].
Phil Smart
S T A L L SS T A L L S
The almost-annual PugetSound Snowstorm is immi-nent, so it is time once againto review How To Drive InSnow and Ice. In addition toconsulting Leading Expertson this subject, I havepersonally investigated thematter for many years. In myfirst experiment I nearlytotalled Fritz, my first 2002, in Dryden, New York on sheet icein 1972 (driving to pick up winter tires I’d ordered, ironically).About three years later I refined my technique, rolling Eric(another 2002) on black ice on the north side of Mt. Shastapass, at speed. A 2002 is a very stout car, and it can be empiri-cally stated that a driver can walk out of one after a seriousrearranging of glass and sheet metal, without the benefit ofairbags, side rails, bridge-girder bumpers, reactive armor orwhatever else is making cars weigh half again what they shouldthese days. But I digress.Rule Number 1: Borrow your friend’s four wheel drive
SUV. There are certain things that are depleting of time andmoney, and are only needed a few times during the year.Boats and pickup trucks most readily spring to mind, but 4WDvehicles certainly qualify. Your friend with the Land Rover hasalways wanted to borrow your 325iC, and now is the time to lethim. Lend him the Hide Food and Meguiar’s kit too, so he hassomething to do with the car until the thaw.Rule Number 2: Use traction devices. I can’t tell you
how many times I’ve slipped and fallen on my kiester tryingto reach my car without the assistance of showshoes or skates.I have found that attaching a tennis racket to each boot withbungee cords is an effective traction device, though they tendto snag the brake pedal when I push the accelerator.Rule Number 3: Warm up the car. Start the car at
least an half-hour before you intend to leave. This will giveit sufficient time to get nice and warm inside, and for thedefroster to melt the snow off the windshield so you don’tsnap the blades off the wipers when you turn them on. Afterthe holidays, leftover cardboard can be used to block part ofthe radiator to speed the warm-up time. Plan on increasing oiland spark plug changes to, oh, weekly or thereabouts.Rule Number 4: Do not use the brakes. When I was
knee-high to a go-kart, Jimmy Roosevelt taught me how to do180s in his MG Midget with the handbrake, a very useful skillwhen evading law enforcement or appearing in most any moviemade in Hollywood. ABS, I’m told, changes the equation a bit,but in general the use of the brake pedal on ice is a touchy
subject. Like Thai food, itshould be done gingerly, andif overdone, you’ll be seeingstars. Best just to avoid thebrakes altogether, and relyon your drag chute foremergency stops.Rule Number 5: Do not
go up or down hills. Everwonder why Iowa and Kansas
are so flat? Because of all the snowfall there, our governmenthas, at considerable expense, regraded that region, to thebenefit of all motorists. Almost all winter driving problemsare caused by losing traction on hills. Be informed by this!Calculate your critical routes, and during the summer get towork with the ’dozer. There’s no substitute for preparation.Rule Number 6: Carry a few bags of sand. In a BMW,
carrying sand over the rear wheels assists traction; in a frontwheel drive car, carrying sand in the trunk worsens traction.But in either case, sand should be carried, together with aspade and pail. If your car gets stuck, take the sand, spade andpail out, and build a sand castle. A nice one, with at least threetowers and a drawbridge. Not only will this help you pass thetime until help arrives, but imagining you are at the beach willoffset the wind chill factor.Rule Number 7: Spin in the direction of the turn. If you
spin in the direction opposite the turn, you will be billed for aguard rail and your insurance rates will go up. Many Porschedrivers who eased off the gas in turns discovered this. Namby-pamby do-gooders will tell you to turn in the direction of thespin, but since you’ve already spun you obviously don’t knowwhat you’re doing and this advice is just so much treacle. Giveit a good spin in the right direction, and you can’t spin thewrong way.Rule Number 8: Avoid bridges. As I tiptoe my way
around ice-sheeted streets, I mumble the mantra, “Bridgefreezes before road surface. Bridge freezes before road surface.Bridge freezes before road surface.” (Do not practice this atairports, upon pain of eviction.) You can ski the road, but you’llbe skating the bridge. Ever wonder why bridges don’t haveheaters under the pavement? Why is it that airplane wings haveanti-icing and bridges don’t? A lot more people go over thebridge in an hour than are flying in that plane. It’s just anotherexample of priorities gone awry, and you’re the one who’sgoing to pay the price. Don’t buy into this insanity! Avoid thebridge altogether, and take a boat instead (see Rule Number 1).
Well, I’ve got a lot more tips, but the editor is telling me I’mout of space and it’s time to take my medication. See you at thebody shop.
Instructors’ Clinic by Jaqueline Kahn
MOTOR SPORTS 2000 DrivingEvents Calendar
February26 BMW ACA Instructors’Clinic at Seattle Interna-tional Raceway. See thismonth’s article for detailsand registration form.
May5 BMW ACA High Perfor-mance Drivers’ School atBremerton Raceway.
7 BMW ACA Second Dayof High PerformanceDriver’s School at SeattleInternational Raceway.Novice drivers only.
July23 BMW ACA Lapping Dayat Seattle InternationalRaceway.
August27 BMW ACA Lapping Dayat Seattle InternationalRaceway.
October22 BMW ACA High Perfor-mance Drivers’ School atBremerton Raceway.
Additional events and thoseoutside of our club will beincluded within this schedulein upcoming issues as theybecome available. Eventsare subject to change orcancellation, so watch futureZündfolge issues forupdated information.
Get ready for the returnof the Instructors’ Clinic,February 26th. This yearwe’re back out at Seattle In-ternational Raceway for theevent! Last year’s clinic wasso successful and the choiceof SIR proved invaluable forour instructing lessons. Thecost for the instructors is a bitmore but the feedback we’vereceived is clear that it’sworth the cost.
Our goal for the clinic isto set standards and continu-ity between instructors soour track events run smoothlyand our quality continuallyimproves. Anyone who hasan interest in instructing atfuture events should attendthis clinic.
We will be accumulatinga Master list of Instructorsfor 2000 so be sure to attend
Name Mem #
Complete Address
Year & Model Car
Phone No. Home ( ) Work ( )
Number & Type of Previous Track Events: Type and Where?
Driving Level: I II II Instructor (Circle One)
Driving Goals
Cost of Clinic: $100 Attending: Yes No (Circle One)
T-shirt size? SM MED LRG XLRG (Circle One)Non-members, Add $25 (which will be applied to a BMW ACA membership)
Mandatory: Please attach a brief history, “Bio”, of your track experience and driving goals.
How many events do plan on instructing at this year?
Please make checks payable to BMW ACA.
February 26, 2000 Instructors’ ClinicRegistration Form
the clinic. If you can’t makeit please send in the formwith the needed informationso that we can ensure yourname is on the Master list.
This year’s format willinclude an extensive trackwalk and discussions onteaching at SIR. There willbe plenty of track time towarm yourselves up for theseason and plenty of informa-tion to gain about how best tohandle the role of instructor.
Our instructors are allvolunteers and come out withenthusiasm to help othersto become better drivers andin turn often learn somethingnew themselves from ourtalented students! It’s a greatway to give something backto the club and all the hardwork is so appreciated –just look at the students andyou’ll see!
Prerequisites:• Must be at a level two in
your Log Book (If youhave questions as to yourlevel and eligibility,please call)
• Possess a positive attitudeand demeanor to workwith students at all levels.
• Be a good example bothon and off the track.
• Be calm in all situations.• Be able to explain what
is happening between thetrack and the car, as wellas between the car andthe driver clearly andconcisely.
To register please send theattached form to JacquelineKahn at 18922 81st AvenueNE, Kenmore, WA 98028 byFebruary 21st. Questions?Call (425) 481-9571.
Join the CornerWorker Team!
Our Club’s track eventsare top notch when it comesto safety. One aspect ofconducting such safe eventsis being able to know what’shappening on all areas of theracetrack. We rely heavily onour corner workers to keepus informed. If you everwanted a close up view of aracetrack, here’s one greatway to be in the center of theaction. If you’re either notdriving at a particular eventor are interested in partici-pating at our events this yearwe encourage you to signup! Corner working is a blastand you will play a veryimportant role. Please giveJacqueline Kahn a call if youwould like to sign up for anyof our upcoming trackevents-425-481-9571.
This is the second article on theACA/CCA issue. For background or arefresher, please see the first article inthe November/December Zündfolge.
Your BMW ACA Board formed asubcommittee to study the “Pros” and“Cons” of joining, or really convertingthe present ACA chapter to a chapter ofthe National Club, BMW CCA. Whatthe subcommittee found was that wewere not going to end up with a simplelist comparing advantages and disadvan-tages. Most of the issues are too com-plex for that. What we found is that incertain areas, joining might be a “Pro”for some people and a “Con” for others.For a simple example, please see thesection on Dues. Further, some of thechanges that would occur if we joinedwould have a direct impact on allmembers and some would have adirect impact on some of the members.
Therefore, we are considering thisdocument to be a study of the potentialimpact of becoming a CCA chapter andnot a list simply of “Pros” and “Cons”.As you review this, please be aware thatthis document reflects how the ACAoperates now and how we understandthings would change if we joined. Younever know how things will actually beuntil you make the change. Further, achange in operating procedure by eitherClub could render certain parts of thisto be inapplicable.
We have selected several topics toreview. Taken as a whole, we hope thatthe various discussions will form acomprehensive assessment of the impactof becoming a CCA chapter. You willprobably find this to be a little disjointedand redundant as many of the topicsreally apply to more than one Clubactivity or organizational duty.
DUESThis is a good example of why simply
listing Pros and Cons doesn’t work. Ourannual dues are $25 and our membershipis a “family” membership. CCA annualdues are $35 but the membership is an“individual” membership. CCA has an“associate” membership status for anadditional $5. There can only be oneAssociate Membership per IndividualMembership, so a third membership inone family would cost $35 for a total of
BMW ACA and BMW CCAAnalysis of the Impacts of Joining the CCA
$75 for all three. There is a provision fora CCA Chapter to charge “local” dues inaddition to the $35. The 275 or so ACAMembers who are also CCA memberswould only have to pay dues to CCA atCCA rates.
CLUB FINANCESAt this point in time, our chapter has
approximately 1,100 members. Based oninformation provided by CCA, it appearsthat there are approximately 550 CCAmembers who live on this side of theCascades and who are not currently ACAmembers. While these 550 can join anyCCA chapter they want, we assumealmost all would become members ofa Western Washington Chapter if onewere formed. Based on these numbers, aswitch to CCA appears to be financiallyviable as demonstrated below.
Our basic approach as an ACAchapter has been to have all events andactivities, except for the Concours andZündfolge magazine, to be self-support-ing. Dues, therefore, have been intendedto cover Administrative Expenses, the netcosts of the Concours, magazine and“contingencies.” In reality, Track and theBanquet have made a “profit.” Roughlyspeaking (the per member and totalfigures do not match exactly), the figureson a per member basis and for the Clubas a whole for 1,100 members based onexpenses for 1998 and 1999 to date areas follows:
PerTotal Member
Income – Dues $27,500 $25.00Net Income
– Track/Banquet 4,500 3.9032,000 28.90
Administrative Expenses 7,000 6.35Concours Net 1,500 1.44Event Deficits* 500 .40Zündfolge Net
(at current rates)** 19,500 17.8428,500 24.51
Net $4,500 $4.39* These represent unbudgeted short falls on minor
events such as Baseball, Hockey, EmeraldDowns, Dyno Day and SOVREN outings. Theydo not include other “contingencies.”
**Based on 12 issues/year although we onlypublished 11 in 1999.
If we became a CCA chapter, twothings would happen financially. First,we would gain approximately 550members, hopefully. Second, of the
$35.00 paid to CCA, the chapter getsonly $13.50. There is another $1.00 or soavailable through rebates from CCA ifcertain conditions are met. This does notinclude the potential insurance rebatesthat would be credited to Track. Itappears that Administrative Expenseswould be reduced to approximately$2.75 per member if we joined CCAand acquired most or all of the potential550 new members. Assuming that theTrack and Banquet “profits” do notincrease in total and that the Concoursand Contingencies stay the same in total,the figures based on 1,650 membersmight be as follows:
PerTotal Member
Income – Dues $22,000 $13.50Net Income
– Track/Banquet 4,500 2.7526,500 16.25
Administrative Expenses 4,500 $2.75Concours Net 1,500 .90Event Deficits 500 .30Zündfolge Net 17,000 10.20
23,500 14.15
Net $ 3,000 $ 2.10
The above does not take into accountthe potential extra income (up to about$1.00 per member per year) throughCCA’s Incentive Program and is basedon 11 issues of the Zündfolge per year.We had been concerned that we mighthave to change the Zündfolge drasticallyif we become a CCA chapter. We havealways felt that this magazine has beenthe one benefit of the club that ties allthe members together. As you can seefrom the above figures, we found thatthe economies of scale resulting fromprinting more magazines actually had aslightly positive impact. We are pleasedthat we would be in a position to con-tinue the magazine in its current formatif we were to become a CCA chapter.
Before moving on, there is one morefinancial consideration related tobecoming a CCA chapter. CCA duespayments go directly to the CCA Na-tional Office. The National Office thensends the chapter one monthly duescheck for 1/12th of $13.50 ($1.13) foreach member. For the first month wewould get $1.13 for only those memberswho renewed in that month. It would takea full year before our income was up to
TRACK EVENTS – DRIVINGSCHOOLS/LAPPING DAYS
We at ACA feel that our DrivingSchools are second to none both interms of instruction and safety. We havedeveloped our own set of rules, regula-tions and procedures drawing heavily onother organizations. The CCA Opera-tions Manual has an extensive array ofboth requirements and recommendations.There would be some changes in whatparticipants (both students and Instruc-tors) can do. Some of them are minorand others more significant.
Before going into the requirementsthat affect students, it needs to be saidthat the manual does have a provisionthat allows a chapter to propose proce-dures not in accordance with the manual.Variation from the manual, however, issubject to CCA Board approval.The requirements directly
affecting participants include:1. CCA – Requires that helmets
comply with either the current Snell 95rating or the previous Snell 90 rating.There is a one-year grace period so oneyear after Snell 00 is adopted, Snell 90’swould no longer be acceptable.
ACA – Our current requirement isthat helmets be Snell 85 rated or newer,although we would like to see us move to90 or newer.2. CCA – Students may not carry
passengers other than instructors. In nocase can a passenger be under the age of16. Instructors are allowed to carrypassengers.
ACA – To promote motor sports asa family venture we allow students tocarry passengers when they have reacheda Level 2 in our Licensing System.3. CCA – Convertibles must have
Roll Bars and either 5 or 6 Point Har-nesses. The Chapter may accept FactoryRoll Over Protection as compliance withthe Roll Bar requirement.
ACA – We allow convertibleswith Roll Bars or Factory Roll OverProtection and accept 3 Point Belts.4. CCA – The CCA Manual requires
that cars be teched by a “qualifiedentity” (eg. dealer, authorized servicecenter, mechanic).
ACA – We do our own teching ofcars either at the track or at TechingSessions a few days prior to each event.We would be hopeful that we couldarrange free technical inspections with anumber of dealers and independents. Ifnot, inspections would be an added cost
its full expected level. We have done aCash Flow Analysis which shows that wewould be able to deal with this tempo-rary income reduction in the first year.That coupled with the CCA loan pro-gram (see below) should enable the us toget by financially. Additionally, under-stand that there is also a provision forCCA chapters to charge Local Dues.
As mentioned above, CCA has aChapter Loan Program. Basically,CCA will provide a chapter with “seedmoney” to finance events. These inter-est-free loans must be paid back withinsixty days after the respective events.
MORE ON PUBLICATIONSMembership in CCA includes a
subscription to CCA’s national monthlymagazine, the Roundel. If we becamea CCA chapter, members would get theRoundel plus the Zündfolge.
INSURANCEWhile we are awaiting confirmation on
some points, we understand our insurancesituation would improve if we joinedCCA. We understand that the coverage wewould get from CCA would be identicalto what we now have. However, our limitswould increase and our cost would beconsiderably less. In buying insurance,size does matter. Based on our currentschedule of track events, our coveragecosts $5,470. Under the CCA program,it would cost $2,170. We understand thatCCA has a rebate program that couldreturn up to 50% of that figure if certainconditions are met. Again, as this is beingwritten, we are awaiting answers fromCCA to our insurance questions, so theabove could change a little.
ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGESThe administrative functions of the
club would change if we were to becomea CCA chapter. This, of course wouldonly apply to those people who adminis-trate. If we became a CCA chapter,renewals would be handled by theNational Office and the MembershipDatabase would be kept there. So, theduties of our current MembershipChairman would, in theory, be reduced.In reality, that person would have moretime to devote to recruiting new members.Also, our Roster Chairman’s duties wouldbe eliminated with respect to renewals.Currently, we have our own membershipDatabase which we would continue tomaintain. On the flip side, CCA wouldrequire certain financial and other reportsto be made on a periodic basis.
and, in any event, could pose someadditional inconvenience compared tohow they are now handled. Ultimatelywe instruct students that the responsibil-ity lies with them that the vehicle is inreasonable shape for the event.5. CCA – CCA requires that both
the driver’s window and passenger’swindow (even if there is no passenger)be completely open.
ACA – We require that the Driverswindow be completely closedor completely open. Risks are discussedand recommendations made. Northwestweather can sometimes play a role inthese decisions as well.
In addition to the above, there wouldbe additional requirements imposed byCCA on the Track Committee whichinclude creating a curriculum forrequired classroom instruction, reportsto CCA National in the event of acci-dents, requirements as respects rungroups, and requirements with respectto corner workers. Most of these can becurrently accommodated but some couldcreate extra work for the Track Commit-tee members.
In summary, for better or worse, ifwe become a CCA chapter, track eventswould change. These changes wouldimpact some participants more thanothers. The real impact of several of thesechanges would not be known if/until theyare implemented and experienced. Therewould be “adjustment” pains.
TRACK EVENTS - CLUB RACINGACA has created a curriculum and
has been accredited as a valid programas an introduction to racing, and ac-cepted by the regional racing authority,ICSCC (International Club of Sports CarClubs). There is not the opportunity to“sponsor” a BMW club race; howeverthere are enough cars running locally tocreate our own “grid” and potentiallysponsor or co-sponsor an ICSCC event.
If we became a CCA chapter wewould have the opportunity to host aClub Race as part of the CCA ClubRacing Program.
CAR BUYING PROGRAMPeriodically, BMW North America
offers a special rebate program to CCAmembers. Our understanding is that theamount of rebate currently ranges from$500 to $1,000 depending on the model.To ensure that people don’t join CCAjust to get the rebate, BMW North
Continued on Page 8
Analysis of the Impacts of Joining the CCA Continued from Page 7
America has required that one musthave been a member for at least oneyear before becoming eligible.
NATIONAL EVENTSAs a CCA member, one would be able
to attend National CCA events such asOktoberfest.
CCA NATIONAL MARKETINGEFFORTS
BMW North America and CCA havesome joint marketing deals. CCA mem-bership information is provided to deal-ers. Further, CCA advertises in BMWMagazine. The M Driver newsletter listsCCA events, especially Club Racing.And some of BMW North America’s
sales and marketing materials promotethe CCA and Drivers Schools. So, BMWNorth America is promoting membershipin CCA and we should benefit inmembership if we were to join CCA.
CLUB DISCOUNT LISTOur members are provided discounts
through some of our Zündfolge advertis-ers and through other local businesses.We expect that those businesses whonow offer us discounts would continueto do so if we became a CCA chapter.Additionally, local chapter memberswould be able to receive discounts fromnational advertisers who offer discountsto all CCA members.
My name is Keith Wollenberg and Iam the current elected Pacific RegionVice President of the BMW Car Club.I am also a 28-year member of the PugetSound BMW Automobile Club. Whilein Seattle, I served as technical adviser tothe club and as a driving instructor. I haveenjoyed the Zündfolge for years and amfamiliar with the long history of successof the ACA as an independent entity.
When I moved to the San FranciscoBay Area, I became involved in the localclub here, the Golden Gate Chapter ofthe BMW CCA. Initially I joined theCCA for the excellent full-color maga-zine, Roundel. In 1996, when BMW wasfeatured marque at the Monterey HistoricRaces, I became involved in the localBMW community in a big way, when mywife Kelly and I ended up as co-chairs ofthe club gathering. Later I served on theboard of the GGC, before being electedto the National Board of the CCA.
Contrary to what I had feared before Iwas elected to the chapter board, I foundthat the loss of local control was far lessthan I expected, and that the GGC wasrarely being told what to do, nor werethey much bothered by the nationalorganization. Instead, we were membersof a larger community of BMW clubs inthe region. We cooperated closely withthe LA ACA as well as the other CCAchapters in the area.
When LA chose to merge with theCCA, they experienced an enormoussurge in their membership due to the
CONCLUSIONAs you can see, this is a complex
issue. There are a number of itemsto be considered in the larger contextof whether to remain independent orbecome a chapter of CCA. And apartfrom the above, there are philosophicalleanings and emotions.
The ACA/CCA Subcommittee of theBoard has tried to present this informa-tion in a balanced and unbiased way inorder to help members with this impor-tant decision. We look forward to ques-tions and concerns from all members.
large pool of CCA members already intheir region. What was more revealing,and more important in the long run, wasthat they also experienced a tremendousgrowth in the rate at which they acquirednew members. In the two years sincethey merged, they have more thandoubled in size, and are now the thirdlargest chapter in the U.S. Their growthlast year was over 17%. This differencein the growth rates of the two club orga-nizations is one of the major reasons whyI think it is in the interest of the PugetSound BMW ACA to join with theBMW CCA.
Another reason to consider a mergeris the desire of the manufacturer to havea single BMW Club organization in theU.S. In 1971, one of the reasons we choseto become an ACA club was for the closerties with BMW. In the years since, asCCA has grown, their relations withBMW have grown closer, with BMWbecoming very supportive and involvedwith the CCA’s major regional andnational events. Recently, BMW NAoffered a $500 to $1,000 discount on newBMWs to CCA members who have beenmembers for more than one year. Muchmore of this support is available to clubsaffiliated with the CCA than to indepen-dent BMW clubs, by BMW’s choice.
Finally, by joining with the CCA,more advantages of regional cooperationare possible. Pooling of experience atChapter Congresses, Newsletter EditorCongresses, Driving Events Congresses,
can be of great benefit to the members,as can the sharing of driving instructorsand the reduced cost of insurancefor club events. In addition, for thoseinterested, the BMW CCA Club RacingProgram offers another outlet for havingfun with their cars in a safe and excitingvenue. In any club, you have somemembers who are very active, and somewho are relatively less so. Those in thelatter group tend to be the bulk of themembership. In a merged club, theywould get both Roundel and Zündfolge.This allows members to feel a partof both the local community of BMWenthusiasts and of the larger, nationalcommunity as well.
I am pleased to answer questions aboutthis possible merger, and address con-cerns you may have. I can do so in theZündfolge, or in person. I will be at themeeting in March to discuss a possiblemerger. I know that the Puget Sound ACAhas been a vibrant, successful BMW Clubas an independent organization. I amproud to have been associated with thisclub for almost 30 years. I am confidentthat if the ACA chooses to stay indepen-dent, it can continue to be so. However, asa member of the larger community of theNational BMW CCA, I think it can growfaster, be more successful, and betterserve the interests of the BMW Enthusi-asts in the Northwest.
Aus Freude am Fahren(For the Sheer Joy of Driving),Keith Wollenberg
Message from the CCA Regional Vice President
BMW ACA/CCA Subcommittee; BMW ACA,Puget Sound Region, Board of DirectorsSteve Niver, Lucetta Lightfoot, Greg Mierzand Roger Wales.
BMW ACA Club Racers
Some of your fellow Puget SoundBMW Club members have been plentybusy racing at tracks in the Northwest,North America and around the world!Here’s a short description of how eachcompetitor did in ’99 and what theirplans are for 2000. Do you have aninterest in racing or in helping a raceteam? Flag one of these fellows downat a future BMW Club event or contactthem at their listed phone or e-mailnumbers. They will be more than happyto tell you all about racing from theirpoint of view. The racers here range fromthose completing their novice programsto those that have lost count of all theraces they have entered! So look out,every one of them says it’s addictive!
TERRY FLANAGANTerry raced in SCCAand SOVREN in aBMW 2002 B/sedan.He entered six racesin ’99 and won all six.Terry’s best experienceof ’99 was probablysetting two lap recordsin the Portland Rose
Cup races, winning over an M3 Light-weight in the BMW Class. His plans for2000 include more of the same, hopefully.
TERRY FORLANDTerry raced inSOVREN and SCCAvintage in a BMW2002. He had threesecond place fin-ishes to his credit.Terry’s best experi-
ence in ’99 included running the newmotor Byron Sanborn built, doing themodified Le Mans start at Bremerton,and starting next to last and finishingsecond behind a Corvette. And, a hugetire frying burnout at the start of the hillclimb. His worst experience was earningthe name Fireball Forland at the samehill climb. His plans for 2000 are a totalrebuild of the 2002 this winter due tomajor fire damage at the hill climb.
HUGH GOLDENHugh raced in Con-ference ITS in a1987 BMW 325is.Hugh’s best threefinishes in ’99 in-cluded a first at SIR
on 10/3/99, a second at Mission on 9/26/99, and a second at PIR on 9/12/99. Hisbest experiences in ’99 include the greatpeople he met this year and the help hereceived from friends. Hugh’s win at SIRwas a great finish to his first season ofracing. His worst experience was havingthe engine in the car expire! His plansfor 2000: “I am looking to improve onmy first year of racing. I will be backracing my BMW in Conference ITS. Iwill try to expand my racing experience— try to race at some tracks in California.”
MICHAEL R. HELTONMike raced in SCCA,ICSCC, and theNASA Enduros ina 1987 BMW 325is.Mike’s best finishesin ’99 included afirst in class at theCascade Six-hour
Enduro at PIR, a second in RS class inIROC/ICSCC — 1999, and several firstsin SCCA and ICSCC. His best experi-ence in ’99 was setting a fastest lap atSIR (1:41:30) then; two laps later themotor expired! This once again provesthe old adage “They always run best justbefore they blow up.” Which turned intohis worst experience. His plans for 2000include possibly running the NASA orMotorola Cup Series in an E36 BMW.([email protected])
SEAN HESTERSean raced in SCCAand ICSCC in aMazda RX7. Hisbest finishesincluded a firstplace in ITA witha BMW 2002 at
Portland. (Was it coincidence that hisbest finish was in a BMW?) And thentwo second places in ITA and PRO7 inan RX7 at Portland. His best experiencein ’99 was winning his first race in hisfirst year of racing! His worst experiencewas collecting three dents, from peoplebumping him, in one race at SIR. (ThosePRO7 races are very “competitive.”)Sean’s plans for 2000 include moreracing with rented cars. He has no roomfor a car/trailer at his house. So if youhave a race car to rent contact him!(206-419-1895, [email protected])
KEN HILLKen raced in ICSCC in a1980 Zinc Z18 FV singleseater. He raced onlyhalf the season, taking acouple of seconds. Hisbest experience in ’99included helping instructnew students and helping
get BMW Club members out to experi-ence the thrill of auto racing for the firsttime. Ken’s plans for 2000 are lookingforward to more of the same next year;the sport and people are great!(425-739-6078, [email protected])
WES HILLWes raced in ICSCC ina BMW 325is. His bestfinishes in ’99 includeda second in the Novicerace at Mission, and afifth at the PortlandEnduro. His best
experience in ’99 was every time he wentto the track with our club or the racinggroup. His worst experience? Nothinghaving to do with cars . . . how does thesaying go? “Worst day racing better thanthe best day of working?” His plans for2000 are to compete in the very competi-tive ITS class in his own BMW 325is.(206-989-9516, [email protected])
BRIAN HORNEBrian raced inICSCC in a 1987BMW 325is. Asfor finishes in ’99Brian notes that anyrace that you canfinish is good. Themost satisfying was
the last PIR race, in DP, where he chaseddown the Camaro to take third behindthe two Barracuda V8 cars. The onlyway he could catch the Barracudas wasif they broke. That day they didn’t, butthe Camaro’s brakes went away towardsthe end of the race. His best experiencein ’99 was doing a 1:43 second lap atSIR in the race car. While his worstexperience was ending the Mission raceby toasting the engine. His plans for2000 are to build an ITS 1992 E36 forConference, SCCA and CCA Clubracing. Ron Newell of Strictly BMWwill do the preparation. (253-850-3047,[email protected])
By Lance Richert
Continued on Page 12
1999 Track Events in Review Continued from Page 9
DOUG JENNINGSDoug raced inConference GT3 –SPU in a 1978BMW 320i. Hisbest finishes werea first in SPU at theSpokane MemorialDay races as well
as a second in GT3 during the sameweekend. He says, “The track time is funbut much more time is spent in the pits.My car was always having mysteriousproblems. The other drivers and mechan-ics were always there to help with tools,parts, expertise and lots of ideas!” Asfor a non-memorable experience, “TheAugust Portland Race was a thrash fromstart to finish. Carburetor problems hadus on three cylinders all day Saturday.Then the oil pressure line broke in thefirst practice session. The motor wasrunning better for the race but I lost thesynchros between 4th and 5th gears andfinished the race by staying in 3rd gearall the way around.” Doug’s plans for2000 include returning to Conference torace in SPU or E Production. He alsoplans to run at the Portland Enduro inOctober. (360-307-1240,[email protected])
JACQUELINE KAHN — KAHNTEAM RACING
Jacqueline raced inICSCC- Conference,ITS Class in a 1987BMW 325is. Herbest finishes in ’99were a third place
twice at Mission Raceway, and anotherthird at Seattle International Racewayto clinch third place for the year! Shereceived the ITS Third Place Champion-ship Award for the season! (out of 23drivers in class). Jacqueline commentedon her best experiences for the year:“What wasn’t a best experience? It wasa GREAT season! From the beginningto the end, my driving improved and Ilearned such a great deal over the year.But the racing wasn’t the whole picture;spending time with friends was thegreatest highlight of all! What a terrificteam and I thank everyone for theirfriendship and support!” Her worstexperience? “I’d say running out of roomin my tow vehicle for all my stuff!” Her
plans for next year include campaigningthe 325is for another full season ofracing with Conference in ITS. Inaddition, she will also be adding addi-tional 325is’s under the KTR team.As in 1999, she hopes to continue in2000 providing the opportunity forother drivers to be involved in racingby allowing them to drive the KTR cars.This is her way of keeping the spiritof motor sports alive. The year 2000promises to be another excellent yearof racing! (425-481-9571,[email protected])
ALEX H. LONGAlex raced in SCCANational T2 in a 1995M3. Alex’s highlightsincluded being ’98SCCA Northern PacificDivision Champ and1999 Norpac Champ.
In 1999 he raced in six SCCA nationalraces and won five and placed secondin the other. His plans for 2000 includeattempting to get a hat trick of threeconsecutive SCCA Divisional Champi-onships. (253-850-6383,[email protected])
BILL MORRISBill raced inSOVREN in a 1964Lotus 22. His bestfinishes in ’99 weremiddle of the pack,but his times at SIR
have improved consistently with eachrace. Bill’s best experience in ’99 wasmaking an inside pass in the FestivalCurve at PIR and leaving in the dust abuddy he’d been dicing with in manyraces. His plans for 2000 include contin-ued racing of the Lotus in SOVREN.Bill’s also considering getting a vintage2002 to race as well if he can keep it asecret from his wife. (253-588-9761,[email protected])
RON NEWELLRon raced inConference andSCCA Novice ina BMW E30 325i.His best finishesincluded a second
and fourth. Ron’s best experience in ’99was starting at the back of the grid andmoving his way to the front: “what a
gas!” His worst experience was the ECOgoing “T.U. in my first race, oh well...”Ron’s plans for 2000 include a fullseason of ITS racing in his own 1990BMW 325is prepared by Strictly BMW.He says, “The individuals involved inBMW racing are a ‘great’ group ofpeople! A combined sense of sharing,enthusiasm, and support and competitionmake for great times!”(425-747-6044, [email protected])
STEVE OTTAVELLISteve raced in ICSCCin a Formula Vee. Hisbest finishes in ’99were “Not last.” Andhis best experience ofthe year was stayingout of the way of faster
cars. His worst experience was hittingthe tires/wall at Mission his first race inhis new car. Steve’s plans for 2000 are torace/rent/and/or sell his Vee, and mayberun in someone’s 325 race car duringthe season and at a Portland Enduro.
JOHN RICHARDSONJohn raced in ICSCCin a BMW 320is. Hisbest finish in ’99 wasa third out of seven inclass, and twelfth of 32in grid. His best experi-ence in ’99 was going
racing while his worst experience waslosing the oil pump at Mission Racewayand destroying the lower end of theengine. John’s plans for 2000 includechassis set-up and development andmore seat time for the driver. He is alsointerested in renting the car to a noviceand providing mentoring through thelicense process. (253-946-5032 (no callsafter 9PM), [email protected])
TED RODGERSTed raced inSOVREN in aPorsche. As for bestfinishes Ted doesnot feel this isrelevant for vintageparticipants, as
vintage racing is less about finishingpositions and more about competitionin the vintage spirit. His best experiencein ’99 was participating in the old/newMaryhill Loops Hill Climb. This eventtook place on the first paved road in the
state and originally ran from 1955 to1962, when the road finally deteriorated.The road has been recently repaved as ahistoric road, and SOVREN, in coopera-tion with the community of Goldendaleand the Maryhill Museum were able tore-create this historic event, with severalof the original cars and drivers. Ted’splans for 2000 include continuedvintage competition, and possibly addinga new venue such as Mission, BC orThunderhill in CA. He is also restoring a’57 Porsche Speedster. (206-232-6790,[email protected])
BYRON SANBORNByron raced inVintage and SCCASolo II. His carsvaried and includeda 1967 427 Corvette,1962 Maserati Tipo 63Birdcage, 1985
Mustang C Prepared Solo II. Hisbest finishes in ’99 included a thirdin the Ferrari-Maserati Challenge atSilverstone, England; first in LargeBore Production Class, Seattle Historics;and second in C Prepared NationalChampionships. His best experience in’99 was the chance to drive the BirdcageMaserati at Silverstone. He arrived at thetrack on Thursday morning and saw thecar and track for the first time. The worstexperience was at the Solo II Nationals,after leading the first day’s runs by over0.6 seconds, Byron watched the secondplace driver pull a flying final run a takethe national championship by 0.057seconds! His plans for 2000 are to drivethe Goodman Racing Corvette in WestCoast Vintage Races, raising money forBig Brothers-Big Sisters and the Boys’and Girls’ clubs. Also some local Solo IIand the Nationals as the official tirewarmer for Wayne and Sharon Reuter’sMustang. (425-746-1621,[email protected])
JAMES SHAIMANJames raced inSCCA and ICSCCin a Pro-7 MazdaRX-7. His bestfinish in ’99 was afirst place at
Mission on 7/18/99. His best experiencein ’99 was his race-winning weekend.He’d never raced at Mission before.
After learning the track James reallygot to like it. He qualified on the poleand led a grid of ten cars flag-to-flagfor his first and only win of the year. Hisworst experience was lots of mechanicalproblems. Also losing his brakes atPIR under braking on the back straight.James plans for 2000 include pursuingsponsorship to run with Team Seattlein the American LeMans Series in aGT Porsche. Otherwise, if this doesnot work out, he will probably build aBMW 325 to run in ITS. (206-399-7778,[email protected])
STARKE SHELBYStark raced inSOVREN in a 1965Sunbeam Tiger. Hisbest finishes were atthe Maryhill LoopsHill climb and Fall
Finale at SIR. His best experience in ’99was the Maryhill Loops Hill climb. TheTiger was the undisputed “Burn Out”King! His plans for 2000 include a fullschedule in SOVREN with the Tiger andinstructing with Proformance RacingSchool at SIR (425-483-5758)
BILL SPORNITZBill raced in RadialSedan Class, ICSCCin a BMW 1988325i. His bestfinishes in ’99 werea first in Race 4 in
Spokane, another first in Race 13 at SIR,and a second in Race 7 at PIR. His bestexperience in ’99 was the CascadeEnduro – finishing in the money (fifth)on his first effort. His worst experiencewas at the same event; the CascadeEnduro, losing his brakes, resulting ina 15-minute pit stop, which probablycost them second place in class. Plansfor 2000 are to re-fit the car to run inITS and better brakes! (425-836-2760,[email protected])
LEE YATESLee raced in SCCAPCA RegionalClass in a 1969Porsche 911S. Hisbest finishes werefourth in class,
Bremerton 4/18/99, second in class,Thunderhill 5/30/99, and third in class,
Bremerton, 10/30/99. His best experi-ence in ’99 was at Thunderhill in May.“Incredible track, great challenge andfun. Pulling some serious Gs in nearly100 degree temperature is a challenge.”His worst experience was at sameThunderhill race weekend, where hehad a rod bearing failure. Plans for 2000include racing the entire SCCA PNWPCA Class, and PCA Club races at PIR.(206-284-8714)
KEVIN YORKKevin raced in Confer-ence in a Formula VeeLynx C19. His bestfinish was a first inclass at Portland. Afterhaving attended profes-sional race drivingschools at Renault-Elf-
Winfield, France and Spenard-DavidRacing School in Canada, a long timegoal of actually competing in a racewas realized by competing in Portland.Kevin’s best learning experience was themental preparation required in actuallycompeting at an event rather thanspectating or helping friends with theirrace cars. “The approach to a raceweekend is very much more focusedand intense when you yourself arepreparing to race. That mental experi-ence was really enlightening and veryfun.” Kevin’s plans for 2000 are to againrace the Formula Vee and possibly aBMW sedan in certain enduro events.There will also be an attempt to run arace or two in a professional racingschool series (now accepting sponsor-ships and grants!). (206-777-1476)
Dan PatzerWe started out as a mutual sympathy
society; the early Seattle area dealernetwork was lacking in professionalism,courtesy, and technical expertise.
Having joined the club in ’71 andcreating the Zündfolge shortly thereafter,I remember having to “TOE-the-LINE” asa representative of the official BMW club,taking care to not bad mouth the distributor,Max Hoffman, the dealers as they came andwent, or the product. What a love/haterelationship.
The BMW CCA guys could get awaywith murder. Most local clubs joined withthem and now even BMW is pressuring usto. Why did we bother being so good?
In reality, like everything else this boilsdown to numbers. They want our membersto boost their numbers and certainly theircoffers. It’s staggering to consider themillion dollars involved. In addition to fiftythousand membership fees, there are trackfees, Roundel ads, and the sales of ClubStuff. I’m in awe at how large the profes-sional staff is and wondering about thesalaries involved.
They’ve recently had problems control-ling the ebb and flow of the moneys.Cronyism has crept in, and questions areheard about who even holds the rights onthe LOGO.
Do we need to spend more money, andhave most of it go away? Will we have aboutthe same product as we have here and now?Do we want what they offer? Nice maga-zine, professionally produced, and highlyfinanced.
I think Crocodile Dundee said it best,“It’s like two fleas fighting over the dogtheir livin on.”Dan Patzer, #49729 year member BMW ACA & creator ofZündfolgeCo-president, Washington State BMW RidersBMW CCA NW Regional Tech Service Advisor
Bill ProudAs one of the initiators of the current
move to start subject chapter, I’d like tooffer these comments to the ACA clubmembership.
Put aside thoughts of one entity ‘takingover’ another as seems to be so readilypromulgated. Think ‘Working together’ forthe betterment of Washington BMWowners. Think what 700 CCA membership‘rebates’ to a local chapter ($13.50 perhead?) will allow that group to do . . . hopefully NOT just rent racetracks to play boy-racer, how’zabout a picnic for members’kids and sponsoring a BIG fund raiser for acharity? . . . or starting a club tool-chest
(things like reset tools , engine hoists- noteveryday hand tools) for members to rentcheaply? All these things would be inaddition to the kinds of stuff the ACA doesright now (like publish the best localmagazine in the country). Why would thisbe ‘mutually exclusive ‘?? Doesn’t have tobe if MEMBERS choose for it NOT to be.Might be some devolution of power , mighteven be a logical(?) merger some day if seento be propitious by the MEMBERS whenthe new entity has had a chance to proveitself.
Any one notice my EMPHASIS onMEMBERS here?? GET OUT YOURVOTING PENS, it’s up to you.Bill ProudEx-President, BMW ACA (1978 !!)
Joni CandeyI just wanted to send a note on my
feeling about this issue. I have heard fromboth sides on this. I don’t feel that there is aneed for any changes. I like the fact that theclub is run locally and I would like it to staythat way. I have been very happy with theClub and activities. The board runs the Clubvery professionally and I think they do agreat job for us, the members. They do thisbecause they enjoy it. I am sorry that theyare being accused of not running the clubproperly. From what I see they do a fantasticjob. We already have the option of beingmembers in both the CCA and ACA clubsand if we merged with CCA I can only seethat it will take away more benefits than itwould give. Thanks.Joni Candey, #15215
BMW ACA and BMW CCA Issue: Letters from Members
Peter WongI’m a member of both clubs because
while I enjoy the local events, I want accessto the national activities, Roundel, thespecific marque mailing lists, and thediscounts. You can think of it as mywillingness to pay over $50/year to belongto one club that offers all the benefits ofboth clubs.
The ACA/CCA separation has alwaysconfused me. I first joined the ACA notrealizing that it didn’t allow me to partici-pate in the Oktoberfest raffle or to receiveRoundel. After some confusion where Icalled the CCA asking why I wasn’treceiving Roundel, I joined the CCA whichled to further confusion when I received aletter from east of the mountains! So Icalled BMW CCA demanding I be switchedto the Puget Sound chapter upon which Idiscovered there wasn’t one! I’m sure I’mnot the only one who was confused by thearrangement.
I’m not clear on all the issues being arelatively new member without sufficientknowledge of the background behind stayingindependent, but as it stands, I’m a memberof both clubs and wish it to be just one.Peter Wong, E30 M3ACA #4976, CCA #170346
Brian HorneHello fellow ACA and CCA members.
You probably remember me from my stint asACA VP, and the numerous events I plannedand staged for ACA; tours, new memberday, Emerald Downs, karting, and others,and driving instructor. It’s good to see theACA board finally present this issue togeneral members as I’ve been advocatingthis vigorously since late last year.
With limited space it’s difficult to presentthe full case, with explanations. So, I’ll bebrief. If you’re a CCA and ACA member,You’re paying $35 and $25 respectively. Ifthe two clubs merge, then you’ll be payingonly $35/year. Your CCA dues go elsewhere,and are not spent in this area. The clubnewsletter need not suffer, I have presentedproposals to the board that would cut costswith no appreciable degradation in presenta-tion. The club currently spends too much onthe publication per member. That moneycould be better spent in different areas.With CCA status, the BoD will be electedby the general members, instead of appoint-ment by select committee. Board meetingswill be open to all members. Financialstatements will be required, and the clubwill have a framework for growth that istested and established.
This is a complicated issue, but simplystated we here in the NW need to join theCCA party and the rest of the country. Theworld of BMW is waiting for us!Brian Horne, #3848
Douglas HausslerI received the November/December issue
of Zündfolge. In it I read the article aboutthe ACA/CCA issue. This blatantly jadedarticle, I use the term loosely, is very poor atbest. It accomplishes nothing but to show atotal lack of professionalism on the part ofthe board of directors for BMW ACA andbrings serious doubt in my mind as to whichgroup of individuals they are operating onbehalf of, the club membership or their own.This overt attempt to skew the facts andopinions of the membership should only beconstrued as an insult to our intelligence. Ina previous letter to the membership it wasindicated that the reason that this issue wasbeing brought to the membership wasbecause of some doubt expressed in regardto the subcommittees handling of the issuepreviously.
This brings up another point, who are“the subcommittee”? I feel the membershiphas the right to know the names of theindividuals representing the club andcollecting the information to be presented tous. Who are the individuals petitioning theclub to affiliate with BMW CCA?
If the board cannot present futureinformation in a more unbiased format I feelthey should find a disinterested party to writethe articles. I am very disappointed in theclub leadership in their handling of this issue.Doug Haussler, #4851
Editorial GuidelinesWe ask that all letters address the issues.
We will not publish anything which defamesany individual. In order to confine thediscussion to the pages of the Zündfolge,and to be sure everyone has access to thesame information, we will not publishreferences to web sites. Everything pub-lished about this issue will be posted on theClub’s web site (www.bmwaca.org) after ithas appeared in Zündfolge. Please keep yoursubmissions to less than 250 words. Lettersover the word limit will be returned to thewriter for editing.
All responses must be signed and includethe member’s ACA membership numberand a phone number. (We may call you toverify your statement.) Finally, to help thevolunteer Zündfolge staff, we would preferletters that are emailed. Send them [email protected]. You may alsoprovide your response on disk or typewrittenon paper. Mail your letter to David orLucetta Lightfoot, Zündfolge Editors, 264139th Avenue West, Seattle, WA 98199.
Karting EnduroGet ready for the summer driving events by attending this
year’s karting enduro! We are holding this event atCrazyRedHead in Redmond. This indoor track features a shortroad course with electric karts and timing equipment viewableby drivers and spectators alike. Large glass windows giveeveryone good viewing of all the action on the track.
We will field eight teams of five for the race. Plans for whowill drive and for how long will play into each team’s strategyfor winning this contest. Rules covering maximum run timesfor the karts will be in place but we should be able to do thewhole race without a refuel stop in the middle.
If you haven’t done this before it’s great fun and a goodworkout (yes, my arms were useless for a week last year...).The karts are fast and corner like they were on rails. With thetiming display placed on the front straight you can see if youare improving (or if it is time to leave...). I’m planning thisevent for March 5th with a 10:30 check-in and the race from11:00 to 1:00. There is a limit of 40 people and a cost of $40each. Get registered early so you don’t miss out. I expect ahard fought battle for the first prize trophy (the one we talkabout at the Driving Schools) and the other positions.Karl Seeger, Tour Coordinator, [email protected]
transmission and differential arenear time to change then do so,but if they are fairly fresh and atthe proper levels then let them go.
3.Wash and wax the car. Everyonesuggests this and thoroughlycleaning it inside and out beforeputting it away. DO NOT use a carcover unless the car is stored inside.The wind whipping the coveraround will damage the paint.
4.Take the battery out and store in adry place. Many recommend clean-ing the case with baking soda andconnecting the battery to an auto-matic trickle charger. Rememberany radio and OBC codes that youmight need when reconnecting thebattery. Write them down some-where where you will find them.
5. Seal up the exhaust and intakewith plastic to keep moisture and littleanimals out. Place regular charcoalbriquettes in a small open pan insidethe interior to absorb odors. Somerecommend a couple of mothballs inthe trunk and engine compartmentto dissuade the little animals thathave been known to take up lodgingthere. Close the heating vents butcrack the windows a little bit for aircirculation (assuming storing inside).
It has been suggested that some tipson winter car storage may be in order. Ithought that we had BMWs to drive andnot to store them. Maybe there are someclassic CSs, or pristine 2002s, or maybea convertible or two that might get putaway for a while. I searched the Internetand came up with some tips that may beof use.
Probably the easiest way to store a caris to not store it at all. If you think youcan drive your car (not idle it in the ga-rage) at least once a month for about 30minutes, then you’re better off withoutthe deep storage routine. Most of thefollowing tips are mentioned by severalsources so I am supposing that there issome real validity in them.
1.Warm the car up fully. Go for adrive and get a quart of MarvelMystery Oil. Pour almost the wholequart into the tank and then fill thetank to the rim. The Mystery Oilacts as an upper cylinder lubricant.
2.Change the oil and filter. Somesuggest changing all the fluids, i.e.water/antifreeze, brake fluid andtransmission and differential fluid.If the brake fluid is a year old, I’drecommend a flush and change toensure that there is no water in it torust and pit the brake system. If the
edited by Greg Mierz
6. Properly inflate the tires butleave the car on the ground. Puttingthe car on jack stands lets thesuspension droop and causes moreproblems that it saves.
7. Some suggest pulling the sparkplugs and pouring in about onetablespoon of the remaining MarvelMystery Oil into each plug hole androtating the motor by hand to coatthe cylinders with the stuff and thenreinstalling the plugs.
8. When it comes time to bring thecar out and back into service,remove the plastic on the exhaustand intake, take out the mothballsand charcoal and check the fluids.Take your freshly charged batteryand reinstall it. Disable the carfrom starting, either pull the coilwire on older cars or pull the fuelpump fuse and crank the car untilthe oil pressure light goes out.Reconnect the fuse or coil wire andfire it up and take it for a nice drive.
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FORMULA 1BMW continues its engine development program in preparation forthe company’s re-entry in Formula 1 in 2000 with the Williams Team.Early versions of BMW’s V10 were run in a ’98 Williams chassis atBMW’s test track in Miramas, France. Results were satisfactorybut the engine was down on power. The first tests on a current F1circuit were run at Austria’s A1 Ring. Both functional and endurancetests were carried out. The results were evaluated simultaneouslyat the track and online back in Munich.
In December the BMW engine experienced its first test againstthe F1 competition. A three day test for many of the F1 team washeld in Spain. David Coulthard in his McLaren was the fastest. BMWstarted three seconds off the pace but shaved the difference toless than 1.5 seconds by the third day. The BMW engine wasmounted in a ’99 Williams chassis for this test.
Most of the driving has been done by Ralf Schumacher and JorgMuller. Alex Zanardi is no where in sight, leading to speculation thathe will be dropped from the Williams team for 2000.
BMW is currently using a blue and white livery similar to thatused by Brabham in 1983 when Nelson Piquet won the championshipin a Brabham-BMW.
Show & Shine Draws Record Crowd
SHORT ON SPACE: Sorry for so little M-formation this month.It isn’t that there isn’t news, there is. It’s just that this issue ofZündfolge is so jammed with other stuff we just didn’t have the room.
On a balmy Sunday last October, nearly 1,000 BMWenthusiasts descended on the headquarters of partscataloger (and Zündfolge advertiser) Bavarian Autosportfor Show & Shine 1999. Sponsored by Bavarian Autosportand the BMW CCA, White Mountain Chapter, the event isa low-key concours d’elegance where dedicated BMWenthusiasts compete for prizes in a friendly “People’sChoice” voting competition. Awards were presented forBest Interior, Best Exterior and Best of Show. Throughoutthe day, thousands of dollars worth of BMW parts andaccessories were given away in a raffle that was open toanyone in attendance. Next year’s Show & Shine isscheduled for October 1, 2000 at Bavarian Autosportheadquarters in Portsmouth, NH. For information call800-535-2002 x1540 or email [email protected].
New M1BMW is rumored to be considering a successor to theM1. The two-seater would use an aluminum spaceframe like the Z8. Power would come from a 500horsepower V10 engine which would play on the F1program. The front of the car is said to resemble BMW’sLe Mans winning V12 LMR. Scissor-style doors willswing forward and up. (Road & Track)
New 5 and 6The new 5 Series will bedesignated the E65 in BMW’sinternal number system. The 6Series, based on the 5, will bethe E63 for the coupe and theE64 for the convertible.(Roundel)
M Power for X5BMW has confirmed that itwill build an M version of theX5 utilizing the V8 enginefrom the M5. That will put400 horsepower in theSports Activity Vehicle.Transmission choices willlikely be manual or automaticsix-speeds. (AutoWeek)
NEW 3 SERIES CONVERTIBLE
5s ArriveThe first M5s started arriving in area dealerships in Novem-ber. If you want to go eye one, get there quickly. The cars arenot sitting on the showroom floors long; they’re all presold.X5s started arriving in early December. While these are
mostly pre-sold too, the X5 is a much higher volume item thanthe M5. Thus, the area dealerships do have demonstrators ofthe X5 available for test drives. Go try it; the X5 is an extraordi-nary vehicle.
PTG Plans for 2000Prototype Technology Group,the factory BMW team forNorth America, will continueto race BMWs in 2000. PTG iscurrently busy preparing newE46 3 Series cars for the 2000American Le Mans Series. TheACO, the governing body forLe Mans cars, visited the PTGshops on October 22nd toinspect the cars. Meanwhile,if you want a piece of history,the team is selling almosteverything from the last threeyears, including clothing,driving suits, race cars, etc.
The third generation of the 3 Series convertible will belaunched in the U.S. in March 2000. Identical to the E46coupe from the A-pillar forward, the only model available atfirst will be the 323Ci convertible powered by the 2.5-litersix. (BMW NA Press Release)Why no 328Ci model? AutoWeek says we’ll get the new
330 models in late 2000 and the new 330Ci convertiblewill be available then as a 2001 model. A year later look forthe new M3 convertible.
Deadline for the February Issue is January 14.Classified Advertising Policy: Classified ads are free to current members.Zündfolge staff reserves the right to edit all classified ads. Ads must be typed andsent to Zündfolge, c/o Lucetta Lightfoot, 2641 39th Avenue West, Seattle, WA98199 or emailed to [email protected].
CARS FOR SALEE30 M3: Black/black, 104,000 miles.Recently serviced. Rust-free CA car-notpristine, but very good overall condition.Hartage alloy wheels. Cold a/c. Momo steer-ing wheel, etc. $9,950. Jim 425-603-9612or email [email protected].
1976 2002: 2-door, 5 speed. White withblue interior. Well cared for but showingits age. Needs engine rebuild. $2,000 OBO.206-783-8982.
1974 2002: Black/gray interior. Sunroof.Sound mechanicals. Recently out of storage.Fair to good overall condition. Rust in sparetire well. Excellent BMW alloy wheel/tires.Some suspension work, slightly lowered.Driving lights. Could use partial respray.Needs a little TLC. $1,450. Jim 425-603-9612or email [email protected].
1971 2002: In mint original condition,$6,595. Ask Al for details. 425-746-3191.
PARTS FOR SALEWinter Wheels and Tires: For a E30 325iX:A set of 4 205/55 x 15 Pirelli Winter 210Ptires mounted on 6.5X15 alloys. Wheelsin good condition. Tires have about 4,000miles on them. Asking $400. Mike at425-228-0848 or email [email protected].
Factory (Pioneer) cd changer: Model#CDX-M90 with cables and disc magazine.Will take any reasonable offer. Pleasecontact Duane Montagne at 253-833-4201or email [email protected].
2002 2.0L: Rebuilt engine with one-yearor 12,000 mile warranty! Only $1,595,installation available. Core charge mayapply. 425-746-3191.
Six Cylinder 2.7L: Rebuilt engine from early325, 325e, 528e. One-year or 12,000warranty. Only $2,295, installation available.Core charge may apply. 425-746-3191.
2002 and 320i: Many body, interiorand mechanical used parts. Must sell.425-746-3191.
Parting out ’88 E30 M3: Car is completeless front clip. Clear title. M3 engine $2,500:new intake gaskets, etc. (needs valve work).M3 5-speed $500. M3 wheels and tires$550 for four. Brainbox $250. Rear clip (halfthe car) with spoiler $1,250 (one dent). Left-hand door $175. Roof clip with electricsunroof $280. Front brakes and suspension$275. Differential $275. Rear suspensionand brakes $250. Tan interior, front and rearseats, tears in seats, $325. M3 leathersteering wheel $140. Also dash, console/gauges, computer and lots of other goodparts. Jim 425-603-9612 or [email protected].
W A N T E D1994/1995 530iT: That’s the Touring modelof the 5 Series. Prefer Cashmere (goldish)or Silver, but all colors other than Blackconsidered. Please contact Dale Beuning:[email protected] or 206-605-2010.
Factory (Alpine) cd changer: For ’89 E30325i. Must have all cables. Please contactDuane Montagne at 253-833-4201 or [email protected].
