News

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  • 22 Aug 2024 10:34 | Bob Williams (Administrator)

    BMW Clubs Australia runs a National event each year.  This national event was a combined Motorrad and Car get-together up until 2005. Since then it is Motorrad (motorcycle) clubs on even numbered years and Car Clubs on odd numbered years. Clubs take it in turn to host this event.

    In 2025 the Nationals is in Melbourne, hosted by BMW Drivers Club Melbourne.

    2025 Nationals Flyer V7.pdf

    The 2025 BMW Clubs Australia Nationals web site and booking system are now up and running and accepting registrations.  Take a look at  http://bmwclubnationals.com.au  and you can register.

    Register your interest on our website in Events

    Here is a bit of National history over the three events.

    At Easter in 2019 the Car Nationals was in Melbourne Hosted by Car Club Victoria at St Kilda with Car Show and Motorsport at Sandown

    In 2021 the Car Nationals, with Covid-19 restrictions, was moved to 2022 and hosted in Canberra by Car Club Canberra and provided us with a fabulous National Capital experience.  We won Champion Club.  

    In 2023 we all met in Coolangatta for a wonderful Nationals hosted by Car Club Gold Coast.  A perfect time to visit the Gold Coast and we won Champion Club competition again.  

    Next year, on the Anzac Day long weekend, 24 - 27 April, we are all invited by hosts, Drivers Club Melbourne, to join together for the 2025 Car Nationals in Melbourne. Watch  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knFDH11duoQ for an idea of what they are planning for us.

    2027 is not all that far away and we should be considering hosting the 2027 Nationals in NSW to show off our state.     

  • 21 Aug 2024 10:49 | Bob Williams (Administrator)

    Thanks to those who attended the AGM last week, and to all those who voted by proxy.

    The incoming Committee is as follows;

    President                                                                   John Cotter

    Vice President                                                          David Gillies

    Club Secretary and conditional registrar             Randall Lumbewe

    Treasurer                                                                   Ian McLachlan

    Motorsport Manager and Club Delegate             Bob Williams

    Social Events Manager                                             Ashleigh Sherry

    General Committee – Member Secretary             David Hogg

    General Committee – Merchandise                       Freya Hogg

    General Committee – IT                                           Philip Middlebrook

    General Committee – Motorsport                          Nick Hanania

    General Committee                                                  Peter Quinlan

    General Committee                                                   Stephen Page

    The financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2024, which had been scrutinised by a certified professional, were presented to the meeting by David Gillies, with attendees noting the losses experienced from SuperSprint events. This year has seen a decline in participation in supersprints, and this is the same experience with other car clubs.  The Committee has acted to reduce any losses going forward, including reducing the number of events to be held each year and combining our events with other clubs to share costs and improve the total number of participants.  Additionally, a brief additional verbal report was given by the reviewer of the accounts. The financial statements were accepted by the meeting.

    The special resolutions were read and explained by John Cotter. After discussion, some minor amendments were made to a couple of the resolutions. All resolutions were passed by the required greater than 75% majority, without the need for Chairman proxies.

    The member motion calling for the Club to appoint an auditor went to a vote, even though the accounts had already been reviewed. The motion was defeated, without the need for Chairman proxies.

    For the Committee election, Edward Forgacs and Gary Speechly withdrew their nominations. A vote proceeded for the position of Club Secretary. Randall Lumbewe was the clear preference for this position, without the need for Chairman proxies.

    Congratulations and thank you to those making up the Committee, and committing to the significant volunteer work involved, for the next 12 months or so.

  • 20 Aug 2024 18:00 | Bob Williams (Administrator)

    Dear BMW Club members,

    Innovation has played a central role in the BMW Group strategy throughout its 108-year history, defining its products and position as a world leader in the automotive industry. 

    The company’s people are the driving force behind this success, developing pioneering industry-first technologies and solutions that set BMW apart from its competitors.

    One of those innovators is Sydney-born engineer, Dr. Stella Clarke. For the past two decades, Stella has been based in Munich, responsible for a variety of advanced concepts for BMW. Her impressive work includes development of haptic cockpit control systems – such as the intuitive switchgear found in modern BMW interiors – and the groundbreaking ‘e-ink’ technology, which allows a vehicle’s exterior colour to change with a simple swipe of a smartphone touchscreen.

    Stella has been captivating audiences around the world with insights to her work, and now she is set to do the same in her home country.

    We would invite BMW Club members to our upcoming online event via the Microsoft Teams platform to hear from Stella about her career and the exciting initiatives she is currently working on.

    The session will include a presentation from Stella and ample opportunities to ask questions.

    When:                 Monday, August 26th, 2024

    Time:                    6-7pm

    Link:                    MS Teams Link

    RSVP:                  August 16, to Bailey Gifford, chair@bmwclubsaustralia.org.au

    We look forward to providing you all with insights from one of BMW’s true innovators.

    Warm regards,

    Corporate Communications
    BMW Group Australia

     

     


  • 12 Aug 2024 16:55 | Ian McLachlan (Administrator)

    We've been going through the results of the Member survey conducted recently. In summary;

    - Members prefer not to attend the current number of Supersprint events each year.

    - Members consider that the entry fee is the biggest cost component when deciding whether to enter an event, however, cost of living pressure is not the main reason.

    - The current Supersprint format is preferred, and the favourite track is SMSP GP Circuit.

    - Weekend day is the slightly favoured time for a Supersprint, however, almost half said that it didn't matter if it was day or night, or weekend or weekday.

    Consequently, the Committee has taken action to limit the BMW Club Supersprints to 4 for 2025, and look to join other Clubs where appropriate. It is also one of the drivers behind the cancellation of two events this year.

    - For social events, weekend day drives and cars and coffee events were the favourite, with no clear preference regarding which day to hold them.

    - The preferred medium through which Torque of the Town is available was quite evenly split, with a preference for an online version being available.

    Thank you all who responded to the survey and congratulations to Max Levesque, Rod Minetti, and Peter Pengilley who are the lucky winners of an item of merchandise. I will contact each of you separately to arrange your prize.

    More details of the survey results will be published in the next edition of Torque of the Town.

  • 31 Jul 2024 08:15 | Bob Williams (Administrator)
    Note from BCCM Munich

    We have exciting news to share with you! Starting next year, there will be a special room in the BMW Museum in Munich dedicated to our club’s content. To make this project a success, we need your support.

    What We're Looking For:
    We are seeking high-resolution images of club members with their BMWs. These photos will be displayed on a wall in the "Encounters" room at the BMW Museum.

    What Makes a Great Photo:
    We especially love photos that capture spontaneous moments.
    However, pictures where you are proudly posing in front of your BMW are also welcome.

    Important Notice:
    Please note that the images will be visible to all visitors throughout the exhibition. By providing us with your photos, you agree to their public display in accordance with the GDPR.
    Send us your pictures at: bccm@bmwgroup-classic.com.

    How You Can Help:
    Please share this call with all club members and help us make this special exhibition a success!

    Thank you for your support, and we look forward to your submissions!

    Best regards,
    Your BMW Club & Community Management Team


  • 29 Jul 2024 10:26 | Alex Wong (Administrator)

    Our 2024 Motorkhana Round 3 was held yesterday on the skidpan at Sydney Motorsport Park. The sun was out but so was the wind, keeping the volunteers busy with drifting cones and flying marquees but we got there in the end.

    The event was fully sold out with 40 drivers entered with a good mixture of cars all round. The event started a little slow with competitors trickling in, no thanks to the million Fords taking part in the show and shine next door at the drag strip. Competition was tight with the top order changing every round. Thank you to all of the volunteers for assisting with running the event, those who stayed to the end to help pack up and to all of the competitors to making it another fantastic event. Special mention to Andrew Best's CV joint for sacrificing itself for the win. Worth it!


    Overall

    1st Andrew Best (Ford Focus RS)

    2nd Alex Wong (E82 135i)

    3rd Chris Benny (F87 M2)


    BMWs

    1st Alex Wong (E82 135i)

    2nd Chris Benny (F87 M2)

    3rd Adam Fish (F20 M140i)


    Others

    1st Andrew Best (Ford Focus RS)

    2nd James Hughes (Mazda NB MX-5)

    3rd John Driver (Toyota 86)


    Shootout

    1st James Hughes (Mazda NB MX-5)

    2nd John Driver (Toyota 86)

    3rd Paul Pettersen (Toyota Yaris GR)



  • 02 Jul 2024 12:11 | Bob Williams (Administrator)

    Supersprint SS.5 was to be at Amaroo Circuit on 9 Aug but due to insufficient driver registration, this Supersprint was Cancelled.    

    On Saturday 29 Jun we ran Club Supersprint SS.4 at Druitt Circuit.  It was a fine and sunny winter’s day with 48 drivers, 47 of them setting times.  Rod Minetti actually covered 61 laps of the 2.8KM circuit (that is 170 KMs).  At his Supersprint speed it has to be a whole tank full of petrol.  I noticed the track's petrol service doing a roaring trade.  

    The results and the points table are on the website in   https://bmwclubnsw.asn.au/Results/  Included in the Points Table the total points for each driver have been highlighted where we have received the Annex-C for his car.  These Annex-C forms are required to have the car in the correct Supersprint Championship class.    

    We relatively successfully ran the new “Fill-in online and Subscribe” forms  replacing the old usual paper-work scheme.  Disclaimer, Event and Scrutineering forms were written in Google Forms by Winston Loke.  Most drivers succeeded in using this online arrangement. We are now looking at combining these forms into Wild Apricot registration so accumulating the forms as data becomes a single seamless process.  Thanks to Winston. 

  • 30 Jun 2024 15:45 | Ian McLachlan (Administrator)

    Attendance at the Club's SuperSprint events has been down all year, while the cost of events has risen. We have heard from other clubs that run track days that attendance at their events has also been lower than previous. This has an impact on the ability of the Club to fund SuperSprints going forward.

    Yesterday's event at Eastern Creek cost the Club $22,800 including track hire of around $18,000. Attendance by 48 drivers equated to income of only $12,270 meaning a potential loss of over $10,000 on this event. The ARDC (managers of the Eastern Creek venue) graciously provided a rebate on the track hire cost of around $5,400 to lessen the loss. Note: if we were able to have a full field of 60 drivers, we would need to charge $380 per entry to cover the costs.

    The recent Member survey attempted to find out why attendance has been lower than usual, and to gage preferences for the number of events and event formats. These results will inform the planning for the SuperSprint calendar for next year and likely result in fewer BMW Club only events, with participation in multi-club events to supplement event numbers. Hopefully these changes will continue to provide valuable benefits to Members while eliminating financial losses on events next year.

  • 21 Jun 2024 10:26 | Ian McLachlan (Administrator)

    I am pleased to provide the update that our external consultant has been reviewing the content and format of the Club's website, and also the Membership migration data. We are working closely with him to prioritise the work items and will keep you all updated on the progress.

  • 13 May 2024 12:49 | Alex Wong (Administrator)

    On Saturday we held our 2024 Motorkhana Round 2 event at Sydney Motorsport Park. It was a wet one with rain on (mostly) and off throughout the day but this didn't dampen any of the fun. In fact the rain kept the skidpan probably more consistently wet than with the sprinklers and arguably kept the cars a bit cleaner too! The event was fully sold out with 38 out of 40 drivers turning up. There was a good mix of cars from from an E30 to a couple of brand new G87 M2s as well as a bunch of interesting non-BMWs including a Yaris GR, a turbo 86 and the Robinson's diff welded Ford Falcon. Thank you as always to the volunteers who helped out on the day (Bob Williams, Victor Yee, Matt, Dominique, Rod and Andrew)

    Congratulations to the top drivers of the day!

    Overall
    1st Andrew Best (Ford Focus RS)
    2nd James Hughes (Maxda NB MX-5)
    3rd Alex Wong (Maxda NB MX-5)

    BMWs
    1st Phlip Middlebrook (E92 335i)
    2nd Benjamin Benny (F87 M2)
    3rd Rod Minetti (F20 M140i)

    Others
    1st Andrew Best (Ford Focus RS)
    2nd James Hughes (Maxda NB MX-5)
    3rd Alex Wong (Maxda NB MX-5)

    Shootout
    1st James Hughes (Maxnda NB MX-5)
    2nd Philip Middlebrook (E92 335i)
    3rd Paul Pettersen (Toyota Yaris GR)


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