New Sponsorship!

Fred and John (photo by Aimee Reveno)

We are proud to welcome the Massachusetts BMW Dealers Group as our sponsors for this year's autocross season! The Massachusetts BMW Dealers Group consists of six BMW dealers in the greater Boston area: the BMW Gallery, BMW of Peabody, Foreign Motors West, Herb Chambers BMW, Wagner BMW, and Trans-Atlantic BMW.

We are looking forward to their involvement in promoting the autocross series, and hope to have them bring new cars and BMW merchandise to the autocross site. With the sponsorship of the BMW Dealers Group we are bringing a new feature to the autocross this year: The BMW E36 M3 and Z3 Challenge.

In addition to normal season trophies, all BMW E36 M3 and all Z3 owners are eligible to participate in the Massachusetts BMW Dealers Group E36 M3 and Z3 Challenge. The Grand Prize, to be awarded by a drawing at the end of the autocross season, is a brand new BMW Mountain Bike! The mountain bike is provided by courtesy of the Massachusetts BMW Dealers Group.

The Grand Prize of the Massachusetts BMW Dealers Group E36 M3 and Z3 Challenge.

The E36 M3 and Z3 Challenge Rules are as follows: all E36 M3's will be split into two groups, one for stock E36 M3s and one for modified E36 M3's. Minor modifications may be allowed in the stock class, such as larger rims and low-profile street tires, but superchargers, significant engine or suspension work, and R-compound tires will bump a car into the modified class. Similarly all Z3's will be split into two classes according to their performance potential.

Each Challenge entrant will receive one drawing ticket for each day they participate in the autocross. Each winner in their respective E36 M3 or Z3 class will receive an additional drawing ticket for that day. Challenge entrants must participate in a minimum of four events to be eligible for the drawing. At the end of the season, one E36 M3 and Z3 Challenge ticket will be drawn at random, and that person will receive the BMW Mountain Bike. The winner need not be present to win. All rules, regulations, and policies of the autocross committee apply to the Challenge participants. Drivers in the E36 M3 and Z3 Challenge will also be eligible for autocross season trophies in the appropriate class.

For the first event of the season, May 3, we will have a number of experienced autocrossers on hand to provide informal instruction to people who are new to autocrossing. You can take a ride with them in their car through the course to gain insight into the skills used in autocrossing, and the instructors will ride as a passenger in your car to give you direction and tips on making it smoothly around the autocross course. If you don't feel like driving that day, or are just curious to see what this event is all about, come on up and watch for a while. Be sure to ask for a ride around the course, most of us will be happy to oblige!

News Flash! The June 21 date for Autocross #3 has been confirmed. The official Massachusetts BMW Dealers Group Autocross Series dates are 5/3, 5/31, 6/21, 7/19, 8/4, 8/23, 9/13, and 10/18.

We will run rain or shine unless weather is extremely bad (i.e. snow, high winds, and horizontal rain). Driving in the wet is excellent practice for car control, builds skills and confidence for every-day inclement weather driving, continues to build season points, and increases your chance of winning the M3/Z3 Challenge. Also new this year is a pop-up tent to shield the registration and timing area from rain and direct sun.

Call the Boston Chapter Hotline at (781) 894-8766 the night before the event to confirm whether or not we will be running if inclement conditions are forecast.

We look forward to your participation in this years exciting autocross series. With the new sponsorship and the M3/Z3 Challenge, we expect to have an excellent and fun-filled autocross season. For more information about the autocross series, including detailed directions to Rockingham Park, please refer to the March BIMMER, pages 8-11, and the April BIMMER, page 13, or contact Fred Beck at fbeck@boston-bmwcca.org. Our first event of the season is May 3. Please remember that registration and technical inspection opens at 8 AM and closes at 9 AM. Come on out and join the fun. See you there!

Fred and John

The 1998 Boston Chapter Autocross Series is sponsored by the Massachusetts BMW Retailers. BMW Gallery Norwood (Norwood, MA) BMW of Peabody (Peabody, MA) Foreign Motors West (Natick, MA) Herb Chambers BMW (Boston, MA) Wagner BMW (Boylston, MA) Trans-Atlantic BMW (Hyannis, MA)

May 1998 BIMMER

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