President's Page

It is hard to believe that May is already here! Less than one month ago I attended our first driving school of the year, April 5th at Lime Rock Park in Connecticut. We all hoped it would not rain, and it didn't, but it as so cold that throughout the day little snow flakes would occasionally fall from the sky. I never thought I would be using my R-compound tires in the snow! However, despite the cold, a good time was had by all.

As many of you know, BMW is making a comeback to Formula One Racing by providing engines to the BMW-Williams F1 Team this year. While the first few years of a new engine/chassis combination are typically regarded as development time and not necessarily trying to place on the podium, BMW is off to a great start so far this season. BMW-Williams came in 3rd in the first race of the season with Ralf Schumacher at the wheel at Australia's Albert Park Circuit with an average speed of 195.561 mph!

In the second race in Sao Paulo, Brazil, BMW-Williams came in 5th and 6th, with Ralf Schumacher and 20-year-old Jenson Button at the wheel, respectively. Ralf's average speed was 197.542 mph. To place in the points in the first 2 races of the season with a new engine is quite a feat. Congratulations to BMW for starting out so strong! For more information on Formula One see Formula1.com.

Formula One is only one of many of BMW's racing efforts. In round one of the American Le Mans BMW came in 3rd and 4th overall in the 12 hours of Sebring, March 19, 2000 with the BMW V12 LMR. Audi took 1st and 2nd with its new Audi R8. However, In round two of the American Le Mans Series, April 1, 2000, J.J. Lehto and Jörg Müller took 1st place in the BMW V12 LMR and Bill Auberlen and Jean-Marc Gounon took 4th place in the BMW V12 LMR while the Audi R8 was relegated to 6th place in the Grand Prix of Charlotte. For more information on the PSCR American Le Mans series see Professional Sports Car's Race Results page.

In other BMW news, BMW AG has sold both of its Rover acquisitions, Rover Cars and Land Rover, after losing nearly $4.5 billion on the Rover venture over the last six years. The Land Rover business was sold to Ford Motor Company for approximately $3 billion, where it will become part of Ford's Premier Automotive Group, which includes the Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo, Jaguar and Aston Martin brands.

The BMW Group is currently conducting negotiations to sell its Rover car business to Alchemy Partners, a private investment group, but as of this writing is still in negotiation with Alchemy and other suitors as well. While the foray into Rover could be seen as a disaster, BMW seems to be re-emerging with a better-defined focus on its market priorities, and BMW's stocks and sales figures continue to climb.

Closer to home Luka Serdar, our Driving School Chair for many years, has been nominated to and has accepted the position of Driving Events Director. Congratulations, Luka! We are glad to have you on the Board as a voting member.

Dave Spragg, autocrosser extraordinaire, is now Autocross Chair, with autocross veterans Steve Hazard as Co-chair and Aimee Reveno as Chief Registrar. My thanks to Dave and the whole Autocross Committee for stepping up to the plate to make this years another great autocross series.

I would also like to welcome newlywed Amy Hughes, Justin Hughes better half, to the staff of the Bimmer as Production Coordinator and Proofreader. And, last but not least, many thanks to Vassilis Kontogolis for volunteering to coordinate a go-kart racing league at the new F1 Boston indoor go-kart facility in Braintree.

As always, if you have any questions or comments about the Boston Chapter or the BMW CCA, please do not hesitate to call or email me.

-Fred

May 2000 Bimmer

President's Page by Fred Beck

The Editor's Red Pen by Justin Hughes

Got Mail by Justin Hughes

Bimmerscopes by Lady Dixi Isetta

May 2000 New Members by Barry Tarr

Driving School Prep Tech Session: Be Prepared by David McLaughlin

2000 Boston Chapter Autocross Series: Cleared For Takeoff by Justin Hughes

Boston Chapter Karting Leagues: Let's Go Karting! by Vassilis Kontoglis

Virtual Racing by Rick Shrier

March 2000 Boston Chapter Board Meeting Minutes by Will Farnsworth

More Boston Bimmer articles by Fred Beck

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President's Page July/August 2000 Bimmer

President's Page June 2000 Bimmer

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