The Duxford Classic Car show 4th May 2008:

Above: Nice to see a couple of Motorsport striped cars together, this is an E12 M535i & 2002 Turbo.

Webmaster's Turbo with E30 polished alloys, still not sure if they look right.

M3 Arriving.

Loads of 750i's turned up, here's two nice examples.

Most other Marques were represented to. For a show that will grow & grow.

Rare Opel GTs.

An Ex-Girlfriend.

Lotus Europa arrives.

Stunning Maseratti GT.

A rare Limited edition "Bullit" Mustang.

Dino, lots of other Ferrari's turned up, but this was my favourite.

More Seven's.

B10 one of many Alpina's that attended.

Rare B12 5.7 Litre.

Ford GT40.

Lovely Bentley.

Porsche's with everything from 356 to model versions.

Memphis Belle. Under going some work, before flying soon.

Escorts Mk1's.

A Rare CS 2000 Coupe & Tii.

1 of 2 ovely D3 Alpina's.

BMW Engined Weismann V8.

Ford Focus Rally Car & Pearlesant Subaru.

A rare Aston DBS

Rare sight these days, a 628 Csi.

Opel GT's again.

A Lovely unspoilt E36 M3 Evo.

The New Historic Festival at Brands Hatch GP circuit 2007:

What a Trailer & Motorhome!

We had a BMW Car Club stand at this huge event, recreating the excitement of the old Coys weekend that used to be at Silverstone for those lucky enough to remember.
Featured events included races on both the Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday from the 1970's Grand Prix cars, that evoked great memories of the British Grand Prix and Race of the Champions in that era. Other stars included the Le Mans-style World Sportscar Masters race, early 70's monsters from Porsche, Ferrari, Alfa Romeo and Lola returned to the scene of the famous BOAC endurance races of the period. With the elegance and power of the GT cars from the Gentleman Drivers series, the early 1960's Sports Racing Masters in which GT40's and Lola T70 Spiders battled with nimble Lotus 23's and Elvas; and with several races for pre-66 saloons.

You were allowed to wander around the Pits, hospitality areas, and all around the circuit, talking to teams and drivers. But what made it for me was the 2000 Neu Klasse saloons that were entered into the pre-1966 saloon car championships. We met up with several 2000's in the holding area to discover that a newly formed team had the former F1 racing driver - Jackie Oliver racing for them. Richard Shaw's team had two of the 2000's very nicely presented at the event, with attention to detail that many of us would die for. On the Sunday in the last saloon car race Jackie Oliver took out the Neu Klasse saloon first then swapped over with owner/driver Richard Shaw to go on and win the race. I have to say the little Mini Coopers were indeed "Giant Slayers" they took on everyone including the mighty Mustangs and Jaguars to hold there own. Two Mini Coopers came second and third in the race the 2000 won.

We are definitely going back next year May bank Holiday again at the end of May 2008. I have spoken to the organisers and as we were there this year we will get prime place, don't miss it, I'm sure the Neu Klasse's will be back to defend their titles. Video action is on YouTube search for bmw2002couk or Brands Hatch.

Jackie Oliver

“DID” Day (22nd April 2007)

Turbo with Fighter Jet

The FBHV “Drive-it-Day”, was to show the Government how strong the classic car movement is in the UK. So instead of us running around the countryside, I decide to make everyone head to Duxford War Museum just off the M11. Some of you will fondly remember Duxford from the BMW Drivers club meets, but a lot has changed in recent years there. Not only is there the large hanger with one of the original Concorde’s in it, there’s a bouncing bomb, Lancaster bomber, Harrier jet, Helicopters and much more. Additional features now include a massive separate hanger with American war plans including the Enola Gay, a stealth Blackbird and B52 with awesome wing span. There’s also a land display hanger (unfortunately I did get to see) and rides in a Tiger Moth to name many of the attractions.

Paul Hill's Stunning Neu Klasse 2000 Auto

Nice No. Plate

02 Line Up: 2000 Touring/2000 Neu Klasse/2002/Turbo/Cabrio/Tii

BMW’s started arriving early with a huge contingency from the 7-Series Register (www.the7seriesregister.co.uk) that shamed us all, these guys really know how to get strong attendances to their events. We had the designated area next to the American Aircraft Museum where we parked all the various models in there categories, we had every 7-Series from the E38 upwards (one of their owners owns the original James Bond 7-Series, not present on the day), a favourite of mine an M5 E28 in Black, several Alpina’s including Ross Harris’s stunning B7 Turbo in Alpina blue and a C2 E30 2.7 in Dolphin Grey metallic, a original CSL in Fjord blue, a cheaply purchased 840Ci in Estoril blue, Paul Hill’s beautiful 2000 Neu Klasse Saloon (brought along by his father – John), a full line-up of every 2002, which in itself is rare. We had a 2000 Touring, several 2002’s, a gorgeous Cabriolet, a Turbo (firing on 3-cylinders, mine) and new 02er Gary Christofi in his recent 2002 Tii acquisition, the Cooks Ferry restored Inka Tii. Even an Aston Martin Vantage wanted to “gatecrash” the action – who were we to object.

During the day a gentleman turned up in his Ferrari, parked it outside a hanger (all the planes in this hanger are owned by this person), he then took out his Spitfire and spend several hours flying around for our pleasure. This made it for everyone, as there can’t be many left flying in the World and so see and hear that awesome plane with its Merlin V10 barrel rolling and doing loops was fantastic. We’re going to have to do some more events at Duxford, watch this space.

Ross's Stunning Rare Alpina B7 Turbo

Retro Cars Magazine – RYWB (Run what ya brung) 2nd July 2006.

Now in its fourth year I believe, this fabulous packed day included Classic’s for every marque represented, with live ¼ Mile track action. We had 30 cars on the BMW car club display, from 2002’s to some unusual modified BMW’s – read on. Neil MacDonald decided to race his M3 E30 Cabrio down the ¼ mile against a friend’s Alpina E30 Cabrio. Track action included a highly modified E30 with a V8 lump in it that was fantastic to watch hurtling down the drag strip (sorry can’t remember the times), it had a badge on the boot stating “375” I’m presume that was the BHP, boy what a tool.

But everything was shamed by a Jet car, with the sonic boom of an aircraft and after-burner on full, not hard really as it did have a jet engine from a fighter jet installed, I did see it clock-up 255 Mph over the ¼ mile and sounded awesome, respect.

Best car of the stand has to go to “Jaws” a uniquely modified 635Csi, that had been painted in two-tone grey, wing gills added, and of course the shark fin aerial all to resemble a shark (hence the phrase shark nose BMW) it was actually very well done.

Bavaria Tour 2006

It should have been renamed the “Alan Tour 2006” as we had four UK drivers called Alan, a total of 11 02’s actually made it. Some of the guys stayed in Dover overnight as they had further to travel on the first day. We all met up at the Ferry port and checked in ready for the 08:15 to Calais. A short trip across the Channel and bit of breakfast onboard ready for a hard days driving through France. We had a quick visit to Louis Roederer Champagne in the centre of Reims courtesy of Allan Bussell (Thank You Allan) for a quick refreshing glass of bubbly, I had to diagnose the faulty fuse powering the electric fan causing me to over heat in town, a petrol pouring out of the top of the injection pump, fortunately most of the driving was Motorway of course. We then continued on our way to a Hotel in Hinterweidenthal (nicknamed “winter wonderland” as easier to say) for a while earned rest, fuel, food and sleep at a superb Hotel, thanks again to Mr. Bussell.

Alpina factory visit.

I had arranged a visit for a select few via my contact at Alpina, we turned up as arranged in the afternoon in Buchloe, to be met in reception and then was told how Alpina came to be (I’m sure you all know the story by now?). Anyway we were lead around the works explaining how Alpina was a manufacturer in its own right and how they came to work in co-operation with BMW. The site used to be the old Pampers nappies and how Burkard Bovensiepen came to get it, many of the parts are still hand-made and a joy to see the engineers still there applying their trade after all these years. For example the gentleman on the Dyno today testing a V8 with 520 ‘real’ Bhp was the original engineer that worked in the 1970’s developing the original F1 M10 engine – we were in the company of a God. But even more incredible was the heat generated from these awesome engines could be used to heat Mrs. Bovensiepen’s swimming pool in the back yard (I kid you not). As the Bovensiepen’s still live there today. There was a stunning B7 Turbo E12 in the yard being worked on by the Alpina mechanics – apparently recently having 80-90,000 Euro’s spent on it, yes you read me right.

There was the history of Alpina engines on display of course my favorite being the M10 A4S of course. We got to see the trimming department with some gorgeous leather hides and materials being made for special customers. The Alpina parts with the car are all sent back to BMW to be re-assembled on the BMW production line, they then come back to Alpina for the final fit-outs & body kits assembled. We then was treated to see the Alpina wine cellars and explained how Mr. Bovensiepen came to make a business out of his two favourite hobbies. A big Thanks you must go to our host for taking the time to entertain us – Axel Rimpler “You’re a Star”.

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