Cal sent us our first share of the social-distancing era so we can still see what our members are up to.  Here’s what he has to say –

Here’s my latest acquisition. A one owner all factory original 2016 M4 GTS with 1,300 miles that I acquired in January. Never thought I’d have the opportunity to own such a limited edition high end performance BMW with only 803 made.  Prior owner was a car collector in the Carolinas. Looking forward to track day events at Road America and Black Hawk Farms. I parted ways with my 2003 M3 with Dinan upgrades two years ago and missed the balanced feel it had at Road America. Looking forward to the feel this M4 provides.

Thanks Cal and hopefully we’ll see you soon!

As most of you, I too have a “to do” list and tackled one project recently.  I decided to replace old fluorescent lighting in my two car garage with LED light fixtures.  I chose the inexpensive twin tube 48” units that hang by simple hooks and chains from the exposed garage rafters.  The lights plug into one another, so you can link many units while using one electrical outlet.

This was a great project for these times of social distancing.  I purchased the LED lights from Amazon and they arrived in a few days.  After deciding where to hang them, I installed two hooks per unit, hung the chains provided, and plugged one unit into power and the remaining units to each other.  Now I have a lot more light for car detailing and other projects.  With the recent addition of a natural gas furnace and a resort type A/C unit, my garage has become a more useable shop for all seasons. Each LED unit has its own pull chain switch, which allows me to adjust lighting depending upon the job at hand. Total cost of the project was about $300. Total time was about two hours.

By Ron Pace

The Badger Bimmer Chapter of BMWCCA is nearly 1000 strong across the entire state of Wisconsin.  We are vibrant, financially sound and growing. Looking back, we have held some excellent events that span social gatherings, driver’s education, autocross, car shows, shop visits, brewery tours and car clean ups. We vary the locale of events to spread the wealth across the state.   In some cases, we hold several activities in a month. Essential to having the number and variety of events are volunteers to take up the torch to lead activities and for that matter the chapter as Board members and Officers.  The vibrancy of the chapter is in OUR hands.  I am sure many of us, including yours truly, have said we will help but not lead an activity.  Quite frankly, that will not do.  The result will be we will exhaust those who currently lead events.  We need folks like yourselves to step up and pick up that torch from those who have done it for years.  As we all look forward to a great 2020, make a resolution.  Individually and collectively let’s take the challenge – lead an event, lead an activity such as web master or newsletter editor or board member or officer. The rewards are boundless. As a Board member and officer for many years – I have been rewarded by meeting new people, learning things about the marque I would have never thought possible and developed some lasting friendships.

Your Help is Needed!

Here’s a summer flashback article for your enjoyment –

Can I count this as seat time in a GT4 Sprint X race car?

My son Nathan works at Honda R&D and one of his car guy friends at Honda, Robert, is a team member for the Classic BMW GT4 Sprint X Class car.    Classic BMW races in the World Challenge series which came to Road America on September 19-21.   Since I was going to the races, Nathan told me that Robert would show me the race car and talk about the team.  Here was an opportunity I could not pass up.  I checked on the racing schedule for Saturday to see what time could work.

The two qualifying periods were at 9:45 and 10:05 am, one session for each of the two drivers required for Sprint X class.    I arrived at Road America before the first qualification and watched both Sprint X qualifying periods.  The class has two drivers and they qualified individually.  Their combined times set qualifying position for the car.  After the second qualification I went looking for Classic BMW’s pit location.   My son had sent me a photo of Robert to help me find him.  I spotted Classic’s pit location and headed that way and saw Robert.    My son must have shown Robert a photo of me because as I got closer it was apparent that he recognized me.

Robert was with the Sprint X cars which were corralled together waiting for inspection and release.  Robert and I talked about his involvement in two different race teams, my Chump car endurance racing and our Club’s driving schools until the cars had to head to inspection.   I spent the rest of the morning watching the Saleen Cup race and qualification of the TC class cars which Classic BMW runs two M240i cars in.   After lunch I headed toward the Classic BMW trailer and arrived as the M4 GT4 Sprint X car was being set up to conduct camber adjustment and alignment.   Robert talked about the car and we compared it to my similar chassis F80 stock M3.   The GT4 runs a wide 305 x 18″ tire where my track tires are 275 x 18″.  The GT4 brake calipers were really massive 6 piston AP calipers with Performance Friction Yellow pads about 1″ thick. They made my stock Brembo calipers look puny.  The engine is basically the same as my M3 but Sprint X series controls the HP output.  For this race the output was set for 380 HP.  This is controlled by a power stick, a USB flash drive they plug in.   The 380HP is less than my stock M3 at 425HP.

After talking about and looking over the car, Robert asked “Do you want to get in the car”?  Needless to say the answer was YES!    I opened the door and saw an X brace at the door which provided a lower opening in the roll cage than our Chump Endurance car cage.   This simplified entering somewhat but climbing in is still the best description.   I entered the same way as our chump car, both legs over the cage bars and drop into the seat.   The race seat was snug and fit me well.  The steering wheel was in a good position for me but is adjustable. Robert then repositioned the peddles and I was ready to drive, as if that would happen.   Sitting in the cockpit was quite amazing and the gauges and information was far beyond any performance street cars and our Chump car.   The steering wheel has neat features that we could use like pit speed limiter (PSL), drink button, radio and other unidentified buttons that I did not know the function.   The dash and information pod contains numerous pressure and temperature read outs, info that I like but is now lacking in the modern street car.   After a good amount of time in the seat I needed to get out since they wanted to move the car to check the alignment on the TC class M240i’s.  No, they did not ask if I wanted to move the car to the next stall.

This was a cool experience to be in a GT4 at the race track.   I am looking forward for the next World Challenge at Road America to visit with Robert and the team. Car 29 placed 2nd in the Sprint X class in Saturday’s race.  Classic BMW is battling with 2 other teams for the championship and they were 2 points behind going into the weekend.

On January 26^th the Badger Bimmers  held our 7^th annual edition of Chili & a Movie at Ron’s Toy Barn.   While the day was dreary outside the camaraderie inside was overwhelming with 17 Badger Bimmer folks in attendance.  The day started out with greetings to the people who attended, followed by a tour of the garage with comments about each example of vehicle ranging from a vintage Can Am racer, American muscle cars, and contemporary race cars. We then settled down to enjoying 9 varieties of chili with a diverse  set of flavors from mild to wild. This was followed by voting for the people’s choice chili, which the host (yours truly) won.  No, the ballots were not stacked, and unlike a city south of Milwaukee only one vote was allowed per attendee.  The group then adjourned to the movie Shelby American, the history of an automobile icon who started as a chicken farmer in East Texas and went on to become one of the winningest drivers in the history of motorsports.  He was a man who continued  to reinvent himself when he faced adversity throughout his life until he was taken from us in 2012. A remarkable man who left an indelible mark on motorsports. The day wrapped up with folks packing up the leftovers and leaving with great memories of the 7^th annual Chili & a Movie.

Our Annual Holiday Party and General Membership Meeting is in the books. The doom and gloom of our local weather forecasters couldn’t stop 80 of us from attending our delicious dinner at the Italian Community Center. Loads of goodies were up for grabs including not one but two front fenders from #82 signed by James Clay!

Thanks to all of our sponsors:

Badger Bimmers Chapter
BimmerWorld
Blackhawk Farms Raceway
BMW CCA
BMW NA Motorsports
BMW of Milwaukee North
Enterprise BMW of Appleton
Fitment Inc.
International BMW of Milwaukee
Road America
TireRack
Zimbrick BMW of Madison