NorthStarBavarian www.northstarbmw.org September 2010 North Star Chapter BMW Car Club of America ii North Star Bavarian www.northstarbmw.org PRESIDENT Eric Christenson [email protected] VICE PRESIDENT Rob Snyder Features [email protected] President’s Report ................................ 2-3 TREASURER Greg Swenson [email protected] Carmudgeon Chronicles ..........................4 SECRETARY & PHOTOGRAPHER “NorthStar Bavarian” is New Member Picnic .................................6 Tracy Rolf published by the North [email protected] Star Chapter of the BMW Car Club of America, Inc. FirstGear Event .........................................7 We publish 20-24 pages ADVERTISING quarterly and 2 pages Dave Nielsen some of the remain- Oktoberfest 2010 ................................ 8-13 651.644.6739 ing months for special [email protected] notices, etc. Please address correspondence Meanwhile, Back At The Wrench ..... 14-15 to P.O. Box 2774, Minne- EDITOR apolis, MN 55402-2774. Jonathan Bush All information furnished AutoHealing ............................................21 [email protected] herein is provided by membership for mem- bers only. Ideas, sug- NEWSLETTER GRAPHIC DESIGN gestions and opinions, Mark Pedersen technical or otherwise, [email protected] are those of the authors, without authentication by MEMBERSHIP or liability to the officers Dale Olson of the Club. Unless spe- cifically stated otherwise, 715.425.8555 the Club endorses no [email protected] person, product, service Departments or business. North SOCIAL EVENTS Star Chapter, Inc. is a John Ford non-profit Minnesota Calendar of Events .................................16 [email protected] corporation. This newsletter and other SPONSORSHIP & PHILANTHROPY information about the New Members ........................................16 Dave Nielsen chapter may be found on 651.644.6739 the internet at: Thank You’s ............................................17 [email protected] www.northstarbmw.org Contact for Ad rates: Classifieds ........................................ 18-20 TECH EVENTS COORDINATOR Dave Nielsen Dick Nyberg advertising@northstarb- [email protected] mw.org Artwork - TIFF preferable WEBMASTER (Macintosh or IBM com- Jorge Rimblas patible disk (CD, DVD) or [email protected] electronic form) to: Mark Pedersen TECHNICAL ADVISOR 12197 Indian River Trail, Hastings, MN 55033 Paul Dzimian 612.669.5377 Motorwerks BMW [email protected] [email protected] Deadlines for next full DRIVING SCHOOLS newsletter: Copy and advertising to DRIVING EVENTS CHAIR editor no later than the & CHIEF INSTRUCTOR 10th of the month pre- Dave Miller ceding publication date. 612.518.4971 Publication Dates: [email protected] 3/1, 6/1, 9/1, 12/1 DRIVING EVENTS COORDINATOR Eric Christenson [email protected] WINTER & CAR CONTROL On the Cover: Sheldon Nelson O’Fest 2010 held 763.542.1485 in the land of milk [email protected] and honey – and [email protected] cheese, of course! September 2010 1 North Star Chapter BMW Car Club of America President’s Report Eric Christenson I hope all of you had a great summer performance driving schools at BIR was competitively. I attribute much of that this year enjoying the outdoors and quite apparent. To me, the Summer of success to the North Star driving school spending time with family and friends. 2010 will be remembered as the summer programs. I know for most of you a significant part of Chump Car and Oktoberfest at of the summer is devoted to enjoying the Elkhart Lake, WI, and Road America. I remember the start of several team pastime of driving, whether a leisurely members’ driving school careers. At first trip up north or an adrenaline filled A little recap: Chump Car is a growing it began as an experiment: Let’s see what weekend at the track. Either way, it’s entry-level form of auto racing that this school is all about. Then it grew safe to say summer is the time to enjoy exploded in the Midwest this year. The to building on what was learned at the our wonderful driving machines, feeling concept is to build a team of drivers, previous school. At this point you likely the wind in our hair and the sun on our mechanics and pit crew and develop a upgraded from your 325i to a 330i/335i faces. team racecar with a fair market value of or an M3. Now it was about seeing $500 or less. Chump Car is similar to the what the new toy could do, and growing As a 10-year member of our chapter, 24 Hours of LeMons, another tongue-in- your skill level to meet the performance it has been fun to watch the growth of cheek, fun form of racing on the cheap. abilities of the car. By now you’ve been the drivers in our club. The quality of to multiple schools, multiple tracks, the driving schools and instruction is My interest was piqued December 2009 maybe built a track day car, and you’re on display everywhere you look. It is and I joined the North Star Chumps, an advanced student. Before you know evident when you talk to the parents a team comprised of several North Star it, you’ve joined a race team, or you’re of teens who have completed the Street BMW CCA driving instructors and racing individually. Survival program. They report their other advanced drivers. Our two-race teens are more safe and confident than season proved to be a good feel of what But it all started out with that first school they were before the school. I also see real, full-budget competition racing is, and it grew from there. it when students come up to me at car including the highs of moving up the race control clinics and share how the school leader board and the lows of mechanical There were multiple Chump Car teams has helped them learn about their cars trouble. While our 1984 318i was a wild with North Star drivers. Looking at the and their own abilities. card most of the season, the skill of our standings, success was best measured not drivers was not. It was rewarding to see by the car you drove, but the level of This summer the success of our our team drive consistently, safely, and experience and skill of the team. Talking Sterling Enterprises DETAILING OF FINE AUTOMOBILES JOHN BIESECKER 7600 WEST 27TH ST. ST. LOUIS PARK, MN 55426 CELL 612-598-7920 [email protected] 2 North Star Bavarian www.northstarbmw.org with the teams near the bottom of the The same skilled North Star driving Additionally, there was a large turnout race standings, it became evident that was showcased at the driving schools of North Star drivers and instructors at most of the drivers on the team had little at Oktoberfest at Road America. I was the driving schools at Road America. to no driver education. The Chump Car unable to witness the driving events Did they ever luck out; low 80s and races varied from 7 to 24 hours in length, myself as I was only able to stay for the first warm sun every day at the track. Be on so each driver could potentially spend few days of the week. However, knowing the lookout for Matt Cramer’s article in literally hours in the car. A team with many of our drivers participated in a the next issue of the North Star Bavarian inexperienced drivers was immediately at variety of driving events made me proud describing his experiences at the BMW a disadvantage, giving new drivers plenty of our chapter. We had local members CCA Racing School. of opportunities to give up time and race compete in the gymkhana, TSD rally, position. and the Thursday/Friday autocrosses. I think it is safe to say the Summer of 2010 was exciting for many of our Special congrats to Craig Lovold’s team Kudos to Aaron Lorenzen and Peter chapter members. I can’t wait to see all of car “The Flying Circus” and Dave Meek’s Halama for finishing in the top 10 in you at 2011 driving events! team car “Team Butterman” for podium their class in BMW of Minnetonka’s finishes during this Chump Car season! 1999 BMW M Coupe project car! September 2010 3 North Star Chapter BMW Car Club of America Carmudgeon Chronicles Ken Kamstra An Ode To Teeny Weenie Wheels (Tomorrow’s car?) Here’s to the man that father knows best! will keep you alert. who dares to think small. Just dodge the fast drivers A guy in command, The screams he is hearing and you’ll never get hurt. defying them all. from in the back seat. No doubt it’s the kids Your insurance costs more He loves his new toy; saying they think it’s neat. but what do they know. can’t wait to try it. They’re just being greedy; But first he knows well Some scoffers might warn don’t go with flow. he may have to diet. that wee cars are risky. Tell ‘em no need to fret While bigger cars guzzle, Once trim, he squeezed in, ‘cuz you’ll never drive frisky. your car sips its gas. all ready to go. Ignore the raised finger What adventures ahead So on your way now; of those trying to pass. he had no way to know. no trucks should you fear. Those big rig drivers For instance the dude He’ll tool along smartly won’t know you are near. in his big SUV. with knees on his chest; He knows not the joy exclaiming quite loudly Zipping onto the freeway of hugging a tree 4 North Star Bavarian www.northstarbmw.org September 2010 5 North Star Chapter BMW Car Club of America North Star Chapter New Member Picnic Dale Olson July 18 saw a beautiful day dawn for our annual New Member • Debbie Lawell $10.00 Motorwerks BMW GC Picnic.