Cruizin’Cruizin’ NewzNewz

The Official Magazine of the Z Series Car Club of America SUMMER 2020 President’s Message! - Jon Moorhead www.zscca.org

ZSCCA Board of Directors & Staff Jon Moorhead • President Salida, CO Be Like Ella [email protected] • 719-221-1891 I spent 36 years in education. One of the Glenn Kraft • Vice President days that caused me the most anxiety was Canton, GA [email protected] • 678 770-0364 “Observation Day”. That’s when the school Robert Van Zandt • Secretary administrator is scheduled to come into my Yorktown, VA classroom for a walk-through for the formal [email protected] observation which transfers to my perfor- Chuck Krblich • Treasurer mance review for rehire. Prior to the visita- Fort Lauderdale, FL tion, I have planned for every contingency, [email protected] • 954.295.0277 prepped the lesson, prepped the kids, antici- Jim Dunn • Membership Liaison [email protected] pated every question and have rehearsed Seattle, WA multiple answers to all of them. Materials Please take a moment and enjoy what “are hung from the chimney with care.” We Chris Wootten she came up with…search YouTube for Strategic Relationships Ambassador are READY!!! “Ella Fitzgerald - Mack the Knife - Ella Easton, MD [email protected] in Berlin”. (https://www.youtube.com/ Then Murphy’s Law strikes – anything that watch?v=qs3oCqdkNuc) Reenie Paley Marshall can possibly go wrong will. Or the corollary Special Projects Manager – things that work in theory never work in Midlothian, VA Did the critics pan her performance? Did [email protected] practice, things that work in practice never the audience boo her off the stage? Did she work during the game. feel like a failure after embarrassing herself Brian Roces Technology & Social Media Director in front of a packed house? Quite the con- New York, NY A trombone has been part of my life since trary! Because of that rendition of Mack the [email protected] 5th grade, the piano since 3rd grade, and Knife, she won a Grammy for Best Female Rob Kaminski my undergrad diploma states that my major Performance on a Single and Best Female Member at Large was music, education was my minor. Before Pittsburgh, PA Performance on an Album. The recording is Steel City BMW Z’s becoming a school counselor, I taught kids in in the Grammy Hall of Fame. [email protected] band and choir. Given a choice when learn- Facebook: Steel City BMW Z’s ing a new piece of music, we always listened So what am I trying to say with this? Mur- Jay Parnes - Area Rep Manager to a live recording, (captured music) over a phy’s Law hit and we had to improvise. Rochester, NY studio recording, (manufactured music.) [email protected] • 585.737.2784 COVID-19 caused ZFEST Snowmass to be Andy Hartwell • Editor rescheduled for 2022. Our Area Represen- Selden, NY Live recordings capture the passion and tatives had exciting events planned and for [email protected] enthusiasm of the moment. They are raw, a period of time, they were put on hold be- Ric Genthe unfiltered expressions of the musicians and cause of federal, state, and local authorities Creative/Production Director the music. You can’t put make up over the placing orders and restrictions which com- Madison, WI blemishes. They are there for all to see. [email protected] • 608.575.9285 promised the events. Ainsley Jacobs • Web Master Alpharetta, GA A lot like my classroom, on Observation In order to keep a feeling of togetherness, 267.738.2134 Day. we provided Tuesday evening Zoom ses- Wayne & Amy Lester • Founders Emeritus sions featuring Ed McKernan, Nick Parks, Nebo, NC In 1963, Ella Fitzgerald and the Paul Smith [email protected] Hagerty Insurance, a virtual Cars & Coffee, Quartet were in Berlin to record “Ella in and Eric Peck announcing the dates and lo- Contributors: Berlin.” Like me, they were highly trained cation for ZFEST 2021 (Greensville, SC, July Ed McKernan - Sr. Technical Editor professionals who had rehearsed and pre- [email protected] 5-11, 2021). We used Facebook to stay in pared for hours before taking the stage that touch as well. We learned to adapt and be Jay Parnes - Technical Editor night. flexible. We hung in there! [email protected]

ZSCCA Vendor Partners: Then Ella forgot the words to Mack the I foresee a bright future though. There will Parks Detailing • [email protected] Knife. And being a live recording, it is saved be “Grammy-worthy award winning per- BimmerBum • [email protected] for posterity. Hagerty • www.hagerty.com formances” by our area reps in scheduling exciting and fun events. ZSCCA is strong She couldn’t stop and start over. The audi- ZFEST, ZSCCA and their graphic representations and our momentum for a successful future are registered trademarks of the Z Series Car ence was there and the quartet was play- Club of America. Reproduction of them requires is “pedal to the metal”. written approval. ing. She had to improvise and come up with something.

1 from the Editor! I hope that everyone else made it safely pages how he came to be the owner of a - Andy Hartwell through the ‘C’ spell and, like me, is chomp- second one. ing at the bit to go for a tall ride in a small Z. 2021 marks the 25th anniversary of the With the worst hopefully now behind us, introduction of the Z3. The first Home- I would like to take a minute to say how coming was held at the factory the follow- heartened I am by the number of new ing year. We really can’t think of a better faces who contributed to this issue. We venue for this landmark event and we all have ‘Z Stories’ from a half dozen folks who owe a debt of gratitude to Eric for lead- were only too happy to share their early ing the effort to secure BMW’s support. Z experiences with us. In addition, Wayne Eric has provided early bits of information and Amy Lester, the two people most di- about the event in these pages, and as the rectly responsible for the formation of this month’s progress, more details and specif- club, have provided us with the tale of how ics will be made available on the ZSCCA it all came about. The Lester’s remain ac- Facebook page, and on the website. tive in the ZSCCA and they drive a 1997 Roadster with over 400,000 miles on the We hope to see everyone at ZFEST 2021! odometer! It would be fantastic to see hundreds of us gathered together at the birthplace – the Robin and Gene Warren, two veterans of ‘maternity hospital’ – that birthed all of the the art of enjoying fast times, and sharing Z3s ever made. No hospital gowns – and that joy with others, have also contributed hopefully, no masks – required to see ‘the their story of how they came to be a part babies’. of the Z family. It would seem speed is the “Some beautiful paths essence of their driving existence and when Please enjoy this issue and remember you can’t be discovered you add in their skills at setting up driving can order a print copy at our cost, or just without getting lost.” events it isn’t hard to grasp that they really download the PDF version for free! Sign in do ‘keep their speed up’. to the ZSCCA website for the details. – Erol Ozan We are also pleased to introduce Michael Oh yes. Always remember we love to hear Attiani, a talented cartoon artist who en- your stories about your Z – the rides you So, how was your spring? What’s that? You joys creating humorous, single panel car- take, the places you visit, the people you feel like spring sprinted past without let- toons related to cars. We interviewed Mi- meet and the fun you have - so send in ting you bask in the sunshine and cruiZe chael for his back story and he has agreed your thoughts anytime to [email protected]. some new roads whose edges were rapidly to take on the task of supplying us with blooming with new life? I know I felt that more cartoons to appear in future issues. way. Once again, our Technical Editor, Jay Parnes, Keep your speed up! Having caught the Covid-19 virus myself, has put together an illustrated DIY article even if those roads were open to visit my on fixing flat tires. Our vendor partner, Nick body just wanted me to sleep. I have since Parks, has prepared an article on ceramic recovered but the months of April and May wheel coating that we think some of you were mostly spent with me in a prone posi- will find very interesting. And this is prob- tion with my eyes closed. The good news ably a good time to remind everyone that – sort of – is that I lost my appetite during Nick is now offering all current ZSCCA “Sometimes the most my ‘C’ spell and lost a total of 23 pounds. members a 10% discount on Parks Detail- scenic roads in life are Having recovered from the virus I now find ing products. my capacity for caloric consumption has al- the detours you didn’t most returned to full operating parameters. Our Vice-President, Glenn Kraft, already mean to take.” I really would like most of those pounds to owned one Z but now he relates in these stay away though. Maybe if I lock the fridge? – Angela N. Blount

cover photo by Brian Bednar back cover photo by Robin Warren photographed in the Cleveland area Photo from atop the Tower at Big Walker Lookout near Wythesville, https://www.ohioanderiecanalway.com/plan/listings/md-garage/ Va during ZFEST 2020. 2 Meet Z FOUNDERS

The story of Wayne and Amy Lester’s 1997 Z3 and the birth of the ZSCCA

by Amy Lester

3 It all started with a very young, naive girl who had no earthly idea what fun cars could be. I had two strikes against me to start with as I was born a girl plus my Dad was a non-car guy. He drove two different Buicks almost all of my time growing up at home. They were just an appliance to us. When I wed - in the very early 1970’s - my automotive The Lester’s have education began thanks to the well informed car guy I married.

400,000 Miles It started with a 1967 Firebird 400, then a Volvo, and an Austin Healey 3000 with patina to name only a few. There was also a square boxy on their ride! 1600 BMW sedan that came into the picture. I asked the question, ‘why would we want this boxy, unattractive car’? I was told it was because it was so much fun to drive and that it handled so very well! This was totally lost on me for quite a while. This first 1969 1600 BMW, and later, other 1600 BMWs, gave way to a new 1972 2002 model in dark Atlantic blue.

The Kansas City VW/BMW dealer’s showroom floor where we bought the 2002 also had a ‘72 3.0CS coupe on display and I was sooooo dis- tracted by that car! I really wanted that beautiful 3.0CS but the Bavarian Cream coupe cost more than our house!

These BMW’s had something I was not familiar with; a four speed manual transmission. How to drive a four speed ‘tranny’ was another learning curve for me in this new automotive world. It actually was engaging. I was more in tune with the car, it just didn’t drive itself like those living room Buicks.

Year by year I be- What? gan to fall under the spell of the A 1997 2.8 Z3 with BMW. A lady’s 400,000 miles? autocross trophy You bet ya! came to our Maine home. The art of detailing budded as the Maine winters are very harsh on car sheet metal. Then a major life change happened where I was on my own without a car and living in another state. After some time I was able to purchase my first car, a used Opel station wagon. Not a BMW but, after all it was German, it was affordable and it was mine! Remembering what fun and how toss-able the little 2002 was, I sought one of my own, one that was within a divorcee’s price range.

Owning one I was reminded of what fun this car was! Did I mention that those 2002s are a ton of fun to drive? They were known as the car that would evoke ‘more smiles per mile’. I now belonged to the BMW CCA and branched out to working corners at the Roebling Road Race Track as I was living in Savannah, GA at the time. This afforded me an education on racing and how to identify those funny little British cars that were running the vintage and historic races. Gee that looked like such a great time!

I then learned that there were SCCA autocrosses on Sunday at the local K-Mart parking lot. Remember when those big box stores were 4 closed on Sunday? This was some speed fun that a person music that 6 cylinder makes? It now touts triple side draft with limited resources could participate in. I learned about Webers’ so when I ‘nail & wail’, to use my friend and colum- apexes, how and when to apply the brake or gas for the nist for the Roundel, Rob Siegel’s coinage, there is nothing best timed runs around the cones. This is one of the best that can touch the experience and sound. If you know me, ways to learn the balance of the car without much harm to you will know that this car is my life and still is 37 years later. your daily driver. To this day, I still enjoy scrubbing off some tires around cones chasing those seconds. So how did I get involved with a Z3? Wait be patient, if you are still with me, here it is! Since I was part of the local Phase two was moving to Atlanta, GA in order to find bet- BMW CCA chapter, I met many like-minded BMW enthusi- ter employment. I found out about the Walter Mitty Chal- asts. One of those enthusiasts introduced me to this fellow, lenge, the historic racing held each year at Road Atlanta! Oh, Wayne Lester, who had a very long history with British cars, the eye candy of those higher dollar race cars! They are a was a chief rally master, and was one of a few that formed whole different world. the Triad Sports Car Club in the Winston-Salem, NC area. After a long courtship - which included allowing me to strip As if a move to Georgia was not enough, my world was the 3.0CS in his garage for a 2 year restoration (he passed turned upside down while looking at the cars for sale in the the test) - we were married. How many would allow a new- Atlanta Sunday paper. There was a 3.0CS for sale at the local ly restored interior to be stored in their dining room? Volvo dealer! I got a look at it that Sunday afternoon back in 1983. I hadn’t seen one since that meeting at the VW/BMW Our honeymoon included a week in our ‘74 TR 6 which we dealer in Kansas City when we were buying that new 2002 still own today, designing a rally no less! The Triumph intro- in ‘72. Monday afternoon saw me back at the dealer for a duced me to open air motoring, a pure pleasure, a very new test drive and after rather intense week long negotiations, experience. Along our life’s journey, with Wayne’s support, my 2002 was traded in for that 1972 3.0CS that I have to I held many offices in the BMW CCA Atlanta Peachtree this very day. The bond began as ‘we’ attended several driv- chapter, one of them being President. Ah, that naive lady was ers’ schools at Road Atlanta and Sebring race tracks. I was to learn a thing or two about working with other people, polishing my driving skills, learning the sensitivity of maintain- putting on big events all while listening to their ideas and the ing the balance of the car at speed. When done properly, it is politics of it all. a beautiful dance, woman and machine. What a car, the up- grade from a 4 cylinder 2002 to the silky smooth 6 cylinder Between restoring the 3.0CS myself, which included many of the 3.0CS, and those beautiful lines! Did I mention the hours on the phone locating parts – no internet yet mind 5 Welcome to the official magazine of The Z Series Car Club of America, ZSCCA!

Want to maximize your enjoyment of your BMW Z series sports car? Come join us in the ZSCCA!

We are the very friendly national club for all past, pres- ent and future BMW Z-Series cars and our members drive just about every model Z to ever come out of the BMW factories. We are enthusiasts of every speed, shar- photo by: Don Nixon ing an enjoyment of all that our great cars have to offer.

We have area groups across the USA and Canada. Chances are there is a group near you. As a member, you get to share your cruising experiences, your knowl- edge of keeping these beautiful cars in good condition, and you have access to a wealth of information pro- vided by fellow members who can help you keep your ride in top shape. Area groups set up local events and always look to members for great ideas about places to photo by: Bruce Keller see and things to do as a group.

We host an annual national event called ZFEST and all members are invited for a week-long celebration of ev- erything Z. We spend fun time together visiting local sites and attractions, going on exploratory cruises and just have fun with our cars. We have met in several lo- cations across the country including; Asheville, North Carolina, Branson, Missouri, State College, Pennsylva- nia, and Ventura, California. For 2021, we will be re- photo by: Ainsley Jacobs turning to the BMW factory in Greer, South Carolina to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the birth of the Z3!

Being a member of ZSCCA has many benefits: • Free Quarterly Magazine - CruiZin News • Local, Regional, National Events. • Drives, Social events, Tech sessions, podcasts, activities, cars & friends and more.

Why not come join us today! We have a website with complete details at www.zscca.org We also have a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/groups/zscca

Be a part of something big! Join us! you - working full time and holding the office of president of with a drop top with the legendary BMW engine and han- a large chapter, it was a hectic life style but we loved every dling. For us it combined my BMW fetish with Wayne’s love minute, we wouldn’t have changed any of it. The 3.0 was of a convertible wind in your hair British car. The more we totally restored in 1995, with Wayne’s help we reassembled saw it, the more we just had to have one. Being so wrapped it and went on to show it at a BMW CCA national event, up with BMW CCA, The CS Register club (we were the ‘O’ Fest’, winning many trophies over the years. Then in 1998 editors of that club at the time) and British Car clubs we we moved on to the big league concours: the Amelia Island thought that the Z3 needed to have its own club as it was Concours d’elegance. It is said to be the second best event just so exciting and cool! after the legendary Pebble Beach Concours. I was person- ally invited to show the coupe, by the event creator and Another bright point for us is that BMW had built a brand organizer Bill Warner, bringing home a blue ribbon and an new factory 1 1/2 hours from us in SC. The Z3 was be- Amelia Award!! This WAS a big deal, a true highlight of the ing manufactured there. This was very good indeed! Then 37 years of being care taker/owner of this car. we learned that there was a new show put on by the Foothills British Sports Car Club in Greenville, SC called Had I arrived? I was certainly meeting many influential car the ‘Euro Auto Festival’. It was being held at the BMW fac- people and that in itself was a huge pleasure. tory grounds. We went to the show and were able to meet the organizers Ed & Suzy Seagrave. We talked with them Of course I was not driving the 3.0 daily any longer as it at length about their experience with BMW Manufactur- was quite beautiful and a huge investment. Mind you it does ing while putting the Festival together. They felt that BMW have it moments when it is “driven in anger” with those Manufacturing was promoting the idea that they wanted triple side draft Weber’s singing, which is pure delight. I had enthusiasts to come to the factory as they wanted to show the privilege of owning a ‘87 BMW 535is along the way, a off their new facility in this country and their new car the Z3. very special car. I coined it as a grown up 2002, similar body We attended that first fall Euro Auto Festival with the 3.0CS style but it had a/c, which is something you are want to have to show in the BMW concours class to hopefully draw out in GA. I then owned a Buick. What? Back to that basic ap- the persons ‘that be’ at BMW so we could talk with them pliance era like when I was growing up. I was traveling as a about our club idea. The day of the show, factory associates contact lens manufacturer’s area representative so I thought came out of the BMW plant in their white lab coats to see that the legendary GM a/c of the Buick was more attractive the cars. Many were speaking German as they looked my and functional than what BMW had to offer at that time, it coupe over. We talked with as many of them as we could proved to be a good move. To create some fun, it did sport to find out who we should communicate with about our an M badge, so I had not totally lost my way. new club and maybe holding an event there with the new Z3 owners. After a good part of the day we did meet Walt Phase three: One day we started seeing teasers in the Benke, who was the communications manager at the time Roundel (BMW CCA’s monthly publication) as well as at for BMW. He thought having an event at the factory would the local BMW dealer about a new model of BMW which be a tremendous idea, let’s do it! We exchanged cards and got us starting to think about purchasing a new car. Yes the enjoyed the rest of the weekend thinking that this new Z3 Golden Eye James Bond movie brought out how this little event could be a real possibility! Maybe we were on our car, the Z3, successfully combined the small sports car look way. (The coupe proudly brought home the BMW class tro-

7 phy and many other special awards. So yes, the 3.0CS actually helped start the Z Series Register and the Roadster Homecomings!) Peter’s 1st Shirt In this issue, Wayne and Amy Lester tell the story of how it And that’s how it all got started all began for Homecoming and the birth of the ZSCCA. Long- folks. It was two people with an time member, Peter Tota, was there at the first homecoming, idea and a willing factory. There was and he has the souvenir T-Shirt to prove it. now internet presence bringing the fervor of this new car into a high Peter told us how he came to be the proud owner of an pitch through Roadfly. The interest article of clothing that - nearly four decades later - he has created there helped bring 147 + kept in like-new condition. It is also a mark of pride for Peter Z3s in attendance that first year for as he will wear the shirt just once each year, as he attends the Z3 Homecoming! Oddly, we each ZFEST reception. did not own a Z3 yet; we drove the “M” Buick so we could haul a table, Peter told us: “All that I can remember is, back in 1997 a chairs, registration materials and posting was put out on the web that a car club (the Z Series tent to the Homecoming site. As Register, started by Wayne and Amy) was taking their baby the invitation from BMW got out back home to Spartanburg. When this was posted, there a bit late for that first Homecom- were 147 cars from all states going to the BMW plant for a homecoming. I met Amy and Wayne there ing, many dropped everything to and I ordered my own shirt. (The shirt was designed by Wayne.) Ever since then I wear it only once for attend within a few days of receiv- the get-together dinner at the HC’s and ZFEST’s. It gets put back into a very special cedar chest for the ing the invitation. Talk about enthu- following year. siasm! This car created such a stir. It was so evident at our registra- “My grandfather worked as a longshoreman on the New York docks many years ago. He had the chest tion table and the entire weekend. shipped in from China. Just look at the detailed carvings on the layers of wood. The chest still has a We were stunned to have so many great aroma of cedar smell, like it was the first day.” interested owners there, as was BMW. This was just grand!! The Lester’s also told us they love seeing that shirt at ZFEST. “Ah, those shirts meant so much to us as it was our first! We were inspired by attending the Monterey Historic week in 1995, I think it was, and As we had not made our Z3 pur- the shirt we got there for that event. We felt we had to get “Celebrating the Passion in there” in the chase yet due to several factors, Homecoming shirt. We have certainly done that! I have carefully laundered them and folded them so one being we heard rumors that as not to crease the design as it is now starting to want to “crack” with age. Our shirts got worn once a the next model would have a 2.8 year for the panoramic too. Those shirts meant a lot to many people and it is great to hear that Peter still liter engine over the first 1.9 model, holds his in such high regard. It really made me smile seeing the picture of the shirt and his name!” we wanted to wait plus we had not fully decided on which color we

8 wanted. Lo and behold, outside of the Zentrum museum at the Roadster Homecomings as we attended many meetings the plant was this rose-colored Sundown 2.8 Z3 on display. at the factory. And that, Virginia, is how our Sundown Z3 has Whoa! Look at that one! It was a factory paint test car we amassed those 400,000 miles - the pure love of driving a were told, for all to see and comment on the color plus it BMW, and the club! was used for the factory’s VIP’s and members of the press to drive. Long story short, we were able to purchase it through I have struggled with writing this story as I do not have a our dealer when BMW was finished using it. You ask about way with words (I am sure it is evident!). What I was trying its reliability? I am of the old school thought that changing to say is that I feel so very fortunate that this little car that the oil (regular, not synthetic) every three thousand miles BMW made for us has introduced me/us to many great will preserve the engine and it has done just that I believe. adventures. Meeting people at the Homecomings, the good Yes, the cooling system has had replacements as there are folks at BMW Manufacturing and all the fantastic people many plastic components that do fail due to Georgia sum- we have met and befriend along the way in the club. We’ve mer heat. loved all the curvy roads to ‘nail and wail’ our way to some great destinations. To me it is a huge reason to celebrate! At this writing, we are very happy with this Z3’s perfor- mance and reliability. We are totally smitten, there is some- Thank you for hanging in there as I tell my story about the thing about putting the top down and slipping into that seat naive girl turning into a woman who enjoys the sounds of – all your cares are behind you as you motor off. And we do Weber’s drawing in its breath, the feel of being in thecorrect that so very often. gear on a properly executed apex on a mountain road, plus the absolutely peaceful connected feeling I have with the We drove it daily to work then on weekends to the NC top down enjoying nature in our Z3. Mountains to enjoy the thrill of the ‘dance’. And dance it did/ and still does so very well as BMW have done their home- The day we were driving the Z to take that 400,000 pic- work. While we were in the mountains enjoying those curvy ture, we looked at each other and said, “Here’s to another roads, fresh air, carefree days, we were scouting out roads, 400,000 miles”. lodging and restaurants for the drives for the Z3 Register club (what the ZSCCA was called then) and the Sunday Written by Amy Allain-Lester. Pictures are taken by Wayne drive for the Homecomings. More miles rolled on during and Amy Lester co-founders of the Z Series Register (ZSC- the privilege of working with BMW during the 12 years of CA). We now live in Z3 nirvana, the mountains of NC.

9 My Z story Latana Jordan

I’ve always enjoyed watching James Bond movies been happy ever since. I later researched and dis- and especially watching Pierce Brosnan, as 007. I covered the group “ZSCCA”. was at the movies watching “Golden Eye” back in November, 1995, along with my former husband, There’s no feeling quite like starting up my Z4! I who happened to be a Mercedes Benz car enthu- love hearing that famous BMW engine vroom, and I siast. love going cruising after dropping the top. The joy I experience, when that wind blows through mine When the car came on screen, he turned, looked and my pups hair, is second only to being in the at me, and as I smiled he said “that car looks like clouds. I get so much pleasure driving the car and you”. It was only after Bond drove away in it that I love the stares I get from the other drivers on the I said, ‘it sure does and one day I will have one’. I road as I cruise by. later learned it was the first BMW driven in a Bond movie. It was an Atlanta Blue Z3 Roadster” and that Sadly, enough I have yet to make it to a ZFEST. Go- car just stuck in my head. ing to one is on my bucket list 2021, once I find me a copilot, since, I’m no longer married. However, 20 years later I went to purchase a new CLK convertible Mercedes Benz and saw a used Thanks for allowing me to share my story! Z4 sitting lonely saying “Please take me instead”. I did, against my husband’s better wishes, and I’ve

Do you have a great photo of your Z that you really love? Send it to [email protected], along with a short caption and we might just feature it in My Zstory!

10 Meet Z Members

Michael Attiani Will Deliver the Funny Papers To The ZSCCA By Andrew S. Hartwell

“If there is a platform out there where people can see (and hopefully enjoy) my work then I’m a happy guy.”

- Michael Attiani We recently learned about a man named Michael Attiani who, among other things, is an artist who creates single frame comic cartoons. Michael is a ZSC- CA member, an owner of a Z3 since 2002, and as this is being written, is about to buy another Z.

We know that you, our readers, enjoy seeing articles and information about our favorite cars in the pages of this magazine. To that end, we have reached out to Michael to ask that he consider sharing some of his creative talents with all of us, on these pages. He told us he would love to be involved with the ZSCCA in that way and so we spent some time learning about him and his interests

11 to introduce him to experiment con- everyone. tinues. We both grew up here Michael gave us and later moved some background to Idaho in 2004. on his career in Idaho presented property manage- an interesting and ment and how unique opportuni- drawing cartoons ty to grow my ca- was the evolution- reer, enable Janine ary result of a child- to stay home with hood spent with a our two boys (an drawing pencil in- infant and a 3 year- hand and a weird old), and for us to sense of humor in live close to great mind. This Penn- skiing and away sylvania resident from east coast is married with humidity. It was the children and has a right move at the unique passion for right time. cars and comedy. “Why Idaho, spe- “Growing up, the cifically? Well, one best way to occupy day, my wife and I me was to give me were working in a ball to bounce the same building against a wall, or a and went to the pencil to scribble local bar across the on paper.” Michael street for lunch. told us. “It only took They have great about two min- wings, but that’s an utes with the ball entirely different pounding against story. the outside wall before my mother “It was near the would run outside, end of 2003. Our grab me, throw the youngest son was ball onto the neigh- a few months old, bor’s side of the fence and bring me into the house to draw. and our part of the world was still obsessed with the threat It turned out I had a knack for drawing and it occupied me. of terrorism. While eating lunch, we watched a news broad- cast on the bar’s TV about a local, routine traffic stop which “My friends and family were always very supportive of my ultimately revealed a terrorist operative carrying plans for drawing, urging me to pursue my passions of cars and car- the nuclear power plant a couple miles from our house. My tooning as a career, but since I had this strange urge to af- wife freaked out. ‘That’s it! I want outta here! I wanna move ford a roof over my head and food on the table, I decided to … BOISE IDAHO!’ to pursue a slightly more predictable career in commercial “I guess that was the most obscure, isolated place to pop property management. That doesn’t mean I turned my back into her mind at that moment, and I noted there probably on my passions, though. wasn’t an abundance of viable job opportunities for me there. Regardless, I started to look in that general part of the “I was born and raised in the Philadelphia suburbs. I met my country for new roles. A couple months later, I presented wife, Janine, in the early-80s and we’re still together. Nei- her with a job listing I’d found in, you guessed it, Boise, Idaho, ther of us has committed homicide yet (laughing), so the and I suggested she be careful what she wished for. Three

12 weeks after that, I bad. I love driving, but was working in Boise, not in traffic. The train managing a national is pretty sweet, and portfolio for a rapidly the people-watching growing real estate is awesome. You’d be company ... which un- amazed how many fortunately collapsed cartoons have been at the end of ’08 in drawn, between naps, the throes of the re- while I’m seated on cession. the train. Trust me, I’ve drawn a lot more “Miraculously, while there than I would the rest of the world have if I was driving. was economically fall- It’s tough to steer, shift ing off a cliff, I was able and draw at the same to land another good time – even tougher role in Boise after the to nap. first one evaporated. By 2015, though, we “No matter how sat- were ready to move isfying my career has back home to Philly, been, both personally which is where I and professionally, my work today, for one passions are still cars of the world’s largest and the arts. Anytime real estate companies I can combine those – Cushman & Wake- is a good day.” field. In his youth, Michael “Property Manage- discovered he had a ment is an interesting, real talent for draw- dynamic field, calling ing and for making upon a vast array of cartoons that could technical and per- make people laugh. sonal skills. There are never two days ex- “I always had a pencil actly alike, and to-do in my hands as a kid. lists are for taping to I did a comic strip in the wall, but never for college, and have pro- completing. The best part of the business is the comradery. duced various one-offs for friends who needed designs for I’ve met some of my closest friends through my career, and their businesses, or t-shirts, or whatever. I like to believe I’m they’re spread out all across the country. When you are not a creative person. I also like to believe I can dunk a basket- in a pandemic and people aren’t panicking, it’s a fun business. ball. Obviously, believing and doing are not always the same thing, but I can hold my own as a cartoonist. I’m definitely an “Currently, we live in Media, 20 driving miles southwest of extrovert too, and this pandemic is not making life easy for Philly. On a good day the drive takes 30 minutes. On a bad this extrovert! At least it has provided me the opportunity day it can take a couple hours. During a pandemic quar- to work on my art, do some writing, post some photos to antine, with the right car, I can do it in 12. Fortunately, I social media, eat 6,000 calories a day and stare at my cars.” can work from home, but when I have to go to the office, our home is only a mile from the regional rail line. It’s a 45 As with all artists, establishing a presence can be a daunting minute train ride from here to there, and when I step off at challenge. The key for those who do succeed is to never the downtown station, I only need to walk about 200 steps stop trying despite the setbacks and refusals. to reach my desk. The walk is underground, too, so I don’t even have to come up above ground when the weather is “I’ve recreationally submitted my work out to several places 13 over the years. When I Now that we have was younger I tried to learned about Mi- market myself to do chael’s work and art greeting cards. Back history, it’s time to then, you had to go to ask where Michael’s Z a bookstore and buy story begins. a 500 page tome to find out to whom you “In 1999 my brother- would send samples of in-law leased a 2000 your work. Then you BMW Z3 2.3 for my would create a few wife’s sister for Christ- sample pieces, package mas. Three years them with a cover let- later the lease came ter, and send the pack- up and she only put age out into a vacuum. about 8,000 miles on It was exactly like going the car. I told my wife through all that effort, that I always wanted a driving to the Post Of- sports car, that it was fice, but instead of mail- in my blood to own ing it, tossing the enve- one someday, and this lope, its contents and was possibly the best the money for postage opportunity I’d ever into the garbage, and have to get such a then leaving. great deal on a great car. Mind you, in De- “It was a very discon- cember of ’02, we had nected, unsatisfying pro- a two year old in day cess. care and a baby on the way, so the timing was less-than- perfect, but I prevailed. “Recently, I’ve tried submitting artwork to other car-orient- ed periodicals, but with the exception of getting the odd let- “Janine was skeptical of this plan from the start, but a couple ter to the editor printed, I haven’t had much success getting months later, when she was 7 months pregnant, she called published. The good news is, today, technology has facilitated me from the car. I could barely hear her over the wind noise the process of submission and interaction. Even if we can’t on the other end of the line, but what I did hear was music get professional publications to accept and share our con- to my ears: ‘Michael, we are never getting rid of this car.’ tent, we can reach an audience by posting things ourselves on the net and even interact more readily with potential “It seems she was driving with the top down and a car clients and publishers. full of young guys rolled up next to her, saw a good look- ing blonde in a silver convertible and started whistling and “This is one reason I’m glad we are having this conversation telling her how hot she was. My wife’s a Philly girl, and or- now. It will be fun to have my work appear in this magazine dinarily wouldn’t stand for such misogyny, but as a 7-month and maybe give my brand some recognition. At this stage of pregnant woman feeling like she could try out for the role my life, would I love to get paid of Shamu, she ate those compliments up! for my work? Sure I would, but money isn’t my number one priority. Three things motivate people: money, acknowledge- “18 years later, that little silver Z with the black interior is ment and accomplishment. Some are driven more by mon- still in our garage, and only has about 35k on the clock. I’ve ey, but for me, it’s more motivating to see my artwork in had a few BMWs since then and over time, this one has print, and have it acknowledged by those who see and enjoy seen less and less use. When we moved back to Philly in it. Having my work acknowledged that way really means the 2015, I reached out to a couple smart BMW CCA guys for most to me. If there is a platform out there where people some ways to reinvigorate my passion for the car, and they can see (and hopefully enjoy) my work then I’m a happy recommended a local specialist and a few up-grades. The guy.” car came alive with a new, more-sporting suspension, seven- teen-inch rims to replace the stock 16s and a set of summer 14 Michelin’s. Our Z will six of them in a row! be with us for at least The score-keeper a few years to come. told me if I hadn’t hit those cones I would “That said, tomorrow, have finished with I’m off to New Jersey the second best time to buy a dream car, a of the day! As it was, 2008 Z4 M Coupe. I finished 47th. This is The color is Interla- why I don’t drive for gos blueBy with Eric a tan a living.” and blackPeck interior. I’ve always loved the M We are happy to say Coupes, especially in that Michael found this color. I can’t wait the ZSCCA through to bring it home, and two friends. Isn’t that still can’t believe my how it happened for wife let me do this so many of us too? (and yes, I do mean she let me do this. “I came to know After nearly 40 years about the ZSCCA together, I have been through two Dela- properly trained). ware Valley BMW CCA friends, Al Man- “We are planning to cuso and Chris Hol- keep both Zs. We liday. We’re all Z guys. also have a few-year- Al has a lovely Z3 old X3 and a Mini roadster, and Chris Cooper that I use as and his wife have a daily driver and on a fantastic Clown the track. Our local Shoe. Chris shared a BMW CCA chap- couple of my Round ter hosts these great Del comics on the HPDE programs in South Jersey and I have attended those ZSCCA Facebook paged and I joined soon thereafter. It’s for a few years now. I wanted to use the Z3 but you can’t so much fun to see and be part of a group of people who drive a convertible or an SUV on the track, so the first year share a common passion. I used my Dodge Challenger Scat Pack. As much fun as that MOPAR is to drive, even on the track, believe it or not, it’s “I haven’t made it to ZFEST yet, but I have a lot of car not the right tool for that job. I got the Mini Cooper the stuff in the pipeline. We did Monterey a few years ago, not following year. It’s a 2012 John Cooper Works with track Pebble Beach because it was too expensive for me to take springs, a thicker rear anti-roll bar, track brakes and racing my whole family to that venue, but we did the Concorso brake fluid. If you’ve never driven one of these, you owe it Italiano as well as the Rolex Vintage Races at Laguna Seca. to yourself to do so. You’ll be addicted quickly. It’s about as Last year Janine and I went to Italy and visited the Ferrari much fun as you can have in a car if you’re wearing clothes. I museums in Modena and Maranello, and then we attended do some auto crossing with it with the local SCCA chapter, the Mille Miglia with my cousins, as it passed through Vit- and it is just a fun car, especially on a closed race track. I’m erbo, an hour north of Rome. I still have goosebumps from not really competitive in it, because it’s not very fast in a witnessing the Mille Miglia. It was amazing. straight line, but it is a blast in the twisties. “We have attended some terrific regional events too – the “One time, I was really moving through the autocross layout. vintage races at Schenley Park in Pittsburgh in 2018 to cel- The car was dancing and I was totally in synch with it – hitting ebrate the 50th year of the BMW 2002, the Greenwich every turn’s apex and jumping onto the next line. I didn’t hit Concours, even though this year’s weekend event has al- a single cone … until I crossed the finish line and took out ready been cancelled, the Elegance at Hershey, whose final

15 year was last year, and the past several Radnor Hunt Con- wheel-to-wheel! It’s like someone putting a saddle and track cours in September. We planned to go to the UK to attend shoes on Michelangelo’s David and running a marathon on Goodwood this fall for the Revival but I expect that too will his back.” get cancelled. By the way, how cool are vintage events like Goodwood and the Mille Miglia? At one point during the As we mentioned earlier, we will be looking to Michael to Mille Miglia, there was a 1947 Cisitalia that went by with provide us with some examples of his cartoon handiwork numbers on it. I’d never seen a Cisitalia in person, but I saw in these pages. We hope that the exposure of his contribu- about ten of them in that Mille Miglia parade. I did a quick tions here will help him gain a greater presence in the car Google search on that little red ‘47 and it turned out it was world, and we trust that exposure will support his efforts to the very car that Nuvolari won the Mille in that year! That build a new business for himself. exact car had been driven by Nuvolari and won the Mille Miglia, and I was within inches of it, and could’ve high-fived “I would like to get some exposure for the little car business the driver as he passed. I felt goosebumps! I’m trying to get rolling. It’s called Abominable Motorsports, and appears on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and its own “The Rolex event at Laguna Seca was incredible too, featur- web site. The content includes photos of cars from shows all ing so many cars from so many ages – 100-plus-year-old over the world, as well as some of my comics, stories, t-shirts, ‘brassers’ to 1980s Formula racers, and nearly everything stickers and more. It’s a way for me to connect with people imaginable in between. And these guys were flogging these from around the world who share my passion. Completely cars on the track. The best part, as if watching these roar- by accident, I’ve gained internet connections in the US of ing time-capsules wasn’t enough, was when they weren’t course, but also Brazil, Portugal, Spain, Italy, the UK, even the racing, they sat in the paddock where we could all visit, talk UAE and Asia. Social media is absolutely amazing. We have to the drivers and mechanics, and see the cars up close in a solid presence on the internet but don’t have a brick and all their heavily patined glory. I love vintage racing. I love mortar store. The rent on the internet is better than having watching those Goodwood race videos. Those guys are rac- a proper store, even though the work environment gets a ing irreplaceable, multi-million-dollar works of art at speed, little cluttered with the wife, the kids and four dogs!”

16 Our Z3 . . .

Comes Home

By Carlton and Karen Greene BMW Z3 came in the spring of 2001. Even though the BMW plant was in my hometown and I had seen the cars line the streets during homecoming, I had only My introduction limited knowledge of the automobiles. I was an educator and basketball coach which meant I usually did not have a lot of to the... spare time or spare funds. Our school dis- trict participated in the Greenville county annual United Way campaign and in 2000 UW partnered with some of the manu- 17 and I had to arrive at the plant by 4:00 on a Friday with the proper identification to claim the car for the weekend. Being a basketball coach I knew I would have to wait until the season was over to be able to fully enjoy a Z3. In April of 2001 I finally was able to arrange a weekend with the Z3.

It was a warm spring day with little pollen. I arrived at the plant before 4:00 to receive the car. After seeing my ID and the official paperwork, the staff person at the reception area gave me the keys to the Z3 and pointed me in the direction of the auto. It was a 2001 Steel Gray Metallic 3.0i roadster with a Steptronic automatic transmission. (I guess BMW was not taking any chances about my skill to shift gears!) I started the Z and it purred as I slowly left the plant. I had sixty eight hours to spend with this beauty. I drove with more confidence as each mile went by. The miles went by quickly and I soon arrived home where I eagerly showed the car to my wife. I spent the next thirty minutes reading the owner’s manual to find out how to lower the top. Then we were off. Top was down and we were cruising.

We drove that Z3 all over western North and South Caro- lina: on the parkway, to Highlands, to Cashiers and to Black Mountain N.C. and every place in between. After Karen refused to ride another mile, I took my daughter and then several of my co-workers for rides all over the countryside racking up as much time in the saddle as I could. Eventually Monday morning arrived and I had to return the Z3 to the BMW plant. As I pulled into the plant I had tears in my eyes. I had to leave that beautiful machine but I never forgot her or the great weekend we had.

About fourteen years later I retired from coaching basket- ball and was planning my exit strategy from work. In doing Internet research I came across car ads for Z3’s on several websites. My dream car once again entered my conscious- ness. I searched these websites for many months but most cars were too distant to consider going for a test drive. One day I saw an ad for a 2001 Z3 3.0i roadster in Co- lumbia, SC. Since we were heading to the Isle of Palms for some beach time I talked Karen into stopping by the dealer to look at the Z3. We picked the worst day of the facturing plants around our area to offer donor incentives summer for traffic in Columbia as it took us an hour to to increase giving. One of the incentives was that the local drive across town to get to the dealer. Then we had to go BMW plant would award a weekend with a new Z3. to their downtown location to see and drive the car. After driving the car and negotiating with the salesman we left My mother became ill and passed away the week of Thanks- empty handed and headed for the beach. Disappointed, giving and I took a week off to be with her and attend to we stopped at a Chick-fil-A for takeout. While we were her funeral arrangements. Upon my return to work, I found there the sales manager called and asked if my offer was a letter in my mailbox at school from the United Way. It still good. I said it was and he said I could pick up the car stated that I had won the donor drawing and could have a when we came back from the beach. I was ecstatic to own weekend with a BMW Z3. The letter detailed the arrange- a Z3. I wasn’t sure that I liked the red color but I got over ments. I had to schedule the weekend within six months 18 that after a few minutes of driving the 3.0i. As I checked the on the road to Blacksburg and had a great time at ZFEST. history of my Z I found that I was the fourth owner (the We met lots of wonderful people and enjoyed lots of activi- previous ones lived in SC near the coast) and the only one ties. We went on the fall drive with the Atlanta Z Club last who lived in Greer. This Z3 had found its way home. year. It was another great time. We had planned to attend Snowmass but Corona arrived. I have owned my Z for four Sometime later I joined ZSCCA. Karen and I went on a years now and I am still thankful to be able to have and drive drive to Mount Mitchell with the Upstate SC Z club and had a fun and fantastic car. It’s been even better to meet the a great time. When we realized ZFEST was going to be in great people that are in the ZSCCA. Virginia in 2019 we decided to go even though we did not know anyone attending it. We met Steve and Debbie Mimbs

By Amy Lester

19 My Z story Peter Tota

By Michael Sheads

You want to know why I became a Z owner? Well, back in 1997 I came into some money. So I told my best friend that I wanted to buy a sports car. He told me that the Z3 was the hottest sports car on the market. He also told me that I would not be making any in- terest on the Z investment because it drops in value. Well, I did not listen and bought the Z3 anyway.

For the 23 years that I have owned this car, I have gotten a lot of interest in my investment. I don’t mean monetary interest but in the friendship, good times, stories and all-around get-togethers I have enjoyed with fellow Z owners in the ZSCCA. The banks cannot give you all of that.

I still drive it often and I have gotten a lot of compliments on the condition of the car.

Do you have a great photo of your Z that you really love? Send it to [email protected], along with a short caption and we might just feature it in My Zstory!

20 Justin Windbigler Is ‘Adrift’ About His Zs

By Justin Windbigler I am 36 years old and I served in the US NAVY. I live in Detroit, Michigan, and this is my story about my Zs and how I love to ‘s l i d e’.

My first Z3 was a Bond Z3 (Atlanta Blue) with the tan interior. She was a 1997, 2.8, 5 speed car. I had wanted one for a few years and had stumbled upon this one in Chicago. She was a non-runner and need- ed a new engine, but as I was parting out many E36 cars at the time, a new engine wasn’t a big deal. So my girlfriend (now wife) and I hooked up my 24 foot

21 22 enclosed trailer and hoped into my 2001 FORD Ex- pedition, and were on our way. It was the winter of 2013 but we decided to make the 4.5 hour drive anyway. So we get there, snag the car for $1,800, and start heading home. We get just inside the Michigan border on the 94 and we hit a white out. Could bare- ly see in front of us, and didn’t have much traction, so we ended up getting a hotel and finished the trip the next day.

After several weeks of searching I was able to find a proper donor car for the engine and I spent the next couple of weeks switching out engines. How- ever, after the swap the car really never ran right, so I decided to keep my eyes open for another one.

My second Z3: I had decided in the fall of 2017 that I needed anoth- er chassis to drift / slide with as I had outgrown my first drift car, a 1994 BMW 325. After a few weeks of searching, I purchased a 1997 BMW 328i convertible. About this same time, a friend of mine had told me about a Z3 he knew of that was just sitting around. Since I wanted to slide an E36, I did not think too much of it at the time, and I commenced with strip- ping the 328, securing an LS6/T56 for her, and getting her to the shop where she will be made whole.

A couple of months passed and my friend talked more and more about the Z3. We made the decision to go over and snag the car. It was a 1997, Z3, 2.8, silver with red interior and we got it for $1,000. The car was in rough shape. The top was damaged due to the snow and the driver’s seat was all torn up from the sun. It had a dead battery, and a crank- but-no start condition. We took the car over to F8 sports cars and I began the diagnosing process.

At first I noticed that the fuel pump itself was not turning on. So I checked the voltage at the pump. It was not getting power. So I checked and found a blown fuse. I replaced it, but still the pump would not turn on as it didn’t have power. The fuel pump relay was pulling in, however when I checked voltage on the bottom side of the relay when it was closed it only read 2.1V. When the relay was open the battery signal returned to normal. I determined that the B+ post in the front of the car was faulty, and so I moved the wire over to a known good battery source. Fi- nally!!!! The fuel pump relay was passing voltage! Yet the pump still did not turn on. So I again checked

23 My Z story Steven Grayson

My wife and I purchased our 1998 M roadster last August. This is the second Z we have owned and we never really knew how much we en- joyed the first one until it was gone. We hunted up and down the east coast looking for another one to replace it. I knew the next one had to be an M Roadster. We found this one just a few miles from its birthplace in Greenville, SC.

We attended our first ZSCCA cruise event with the NC Triad area group, just as this crazy virus stuff started. We can’t wait for things to get back to normal and once again enjoy meeting other members and attending more events.

The photo was taken here locally in Wilkesboro, NC. The painted flag is on the side of an old body shop and it looked like a great photo op so we took advantage of it.

Do you have a great photo of your Z that you really love? Send it to [email protected], along with a short caption and we might just feature it in My Zstory!

24 power at the pump. This time I finally had the 12 volt signal along with a few bolt-on power adders, she was ready to I was looking for. I was able to source a pump from a local rock. June of 2018 was the first time I slid that car. And I have used parts store, and swapped it in. FINALLY!!!! She was able been sliding it ever since. to fire up. She ran really rough at first from all the sitting, but she ran. I took it down to the local petrol station and tossed I wanted to become a bigger part of the ZSCCA as I really some 93 in her and let her run for a while. Eventually she enjoy my Zed, and so far every other Z3 owner I’ve met has ran quite well. been an amazing person and really seems to enjoy their Z3 as much as I do. I get the most pleasure from giving other So, as the year goes on, my E36 is not on schedule but I people rides in the car while drifting. Watching their faces need to get out and slide. I made the decision to prepare light up after a run really makes my day! the Z3 for drifting. I sourced a medium case 4.10 diff out of an e30, welded it, and replaced all the bushings in it and it’s carrier with Revshift brand bushings. At the same time I purchased an angle kit from the Detroit drifting company, as well as a set of coil overs from Enmark suspension (10kg/ mm front springs, 12kg/mm rear). After all that was done,

25 My Z story Jacob and Gerald Tyo

By Michael Sheads

“In late 2019, I get a text message from my dad featuring a beautiful pho- to of a 2000 M Roadster in Oxford II Metallic Green. “It’s mine” he says. Shocked, I call him to talk about this unexpected purchase. We went on to spend the next couple months driving, researching, and fixing his new ride. We are both very new to bimmers but shared a fascination for these cars. As the days go by, my envy grows. I search Craigslist and eBay for listings of a similar roadster in my favorite color. Eventually I found an Estoril Blue M Roadster of the same year and quickly snatched it up. Since then, 2020 has consisted of weekend “quarantine cruises” through some of Washington’s best mountain roads. I’m a Z-man for life!”

Do you have a great photo of your Z that you really love? Send it to [email protected], along with a short caption and we might just feature it in My Zstory!

26 How Robin’s Z Came to Be

By Robin and Gene Warren

It all started with a ride, less than a mile, by a co-worker to an- other company-owned building for a meeting. Don asked if any- one wanted a ride and I was the first to say yes. Others said yes but Don said, “sorry only room for one”. I thought, why only one seat? I know Don doesn’t have children young enough for the backseat to be filled with car seats. When Don identified his car in the parking lot, I smiled ear to ear. It was a maroon Z, 2004 I believe, with a black top. He offered to take the top down and I said “sure”. After that short ride I was hooked. I didn’t relinquish my seat to anyone else for the ride back either.

27 This event happened at the time when my daughter was black before you drove with Robin?” On the way home I getting her driver’s license, so our family did need a new car. told Gene that I think we need a car with more power as I Like many parents, Gene and I didn’t want to add to our almost red-lined the little Miata during the test drive. teenager’s driving stress level. Thus, we get the new car and daughter gets the old Jeep. I had my heart set on a roadster, Off to the BMW dealer we went. This was a familiar spot convertible with 2 seats, but the problem was convincing as we already owned, and loved, our 2001 530i. We both Gene. We drove the Audi TT, the Mercedes 230 and the liked driving the Z4 but hadn’t yet convinced ourselves that Miata. We tried to drive the Solstice but after waiting in it was for us. Gene really liked the coupe, but I nixed that. I the dealership for way too long without seeing a salesman, also nixed the M3 convertible he pointed out in the parking decided that wasn’t for us. Audi and Mercedes were nixed lot. “You’re not listening, convertible and two seats”, I said. because we couldn’t get one with a manual transmission After several weeks of silently mulling over the “convert- and the price point for a new one was really more than we ible and two seats” requirement, Gene came up with the wanted to spend. Test driving the Miata was a memorable compromise made in heaven. If you get the convertible, I experience. When we returned the salesman said I was the get the M. most spirited driver he’s had in a while. Gene of course re- sponded to the white-haired gentleman. “Wasn’t your hair

28 A brand new Z4M was on the pricey side so we needed a yard, smiled and waved as we all passed him by. We were little more time to convince ourselves that this is really what living the good life, as what could be better than top down we wanted to do, plus there were no new ones available. on the backroads with a bunch of new friends on a crisp, After all we were looking at college tuition for two coming clear fall day. up very soon. Then one day Gene said he found a Black 2006 Z4M manual not very far away with only 1700 miles. In 2011, I was feeling a bit antsy as our son was college It gets better. Not only was the car only 14 months old, it bound and we’re looking at an “empty nest”. What am I had been stored on carpet in the garage. It was in perfect going to do, how am I going to relate to my husband? We shape. Test driving: after accelerating onto the highway, Gene heard about ZFest and noted that the host hotel was about looked at the speedometer and was hooked. I told him to 10 miles from my sister’s house in Greer, South Carolina. We slow down as we had left our RADAR detector in the other looked at each other and said, well, if ZFest stinks, we’ll just car. visit with my sister. We moved the children into their college dorms on Sunday and left for ZFest on Wednesday. Soon after we took delivery of the Z, Gene happened on the ZSCCA web page and joined the club. Although we We hit a few twisty, scenic backroads on our route from didn’t meet the area rep at that time, we were impressed Maryland to Greer, SC for that first ZFest including what that he took the time to drive to our house and leave club we thought was Back of the Dragon but took a left instead materials in our mailbox. We thought he was very inter- of a right at Deals Gap so missed the whole thing with- ested in us, which actually he probably just wanted an ex- out even knowing it. We managed to make it to ZFest and cuse to drive his Z, especially on roads he had never driven drove some of the infamous routes around Greer. Saluda before. Our first drive with ZSCCA was a perfect fall day switchbacks comes to mind. We were welcomed into the with ten Zs snaking through Maryland’s backroads with the ZSCCA/ZFest family and met many new friends whom tops down. I thought it was so cool to look in the sideview we’ve enjoyed seeing at other ZFests across the country, mirror and watch all of us pull out together from the road’s regional events along the east coast, and one-day events in shoulder with the sweeper blocking. I also remember the the Maryland area. look on the gentleman’s face as he stopped raking his front

29 Gene and I discov- hobby as we moved ered that driving the from being parents, little Z4M on the to empty nesters, backroads is a hobby to retirees. ZSCCA we both enjoy. We has also given us a both drive and both network of friends navigate (sometimes across the US whom Nag-a-gate). Often we treasure. leading or sweeping a train of Zs. Seems like After buying our the best routes are new 2020 Z4M, we the ones where we found a nice retire- get lost, stop on the ment home for Rob- side of the road and in’s Z, Collectors Car stretch the map across our Z’s hood. Gene’s great at plan- Corral, as we had too many fond memories to part with her. ning a route on the fly. As the Maryland reps for ZSCCA, She’s nestled in among Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and other ex- we work together to plan and host many events, enjoying otic cars. We take her out for the occasional run, especially the planning as well as the events themselves. Our Z4M and when we’ve found a friend or neighbor whom we want to ZSCCA cured our “empty nest syndrome” as it gave us a introduce to the Z-life. If you find yourself in town without common hobby and shared projects. your Z and want to take a run, give us a shout. We’ve got a spare Z. We recently retired Robin’s Z after 13 years, can’t believe it’s been that long, with 137,000 miles, a lot of memories, and ZSCCA friends. All the trips we’ve taken in Robin’s Z and events we’ve planned through ZSCCA has brought Gene and I much closer together and given us a common

30 My ZSCCA / Roadster Experience

By Art Reid

Back in 2001 after my youngest daughter had spent a year at college, she found she needed a car. Since we had an old Infiniti my wife was driving, rather than buy a used car we decided to give her my wife’s car. I mean, why not? It just seemed logical. I had had the opportunity to drive a new Z3 as a loner when our 5 series was in for service. It brought back the happy memories of driving my MG when I was in college (but without the electrical problems).

Can you see where this is headed? Well, we needed a second car and we already had a sedan (the 5 series) so why not a sports car? Why not? After searching on line without success we went down to BMW of Murray, in Salt Lake City, and low and behold they had a white Z3 M with a red interior. It was just what I was looking for. Since I had recently made some extra money by selling out my interest in a motion picture production, the path was clear to buy a CPO 1999 M Roadster with about 12,000 miles on it. What a kick.

I immediately started planning a road trip through the North West to Victoria, Canada. The first of many the little roadster has taken us on. We have driven through Glacier National Park, down Highway 1 from Napa Valley to Laguna Beach, and over the Million Dollar Highway in Colorado, in addition to many other shorter drives. On each road trip we keep the top down as much as possible, even in light refreshing rain. I enjoy the sound of the mufflers, the smells of the road and the warmth of the sun. I tell others (non- roadster types) that and they say – ‘Really’? One has to have experienced it to understand it. True?

31 I first heard of ZSCCA through the BMWCCA. After joining we went to our first ZFEST in 2010 in Valencia California. That, however, was in a Z4 M that we also owned at the time, but that is a different story. Because of work and distance/time we didn’t attend another ZFEST till 2017 in Ventura Cal. We attended in the Z3 M, and after that we drove it to PARTS ZFEST in Branson. We didn’t have the time to drive to Virginia last year, but we are looking forward to this year’s party in Snowmass. for the

Even though my wife laughs at me while at ZFEST, standing with others around a car with Love of the hood up looking at the engine, (she calls me a car geek) she enjoys the fun of meeting good people from around the country and the drives. I also find ZSCCA is a great place YOUR LIFE! to go for advice on any problem that may crop up on my car before spending money to have my mechanic look at it. Yes, the roadster is fun and ZSCCA and the associations there makes it all the better.

Art Reid St. George Utah

Find the WORDS/NAMES Answers on page 42 It was an obsession with BMW’s that caused the cre- ation of BimmerBum Co. I have been daily driving, maintaining, modifying, and racing my own BMW’s for the better part of 2 decades. It is with years of ex- perience that I carefully select the parts I sell, if I don’t think a part measures up I simply won’t carry it. BimmerBum Co. specializes in E21, E30, E36, and E46 3 Series models, E12, E28, E34, and E39 5 Series models in addition to Z3, Z4, X3, and X5 models. Be sure to join BimmerBum on Facebook for updates on proj- ects, new product information, and pricing specials.

MOORHEAD VANZANDT HARTWELL MARSHALL www.bimmerbum.com WOOTTEN DUNN KRAFT ROCES KRBLICH KAMINSKI PARNES JACOBS [email protected]

32 Meet the Z Staff

Zuzu, Sharon, and I Cruising the Midwest!

By Ric and Sharon Genthe It had been a tough few months of hard work and family illness. We needed a break. Owning a BMW was never on my bucket list, but when my wife, Sharon, got home from work on June 20, 2011 and said she wanted to look at this cute green car in the lot down the street, we couldn’t resist. It was a 1999 Z3, which we knew nothing about, like not being able to figure out that the rag top was electric. But one road test and she was ours. Christened “ZuZu”. 33 Zuzu is our short time release three seasons of the year. Winters in Wisconsin are beautiful, but brutal and icy roads are not desirable for a low riding con- vertible. Getting her out of storage by April 15th is a rush. I’m always grateful when ZuZu starts right up and love the sound when the engine turns over.

ZuZu is our vacation. We are self employed. Sharon is a thinking-about-retiring photo stylist. Her remain- ing client is a famous doll company, who’s product she preens and primps for catalog photo shoots. My world for over 40 years is working with a variety of businesses on many forms of advertising. Clients have ranged from agri-business to national brewers, designing and illustrating brochures, 3D promotional pieces and catalogs. In recent years my photography hobby has dove tailed with my work and luckily is in demand. I photograph construction sites, chronicling the year for a client’s calendar and chronicling disap

34 take ZuZu for afternoon rides on beautiful days. I look for an interesting pho- to opportunity and we just decompress.

With my design background and interest in learn- ing more about BMW’s, I reached out to the club to see if I might help in some way. And here I am some years later building, com- posing, and designing the newsletter. I very much en- joy reading about the mem- bers, the comradery and the excursions.

We are especially grateful to have our little green car these days. With Covid-19 and the precautions we must take, it’s so simple to pop into the car and take pearing barns for another. Photography has been a hobby off. It‘s exhilarating to enjoy the open air free of mask and for years, so I’m happy to put it to commercial use as well. glove. Wisconsin is beautiful in the summer. A great variety of trees and flowers. Our town, Madison, surrounded by five I find beauty in the most interesting places, from the con- lakes, is in the southern middle of the state where the rural struction of an agricultural grain bin to a deteriorating build- terrain is varied, some parts flat and some parts are hilly. ing. So, with our busy and varied work lives, Sharon and I There are an abundance of rural roads to explore. don’t take week or month long formal vacations. Instead we

35 Sharon and I are Wisconsin originals and haven’t landed far from our roots. Sharon is from Brodhead, a small, scenic town in Cheese country 45 miles south of Madison. Brodhead is known by antique aviation en- thusiasts for it’s quaint, but historical grass strip airport. I’m from Platteville in the far southwestern corner of the state. Platteville was founded by the Welsh known in the day for mining lead, when in the wild days of mining, my great, great grandfather, Yukon, perished in a mine explosion. The area is called the Driftless region, the glacier having missed the area, making it prime for spring fed creeks and my other passion, trout fish- ing.

My son, Brandon, wife Kaisha and two small sons Braxton and Fletcher live in Spokane, Washington. Brandon recently graduated from the Air Force Sere program. Nick, Sharon’s son, wife Erin and grandchildren George, getting very close in age to wanting to drive ZuZu, and Maggie are a short drive away in Pewaukee, near Milwaukee.

People in the Midwest are welcoming and helpful. We think our location is pretty spe- cial. We’re 2 hours away from Lake Michigan, 3 hours from Chicago, 4 hours from Minne- apolis and 6 from Indianapolis. So when our country is open again, we welcome you to take a trip to our corner of the world.

36 I need some help from the Z community in finding a person to By Thomas Mosteller whom I owe a debt. The story begins at Homecoming 2002 when Sue Shaffer made a quilt that was offered for sale as a contribution to Make A Wish. I won the auction and the quilt has been hanging in In Search my office for the last 18 years. Fast forward to ZFest 2009 in Cincinnati, OH. Cheryl Cane made Of A Quilt another quilt which was once again up for auction for Make A Wish. Having bought the first one, I really didn’t need another, but I wanted Owner to make sure that Make A Wish got a good result so I bid on this one too. Once the bid hit $1,000.00 I thought “That’s a good num- ber, I’ll let the next bidder take this home”. Well bidding stalled, and I was once again the high bidder.

At that point a man approached me and said “How about if I put in $1,000 towards the quilt also?” I said that would be great, and we agreed we would split custody of the quilt on some basis. I don’t think we ever agreed on what that basis was, there was alcohol involved... but he gave me his name and contact info.

I took the quilt home, and looked for the contact info, but I couldn’t find it. I thought “Hmm, I’ll have to figure out how to contact this

37 nice fellow so he can get his fair share of quilt custody.” Unfortunately, life intervened and I never did this. The quilt remained packed away in the guest room closet for the next 11 years.

We’re selling our house so as part of that pro- cess we went through the guest room closet. There I found the quilt tucked safely away. Sud- denly it hit me “Oh darn, I owe that guy the quilt!”

So now I’m belatedly seeking the help of the Z community. If you are that guy, or you know who it was, please contact me at thomas.mosteller@ gmail.com so I can get the quilt to the right per- son. I need to assuage my guilt over my careless- ness.

Thomas Mosteller [email protected]

38 HOW TO:

Ceramic Coating Wheels

By Nick Parks at Parks Detailing

Benefits of ceramic coating wheels A protective wheel coating repels dirt, water, and contaminants from adhering to the wheel’s surface. This means that brake dust, iron particles, and other nas- ty contaminants struggle to bond to the rim - making your wheels stay cleaner for longer.

39 One of the best parts of this incredible protection is just how easy it makes maintenance. As contaminants are struggling to bond to the surface of your wheels, it can often be cleaned with just a high-pressure rinse.

Nova Wheel also adds depth and gloss to the wheel’s surface and can be applied onto brake calipers, and other areas inside the wheel. It also works great on other metal surfaces, such as exhaust tips!

How to ceramic coat wheels If you want to achieve maxi- mum results with ceramic coat- ing your wheels, we recommend safely removing the wheels to start. The wheels need to be perfectly clean before we ap- ply the protective coating, so the second step is to perform chemical and mechanical de- contamination of the surface, and polish when necessary.

Take your wheels to a cool, dry, and shaded area to per- form chemical decontamina- tion. Start with Nv Purge to loosen the surface and em- bedded contamination, includ- ing graphite brake dust and ferrous particles. You want to spray 5-6 sprays on each side of the wheel, wait 1-3 minutes and begin agitating the surface with a safe medium. We prefer the KLIN Green Monster, Softy Series Mini 2-Pack, or a Gyeon Wheel Brush. This is also a great opportunity to use ADG F-BOMB (1:5 dilution ratio) with a KLIN Green Monster to deep clean the sidewalls of the tire. 40 Rinse off Nv Purge thoroughly using a water source and bring the wheel indoors for final prep processes. Here we used the forced heated air from our BLO RS dryer to safely get the cracks and crevices completely dry. This step is essential because later on during the coating application, we do not want any remaining moisture on the surface to ensure the coating has the best environment possible for bonding and curing.

Use Gyeon Quartz Q2M Mild Clay to mechanically decontaminate the surface. The clay is going to pick up fine embedded contamination in a mechanical fashion that a chemical cleaning process cannot completely remove. Once the wheels are clayed, the wheel is ready to be machine polished if necessary. Use direct LED lighting to check the clear-coated sur- face for marring, defects, and staining to determine if this step is necessary for the wheels you are coating.

The last step before applying the ceramic coating is to degrease the surface using Nv Clarity. This product removes chemical residue and pol- ishing oils from the surface, leaving behind a completely prepped sur- face for the wheel coating to adhere to.

Apply the coating onto a suede ap- plicator. Start by evenly covering the applicator, and reapply the coating as necessary. Let the coating cure onto the wheel for a maximum time of 45 seconds, and then level with a short pile microfiber cloth. We in- clude a two-pack of KLIN dual side microfiber towels for this purpose.

Caring for ceramic coated wheels One of the best parts of this incredible protection is just how easy it makes 41 maintenance. As contaminants are struggling to bond to the surface of your wheels, it can often be cleaned with just a high- pressure rinse. If you want as touchless of an ex- perience as possi- ble, we suggest us- ing Nv Purge on a cool dry, or wet surface out of direct sunlight. Alternatively, one can use car Nv Snow car shampoo if you are dealing with minimal brake dust on a ceramic coated wheel.

Find the WORDS/NAMES - ANSWERS

Gain access to the exact same detailing supplies used by the professionals at Parks Detailing. Each of these chemicals, microfibers, and accessories have been carefully selected to maximize the balance of performance, user friendliness, and high level results.

Shop now at: https://parkscarcare.net/

Use the ZSCCA exclusive Coupon Code ZSCCA10 at checkout for 10% off your entire order

Contact us for YOUR car care products: [email protected] 980-939-2362

MOORHEAD VANZANDT HARTWELL MARSHALL WOOTTEN DUNN KRAFT ROCES KRBLICH KAMINSKI PARNES JACOBS 42 DIY Flat Tire Repair

Difficulty level 1 / 5

By Jay Parnes, Technical Editor

In this day and age when cars routinely come with ‘runflat’ But fixing a flat tire is so easy, we can all benefit from tires, those old spare tires, jacks and lug wrenches have learning the skills involved so we can get back on our way gone by the wayside. And even if you order your car with as quickly and painlessly as possible. Not to mention that non-runflats you still don’t get a spare. But in my case the “slime” material fouls up the tire pressure monitoring when I bought a 2 year old 2016 340i X Drive that had sensors. That’ll run you about $80 on top of the tire repair. regular tires, it came with a BMW mobility kit. This device is We’re DIYers, we fix stuff! a portable compressor and “slime” to temporarily seal the hole in order for you to get to a service station. So let’s say you’re driving along and your TMPS gives a warning that a tire has low air pressure (newer cars will even show you which tire it is, which is very helpful when runflats are concerned because it can be hard to see Tools Requires: which tire is low). If it’s raining and I can’t get to shelter or needle nose pliers, a tire plug kit it’s very dark, sure I can call AAA. But otherwise I prefer containing and awl, plugs, rubber cement, to fix it myself and I’ll show you how to do it. Technically a plug insertion tool. Also a utility knife, speaking, the procedure I will show you is considered a mobile tire inflator and a BMW jack kit a temporary repair and you are advised to fix the flat (top of next page). This kit comes with a definitively with a patch placed inside the tire. This situa- jack, lug wrench, torque wrench, wheel chocks, and a white crayon.

43 tion with the hole being so close to the edge of the tread poses particular issues for the plug repair that may make it less reliable than usual. But I can tell you that I have done this type of repair many times on more centrally located holes and it has worked perfectly, lasting until the tire itself needed to be replaced.

So I was about to get my car down off the lift and I saw something shiny on the right rear tire. A nail had imbed- ded into the tread. It was holding air because I didn’t get a low pressure warning. OK, honestly, this has got to be THE most convenient location for a nail to be! Grab your needle nose pliers and pull that sucker out. But what if the offending object is not so easy to see? Let’s say your car’s TMPS tells you that you have a flat tire. You find the tire involved but because the nail is perhaps on the bottom of the tire you can’t see what caused the flat. Get the jack kit - which you are conveniently storing - wedged securely behind the driver or passenger seat. Loosen the lug bolts, place a wheel chock at the diagonal wheel. Jack up the car at the jacking point closest to the tire in question, remove the lug bolts and pull off the wheel. Now start looking for the object. Just to make sure you don’t lose the spot, you can mark it with the white crayon. Pull the nail out as above and now we can get to the task of fixing the hole.

44 If the tire still has air in it, it’s helpful to let it escape either through the hole or the tire valve. Next, take the awl and press it into the hole. Run it back and forth a few times to clean out and slightly enlarge the space. Grab one of the plugs and thread it through the insertion tool as seen above. Spread rubber cement over the plug.

Push the plug into the hole about 2/3 of the way and with a quick motion, pull out the insertion tool. The plug will remain in the tire.

45 Cut off the excess plug material and viola, you’re flat tire is fixed!

Insert the 12V plug into the socket in your car, attach the air hose to the tire valve, turn on the mobility kit and in- flate your tire to the recommended pressure. The mobility kit easily stores in the pass-through in the back wall be- tween the seats of my E89 Z4. Reinstall the wheel (if you had to remove it) with the lug bolts hand tight. Once the jack is lowered and the wheel is on the ground, torque the lug bolts with the torque wrench to spec. Now get rolling!

46 Schuh Syndikat 2020 – Rescheduling updates By Eric Peck

As you know, the original Schuh Syndikat 2020 scheduled for May, fell victim to Covid-19 spring quarantine. As those restrictions begin to ease, we’re planning a pair of events for Z3 and M Coupe fans to get together in the fall. As always- you don’t need to own a Coupe to participate. All Z’s of all configurations are welcome.

Here is what we’re planning:

Schuh Syndikat “Lite” Edition - October 1-4, 2020 – Christopher Wootten has invited the “clown- shoes” to participate his annual Hardchargers event. Hard Chargers is a spirited driving event on the backroads of West Virginia. It’s a perfect substitute for the “Prelude Drive” we usually run during Schuh Syndikat.

For hotel reservations call the Fairfield Inn in Lewisburg for the group rate of $105 per night for three nights. When calling use the group name “Z Series” or code “G2011”. The hotel can be reached at (304) 645-7999. I’d suggest calling M-F during business hours. For point’s hounds, there are IHG and Hilton properties nearby as well. If you plan to attend- please email Chris and I so we can plan for drive leaders, meals, etc.: [email protected]; [email protected]

Schuh Syndikat “Heavy” Edition- October 15-23, 2020

I’ve had this idea for several years but lacked the time to sandwich it into the schedule. “Schuh Heavy” is a multi-day tour down to Florida, all the way to Key West. This is very early in the planning stages. 47 Clearly, Florida roads aren’t the attraction, so I’m work- ing to build an interesting itinerary of “car person” stuff. If schedules hold true, we’ll see the US Navy Blue Angels perform their Homecom- ing airshow in Pensacola, visit the Don Garlitz Drag Racing We’re hopeful that we can do these events before museum in Ocala, run Alligator Alley and spend a little any fall bounce back closes things down again. In any time in Key West before running back north along the case, please be prepared to follow basic protective Atlantic coast. These are just a few of the possibilities measures during these events. (Masks, social distanc- being explored. I need to be back in Charlotte by the ing, etc.) 24th, but please feel free to spend additional time in Florida if you like. More information will be shared as the itinerary firms up. Keep a watch on Facebook or on the Schuh Syn- Please keep in mind that although we are emerging dikat website at schuhsyndikat.org from Covid-19 quarantine controls today, that doesn’t mean those restrictions won’t return at some point. 48 Our Fiji Green Z3

or how to take 6 months to buy a Z3

By Glenn Kraft So the story began in October of 2019. I was looking at Facebook and I saw a 1998 Z3 in Fiji Green that was for sale. The car intrigued me as I had never seen that color Z3, but on the other hand, we already own a Z4 and a Z3, and this one was in California, while we live in Georgia.

A week or so later, when I went on the Atlanta Z3Z4 Owner group annu- al Fall Colors Drive, one of the members had recently bought a Z3 in At- lantis Blue (not Atlanta Blue – Atlantis Blue) which is another BMW Indi- vidual color. I’m really starting to like the oddball colors and when I reflect back on my cars over the past 25 years all of them have been dark blue, 49 gray, or silver. Do I Dawn gave me a detailed report on the car, which was venture out of my primarily favorable, but also pointed out some mostly comfort zone? A few cosmetic issues that were not noticeable in the photos days later, I reach out that the seller had provided. There wasn’t anything that to the seller of the was a deal breaker, but these things would certainly Fiji green car to ask a need to be considered in pricing. That and the fact I few questions and request additional photos. was expecting to have to pay about $1000 to have it shipped to Georgia. After about a week of negotiating, A few more days go by and I keep thinking about it. So I decided I didn’t want to spend that much, especially now I decide to bounce the idea off my wife, Sue, fully with the upcoming plans to finish our basement. I chat- expecting her to reply, “Are you out of your mind?” ted with the seller a few more times, even giving her Much to my surprise, Sue really liked the car. some advice on selling the car.

The next thing I needed to do was to have the car Right after Christmas, Sue and I were talking and won- inspected, and while I could have used a 3rd party dered if the Z3 was still for sale, so I reached out to service, I reached out to a few friends in SoCal that I find it still hadn’t sold. I’m still interested at this point, met at ZFEST 2017 in Ventura. Dawn Finicum said she but not quite ready to pull the trigger. A week or so wasn’t very far from the seller and that she’d be happy later, she reaches out to me offering to lower the price. to take a look at it, and test drive it for me. Dawn and Again I’m tempted, but since we’re in the middle of the the seller worked out a mutually convenient date to basement project, I’m still not ready. Another week or meet, and I eagerly awaited hearing back from Dawn. two go by, and I think the time is right, and she reaches out again with a lower offer. Now the price is right, but

50 I’m still in the middle of the basement remodel, which I talked to both Dawn and the seller and said that I is slightly over budget, so I’m still a little gun shy. couldn’t ask anyone to do anything that made them uncomfortable or break the law, so if the sale didn’t It’s now mid-February, and I don’t think there are any happen right away, that was fine. Over the next few more surprises in the basement budget, so the seller weeks, I chatted with both Dawn and the seller on a and I come to an agreement. Next comes the fun of fairly regular basis, and everything remained status quo. figuring out how to do the transaction. Both of our After a month or so, Dawn reached out to me and other Zs were purchased out of state, but in both cas- asked if I still wanted to go through with it, and I replied es, we flew out to the car, bought it, and drove it home. yes, but I still couldn’t ask anything of them. She told So once again, I reached out to Dawn and asked if she me she was fine with meeting up with the seller. I then would be willing to complete the contacted the seller, who was also ready to get moving transaction on my behalf. And again, she graciously with the sale, aside from going out of town for about agreed. a week. This worked out well since it afforded me time to line up an auto shipper. After working out some details with the seller, I got a cashier’s check and sent it and a bill of sale to Dawn. At the time of the sale, the seller wanted to take the Dawn and the seller were again going to find a mutu- check to the bank to validate that it was good, but even ally convenient time to complete the deal. The package though both the seller and I bank at Bank of America, soon arrived, but before they could figure out a date, the process took a while because of short staffing due Covid-19 arrived. to Covid. After about a half-hour they were able to verify the check was still valid, so it all worked out. 51 Dawn then drove the Z to her home awaiting the ship- Our last hurdle to make it officially our is when I went per, who was scheduled to arrive two days later. The to title the car. The tax office is 15 minutes away, and is driver calls Dawn and says he’s about an hour away, usually very speedy, but was closed because they had and we’re all excited. Soon afterward Dawn let me a case of Covid-19. I sent an email to inquire and soon know that he had to return to LA to pick up another had a response with instructions they had a night drop car and he’ll be delayed for a while. A couple hours box and I could just put all the paperwork in an enve- later Dawn calls me to tell me the car carrier has ar- lope and drop it off. 3 days later the temporary tags rived. Dawn made sure to get lots of photos, and then were in the mailbox. Now we’re waiting for the Geor- called me on Facetime so I could watch as our car was gia title and the vanity plates (FIDSCHI) since the color whisked onto the back of the truck. in German is FIDSCHIGRUENIC.

You would think that now I would be the one tracking In the few weeks we’ve now had the car, both Sue and I the car on the journey to Georgia, but Dawn had the have received multiple compliments about the car, spe- driver’s cell number and called him several times for cifically the color, from total strangers. I’m the introvert updates and arrival estimates. I think she was experi- of the family, but even I enjoy the attention the car gets. encing just as much fun and excitement as we were. Come delivery day, as soon as the driver turned onto my street, I was reaching out to Dawn to let her know the car had arrived. I then reached out to the seller to tell her that all went well. She said that she was very glad to hear we were happy with her “Jelly Bean”; the name stuck.

52 GENESIS: BMW From The Beginning - The Vintage Opening by BMW CCA Foundation

You’re invited to The Vintage Open House for the iconic 507 as well as the Isetta, 600, and 700. Are you GENESIS: BMW From the Beginning - into motorcycles? You won’t want to miss the military R75 Presented by The Werk Shop! with sidecar AND cargo trailer. (Opening date TBD due to Covid-19 concerns) We’ve got 24 pristine examples of the cars and motorcycles This year, the Foundation Museum is bringing you an excep- from the early years for BMW. Be among the first to see this tional collection of BMWs from the beginning to 1965. We brand new exhibit at the BMW CCA Foundation Museum! have 20 rare cars from the 1933 309 to a 1965 3200CS. We also have four BMW motorcycles. You may have seen one Visit their website for more information: https://bm- or two of these cars at events around the country, but now wccafoundation.org/exhibits/genesis/ you get to see ALL of them in one place!

GENESIS brings together the pre-war and post-war auto- mobiles and motorcycles. No other display of this size has been at a museum in the US before. Here are just a few of the vehicles you will see: the legendary 328 roadster, 315, 309, and the 327/28. You will also see the 502, 503 Cabrio,

53 My Z story Cody Reeves

A stop at the Grand Tetons in Wyoming during the Texas Rowdies ‘Wild West Zampede’ summer trip in August 2018. My car is the red M on the right.

Do you have a great photo of your Z that you really love? Send it to [email protected], along with a short caption and we might just feature it in My Zstory! Hagerty Presents: Collector Car Transporting Tips

If you have ever thought about having your Z professionally transported to a far- away destination – maybe to attend ZFEST 2021 for example - here are some tips from our vendor partner, Hagerty, for choosing the best transport company and how to work with them:

• Look for a company that’s been around for a while. Good companies last longer. • Check to see how well the company maintains its trucks. The care put into their rigs can be a good indication of the care they will give your car. • Look for “enclosed” transport. It’s more expensive, but worth it for the added protection on long trips. You’ll also want to use a company with trailers custom built to transport cars — they’re configured to securely lock down vehicles. • Look for horizontal hydraulic lift gates. They make for safer loading and unloading. • Find a company that’s a “collector car” specialist. More importantly, one that has drivers who are collector cars specialists. Those are the guys actually handling your car. • Ask for references, scheduled delivery date and a firm price — in writing. • The company is responsible for your car while it’s in their possession. Make sure they have insurance in place and inquire about any limits so your car is covered for the full value. • But remember, you’re responsible for insurance prior to pick up and upon delivery, so you’ll need an active, preferably agreed value policy in place. • Get clear instructions on what’s expected of you — pickup and delivery availability, ownership documentation, acceptable gas tank levels, tire pressure, alarm system disablement, insurance and so forth. • It’s also a good idea to document the condition of the vehicle before it’s picked up. Take photos and note any pre-existing damage.

For more great automotive content, check out Hagerty.com/media and join the conversation at community.hagerty.com ZFEST 2021 Early Preview By Eric Peck

At the end of our recent General Membership Meeting, held via ZOOM video conference, we announced the exciting news of ZFEST 2021 – Homecoming. 2021 marks ZSCCAs 25th anniversary, as well as the anniversary of the 1996 Z3, so it made perfect sense to celebrate by going “Home” to Greenville, South Carolina. The dates are July 5-11, 2021.

Specific event planning is on hold as our nation deals with the COVID-19 pandemic, but we are pleased to confirm that the BMW Performance Center will host an afternoon driving event for us on Thursday, July 8.

Other proposed activities in the works include: BMWCCA Foundation open house, BMW manufacturing factory tours, group drives, microbrewery tours, go-karting, cruise-ins, guest speakers, technical sessions and of course our signature panoramic group photo.

Due to pandemic restrictions and staffing reductions, our host hotel isn’t able to take reservations until mid-July. We will make a special announcement when it’s time to reserve. Rest assured, we have plenty of rooms blocked out for this milestone celebration.

If you’d like to volunteer to help at ZFEST, we can really use your as- sistance- email the team at: [email protected]

We look forward to celebrating our clubs legacy and getting to- gether with our Z family again. As always- watch Facebook and our website- zscca.org for ongoing updates. Artists Wanted! Do you have a flair for drawing, painting or sketching?

We would like to show some of your original 3. For the immediate future, please do not works of art here in the pages of our magazine. submit photographs. We may ask you for Why not share your talents with your fellow your best shots at a later date but not right members? Everyone enjoys seeing what oth- now. OK? ers with artistic vision can create from a blank 4. Submissions should be scans or high canvas. resolution photographs taken of your original artwork. Make it look the best you Now, we are a car club after all, so illustrations can so you look the best you can! of cars – especially Z cars – are right up our 5. You can send your original works via email driveway! But, many of us can appreciate qual- to [email protected] ity art work representing many facets of life. If 6. Please include your name, email address, you have the talent to show others the world as and any comments you wish to include viewed through your pencil, brush or related to help the reader learn more about you tools, please do share some of your finished and your artistic pursuits. work with us! 7. Please ensure the contact information you provide in your email is accurate in case we This isn’t a contest and no prizes will be award- need to follow up with you. ed. We just want to highlight the many talented people out there in the ZSCCA by providing a Remember too that we have limited space venue to show your work. available in the magazine so there may be Requirements: some works that we cannot include in print. We also reserve the right to choose not to publish 1. You must be a current, paid member of the works that may be deemed offensive or other- ZSCCA to participate. wise inappropriate for presentation in these 2. Do not submit anything you yourself did not pages. But, we encourage you to think inclusion create. If it isn’t an original work, we can’t rather than exclusion and show us your work! include it in the magazine.

57 Whether you are an owner of one, or a collection of several Cruizin’ Z1s, Z3s, Z4s or Z8s, Newz we’ll create an Available insurance policy in PRINT! to fit your needs. Go to magcloud. com/shop and search for “Cruizin’ Newz”. We’re passionate about Select the issue you’d like to purchase, then the automotive lifestyle. push “Buy Print”. Confirm your selec- tion, hit NEXT, then We know you embrace life behind the enter your shipping wheel even when you’re not driving. Our method, shipping weekly newsletter will inform and entertain information, and pay- you with feature stories, interviews and vid- ment method (credit eos. From auction results to car care card or Paypal), and place your order! to market analysis, this is an auto enthusiasts’ goldmine! The print edition will be uploaded to mag- https://www.hagerty.com/ cloud for ordering ap- articles-videos/Newsletters/ proximately one week Classic-Cars-Weekly after it is available on our website. We will post a message to Facebook once avail- able.

To get a quote, call 800-922-4050 OR https://www.hagerty.com/apps/ manifold/Direct%20Quote/Location/ Location/PostalCode?aff=bmwcca

58 ZSCCA Area Representatives USA Florida (South) Massachusetts (New England) Alabama Jimmy Zapata Jim Werner • Boston, MA Jason Smith • Birmingham, AL [email protected] www.facebook.com/groups/ www.facebook.com/groups/NewEnglandZs/ www.facebook.com/groups/bmwzclubofalabama/ palmbeachzs/ Michigan (Plymouth) Arkansas (Central/Western) Florida (SW Coast) Randy Mason Scott Young • Fayetteville, AR [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] www.facebook.com/groups/suncoastzs www.facebook.com/groups/MIZSCCA/ www.facebook.com/groups/OzarkZClub/ 239-224-9299 Missouri (Southwest) Arizona (Phoenix) Florida (Tampa Bay) Jim Stewart - Ozark, MO Martin Ercoline • Gilbert, AZ Vlad Belsky [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/groups/ facebook.com/groups/SouthwestBMWZClub/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/ somobimmerzs/ 480.519.4989 TampaBayZclub/ Nebraska Arizona (Tucson) Georgia (Atlanta) Emily Regan • Omaha, NE [email protected] Russ Collins • Lawrenceville, GA Cornhusker Zs www.facebook.com/groups/zazsoftucson [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/groups/cornhuskerzs www.atlantaz3.com/ California (Northern) www.facebook.com/groups/AtlantaZ3Z4/ New Hampshire Tarlock Sagoo • San Carlos, CA 770.656.9405 [email protected] [email protected] www.facebook.com/groups/NHZeacoastZClub Georgia (Southern) California (Southern) Steve Mimbs New Jersey Stephen Smith [email protected] Al Mancuso • Burlington, NJ [email protected] www.facebook.com/groups/Roadtwisters/ [email protected] www.facebook.com/groups/ZSCCACalifornia/ http://gszscca.org/ Hawaii (Big Island) www.facebook.com/groups/GardenStateZSCCA/ Mid-Colorado Elizabeth Johnson • Kamuela, HI 609.614.0288 Jon Moorhead • Salida, CO [email protected] [email protected] New Mexico www.facebook.com/groups/hirockeez/ Illinois Denise Inight • Albuquerque, NM [email protected] Robin Blair • Batavia, IL www.facebook.com/groups/2286279228314069 719.221.1891 [email protected] www.facebook.com/groups/ZSCCAILLINOIS/ New York City Connecticut 630.389.0606 Dori Komarin • New York, NY [email protected] [email protected] www.facebook.com/groups/ Indiana (Bristol) www.facebook.com/groups/BigAppleZs/ ConnecticutBMWZCruiZers Will Anthony • Michigan City, IN 917.602.5566 [email protected] Florida (NE Coast) www.facebook.com/groups/HoosierZCarClub/ New York (Southern Tier) [email protected] 574.848.9322 Greg Finch • Waverly, NY www.facebook.com/groups/FirstCoastZs/3 [email protected] Louisiana (Lafayette) www.facebook.com/groups/ZonyZsofNewYork/ Florida (North) Andrew Clavin 607.738.2267 Greg Cevelin • Gainesville, FL [email protected] [email protected] www.facebook.com/groups/thebigeaszcarclub New York (Western) www.facebook.com/groups/gatorzs Jay Parnes • Rochester, NY 352.331.7955 Maine [email protected] [email protected] www.facebook.com/groups/FlowerCityRoadsterZ/ Florida (Panhandle) www.facebook.com/groups/BMWZMaineiacs 585.737.2784 Steve Ranner • Tallahassee, FL [email protected] Maryland North Carolina (Raleigh) Gene & Robin Warren • Eldersburg, MD Hayes Potter • Chapel Hill, NC [email protected] www.facebook.com/groups/triangleareazscca www.facebook.com/groups/FreeStateBimmerZs/ 443.929.0032

59 North Carolina (Greenboro) Pennsylvania (Northwest) Virginia (Southwest) Mathew Hanson • Ramseur, NC Dana Kosiorek • Erie, PA [email protected] www.facebook.com/groups/ [email protected] [email protected] NRVZs www.facebook.com/groups/TriadAreaZSCCA/ www.facebook.com/groups/nwpazbimmers/ Washington (Seattle Metro) North Carolina (Charlotte) Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh) Jim Dunn • Des Moines, WA Eric Peck • Huntersville, NC Rob Kaminski • Pittsburgh [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] www.facebook.com/groups/washingtonstatezs/ www.facebook.com/groups/queencitycrazs/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/SteelCityZs/ 206.372.6022 309.214.2753 Rhode Island West Virginia North Carolina (Eastern) [email protected] www.facebook.com/groups/ Adam Moore • Scott Depot, WV [email protected] oceanstatezees [email protected] www.facebook.com/groups/coastalcarolinazs www.facebook.com/groups/mountainstateroadsterZ/ South Carolina (Upstate) 304.545.5261 North Carolina (Western) David Weeks • Cleveland, SC Bill Price • Waynesville, NC [email protected] Wisconsin [email protected] www.facebook.com/groups/upstatescbmwzclub/ [email protected] http://www.facebook.com/groups/ www.facebook.com/groups/BadgerStateZSCCA WesternNCMountainZs/ Tennessee (Eastern) Cindy Callaway • Knoxville, TN CANADA Ohio (Cleveland) [email protected] www.facebook.com/groups/ Saskatchewan Brian Bednar • Cleveland, OH EastTenneZeeClub/ [email protected] www.facebook.com/groups/ www.facebook.com/groups/greatlakesbmwzs PrairieCruZers/ [email protected] Tennessee (Middle) Jody Ruffner • Lascassas, TN Victoria, BC Ohio (Columbus) www.facebook.com/groups/middletennezee Ken McLean • Victoria, CAN-BC Mark Kraft • Columbus, OH [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] www.facebook.com/groups/VictoriaBMWZEnthusiasts www.facebook.com/groups/buckeyeZs Texas Mike Wood • Fort Worth, TX Oklahoma (Tulsa) [email protected] Richard & Kathy Desruisseau www.facebook.com/groups/TexasBimmerZRoadster- [email protected] Rowdies/ www.facebook.com/groups/OklahomaZclub/ 817.914.3897 918.577.7760 Texas • San Antonio Oregon (Corvallis Valley) Kaye and Tony Jajou • San Antonio, TX [email protected] [email protected] www.facebook.com/groups/PortlandZedHeads www.facebook.com/groups/alamocityzedheads/

Oregon (Portland East) Virginia (Central) Bill Kupchin Stephen Kline • North Chesterfield VA Mt. Hood/Parkdale, OR [email protected] www.facebook.com/groups/ [email protected] zeecentralvirginiaclub www.facebook.com/groups/ZsofCorvallisValley Virginia (Potomac/Capital Region) Pennsylvania (Central) [email protected] Mark Bigelow • Petersburg, PA www.facebook.com/groups/potomaczs/ [email protected] www.facebook.com/groups/Nittany.Z.s/ 814.667.2414

Pennsylvania (Eastern) Matt Cunningham Yardly PA [email protected] www.zscca.org

60 Prepared by MagCloud for Ainsley Jacobs. Get more at cruizinnewz.magcloud.com.