Council News | Year 7 | Issue 1 | March 2009
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www.bmw-clubs-international.com | Council News | Year 7 | Issue 1 | March 2009 Council News 1/09 BMW Clubs International Council Newsletter In a Goggo around the world – a dream trip in the 50's Dream trip for three Highlights of this issue By Uwe Gusen, GLAS Automobil Club International e.V. Photos: Peter Backhaus • Current Events: BMW Classic Center This is the name of a film which idea of travelling round the world in was shown in German cinemas a small car. He got Marlotte inte- • Current Events: The BMW Museum guide around 40 years ago (original rested in the idea and she was to title: “Traumreise zu dritt”). The act as the film’s central leitmotif. • Current Events: New appearance of the BMW couple Marlotte Aue and Peter- He originally wanted to go to India Clubs Heinz Backhaus – not yet mar- and report on the landscape and ried at the time – filmed a unique people with a colour film. However, • Report: The BMW Z8 Club e.V. at the journey. Under their own steam the idea soon developed into a “Autodromo Nazionale di Monza” and at times by ship and by plane trip around the whole world. Peter they went round the world in their Backhaus secured the finance for • Diary: Key international events for the Goggomobil, which they christened the project. BMW Club scene and BMW Classic “Schnüffelchen”. Peter Backhaus, an experienced film-maker, had the Read more on page 03 Council News 1/09 Editorial / Contents Contents Edition 1/09 Dear BMW Club members! Page Editorial / Contents A Vision was created – to establish an 2 Greeting from David de Bruyn Umbrella for the Latin Americas to be proposed for acceptance to the Council at its meeting in Regensburg in September Page Report 2009. Continued from page 01: 3 Dream trip for three Within the International Council Umbrella structure for the Americas – there has always been an allocated seat for the Page Report Southern part of the continent. The pre- 4 Continued from page 03: sently allocated seats are BMW Clubs Dream trip for three Canada and the 3 Clubs representing the United States of America, namely BMW Page Current Events Car Club America, BMW Motorcycle BMW Classic Center: Owners of America and BMW Riders 5 Interview with Dr. Thomas Tischler Association. There is no doubt that BMW owners are very active south of the USA border Page Current Events as there are a number of clubs registered with the BMW Clubs International 6 BMW Classic online Office under the category Associated Clubs as per the Council’s constitu- The BMW Museum guide tion – as an example the Motorcycle Club in Mexico currently represent 16 clubs/chapters. Page Current Events New appearance of the The list of clubs is extensive and very representative of Latin America, includ- 7 BMW Clubs ing Argentina - BMW Club Argentina with BMW Auto Club Argentina and BMW Moto Club Argentina and Club BMW Argentina, Brazil - BMW Clube do Brasil and BMW Car Club Brasil, Costa Rica - BMW Moto Club de Costa Page Current Events Rica and BMW Car Club of Costa Rica, El Salvador - BMW Moto Club El 8 BMW Clubs in Victoria thank Salvador, Mexico - Moto Club Nacional BMW – Mexico and BMW Car Club their world-wide friends de Mexico, and Panama with Moto Club BMW Panama. And these are only the registered Clubs. Page Report The BMW Z8 Club e.V. attends With this in mind, the International Council Board invited the Latin American 9 event for handicapped children clubs to meet with them. A nomination process followed to agree who should be representing the clubs at a meeting with the Board, and a meet- ing was arranged for 7th February 2009 to coincide with the Board meeting. Page Current Events Expectations were high when the meeting started in the board room at 10 BMW Club Europa Meeting BMW Classic in Munich, with delegates Ruben Tenorio-Vasconcelos from in Estoril/Portugal Mexico, Mariano Varsky from Argentina and Antonio Munhoz from Brazil. Page Portrait The delegates have since already called all Latin American clubs to a foun- BMW Youngtimer Club Italia ding meeting which is proposed to take place in June/July in Brazil. Also 11 proposed is the language for the Umbrella to be Spanish. Allow me then to repeat the invitation on behalf of the Council Board to all Page Diary the Latin American clubs to join in the creation of their own Umbrella and 12 Key international events for the wishing them well with the process. Tasked as the Board’s coordinator BMW Club scene and BMW for this initiative – which is a great privilege – I am looking forward to be Classic standing next to you when you present your Umbrella in Regensburg. In case you require more information regarding this – please contact your delegates or me. Publication details: Keep riding, V.i.S.d.P.: Jörg-Dieter Hübner BMW Group Classic David de Bruyn Sales and Marketing Vice-Chairman Motorcycles International Club Organisations BMW Clubs International Council 80788 München Council News 1/09 • Page 02 Council News 1/09 Report Continued from page 01: Dream trip for three Dream trip for three By Uwe Gusen, GLAS Automobil Club International e.V. Photos: Peter Backhaus 36,000 km around the globe 1. The trip A letter was written to Dingolfing and the project was explain- The little coupé covered almost 36,000 kilometres, zigzagging ed to Hans Glas GmbH. At this time it was not uncommon for its way around the globe with many problems on the way. Dust Goggomobil drivers to contact the Dingolfing plant to announce and monsoon rains caused havoc with the car. The Goggomobil a long trip so as to gain financial support. When they had recei- was not as robust as the reports in the factory magazine had ved their subsidy, however, they were never seen or heard of suggested and the couple often thought the trip was over. But again. Things were different with Peter Backhaus and Marlotte on and on they went, with Hans Glas GmbH supplying replace- Aue. They were able to convince Mr Dannenberg, the head of ment parts whenever possible. advertising, and Hans Glas himself. The making of a film was a serious challenge and they had to possess many qualities even to be able to survive the trip. They soon visited the plant and were presented with a Goggomobil Coupé 300 TS. It was love at first sight. The car was prepared for travel through the tropics. Special filters were inserted to keep out the desert sand. A sliding roof was installed, the instrument panel was fitted with a socket for a shaver and kettle, and a compass and clock were added. A false floor was built into the footwell to allow for a water tank to be fitted. An additional petrol tank was installed and the rear seat removed so as to make space for more luggage. Four weeks later the car was handed over and the trip got underway in Again and again locals helped to get the Goggomobil going again August 1957. They first travelled from Hamburg to Dingolfing. On the way there the 300 cc engine already developed over- With parts, film material, food and clothing, the car was over- heating prob-lems, so Dannenberg – the head of advertising load-ed by about 150 to 200 kg which also pushed it to its – immediately had a 400 cc engine installed with 20 bhp. The physical limits. At the beginning Peter Backhaus did not have trip then went on to Italy, Yugoslavia, Greece and through the much experience in repairing the Goggomobil, but as time went Middle East to India. on he became increasingly skilled. CouncilCouncil News News 1/09 2/07 • • Page Page0306 Council News 1/09 Report Continued from page 01: Dream trip for three In Thailand the camshaft made its presence felt with a penetrat- The new engine had now arrived in Yokohama. It was installed ing clicking sound. Fine sand dust had got in and was wearing in the Goggomobil and everything was sent back to Germany. down the camshaft bearing. A new camshaft was needed. In By the end of 1959 the Goggomobil had survived so much that those days it was not possible to supply replacements so quick- it was by no means easy for the couple to take leave of their ly. A ship’s crossing had been booked to Japan and the couple faithful travel companion. They travelled through Japan by rail were anxious to get there in time too see the cherry trees in and bus, or in the car of the consul in Yokohama with whom they blossom. The car kept going to Bangkok, where Glas had sent a had now become friends. new crankshaft. It was possible to install the camshaft with the help of a Chinese mechanic. They then flew to San Francisco where an Isar 700 awaited them. The change to the Isar gave them the advantage of a At the Cambodian border the new camshaft failed, however, larger luggage compartment. By now they had more film equip- and the journey came to a halt. The car was pushed over the ment and they needed space to store all the film. border. In the next town, Peter found a tank truck whose driver was prepared to tow the Goggomobil on a rope behind his huge lorry. After travelling 10,000 kilometres through the USA they crossed Central and South America, sometimes on roads which had previously only been used by four-wheel drive vehicles.