Jim_75Sahara

Just arrived home safely in Kettering at 3 PM today. What an event! Scott Sturdy and his many assistants have outdone themselves for this anniversary year. The new venue in Hot Springs was super as was the host hotel: The Clarion. The weather was particularly cool and wet, but that certainly did not dampen anyone's spirits or the fun that we had. The BMWCCA Foundation tour on Friday was informative and interesting. The drive back was great fun. I navigated while Andrew Wilson drove 'Vern' (his '73 tii), leading a line of cars back to Fletcher, NC. Some chose instead to take a tour of the BMW factory in Spartanville. The parking lot parties were just as satisfying as those on the lot of the Hawthorne Inn. There were plenty of places to dine nearby and there was also the possibility of heading downtown to check out the numerous restaurants and microbreweries there. The drive to Hot Springs on Saturday morning was gorgeous. As cars filtered into the venue, it was remarkably smooth and hassle-free. There was plenty of space for the BMWs and for folks to set up chairs and portable tents. Scott Sturdy estimated that there were roughly 450 cars on display in Hot Springs. This was the fourth venue for the Vintage event and it was a big success. The drive back to Asheville from Hot Springs was full of tight turns and sharp changes in elevation. Jake's 1600-2 was sorely tested by that drive, but managed just fine. BTW, Jake's car, built in 1966, won Paul Wegweiser's bomber prize for the most loved/patina'd BMW on display. It was a tight race between Jake's car and Jason's car, the Beer Snob. Congrats to both of you! On Thursday, the RGB contingent rendezvous'd at a McDonald's where I-75 intersects I-64 near Lexington, KY. Eventually our caravan included 16 vehicles. Large caravans are fun; until the basic unwieldiness tells us otherwise... Oh well. Many of us were registered at the Clarion, but due to the large number of people registered, some folks were at the Hampton Inn or the Fairfield Inn nearby. The caravan included: Jake Metz, Jason & Karie Gipson, Ben Younce and his pal, William Fulmer, Wil Tinker, Jonathan Tinker, Larry Gray, Reggie and Stephanie Stewart, Eric King and his daughter, Sarah, Mike and Carol Self, Kathy Resler, A.J. Holley, Farshid "Buckeye", Larry and Susan Wilson and myself. We were joined in Asheville by bJ and Mae Barbieri, Todd and Babs Fugate, Nick and Jessica Mavridoglou, John Blake, Zach Matson and honorary RGB member, Andrew Wilson. Feel free to add your comments and photos to this thread. - - Let's get this documented while it is fresh in our minds. Lastly a HUGE thank-you to Scott Sturdy and to everyone who contributed toward making this year's Vintage such a memorable event!

Best of luck and see you soon!!

Larry Gray: Hello! Yes! You are welcome to join up with us. Of Course! Please send a message to Jake Metz that you are planning on joining the conga line.

Who has signed up so far to be part of this contingent to Asheville? Could you provide a listing? Thanks.

Just got back from this event at noon today. Andrew Wilson and I left my place early on Wednesday morning (April, 26th) to rendezvous with Mike Self and Dave Hoovler at Mike's house in neighboring Beavercreek. I decided to revisit this event after four years away from it. I had arranged to be Andrew's navigator/copilot. We had a moderately paced drive through Ohio, Kentucky, Missouri and into Arkansas. We met up with Larry and Susan Wilson, Kevin Taylor and Peter Schoppelry in Paragould, AR where we stayed overnight. Our caravan arrived in Eureka Springs in the early afternoon of Thursday the 27th. There were quite a few 2002 owners arriving at the host hotel by this time. It looked as I remembered it and in no time I was exchanging greetings with a number of friends that I've not seen lately. After checking out 02's and their owners for a few hours, a group of us walked to Sparky's for dinner. That evening we spent a lot more time visiting on the parking lot of the Best Western Eureka Springs Inn. Friday morning we had a tech session after breakfast - 123 Ignition with Ed Z - since the start of our drive was postponed by rain and gusty winds. A little after 11 AM we began our drive and had lunch in Rogers, AR. Along the way we encountered many armadillos, squirrels, raccoons, opossums and even a snapping turtle in the roadway. The more we drove, the drier the roads became and we were able to go faster than our initial cautious pace. In the evening, there was a tech session run by Mike Pugh on '02 struts and drive line. After that, Chris Leonard gave a talk about running his shop which specializes in 2002's and other classic BMW's. Lastly there was a panel Q & A session that included these '02 experts: Jack Fahuna, Keith Kreeger, Chris Leonard & Ben Thongsai. That evening my table of friends, including Andrew, Mike Self, & Robert and Chase Chandler, were treated to free drinks by the ladies of Tinker AFB who were having a reunion in town and had already hit the bar before us. Very funny stuff. After breakfast on Saturday morning, Jack Fahuna ran a Q&A session using his knowledge from many years of running a 2002-centered shop. Many interesting questions and just as many snappy responses. Next, Ed Z. gave a talk and demonstration on a Weber 32-36 carb rebuild. After lunch, there was time for the car show and photos. Then there was the tech quiz (Ben and Rick Memmel just killed that test!) and time for door prize selection using our red tickets. A wonderful char-grilled dinner was provided by our hosts and their able volunteers. Door Prizes and Awards followed dinner. It's great fun to win, but it's so much fun to watch a friend win something for themselves. (Kudos to the many sponsors who donated such fine prizes. Kudos also to the volunteers who rounded up the sponsors and got them to commit to this event.) The biggest prize involved a special raffle ($25/ticket for a 5-speed Getrag dogleg transmission). More tire-kicking, more stories, more fellowship that evening as things wound down. In the morning, it was time for breakfast, packing up, route-checking, oh, and waking up Mr. Self who had overslept. Finally, we got him to report for duty. Our return caravan included: Andrew and me, Mike, Dave Hoovler and Greg Black (in a beautifully original Tundra roundie, complete with Michelin XAS tires). We dodged the rain pretty well and ended up in Effingham, IL for the night. When I hopped out of the tii in Kettering, it was hard to say goodbye to Andrew and Dave, but I had a doctor's appointment to get to and grass to cut....Plus, I needed to head in for a 12 hour night shift on top of that. I know that I DON'T EVEN OWN A 2002, but I sorely missed the people and the fun at MidAmerica. It is unclear when/where/how/if I will own another 2002, but I certainly enjoyed being partnered with Andrew, riding with him in Vern (his '73 Verona tii) and seeing so many amazing people and so many interesting 02's. Thanks to Bo and Barb Black, Chris Leonard, Keith Kreeger, Mike Pugh and so many others who make this such a great 2002 event! Thanks, Andrew, for being my DRIVER.

It's great to be here in Eureka Springs (02-less) after a four year absence. I have missed the fun headed up by Bo, Skip, Keith and many others. It's a pleasure to see the friends that I've made through 2002's (and other BMW's!) once again. A great event for 16 years.... I might have to get another '02.

Mine was while on our Spring RGB drive a few years ago (2011?). I was following Jason Gipson (& doing my best to catch up to him) as he blasted up a long incline and disappeared from view. I was quite unaware of the sharp left turn just after the crest of the hill. Frantic, I tried to brake and turn. Futility. I aimed my '02 so as to careen through the gauntlet of trees, down the hill and into a mucky cow pasture. Dieter was axle deep in mud and manure. My passenger, John Blake and I were pale and shaky, to say the least. I endeavored to drive my way out of the pasture. More futility. Some one got the attention of a farmer who volunteered to use his John Deere to tow my '02 out of the slop. After some nervous laughter and unconvincing bravado on my part, we continued with the drive. I took last place in line and drove more cautiously the rest of the day. I have been razzed ever since by those in the know. It was my mistake and I own it.

By now, many of you know that the Spring RGB Ridge Run in Northern KY was a blast. We had several classic 2002's, several E30's (including an M3), an M5, a Lotus, even a Civic! Andrew Wilson stated that ours was the best drive ever.... fine praise, indeed. Beforehand, there was a massive turnout at FUEL Coffee along River Road just east of downtown Cincinnati. Larry Platt showed off his '86 Vixen motor home (BMW diesel engine), which was a hit with everyone there. Jason's '76 Pastelblau 2002 aptly named "The Beer Snob", was also a huge hit with the crowd. It performed admirably on our drive through the twisties; with less smoke than we'd anticipated out the back, too! We dodged stray dogs, tractors and confused motorists on the back roads. By the time we got to the Hofbrau Haus, we were more than ready for beer, schnitzel, wurst and kraut. The weather was absolutely perfect. No breakdowns, no crumpled metal, no off-roading, no tickets; basically just YAY!! Thanks to all of you that came out for the fun. Thanks especially to the MAN, Jason Gipson for heading up the adventure.... Please consider joining us this Fall when we combine our back roads ridge-running with 2 nights of relaxation at Sabbathsong Farm B&B. Date is yet to be determined. Contact myself or Jason Gipson (Eurotrash) with questions if you'd like to join up.

First of all, a hearty thank-you to Reggie Stewart of Reggie's Motor Works in Noblesville, IN for hosting this event. Thanks to Reggie's crew, including Nick Sartor, Reggie's wife, Stephanie and their young sons, Remington and Emerson. A big thank-you to Ben Younce for heading up this event. Thank-you to Mike Self for taking on the featured speaker role and delivering a fascinating, comprehensive history of BMW over the past 100 years. Thanks also to the Hoosier BMW owners for welcoming all of us. Thanks go as well to the Chicagoland BMW owners for showing up in force and adding to the fun. There were some top-notch 2002's on display in the RMW service bays yesterday, just stunning. It was a great opportunity to see familiar friends and to make new friends. Afterward, many of us convened at Ram Restaurant & Brewery for more car talk and good food. I need to personally thank Kash Abdul-Rahman for picking up the dinner tab for myself and several others from out of town. -- WOW! -- Impressive generosity, right? In summary, this is just another example of the fun that can be had with 2002's and other vintage BMW's.

Sorry, Jason. No disrespect intended. Dene now has a forlorn 02 that he is rehabilitating as well. His is a late model Fjord with lots of surface rust/patina. Mike Self had been after the owner to fix it up or sell it. Mike had watched it deteriorate on the man's driveway for quite a few years.

I have got to learn more about your Pastelblau F-bomb wannabe, Jason.

This year, my vintage BMW events will include the Spring RGB drive (4-23), Mid America 02 Fest (4-30 weekend), The Vintage (5-21 weekend), Vintage at Saratoga (7-9 weekend) and the Fall RGB drive, sometime in October. I'm very much looking forward to seeing y'all.

When I owned my 2002, I'd take it out a few times each winter. In Ohio, we get occasional spells of warm weather with heavy rains. That is the perfect time to warm up the engine and circulate the fluids for about an hour or so. Many people put their 02 to bed for the entire winter, but I had the ability to run the car on salt-free roads at least 3 or 4 times each winter. It was great to have it briefly back on the road.

Anyone who wishes to join us at FUEL Coffee at 10:00 AM... well, you need to get your 2002, E3, E21, E28, E30, E36, whatever -- roadworthy. Join us for tire-kicking and coffee at FUEL, followed by a stimulating drive through the countryside of northern KY led by Ricky Bobbie himself, our incredibly charismatic leader, Jason Gipson. After the drive, we will convene at the Hofbrau Haus in Newport, KY for a Bavarian feast, complete with hops, barley and malt. If you live outside our immediate area and wish to join us, that's great, please do so. Andrew Wilson (and Vern) will be in from the state of Maine to join the action. We'd enjoy hosting other folks as well. Freud Am Fahren!

Oops.

It's hard to believe, but I haven't attended since 2012. Will ride down with Andrew Wilson in the Self-motivated caravan. There are a lot of people I am eager to see once we get there.

A very collectible and certain to be enjoyable BMW to own and to drive. Thumbs, fingers and toes up on your purchase!

For some reason, I enjoy rescuing elderly Taurii. I found my minister friend a silver 98 Taurus a few years ago and he has had very good luck with it. It's time to move on after 25 years...

As Ted Baxter might say: "Well, it all began........... " - - In this case, we needed a larger family car in 2001. We sold our rusty '89 Corolla and bought a new 2001 Sage Green Taurus SES wagon in June of that year. We used it for car-pool duty, family road trips and as Mary's go-to-work-car. In the Summer of 2010, Mary was involved in a stupid accident caused by an old coot going 66 MPH in a 35 MPH zone, hitting 4 other cars as he mindlessly sped along. At 175K miles, her wagon was totaled. We were not flush with money then, even after the paltry check from the insurance co. I cruised CL and found her a white 2001 Taurus SES wagon with only (!) 106K miles on it. I was super-confident that all it needed was a bit of a clean up and a little bit of love. The "White Whale" made it to 206K miles, by then with Mary's niece, Megyn, at the wheel. That car ate up lots of parts and labor; it was a rarity in that it had pristine brakes, shocks and tires when we last saw it! Unfortunately, head gasket problems caused her to sell it to some poor soul for $400. In 2014, Alec (my son) desperately needed a replacement for his crapped-out '93 Camry with well over 200K miles on it. I found him - - what else? -- a gold 2001 Taurus SE wagon off of CL. For the sum of $2000, we had ourselves a Ford of questionable lineage, but, hey, it worked! We poured quite a few parts and labor charges into this one until at 185K miles, the fluids were mixing in a way that they most certainly should not. Failure being imminent, we headed to CarMax and to the Nissan dealer to shop for low mileage Altimas. The mighty Taurus touring was worth $300. Damn, that's wonderful, you've got our attention we thought! Anyhow, now he is the owner of a lightly used 2014 Nissan Altima. All is right with the world. Now, we need to get my daughter Veronica a decent car.... She said 'no' to yet another Taurus wagon btw.

Hope to see you and the F-bomb in Asheville this May. I did the Carmel/Monterey car events on the cheap a few years ago, so I'm not willing to spend a fortune to do the same thing in 2016. My free place to stay and the free-to-use black E39 will be no more since Mary's Aunt Aggie is moving out of Carmel soon! I will attend Mid America 2002 Fest and Vintage at Saratoga this year.

My former 1975 Sahara 2002 (VIN 2365006) was purchased new in Birmingham, AL. Perhaps it came from German Motors too?

We drove from Cincinnati to Dayton on Sunday night after a Super Bowl party at my sister-in-law's house. I had 2 beers at the beginning of the evening, but none later on. I was rested, alert, etc. as I set the cruise control just under the speed limit. I figured that there'd be a number of speed traps, but I certainly didn't see one. Managed to stay wide awake/alert/safe. UPDATE: I am still awaiting my repaired Mini. It seems that the The Mini Store in Cincinnati is sending the wrong parts and sometimes leaving out parts ordered for the repairs. If I am lucky, I will pick up my car on Tuesday. I had a rental car for about 10 days. I liked it more than I thought that I would.... a 2015 Ford Focus 4-door, automatic, with leather seats. They've definitely improved the Focus. I am considering getting one for my daughter. Her 2001 Suzuki Grand Vitara is working okay, but scares us a bit. It leaks a lot of oil. Plus it has a dead a/c, a dying radio and poor MPG figures. My son's 2001 Taurus wagon went belly up. He's buying a 2014 Nissan Altima and he is very excited about that. So...... at long last, the Taurus era is over, since our niece sold off the ailing 2001 Taurus wagon that we gave to her. Holding back the inevitable tears.... haha UPDATE: I picked up the Mini today, finally. (2-24-16) It appears to be in super condition. The original estimate was low by at least $5K, but even I knew that the estimate was far too optimistic. Glad to be in one piece and very glad to have my Mini back.

I get my Mini back next Friday. I finally picked up a rental car today. (It's a 4-door 2015 Ford Focus - I like it better than I'd imagined.) The last event we went to, Mary was my stone-cold sober driver. Both of us sometimes forget to factor in stress and lack of sleep when driving late at night after dining out. Thanks for your concern. Maybe I can save a life here, right?

I recently fell asleep at the wheel of my Mini. Mary and I ended up in a ditch along I-675 after a horrific ride through the grass, mud, reeds, and gravel -- into a creek. Neither of us was injured. The Mini is in the body shop getting repaired. In fact, I was able to drive it home after the tow truck winched it out - ever so carefully. They were amazed at how far we'd gone without serious consequences. So, what happened? I had worked 3 twelve hour nights. Then, on my first night off, we drove from Dayton to Cincinnati for dinner and drinks with very dear friends. If you've ever worked night shift, you know that having a few drinks and a pasta dinner when you're more exhausted than you realize is not so wise.(especially if you're going to be driving) I fell asleep at the wheel and I KNEW BETTER than to do this. It was very foolish and I am embarrassed as hell. - - - - Consider this a PSA for driving sober, rested, alert and smart!

The Hoosier BMW Club is working on scheduling a gtg at Reggie's Motor Works on Saturday, April 9th in Noblesville, IN. Mike Self of Roundel fame is to appear and give a talk. The Hoosiers are hoping to assemble 5 - 7 02's for display inside Reggie's shop for the event. Time: 2- 5 PM Snacks/Drinks: provided by the club, but BYOB for ETOH... (beer/wine/booze) Dinner: afterward for further talk and tire-kicking. Which restaurant? - TBD. Questions/Concerns: Contact Ben Younce.