Green Mountain Chapter BMW Car Club of America
Mar-Apr 2006 Volume 2, Number 3

Bimmer Quips & Tips

Holzscheiters Miscellaneous Ramblings
am a car guy, and as president of the GMC BMW CCA that shouldnt come as a surprise to anyone. But, for as long as my memory serves me, I have had an attraction and passion for all things automotive.
by John Holzscheiter that even in close families amongst siblings and even among father and son that one may have it and the others dont? Case in point, my father thinks a car is to get you from point A to B, safely, reliably and in comfort. He has had a long line of rolling Buick sofas and now drives a Cadillac Deville Couch. How on earth did the passion I have spawn from such boredom? Maybe, just maybe, despite what I say above, it might be possible that I caught the passion from my father and the coolest car he ever owned. Despite a long line of boring Buicks, Dad did have one cool Buick. I know what youre thinking, a cool Buick? Yes, and it is the source of the earliest car memory I can recall. That car was a white 1965 Buick Riviera. It was 1971 or 1972 when that car died. Dad said it threw a rod. I thought that sounded pretty cool. I remember us leaving it on the side of the road with the hood up as we drove away in Moms car. Ah, my first car memory, I might have been three years old. Do you remember your first car memory? How far back can you go? Here are some of my other childhood memories that relate to or contributed to my fetish for cars in one way or another The first toy car I (contd p.2)

Inside this issue:

Holzscheiters Miscellaneous Ramblings News from National Formula 1 Update GMC Weblinks New Members BMW Tech

(send us mate-

rial for this section and well print it)
The term Car Guy seems to be a fairly new term. I dont know where it came from or who coined it, but Im glad they did, because it aptly describes so many of us. I consider the term a euphemism. Prior to this I struggled with trying to describe the passion. The best I could come up with was Automotive Enthusiast, but Car Guy works much better and is better understood. At the risk of sounding snobbish, Car Guy sounds so such better than the redneckish term Gear Head, especially when youre driving a German engineered BMW. Let me tell you though, that my passion is not myopic. I am truly amazed to read the seemingly endless Roundel letters that are so quick to slander other types of cars. How can they be so short sighted? I mean I do have a passion for BMWs. Like any other BMW fan, I crave an E9 coupe, a classic round tailed 2002, the E24 M6, an 850CSi and am one of the few who love the Z3 M Coupe. But there is more to life than BMWs and European cars.
I say this with a bit tongue in cheek, as I must confess that my deepest desires have always been centered around one car, the 1989 Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet. It has remained the one car I covet most since I first saw one back in 1989. It is followed very closely by the 1984 Ferrari 288 GTO. But of the two, only one is truly attainable. As indicated earlier and as the term Car Guy implies, it goes well beyond just the names of BMW, Porsche, Ferrari and names of such. My passion bleeds strong for Boss Mustangs, Corvette Roadsters, Chargers, late 50s and early 60s drop top Cadillacs, E-Type Jags, Buick Grand Nationals and Black 6.6 liter Trans Ams!!! But my passion goes even further. Is it possible to be a Car Guy and be into trucks too? Oh yeah, despite the desires Ive already mentioned, I have a yearning for a Turbo Diesel powered 3/4 ton GMC Crew Cab, a 53 Chevy Cameo, a 46 Ford, a bright yellow chopped, blown, and dropped panel van, the CJ-7 Jeep Scrambler and of course my personal favorite, the 1946 Dodge Power Wagon!! In the words of Tim Allen, RRRRR, RRRRRR, RRRRRR!!!! Where does this passion come from? What creates it? How is it

Monthly Meeting Schedule

Apr 26 - 6 pm @ RiRas Irish Pub in Burlington
Tentative Future Meetings
May 31 - 6 pm @ Tortilla Flats in Burlington
News from NationalMembership Drive + More by Sean Horton
Remember! Meetings are held on the last Wednesday of every month at 6 pm. For the most accurate location and meeting information, always check the website at www.vtbmwcca.org.
very month, National sends each chapter a three to five page flyer with the latest updates and goings-on pertaining the Club. One of the recent subjects has been the BMW CCA Membership Drive going on through July 15th. There are over
75,000 full and associate members in the club, but membership is on the decline. National has created an incentive program to get present members to recruit new members. There are 65 chapters ranging in size from 5,400 members to 111 members. It
shouldnt come as a surprise that we are one of the smallest with 145 members (63rd). What should come as a surprise, however, is that our neighboring White Mountain Chapter has 650 members (34th)! If you know someone who lives in, (contd p.3)

Volume 2, Number 3

(contd from p. 1)

More Ramblings

can remember was a yellow and black Cobra Jet powered Ford Torino with a drive-on car lift. How about the cartoons Speed Buggy, Speed Racer, and Willie and Chopper Bunch? I can remember sitting in my grandfathers 1970 Chevelle SS. I used to sit in for hours in the garage dreaming about driving it. Then there was the little old man with white hair who would drive his Plymouth Superbird to church every spring. It stopped me dead in my tracks!! I remember during afterchurch coffee just standing in the parking lot looking at it, waiting for him to leave and hoping hed offer to take me for a ride. Our next door neighbor had a white Triumph TR3. It was so cool to see him push it out of the garage and work on it. I dont think I ever saw him drive it, but it did smoke a
lot in the drive way!!! In third grade, my buddies and I used to get our library books as fast as we could so we could sit in the magazine section and paw through the Hot Rod magazines. Then in fourth grade I used
to get car books, which were pretty much all pictures with maybe a paragraph or two. Each week wed have a book report due so Id trace a (contd p.5) picture of my favorite car, color it in, and write a quick report on the car and stand up in front of the class and tell them about it. I even got excited about
going to the barber shop, because he had a magazine rack packed with Road and Track and Car and Driver. One day I found a subscription card still in one of the Road and Tracks, and not long afterwards my first issue arrived. I can still remember my first issue, on the cover was the new 1983 Porsche 911 Cabriolet. When I got home from school I spent the entire afternoon sitting on the couch devouring every word. My second issue had the all new Gen 3 Corvette on the cover. I must have read both issues 50 times. I cant tell you how painful it was waiting for the next months edition. My subscription to Road and Track has never run out, and even today I eagerly anticipate each issue. Along with Roundel, BIMMER, Excellence, Forza, European Car, Petersons 4 Wheel Drive, Hemmings Sports and Exotic Car, I (contd p.5)

Formula 1 Update (A laymans guide to F1 changes) by Sean Horton
ith so many changes to Formula One this year, I just don't know where to start. Engines, tires, drivers, rules, you name it, something about it probably changed. The Speed Channel announcers do a pretty good job explaining the rules that are of interest to fans, but if you miss their commentary, youre in the dark about whats going on until it comes up again. What follows is a summary of the changes Ive learned about so far this season. I find the races to be much more interesting with a little background knowledge of the rules. As I mentioned in the last issue, the biggest change this year is the move from 3.0L V10 to 2.4L V8 engines. Apparently this was done to improve fuel economy from 1.5 miles per gallon to 1.6 miles per gallon. Of course I am kidding, but with the cost of fuel, I wonder if that is even a consideration. (Probably not, with the budgets these guys
have at their disposal.) The true intent of the V8 is to increase safety by limiting speed. With 150 fewer horsepower and downforce the same as last year, the speed comes down. I cant say I noticed a change in the racing, although there does seem to be more passing entering the corners this year than last. This always makes for more exciting racing, if you ask me. One thing I was pleasantly surprised that did not happen with the change to the V8, was the luscious F1 sound. It has changed a bit, but it still sounds great. Im sure if I played the audio of a V10 from last year and a V8 from this year I could hear a difference, but these V8s are revving at nearly 19000 rpm, whereas the V10s only revved to about 17000 rpm. The other significant change is tires. This year the teams dont have to use the same tires for qualifying and the race. Theyre allowed seven sets of dry, which I think will make for better racing. I know Ferrari is happy about this,
having been one of the biggest opponents of the one tire rule last year. Im sure Kimi Raikkonen likes the rule too, after his suspension blew apart last year because of a flat spotted tire that he couldnt change without some a penalty. (On the final lap of a race he had led entirely, no less.) Three separate knockout periods, Q1 and Qminutes each, and Qminutes, all of which are done in traffic with other cars on the track. Everyone is on track, do as many laps as you like, at the end of the session, the slowest six drivers are knocked out. That leaves 16 remaining after Q1, and 10 remaining after Q2. Q3 is strictly for pole. There are some other rules intended to curtail too much strategic opportunity, like he 110% rule, which is meant to prevent drivers from holding up the field then trying for a fast lap. If his slow laps arent within 110% of his fastest lap, then he is eliminated. I dont have a handle on the changes to the qualifying

process, but I can say that it sounds like it passes the common sense test. Ill fill you in when I get more information on that. As if the rules changes werent enough, all of the teams have done some sort of shuffling, making it very tough to know whos who until you watch a few races. Rubens Barrichello left Ferrari for Honda, which is no longer BAR Honda, having become a factory team like BMW. Ferrari in turn, picked up Felipe Massa. Surprisingly, Fernando Alonso has signed with Ferrari For 2007. This hasnt affected his determination to win thus far, but it will be interesting to see as the season progresses. Perennial race loser but fan favorite Jordan has became Midland, and there is even a new team this year, Super Aguri Honda, with a 31 year old F1 rookie. I think their goal, which is certainly achievable, is to take over last place from Minardi who absolutely dominated that position last year.
Here is a list of new and recently renewing members.

Welcome New Members!

Christine Griffin Jordan John Lettieri Ken Schoelen Michael Strange Charlie Dykes Scott Perkins Scott Thibeault
Shelburne Essex Junction Williston South Strafford Grand Isle Williston Randolph White River Jct.
2006 X5J 2000 528i 1984 524td 2003 540i 2001 325i 2000 750iL

Robert W. Gerry

Residential Real Estate Appraisals 22 Ros-Bo Lane Morrisonville, NY 12962 office/fax: 518-563-3364 cell: 518-572-4500 e-mail: rwg@primelink1.net

News from National

around, or near VT, and has any interest in BMWs, put on your sales hat and get them to join. Every member we add grows our chapter by almost 1%. If we could get 15 to 20 new members in the next few months, wed have probably the highest percentage gain of any chapter in the nation. There are three reward categories, current members who refer new members, dealers or shops who refer new members, and chapters who generate a designated level of new membership. Here is what National has to say regarding the prizes: Winners will have plenty of prizes to choose from and more are being added each weekzymol has some really slick prizes set aside, certificates from Toyo, certificates from Yokohama, a DVD player, goodies from BMW NA, model cars pro-
vided by Mini Bimmers; and Nautilus is providing two very nice pieces of equipmenta Bowflex and a Nautilus. The Grand Prize is a weekend in Greenville featuring a day at the BMW Performance Center M School. The grand prize winners will stay at two of the
Finally, truth in advertising!
nicest hotels in town, dine in tow of the best restaurant and there are day passes to one of Greenvilles premier spas for the spousal units to enjoy. Watch the www.bmwcca.org website for updates to the prize listand if you need applications or membership drive business cards to help you recruitjust email Jennifer.skatzes@bmwcca.org. In the next issue of Roundel, youll notice a different face NATIONAL BOARD page. Our friend Reid Douglas chose not to run for re-election as North Atlantic Regional VP, so congratulations go out to John Sullivan on his new position. We look forward to working with John to keep making our chapter better!

Web Links

www.readytofix.com www.blackstone-labs.com
www.terrysaytherauto.com www.bmwclub.ca www.targanewfoundland.com www.bimmerfans.com www.fia.com
www.bmw.sauber.f1.com www.worldcarfans.com www.roadfly.com www.bmwtips.com home.nycap.rr.com/ patroonbmw/ www.wmc-bmwcca.org www.bmwcca.org www.formula1.com
A legendary must see and hear! http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2851488008488190547&q=lelouch%3E
Haynes DIY Translation 101
Haynes: Rotate counterclockwise. Translation: Clamp with vise grips then beat repeatedly with hammer counterclockwise. Haynes: This is a snug fit. Translation: You will skin your knuckles! Haynes: This is a tight fit. Translation: Not a hope in hell matey! Haynes: As described in Chapter 7. Translation: That'll teach you not to read through before you start, now you are looking at scary photos of the inside of a gearbox. Haynes: Pry. Translation: Hammer a screwdriver into. Haynes: Undo. Translation: Go buy a case of WD40. Haynes: Retain tiny spring. Translation: "Jeez what was that, it nearly took my eye out"! Haynes: Press and rotate to remove bulb. Translation: OK - that's the glass broken off, now fetch some good pliers to dig out the bayonet part. Haynes: Lightly. Translation: Start off lightly and build up till the veins on your forehead are throbbing then recheck the manual because what you are doing now can not be 'lightly'. Haynes: Weekly checks. Translation: If it isn't broken don't fix it! Haynes: Routine maintenance. Translation: If it isn't broken. it's about to be! Haynes: One wrench rating. Translation: Your Mom could do this. so how did you manage to botch it up? Haynes: Two wrench rating. Translation: Now you may think that you can do this because two is a low, tiny little number. but you also thought the wiring diagram was a map of the Tokyo underground (in fact that would have been more use to you). Haynes: Three wrench rating. Translation: But Nova's are easy to maintain right? So you think three Nova spanners has got to be like a 'regular car' two spanner job. Haynes: Four wrench rating. Translation: You are seriously considering this aren't you, you plebe! Haynes: Five wrench rating. Translation: OK - but don't expect us to ride in it afterwards!!! Haynes: If not, you can fabricate your own special tool like this. Translation: Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!! Haynes: Compress. Translation: Squeeze with all your might, jump up and down on, swear at, throw at the garage wall, then search in the dark corner of the garage for whilst muttering "$#@!*" repeatedly under your breath. Haynes: Inspect. Translation: Squint at really hard and pretend you know what you are looking at, then declare in a loud knowing voice to your wife "Yep, as I thought, it's going to need a new one"! Haynes: Carefully. Translation: You are about to cut yourself! Haynes: Retaining nut. Translation: That big spherical blob of rust. Haynes: Get an assistant. Translation: Prepare to humiliate yourself in front of someone you know. Haynes: Turning the engine will be easier with the spark pugs removed. Translation: However, starting the engine afterwards will be much harder. Feel deeply ashamed as you gingerly refit the spark plugs. Haynes: Refitting is the reverse of removal. Translation: But you swear in different places. Haynes: Pry away plastic locating pegs. Translation: Snap off. Haynes: Apply moderate heat. Translation: Placing your mouth near it and huffing isn't moderate heat. Haynes: Index Translation: List of all the things in the book except the thing you want to do!

Ramble On!

(Contd from p.2)
have been buying several BMW magazines from the UK at the newsstand. I practically read each one cover-to- cover each month!! And last but not least, how can any car guy not be influenced by Smokey and the Bandit and the Dukes of Hazzard!! So, with all that influencing me, shortly after my 14th birthday I picked up a drivers education book and started studying. I made my appointment for my learners permit a month in advance of my 15th birthday. When the day came, I aced my learners permit test and drove a car for the first time that afternoon. From that point on I begged to drive the family anytime we went anywhere. Exactly one year later, I earned my drivers license and was relegated to sharing Moms brown station wagon, a 1981 Malibu Classic. When she got a new wagon, the Bu was handed down to my brother and I, and I drove it until the end of my freshman year in college, when I was finally allowed to buy my first vehicle. Dad laid down some very specific limitations on my first purchase: no sports cars, no foreign cars, cheap, and safe. But I wanted a stick and something fun, which severely limited my options, so a
1984 2.8 V-6 S-10 Blazer with a 4 speed was purchased. Hard to believe, but this Car Guy first car was 4WD truck!! I drove that truck through college and a year or so afterward, but the car passion survived and the long awaited day finally came when I bought my first car. A black 1989 Toyota Supra Turbo with the targa top entered my life and became my first real sports car. The Blazer was later replaced with a 1987 Toyota 4WD SR5 Extra Cab for winter driving. Many others have followed and found their way in and out of my garage: a Caprice Classic beater, a 1986 Ford F-150, 1991 Honda Accord EX, 1997 Dodge Dakota, 1984 Mazda RX-7, 1996 Chevy Tahoe, 2000 GMC Yukon XL, and currently a 1996 GMC 4WD Sierra, 2005 GMC Yukon Denali, 1988 E28 M5 (aka, The Hot Rod) and a 2003 E39 M5 aka The Rocket,. Oh, and I have the license plates for every one of them still hanging in my garage!! So, I ask, wonder and leave you to ponder, where or how did we catch this Car Guy thing? It is beyond me, so someone more skilled in either discovering or resolving disorders will have to figure it out and let me know.

Classifieds

Ads are free for members. To submit, email your information to newsletter@vtbmwcca.org
1999 M3 snow tires and wheels16 Alitalia Type 5 (M Contour) with Dunlop Winter Sport. Tires have maybe a season left but the wheels are beautiful! Wheels are $219 each at the Tire Rack. I'd like $400 for the set. Call John at 802-888-1530. Cars Wanted-4 Speed w/sunroof prefer Jade Green but any color will do,1990 325is 5 Speed black or red,1994-1995 325is 5 speed. Call John J. Keefe @ 302-227-4949. E36 & E46 parts-E36 M3 front sway bars and E36 328iC rear sway bar, E36 328iC cat-back exhaust and intake plumbing, 328iC console shift surround. All excellent, removed following Daphnes mod. Also E46 328iC Sport springs and struts from Chloe following Bilstein PSS coilover transplant. Also a bunch of Miata parts. Contact Ron (802) 877-3542 or ron.crawford@adelphia.net. E36 snow tires on 15" alloys-2/3 tread left, cost $700 new, asking $200 OBO. Contact Cliff at cliff14@hotmail.com Racing oil pan and pump from 1995 lightweight M3-Dry-sump oil pan with all hardware for installation. Will fit most 6 cyl engines from 92-99. This kit has never been used. These parts are becoming rare and hard to find. Paid $1300 new will sell for $1000. Contact Brian @ (802) 863-6721or briangrenon2@aol.com. E39 Floor Mats - 96-series, but fit most BMWs. Set of 4, black with white "BMW" on drivers side. Like new, guaranteed to take 0.7 sec off your 0-60 times, increase your traction, and put a perpetual smile on your face. $25. Call Jeff at 802-657-6527 days, 802-862-0437 nights, or email jladner@gdatp.com 7 series snow tires - Dunlop SP Winter Sports on BMW rims, mounted and balanced. Like new, only used one season. $400 for set. Call Dave 802297-2388 or 802-375-4880.

CHAPTER OFFICERS

President: John Holzscheiter Northern Vice President: Aran Walker Southern Vice President: Brent Rabideu Secretary: Marc Charbonneau Treasurer & Advertising: Eliot Morrison Newsletter Editor: Sean Horton Newsletter Editor Emeritus: Ron Crawford Webmaster: Dave Huffman Marketing & Promotion: Tito Rodriguez Directors-at-Large: Brian Grenon and Dave West
Visit us on the web! www.vtbmwcca.org

DISCLAIMER

Bimmer Quips and Tips is the official newsletter of the Green Mountain Chapter of the BMW Car Club of America. It is published solely for the edification, amusement, and motoring enjoyment of our members. The information and opinions presented are not necessarily those of the chapter officers or members, or BMW CCA. (Sometimes were not even sure about the authors. Except as explicitly noted, BMW AG and its corporate affiliates bear no responsibility, blame, or credit for anything appearing in these pages. It is assumed that readers are mature, intelligent persons, who can appreciate occasional humor, evaluate and adapt technical information, and operate cars and tools within their personal safe limits.
Green Mountain Chapter BMW CCA PO Box 9309 South Burlington, VT 05407-9309

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