3^rd Annual Charity Tour , Bavarian Technic , Canterbury Driver’s School , Chip Chat , Driver’s Education , Driving Schools - Why? I Already Know How to Drive! , Linden Hills Carfest , OestPost , Quarterly Review , Review: Elmer’s Auto and Toy Museum , The Body Shop from Hell! , What Is Autocross , What’s a Snell? , How to Buy a Proper Fitting Helmet , Wings And Wheels

American Autobahn

by Keith Avise

Mark Rask of Minneapolis spoke at the German CarFest in June. Rask has spent 12 years researching and writing the book American Autobahn which will be published next March. He will also be forming the American Autobahn Society at the same time.

His goal is to raise (or eliminate) the speed limits on rural Interstates. His premise is that Germany does it with few negative consequences so we should be able to also. The impediments he mentioned in his talk are the insurance companies, jurisdictions which make money on speeding tickets, and "left-lane bandits".

I was surprised that the questions brought up by the audience (the choir to which he preached) had not been addressed in his talk: The mechanical state of cars in the US, driver’s education, cultural reaction to "demon speed" and licensing requirements. He indicated that mechanical failure didn’t account for a very large percentage of fatal accidents. He didn’t address the problem of mechanical capability; if you slide into something because your brakes are poor and your tires are bald that doesn’t "count" as mechanical failure. Driver’s education boiled down to a publicity drive to encourage people to drive in the right lane except when passing. His comments on licensing requirements seemed focused on staged licenses; allowing more horsepower, speed, etc. based on age/experience.

Admittedly 15-20 minutes doesn’t do justice to a book, but I was surprised at the areas left out of an overview of the goal and the problem(s). The first thing that I would think of would be changing or supplementing all the driver’s education courses in the country. It is unreasonable to think that we could just raise the speed limit to 80-85 on the rural Interstates with the present generations of drivers. How many people have experience or training to make that safe?

If you agree that we would need to beef up driver’s ed, how do we address that? If the law shouldn’t be in place until the drivers are ready, then we’re in the position of approaching each school district in the country (by lobbying for state law change in each state) and asking them to prepare drivers for something that doesn’t exist and is currently illegal.

On the point about the mechanical state of our cars: Yes, we have made great strides in technology, but the Big Three produce to the lowest common denominator and 55/65 mph was the speed limit for a long time. I question whether or not "most" cars on the road are safe at high speed. (I don’t have any statistics to tell how many is "most", but I can find stats to back up any of these points - just like the insurance companies can).

Rask brought up all the differences between German and US drivers and some of what made up those differences: The cost of licensing, the much lower speed limits on secondary roads, the culture of high speed driving. But not enough was said about how to implement the changes in the US. We won’t insist that gas taxes be raised (which could supplement driver’s education and keep the infrastructure in good repair). We have 50 states with the right to say yea or nay on any related proposals. We have more miles of Interstate to police and maintain than Germany has roads (I made that up; how close to accurate do you think that is?)

All in all, I think it is somewhat like the lottery: it won’t happen but it’s fun to fantasize about it. And if I’m wrong; Hallelujah!

3^rd Annual Charity Tour    TOP

The third annual Charity Tour will be Saturday, August 30th. This tour will be the same as last year and with the same destination restaurant. Jeremy Iggers of the Star Tribune wrote in the Variety section May 24, 1996 that there are some good restaurants in Wisconsin. One mentioned was the Café Mozart "Which specializes in such classic German-Austrian fare as sauerbraten, Beef Rouladen and Wiener Schnitzel". We will be dining there again this year.

We will leave Minneapolis from Minnehaha Falls Park about 2:00 PM Saturday August 30. The contact people are Debbie Norrbohm (612) 435-6602 and Wayne Lee (612) 823-3482.

Bavarian Technic    TOP

by Paul Dzimian

Differential or final drive.

All you may know about the differential is that it is under the car somewhere in back, and it makes the wheels go-round. Even the real Bimmer heads out there only pay it much attention when something goes wrong .

The two things that are likely to get your attention are leaks and noise. Leaks are simple, the most common leaks are at the seals for the output drive flanges to the axles, these happen because of the dirty environment they work in and the extreme torque loads put on them in transferring the power to the wheels. The danger is that a slight leak at these seals over a long time can drop the oil level very low and lead to the other problem, noise.

Noise is trouble. The range of noises that can be made by a final drive in need of attention can be extraordinary.

1) Gear noise - A howl or whine from the ring and pinion is caused by gear damage, improper bearing pre load or the gears not being set up properly when assembled (gear pattern). Gear noise can manifest itself as a rattling sound under power or coasting, in the later stage of a failure it will become a knocking noise.

Often these noises will come and go with changes in speed and load.

2) Bearing whine or whistle - Bearing whine is a much higher pitch noise then a gear noise would be. It is most often caused by a bad pinion bearing. In BMWs this is probably the most common problem that I have found. The inner pinion bearing takes up all the load on acceleration and is the one that will fail first.

3) Chatter on turn - This is a noise and is felt as a vibration in the car that gets worse as the turn gets tighter. Sometimes slight tire chirping is heard at very low speeds. This is found on cars with limited slip differentials if the clutches are set up to tight or if the clutches were damaged by excessive wheel spin such as being stuck on ice. Another common cause is the use of the wrong gear oil for limited slip differentials.

4) Clunk - A clunk is a metallic noise heard when a car is put in a forward or reverse gear and all the slack is taken up in the drive train at once. This can also happen by accelerating, lifting off the throttle and quickly accelerating again. This free play can be backlash in the ring and pinion gears but often the problem is in the drive shaft flex joint or a u-joint. This noise is made worse by too high of an idle speed on cars with automatic transmissions.

Preventive maintenance

Sometimes bad things happen to good cars, but good maintenance will help keep them from happening to your car. If there is a leak, fix it. Small leaks have a way of becoming big ones. Make sure you have the oil changed according to the maintenance schedule and that the correct oil is used. If the differential is getting severe use (auto cross, high horsepower, slippery driving conditions or towing) change it more often. Be sure that both rear tires are the same size, otherwise the differential will overheat trying to make up the difference between the two. In slippery conditions avoid spinning a wheel and having it grab on dry pavement causing a shock load through the drive train.

When the oil is changed in the differential watch for tell-tail signs of trouble. The oil should be a dark amber - green color without much of a metallic look to it. The drain plugs on BMW differentials do not have magnets on them but the speed sensor for the speedometer, in it’s rear cover, is magnetic. I have found the evidence of a failing final drive stuck to it.

Do you know that in 1994 BMW switched to synthetic gear oils on all models, and the only recommended final drive oils are synthetic. This applies to all production years and models. The synthetic oil represents a distinct improvement over existing conventional oils in terms of resistance to extreme temperatures, aging seal compatibility, and wear protection.

If I can help you with any questions about your BMW, contact me at Orr Autoservice, 6221 Cambridge Street, Saint Louis Park, Mn. 55416 e-mail orr.auto@juno.com

Canterbury Driver’s School    TOP

by Mylo Gustafson

Do you know how your car will react to a sudden turn or stop? (ex: that basketball and child running into the street.) We all know how to drive. However, we encounter many different kinds of drivers and distractions each and every day. We do not always know how our car will react to sudden driver reactions. The Canterbury Driver’s School is the best place to learn and improve your driving skills.

For an example, I have a 17 year old son (many of you can already sense the story). In April he let his friend drive my car in a church parking lot. His friend managed to hit a cement light post and totaled out the car. How can this happen? My insurance agent (this is another story) told me over 80% of 16 to 21 year olds will have an accident. Young drivers are taught the rules and regulations entitling them to a driver’s license. The actual skills of driving take many years and experiences to perfect (my son will never forget this one). You can learn and polish those skills by signing up yourself and your loved ones. The cost is only $30. (Lunch will be provided by Sears Imports.) It will definitely be worth your time and money. Sign Up Now! (While you are there, ask my son about the accident. But don’t ask to drive his car!)

Chip Chat    TOP

by Brian Gruis

It’s a great time to be a BMW enthusiast. Our favorite marque is riding high on a wave of strong sales and a flurry of new model introductions. Beautiful, swift little Roadsters are sprouting like wild flowers around town, blooming with six cylinder power. Muscular M3s are prowling Main St., and gracing the covers of magazines flowing with praise.

These new cars are so good, it becomes easy to take their towering abilities for granted. This was recently made clear to me when, looking at the performance specifications for the new 3.2 liter M3, I realized that in most ways it can handily outperform the legendary M1 - not so long ago at the absolute fringe of unobtainable exotic performance. In fact, some would say that cars have become almost too good. It’s easy to find yourself in the middle of a leisurely country drive, when you casually glance down and notice the big dial on the right sweeping into triple digits. Any dangers remain hidden beneath a veneer of refinement and technical sophistication.

As an airplane pilot, I’m often preoccupied with the similarities and differences between the automotive and aviation worlds. In aviation, we spend many months, thousands of dollars, and hundreds of hours learning to carefully manipulate our machines. The "preflight inspection" - remarkably similar to our driver’s school tech inspections - is used to prepare the machine and the pilot for what amounts to a mission critical operation. The failure of either man or machine (experience has shown the human component to be weakest) can have decidedly unpleasant consequences.

Many of us have tens of thousands of dollars invested in our cars, yet we are unwilling to make even a modest investment in learning how to drive them properly. Nobody would dream of walking out to the airport and jumping into the nearest plane without proper training, yet we routinely send our children out to pilot two tons of automobile with preparation that is cursory at best - a few tries at parallel parking, a couple of tours around a parking lot . What are they going to do when that tractor trailer swerves across the median? What if the pilot on your next commercial flight had only learned to taxi?

The problem with cars, especially the newest generation, is that they tease us into thinking that they’re easy. They lull us into complacency with a kind of technical anesthesia. Can’t modulate your brakes properly? No problem, ABS will take care of it. Want to put down too much power on a wet corner? Don’t worry, ASC is there to save you. The truth is, any new BMW is light years ahead of the average small plane in terms of technical sophistication. This can sometimes obscure the fact that these cars are serious machines, and they deserve to be treated as such.

Perhaps by now your wondering whether there is a point to this discussion. As you may have guessed, it’s yet another chapter in my ongoing crusade to build interest in driver’s schools. One very promising trend evidenced in the Spring Brainerd event was the large number of new participants. At nearly 30 drivers, our attendance was the highest ever, and many had never been to a driving event before. The not-so-good news is that those thirty drivers represented barely more than 5% of our membership. As the total number of North Star members has grown to more than 420, driver’s school participation has grown along with it. But clearly, hundreds of you have yet to experience the benefits of increased confidence and control that comes with driving your car to the limits of it’s (and your) abilities in a controlled environment.

This summer there are more opportunities than ever to get out and participate. Take a look at the calendar of events in this issue for information on the Aug. 9-10 event at Canterbury Downs in Shakopee. Later in the summer, our second Brainerd event of the year will be held September 14-15. If you’ve been wondering what these events are about, but not quite ready to take the plunge, why not come out to watch or catch a ride with an instructor. Better yet, get in your car and PARTICIPATE. Please don’t hesitate to give me a call at (612) 439-2207, or (612) 351-7981 if you have questions about any aspect of North Star driving events. Did I forget to mention the best reason of all to give one of these events a try? It’s fun.

You can also contact Brian at bgruis@earthlink.net

Driver’s Education    TOP

by Wayne Lee

I was talking to my friend Lou about cars, his & mine; kids, his & mine and I asked Lou if he had ever put his brakes on full and skidded on dry or wet pavement just for the experience. Lou just looked at me and asked "Why?" I said "Why not, we should all find out what our cars can do." He thought a little bit and said "maybe it would be a good thing to get a little bit of experience". Then we talked about auto club driving schools and giving young drivers more opportunities than just the "drivers training" prior to getting a license.

We at the North Star Chapter BMW Car Club of America are putting on a driver’s education school. The school will be held in a large parking lot at Canterbury Downs. Look at your calendars and mark August 9. Now, think seriously about sending yourself, your spouse, your offspring or another’s offspring (a great graduation present). Last year we had an eighteen year old take the driving school in a Ford LTD and I am planning to send my niece, a very bubbly high school graduate. In February we held an ice driving event, one of our members had his son take the course; it was great fun!

You will need a helmet (Snell 85 or better) and a car and you are all set. It doesn’t matter what your car is or looks like: mini vans, SUVs, full size four door sedans, they are all good cars because they are yours. You can share a car and if you do you will both need helmets. If you don’t have a helmet we are asking people to bring their extras. This event is low cost, great fun, eye opening, and open to all licensed drivers. And it will make us all better drivers. Sears Imported Auto is providing refreshments and lunch. Send in the registration forms now; we will limit the number to approximately 30. The Deadline is JULY 25!!!! JUST DO IT!!!

This event will be held rain or shine. We need volunteers on Saturday to help replace cones. We will give you lunch. This is not a speed event.

Send registration forms to:

Wayne Lee

4729 - 12^th. Av. S.

Minneapolis, MN. 55407

Driving Schools - Why? I Already Know How to Drive!   TOP

Reprinted from the Los Angeles Chapter newsletter, article by Lief Anderberg

To most club members, especially the newer ones, when the issue of driving schools comes up - the response is: "Why, I already know how to drive!"

Well, do you?

Really? Be honest. Don’t you sometimes scare yourself just a little, as you take that corner just a little too fast because you were thinking of something else? Be honest, didn’t you commit one of the worst offenses you can do while driving, braking in a corner, just the other day? Sure, nothing happened, but still, you didn’t feel comfortable. How about the other day when that guy cut in front of you on the freeway, when it was raining, and you had to slam on the brakes and almost got a skid, trying to avoid a fender bender. Or a couple of days ago, when your adrenaline was really pumping because that old car suddenly appeared out of nowhere on your left side and you had to change lanes in a hurry to avoid an accident. You were just lucky no other car was in that lane.

We have all had these kinds of incidents happen one time or another. Sometimes, simply because we were thinking about something else and not paying attention or looking at signs or whatever.

In most countries, including the United States, driving is considered an absolute right. Almost every driver considers themselves to be an excellent driver. If you tell the average driver he/she has an ugly spouse, stupid kids or a dumb dog, you might get away with it. But tell them they don’t know how to drive and it might come to a fist fight. In Europe it takes months of training, reading, tests and lots of money to get a license. The driving skills are taught by professionals, licensed by their equivalent of the DMV. And, as a rule, the European driver is smoother, more courteous and more even tempered as a driver. (Except in Italy. Ed.) On the other hand, in the United States, your father can pass on his bad habits to his son/daughter, who then just perpetuates those bad habits.

Next time you are on the freeway, take a look at the driver next to you. Well over fifty percent of the average American drivers do not hold the steering wheel correctly or even sit correctly behind the wheel. Why? They never learned. The steering wheel is not there to rest your tired elbows and the back rest is there for just that - to rest your back against. That some drivers also partake in other activities, like reading, putting on cosmetics, brushing their teeth or shaving is irrelevant. Those people are just plain stupid!

The driving school program as organized by the BMW clubs nationwide started out as a bunch of enthusiasts getting together with their improved 2002’s to rent a track for the weekend and just "go to town". As time progressed, the autocrossers were recruited to become instructors. What did they teach? Not a whole lot. Basically, it was follow the leader around the track a few times to "learn" the corners - then again, go to town.

As cars got more expensive, it became obvious that a better and safer system must be instigated. The schools gradually evolved into a learning tool. Professional instructors were called to instruct and emphasis changed from "Balls Out" driving to a smooth and refined type of driving that is emphasized today. The emphasis on speed is gone. No one is asked to go faster than they feel comfortable with. Instead, smoothness and comfort for the passengers are stressed.

Linden Hills Carfest    TOP

by Bruce and Lila Priebe, Mercedes Benz Club

Saturday, Sept. 13, 10:00 AM, we will congregate in the parking lot of Famous Dave’s Barbecue at 43^rd and Upton Ave. So. At the registration desk we’ll have coupons, furnished by local merchants giving special deals on such as ice cream cones, fresh baked goods and more. We’ll have a lunch special at Dave’s, which is special eating at any time. Barbecued chicken and ribs are ready at 11:00 AM and we recommend eating early so you are ready to roll out at exactly 1:00 PM. Once again we hope to have MPD and the famous Harley Club riders assist as we parade around the Lakes. Each year at the conclusion we try to arrange a visit to a private and seldom seen auto collection.

We are presently trying to set up another such visit, but we have none confirmed at this time. If we don’t arrange such a visit we will have a longer tour of the Lakes, have a good time, and make it a short afternoon. We feel fortunate that in the past 3 years we have seen the collections of Andrew Darling, Kermit Wilson and John Woodhead.

We are looking forward to greeting you and your Club members in Linden Hills on Sept 13^th ­ it’ll be fun!! Please give me a call at 941-7279 so we can give Famous Dave’s Barbecue and other merchants some advance warning.

OestPost    TOP

(dispatches from the Eastern Front) by Keith Avise

An Open Letter to Young Drivers

I sent my oldest grandson to his first performance driving school at BIR in May. He is a normal teen; full of testosterone, great reflexes, and invulnerable. It was 70+ when we picked him up on Saturday, so he didn’t pack a sweatshirt, jacket, hat, etc. That’s another teenage attribute: short-sightedness. I think he’s pretty normal; and therein lies the problem. Of that list of attributes, only one contributes to being a good driver. I envy him the night vision, lightning reflexes and seemingly unending energy; all of which I can only remember.

I also remember the first several years I drove. Those were exciting times, full of adventure, freedom and choices. There were no fatal injuries in my high school during those years; we were all very lucky. I think that’s true of most teens, they’re more lucky than they know. The times I remember thinking about being lucky were times I "didn’t get caught". But the times I was really lucky I didn’t even know it.

Those were the times that the tire didn’t blow out while passing, when there was no one coming when the stop sign appeared out of nowhere and we blew through an intersection. I never thought about what might happen until I started riding a motorcycle (and I was in my late 30’s then). I think I was starting to mature (I’m a late bloomer) and began to take training and potential consequences seriously. Some of the best advice I’ve received has been related to riding motorcycles. Through BMW CCA Performance Driving Schools I’m hearing some of the same concepts and learning how to apply them to driving cars.

So what does an old guy have to offer teenage drivers? Probably not enough of anything; but here goes:

The most dangerous things are those you don’t see. Watch for potential problems; the actual problems are likely to be easy. Cars parked along the side of the road get my attention much more than the car who pulls out directly in front of me. If I’m awake and doing my job, I know where I can go all the time. (Can I drive in the ditch? Is there someone right beside me?) The cars parked by the side of the road are an unknown. Is there someone inside? Underneath? Are they going to move?

You will go where you look. Watch the space you want to be, not the car that pulled out in front of you. I learned this first on the bike; if you concentrate on the pothole you will hit it. We had a classroom instructor at the Mid-Ohio driving school who related a story of a car pulling out in front of him. He looked at the woman in the passenger seat and knew that if he concentrated on her, he would hit them right in her door. He concentrated on the back of the car and in getting as far away from people as possible and only wrinkled metal. (The converse of this applies in normal driving situations: Use soft eyes; don’t concentrate on the bumper of the car ahead. Keep your eyes moving and change the focus. Can you remember the color of the car that’s two ahead of you?)

You don’t have to prove anything. Learn how to drive and then keep thinking about what you’ve accomplished. The guy beside you at the light (or on the Interstate) almost certainly hasn’t gone through turn 1 at Brainerd at 100+. The friend who wants to see you "take him" would probably get out and throw up if Mike Bartley took them through turn 3. Save it for the track. Racing on the street is for suckers. Have those other cars been tech’ed? Do you trust them to drive beside you at high speeds? I don’t. I would go through turns 1 and 2 side by side with any instructor I’ve seen at Club schools; I don’t want most of the people I see on I-94 anywhere near me. If you haven’t been to a driving school and you’re reading this, it could be within your grasp. Check out one of the Autocross schools like the one coming up in August at Canterbury Downs. Any of the club officers can get you a copy of the handout we use at schools; it covers all of the basics that are taught at BIR. Learn how to drive in a safe environment and then keep thinking about what you’ve accomplished.

You have $1 worth of attention. Don’t go broke. Keith Code in one of his books on motorcycle racing/riding talks about having $1 worth of attention. It might take 20Ë of attention to get the bike off the kickstand, in gear and moving. It might take 50Ë to look at the beautiful human walking by at the same time. That doesn’t leave you the 40Ë it takes to avoid the guy in the van who’s mad at his wife, hates his job and just got cut off in traffic by a Harley. We all do more than drive in our cars; we tune the radio, load the tape/CD deck, find the directions, talk on the phone, look at ourselves in the mirror (am I losing more hair??). I do it and I see other people doing it (2 readers on I-94 last week). Think about the $1. I’ve always thought that if I keep my old Kawasaki long enough to repaint it, I’m going to have a dollar bill put on top of the tank under a few clear coats.

I don’t mean to say you shouldn’t have fun; all the adults you meet up at Brainerd are there in part because it’s loads of fun to drive fast and well. But 99.9% of your driving time won’t be in a controlled environment; you need to apply the fun stuff to the real world. Learn how to stop and turn better than most drivers (most drivers slide straight ahead into whatever they’re going to hit). Learn how to brake in a straight line and then turn; about traction and contact patches and differing road surfaces. Learn to look ahead and set up the car for what you want to be doing. You’ll be off to a great start!

(My grandson) Shelby’s last run of the day was with me as a passenger. Very fast, and very smooth. He drove the line I like to think I drive (and hope I do). You’ll have to pardon the pride - Way to go!

Quarterly Review    TOP

by Mylo Gustafson

Our club has had an active second quarter. On April 27^th Wayne Lee directed the Spring Tour and dinner. On May 17^th and 18^th we had driver’s education with the Porsche club at Canterbury Downs. In addition, May 11^th and 12^th was the Brainerd Driving School and June 14^th was the German CarFest.

In the following months the club will participate at the Minneapolis Sprint Grand Prix, Wayne Lee’s Annual Charity Tour, Canterbury Driver’s School, and the end of season Brainerd Driver’s School.

At our many activities we continue to see new faces. As you may have read in the Roundel magazine, BMW NA is setting record sales and we have seen the results with many new members. The local chapter has over 420 members, with a 15% growth this past year. If you have not attended a club event, make it a point to sign up now. You will meet people with common interests that are not just car related.

August Driver’s Education at Canterbury

The Saturday event is not a race school. This is a school for licensed drivers age 16 to 80 years old (or older). Here you will learn how to use ABS brakes and threshold braking for non-ABS cars.

Monthly Meetings

Effective in August, 1997, the club will meet the second Thursday of each month. All members are welcome. Until a permanent location is established, please phone Mylo Gustafson at 483-6391 for directions. We hope to see you there.

Advertising

We accept advertising from all sources. Ads do not need to be car related. Rates are $75. For ý page and $100 for a full page. We will also accommodate other sizes to fit your needs.

When you are able, please patronize the club advertisers. These companies come highly recommended by other club members.

Review: Elmer’s Auto and Toy Museum    TOP

by B. Mitchell Carlson

With the onset of summer, one’s heart may turn to taking a road trip. If you like toys and models and find yourself enjoying the twisties on scenic Wisconsin highway 35 near Fountain City, WI, then check out Elmer’s Auto and Toy Museum.

Elmer Duellman got started as an automotive recycler (a.k.a. junkyard owner). Throughout the years, he was successful enough to start collecting toys seriously. Very seriously. The collection of cars is in three pole buildings and the toys are in their own shed and a barn, with a fair amount of intermixing. Some of the collection even spills over into the Duellman home! There’s a few interesting Bimmer tidbits, such as a couple of tin 1500’s and 2000 CS’s, all with the original boxes. Just don’t photograph them. They have a very strict policy against photographs inside the buildings and don’t even pull out a camcorder! I also found it quite odd that despite the fact the museum is located on the same premises as Elmer’s Salvage, and that lots of old cars are parked right next to and all around the grounds, they are off limits. There is a neat variety (enough to keep Old Cars Weekly’s Doc Boneyard in heat for about a month), but the museum staff are fervent about having interested parties talk to the folks on the salvage side of the business about any parts cars.

A visit over to the salvage side of the operation and inquiring about some parts showed how Elmer was able to afford his toys! Another quirky thing about this place is the lack of desire of the staff (especially Elmer) to provide details on specific toys. When I inquired about details on some of the IH trucks and rare Japanese tin Bandi & Yunezewa BMW 2000 CS’s (OK, so I’m vehicularly eclectic), I was promptly told to "go buy the books". Elmer has published two volumes of toy pricing guides, both of which are for sale on the grounds.

The museum is usually open on the first weekend of the month from May to October. Contact them for the exact schedule for 1997 and information for group tours. Elmer & Bernadette Duellman, W. 903 Elmer’s Rd., Fountain City, WI. 51629. (608) 687-7221.

The Body Shop from Hell!    TOP

by Pete Heinz

This is a little story about my experience with a local body shop that worked on my ‘95 BMW M3. The car had some damage from a 5-10 mph impact in the rear from a semi. The repair cost was $1,400.

I was actually on my way to the local dealership for some warranty work. I was at a light waiting to turn with a semi behind me. The light changed and he decided to clear the intersection that he was slightly blocking. He forgot that I was still down there and pulled forward. The impact just bent the piece below the trunk lid and damaged the rear bumper.

I took the car to the dealer and they suggested a nearby body shop. I called the shop and asked them to take a look at it while it was at the dealership. They did and said that they could work on it when the dealer was done.

I dropped off the dealer’s ‘96 528i (heaven!) and drove my car over to the body shop. They took it in and said that it would be about three days without a problem. I then picked up my 96 Mercury Tracer (hell!) rental car.

The car took 3 days and was ready to go. (Keep in mind the amount of damage that was actually done in the original accident.) When they drove it around to me my jaw almost came out of its joints!! The inside was full of dust and hand prints. I had them clean it a little more before I would even consider taking it.

The bumper and the piece under the lid were off in color match

The plastic molding in the rear bumper had the wrong texture

The rivets for the inside trunk panel were missing the inside pieces to keep them in

The left side of the bumper moved back and forth about an inch

The tailpipe now rubbed against the bumper

The marks made from the truck’s license plate were still imbedded in the bumper and painted over

There was over spray on both rear rims and the right front bumper.

On top of all of that, there were about 10 door dings that were not there when I brought it to the dealer and the body shop. I’m not sure who put them there but they weren’t there when I brought it in!

I spoke with the manager of the body shop, who is also the person that made the estimate. He said to bring it back and they would take care of it. That was such a nice gesture after I came to pick up my $40,000 car with more damage to it than when it came in for repairs! He even said to try and not damage the bumper molding until they could replace it! He also said to make a list of the findings so they could fix them. I just could not wait to come back and have them fix it!!! The rear wing was also cracked just below the left light mounting screw. The dealer just replaced that lens and the screw must have cracked it.

I did take the car back to the body shop. They ended up having the paint company come out to help them match the paint. I was wrong in assuming that they were using BMW quality paint. The rear wing was replaced as well. They could then match the paint with the bumper. They ended up painting the bumper, rear wing, both rear fenders and the trunk in order to blend the unmatched paint!!! I did not want any more than the bumper and wing painted along with the piece under the trunk lid. I was not too happy about their decision to do this since they could not get the paint to match, but I couldn’t do anything about it at this point.

I was again shocked when I picked it up. The left side of the bumper was still loose, the tailpipe rubbed against the bumper, there was something loose in the trunk lid and one of the rivets wasn’t repaired! They did, along with the dealership, repair the door dings without painting the doors.

They said that they would take care of the remaining items when the dealer was done so I could just pick it up from the dealer. I did just that. Guess what? Yes, there was another problem that wasn’t there before I brought it in!!! The driver’s seat belt was binding and would not work! I talked to the dealer tech that worked on it; he said that he did not use it. I went back to the body shop to show the manager and he was gone. I took it apart myself and fixed it. I don’t think it is a good idea for me to go back right away; I need to let my blood pressure lower a little first. However, they still need to buff the clear coat blend marks as well as fix the seat belt. I can’t wait to see what will be damaged on my next trip.

I would have to say that I learned a lessen with this one. After discussing my situation with the referring dealer he explained that the consistency and quality of work done by this shop has been excellent over the years and offered to speak with the owner of the body shop about my situation. A manager at the dealership was shocked when I told him. He even said that they have trained one of the body shop technicians. I guess he needs some more training. I do not plan on referring anyone to that body shop! I cannot believe that the body shop can stay in business when they turn out cars looking as mine did.

Editor’s Note: What can we learn from this? It might be a good idea to ask around the club and get some recommendations (positive and negative) before picking a service organization. Also keep in mind that every business has a bad day once in a while. (Although there is no excuse for passing bad work off as completed. If you screw something up, you fix it!) We have a wealth of experience in the club; we have posted questions in the Newsletter, on the Web and you can come to a meeting and ask people for their experiences. I know it was a harrowing experience for Pete, but the big Yaller M3 looked pretty good at the German CarFest.

What Is Autocross    TOP

by Phil Ethier

MCSCC Autocross Rules Chair

Autocross: Noun. A sport engaged in by automobile enthusiasts in the USA. Called "gymkhana" in the Twin Cities during the sixties. Now the term "gymkhana" as used in the USA usually connotes a different event wherein drivers have to do gimmick things. Since the seventies, the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) has used the trademark "Solo II" for this type of event, and holds a national championship event once a year in Kansas.

A sports car club procures a site, generally a large parking lot; Airstrips and actual racetracks are sometimes used.

A course is set up using plastic or rubber traffic markers. These are referred to as "cones" or "pylons". This course can be of almost unlimited design. Timing equipment is required, preferably an electronic timer capable of accurate timing to one-thousandth of a second.

Cars are arranged in classes. The classes used by the SCCA are the most common in the USA. The Metropolitan Council of Sports Car Clubs (MCSCC) uses classes mostly identical to the SCCA Solo II classes.

Each driver negotiates the course and is timed. A penalty is assigned for each pylon which is struck. This penalty is usually the addition of 2 seconds to the driver’s time. A more severe penalty is applied if the driver goes to the wrong side of any pylon. This is called "going off course". The penalty generally is that this "run" will not count in the scoring. This is indicated by the acronym "DNF" (did not finish).

Generally, there are several runs at an event. Each driver is awarded the best time of all runs taken, so a driver may improve the score with each run, and does not lose a previous good score if (s)he makes a poor run.

Typical cost for a single day event is fifteen or twenty dollars. The sponsoring club has expenses like site rental and insurance.

Advantages to participants include: You are competing against other drivers, but only via the clock. No one is going to try to pass you. In events where more than one car is on the course at a time, they are spaced so as not to interfere with each other. If a driver does start to catch another, (s)he is awarded another run.

This sport meets the basic criteria for success in my opinion: It is easy to do , and difficult to master. Beginning, it is easier than bowling or golf. Being able to dominate the sport is a talent few have. But it is very enjoyable no matter what your equipment or skill level. Warning: For some people, autocross has been shown to be extremely addictive.

Autocrosses do not typically charge for spectators. Just go. You will be asked to sign an insurance waiver.

There is an autocross mailing list and a web site on the Internet. For details send e-mail to ethier@freenet.msp.mn.us

What’s a Snell?    TOP

Reprinted from der Bayerische Brief, article by JD Walter

So you’re in line for tech inspection and someone comes up to your car and says "Can I see your helmet? Is it Snell approved?"

Because the Club is updating the minimum helmet standard for Driving Schools to Snell 90, I became curious and decided to find out more. Here is what I discovered.

Back in 1956 a gentlemen by the name of Peter Snell was fatally injured in a racing accident. Several members of the Sports Car Club of America at the time wanted to memorialize Peter because he was so well respected. The outcome of this desire became known as the Snell Foundation. The primary focus of the foundation was to ensure suitable head protection for motorsports participants.

The Snell foundation is now known for its ongoing work in setting, maintaining, and upgrading the highest helmet standards in the US and throughout the world. Helmets meeting Snell standards significantly surpass those set by National Standards Institute (ANSI), and the Society of Testing Materials (ASTM).

The Snell Foundation currently tests over 6000 helmets each year and maintains neutrality by remaining independent of helmet manufacturers and government bodies. They do not accept donations from individuals or companies with a financial interest in the production of safety helmets. They are primarily interested in developing and promoting the latest in safety standards for helmets. Their income comes from testing fees and the sale of Snell Approved Labels. The labels found in all helmets meeting Snell standards are bought directly from the Snell Foundation. Each label, in each helmet, costs the manufacturer about 40 cents.

The testing that’s done for a specific helmet model to pass inspection is incredible. They do a retention test, which is a dynamic strength test. They do a roll-off test (how easily it falls off the head), and a penetration test. This is followed by an impact series where they hit each helmet nine times, four times in the front, four times in the back, and once on top. The eight hits to the front and rear are in only four locations, using a laser guiding system to ensure the same exact spot is hit twice. (For the engineers out there, the force used is a 150-joule impact-energy on the first hit and then 110-joule impact-energy on the second hit in the same location.) The penetration test is conducted by shooting the shield with a pellet moving at 500 kilometers per hour.

What I found very interesting is that they do all these tests under conditions normally found in nature: hot, cold, wet and ambient. This means they demolish four helmet samples for each helmet model tested; one for each of the various conditions.

So you might be asking yourself why must I stop using my beautiful helmet just because it only has a Snell 85 rating? I easily found an answer for that question!

The Snell Foundation recommends that helmets be replaced every five years. This isn’t a policy that stems from a capitalistic desire to make more money. It comes from an objective to provide the safest head protection available. The intent is safety! Helmets have to be replaced because a variety of factors can cause the liners to degrade, such as the glue that holds the liner to the inside of the shell, perspiration, hair oil, and the normal compacting through long term use. The bottom line… If the liner becomes deteriorated - your head is not as well protected. So as a general policy, because of normal degradation and improvements in the helmet, Snell recommends that helmets be replaced every five years.

The Driving Schools are all about safety, not speed. They safety we are concerned about is yours. Protect your head. It’s the only one you get!

How to Buy a Proper Fitting Helmet    TOP

Here are a few important things to keep in mind when you buy a helmet:

Below you will find a chart of sizes - use this to start the process.

Measure around your head just above the ears and about an inch above your eyebrows. The chart should be thought of as a guide - not an absolute rule! It is important to keep in mind that people’s heads are of different shapes. Although two different people may have the same measurement, the shape of the head will have a dramatic effect on how well a helmet fits.

A helmet must be the proper size for your head if it is going to offer it’s full protection to you. A helmet that is too big is not a safe solution! For maximum protection, a helmet should fit snugly, not tight and uncomfortable, but snug.

After you have measured your head and gotten an approximate size, now you are ready for the second step. Put the helmet on and strap it securely, now hold your head still and try to roll the helmet off your head forward. If the helmet comes off you need a larger size.

The next test is to hold your head steady while grasping the helmet with both hands; try to move or rotate the helmet while keeping your head still. If the helmet moves around on your head while your head stayed still - try a smaller helmet!

If you can’t seem to get a good fit because size is too big and the next smaller size is too tight - try a different model or a different manufacturer. There is a great deal of difference in the same size from one manufacturer to another.

So, where do you go to try these helmets? In the past I have always gone to motorcycle shops; they have a large selection and a knowledgeable staff that can help answer your questions.

Wings And Wheels    TOP

September 6 is Wings and Wheels in Osceola, WI. A car show, tour and book sale all rolled into one. This is an event you truly don’t want to miss. Held on the grounds of Classic Motorbooks, the world’s largest publisher of automotive literature, the event draws literally hundreds of classic and exotic cars from throughout the Midwest. In addition, the Classic Motorbooks warehouses are open for browsing and significant discounts are offered. There is also an art fair, carnival and a spectacular air show. Free shuttle buses will ferry you between all events. Top it all off with a tour of scenic back roads of the St. Croix Valley and dinner at 4:00 at what may be the finest German restaurant in Minnesota, the Gasthaus Bavarian Hunter. To join the tour, meet in the parking lot of Perkin’s restaurant (North of Hwy 36 in Stillwater) at 8:00 AM. Osceola, WI is approximately 1 hour NE of St. Paul. Event coordinator: Pete Heinz 824-2768.