BMW Car Club GB National Festival 2018
– British Motor Museum Press Release
At 07:00, Sunday 12th August 2018 at the British Motor Museum, Gaydon, Warwickshire the gates will open to herald the arrival of up to 2000 BMW’s in one location for what the BMW Car Club GB hope will be their best ever Annual National Festival yet. The show officially starts at 10:00 a.m. and runs until 4:00 p.m. and welcomes club members from all corners of the UK and also visitors from Europe.
New for this year will be displays in the New Car Village of new BMW Products from the BMW and MINI Ranges with additional displays from 2 German specialists ALPINA and AC Schnitzer with further displays of member’s cars from the many Geographic Regions and Model Registers which form the structure of the club. Guest invitations to a number of the Forum Groups will augment the displays together with the unique Motorsport Village and their own particular slant of BMW cars prepared for racing, rallying, track days including a number of cars from the new for 2018 season BMW Car Club Racing series.
2018 also sees the launch of the “Sharknose Collection” which aims to provide a unique collective relationship for the series of Classic BMW’s that all share the similar styling cue of the raked back nose that appeared on the E3, E9, E10, E12, E21, E24, E28 model range of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s that have become affectionately known as the sharknoses. These were the Neue Klasse luxury sporting saloons and coupes that have placed BMW as one, if not the, most successful manufacturers of driver centric cars of the modern era and the “Ultimate Driving Machine”. So a “shiver” of Sharknose vehicles are expected to form a major display at this year’s event
A number of anniversaries will be celebrated at the National Festival this year with the E3, E9 & E10 ( 2002 ) together with the M30 “Big 6” engine which was introduced with the E3 2500 & 2800 saloons all having their 50th Anniversaries. The BMW M30 is a straight-6 SOHC petrol engine which was produced from 1968 to 1994. Over its 28-year lifespan, the M30 was used in many of the BMW sporting saloons and coupe models that will be on display. The 2002 enthusiasts are taking their 50th Annerversary celebrations to another level with their owner / drivers presenting themselves in period costume for the late 60’s / early 70’s to add to their own particular brand of fun.
The rare and enigmatic BMW M1 ( E26) with its body designed by Giugiaroand details of the car’s chassis, prototypes and manufacture the vehicles originally commisioned by BMW with Lamborghini’s however, BMW reassumed control over the project in April 1978, after seven prototypes were built. Only 453 production cars were ever built and as such is one of the rarest models of the “classic” era, has its 40th Anniversary this year. Although we do not expect to see may examples at the National Festival we are assured of at least one in the concours entries !
The ever popular E46 3 series also celebrates its 20th Anniversary. With such a diverse model range within the E46 designation, the plan is to try to display 20 different models to highlight this diversity.
The BMW Car Club Concours Register has been completely revised for 2018. Concours judging will take place during the course of the day in a dedicated zone to the rear of the museum with entries expected in the various classes from Pride of Ownership through to Elite and Masterclass. The Concours is again for 2018 being sponsored jointly by Rybrook Warwick BMW and Meguiar’s, with a very high standard of cars expected to participate in this event.
Throughout the day, a steady stream of cars are expected to take their turn to cross the magnificent display ramp, as the centre-piece of the presentation arena, for owner driver interviews to talk about the history with their particular car and what makes it special to them, as well as the ultimate awards ceremony for the winning Concours cars in all classes. Grandstand seating will be provided this year to enable guests to sit and watch the proceedings on the ramp and to enjoy the narrative and professional presentation skills of Steve Deeks, raconteur extraordinaire, and to listen to the foot-stomping, thigh slapping tones of the very Germanic Oompah Band.
A well-presented array of stands in the Trade Village to cater for those looking for restoration specialists, tuning products – performance packages, brakes, suspension, exhausts etc., etc., detailing products, even cars for sale will all be available to browse and purchase.
Advance tickets sales are available now until the end of July via the BMW Car Club web-site www.bmwcarclubgb.com or by phone 01970 267989 for members and non-members as individuals or as forum groups.
Visitors from the general public arriving in BMW product are assured of on-site parking. For the first 500 cars arriving without pre-paid tickets a reserved parking area is available, thereafter additional parking will be available ( still on site ) but a short walk from the entry pay-booth.
We look forward to welcoming all enthusiasts of the BMW marque and the Roundel to the BMW Car Club National Festival 2018.
