BMW: Celebrating 100 Years Of History In Monterey (Part 2)

BMW: Celebrating 100 Years Of History In Monterey (Part 2)
By: Brandon O'Brien
Image Credit: Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images unless otherwise stated

Continuing from BMW: Celebrating 100 Years Of History In Monterey (Part 1)

2016 marks 100 years of production for BMW although the actual production of automobiles did not officially begin until 1929 with the DA2 3/15 PS.  Without going into a history lesson BMW was established as an aircraft engine manufacturer, in 1923 expanding into motorcycles, and 1928 automobiles.  The famous logo that we now recognize came into existence around July 1917.

The largest celebration this side of the Atlantic occurred this past August when BMW was the honored marque at the Rolex Monterey Historic Car Races at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.  The annual event occurs along with the Monterey Car Week every August.

From 1978 to 1981 the M1 was campaigned, first in the Procar series, and then in Group 4.  Fifty-four Procars were produced by the factory and five were present during the weekend.

1979 BMW M1 Procar, chassis 4301075.  Image Credit: 2016 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

1980 BMW M1 Procar, chassis 4301225 under braking to enter the Corkscrew at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.  Image Credit: 2016 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

1981 BMW M1, chassis 4301223, in the Corkscrew was the spare car for the IMSA Group 4 series.  Image Credit: 2016 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

1979 BMW M1 Procar, chassis 4301077.  Image Credit: 2016 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

1979 BMW M1 Procar, chassis 4301021.  Image Credit: 2016 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

1985 to 1986 saw BMW North America competing in the IMSA GTP category using two March 85 or 86G chassis powered by 2.0-liter turbo motors.  Driven by David Hobbs, John Watson, John Andretti, and Davy Jones they were racked by unreliability and aerodynamic problems winning only at Watkins Glen.

1986 March-BMW 86G campaigned in the Camel GT series.  This car won it's only race at Watkins Glen driven by Davy Jones and John Andretti

A rare sight for us was the 635CSi.  Although not seen in North America the 635 took the 1983 European Championship and also won European title in 1981 and 1986 under differing regulations.

1986 BMW (E24) 635 CSi, chassis E24 RA 2-88.  Image Credit: 2016 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

A number of M3's were present starting with some fine E30's right up to recent E92's.  The history of the M3 could, and does, comprise whole books.  If you are interested we recommend "Unbeatable BMW" by Jeremy Walton, BMW Profile "Touring-Car Racing and Sports Cars" by Stefan Knittel, and "M3 17,970-Emotions" by Peter GH Sebald.

1978 BMW (E30) M3, chassis 001.  Image Credit: 2016 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

1988 BMW (E30) M3, chassis WBSAK0301J2195468.  Image Credit: 2016 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

1990 BMW (E30) M3, chassis M3/1-158.  Image Credit: 2016 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

1988 BMW (E30) M3.  Image Credit: 2016 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

1987 (E30) Alpina M3, chassis M3-48 was driven by Christian Danner in the 1988 DTM series
   Image Credit: 2016 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

1987 (E30) Alpina M3, chassis M3-48 was driven by Christian Danner in the 1988 DTM series.  Image Credit: 2016 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

1996 BMW (E36) M3 GT-R, chassis 102292 won its class at the 1997 12-Hours of Sebring and the 1998 24-Hours of Daytona.  Image Credit: 2016 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

1997 BMW (E36) M3 PTG that competed in the IMSA GT3 class in 1997 and 1998 This car has a number of first place finishes.  Image Credit: 2016 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

1992 BMW (E36) M3 GT, chassis E36/92-001.  Image Credit: 2016 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

2001 BMW (E46) M3 GTR, chassis M3-GTR-006, is painted in the special livery it carried to a win in the 2001 Petite Le Mans finale honoring "911".  Image Credit: 2016 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

In 2011 BMW won the American Le Mans Championship using this (E92) M3 GT2, chassis 1106.  Image Credit: 2016 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

This 2010 BMW (E92) M3 GT2, chassis 1002, was painted by Jeff Koons and entered in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The car's number is a tribute to the Andy Warhol Art Car from 1979.  Image Credit: 2016 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

Less known in this country are the 2-liter Supertourers that raced from 1992 to 1997. Using E36 two- and four-door homologated bodies they won national titles all over the world.

1996 BMW (E36) Touring Car, chassis E36 STC 96/007.  Image Credit: 2016 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

1992 BMW (E36) 325is, chassis 007 exiting the Corkscrew at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.  Image Credit: 2016 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

This 1994 BMW (E36) 320i Super Touring Car, chassis E36/CL2 0095 94 was the 1995 Australian Series Champion.  Image Credit 2016 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

1975 BMW (E21) 320i entering the Corkscrew at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.  Image Credit: 2016 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

The other racing machines not already covered were the 1997 McLaren-BMW V12 GTR/LM, the 1999 Williams-BMW V12 LMR, the 2000 Williams-BMW FW22 Formula 1 machine that was driven by Ralf Schumacher, and the Z4's campaigned last season in the Tudor United Sports Car Championship.

1999 Williams-BMW V12 LMR, chassis 002/99 was the overall winner at the 12-Hours of Sebring that year.  Image Credit: 2016 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

1996 McLaren-BMW F1 GTR, chassis 17R ran three races in its career
during 1996.  It placed 8th overall at Le Mans.   Image Credit: 2016 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

The 2000 Williams-BMW FW22 formula 1 car that was driven by Ralf Schumacher.  Image Credit: 2016 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

2015 BMW Z4 GT at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.  Image Credit: 2015 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

2015 BMW Z4 GTE at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.  Image Credit: 2015 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

A number of privately owned vehicles were spotted.  Of course, not much is known about them but they complete the picture of the marque.

BMW 3200 S, chassis 73726 as seen in the paddock at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.  Image Credit: 2016 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

BMW Isetta 300 as seen in the paddock at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.  Image Credit: 2016 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

BMW 600 Limousine in the paddock at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.  Image Credit: 2016 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

Civilian BMW M1 Procar as seen in the paddock at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.  Image Credit: 2016 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

A very stock BMW M1 seen in the paddock at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.  Image Credit: 2016 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

BMW 507 as seen in the BMW Pavilion at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.  Image Credit: 2016 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

A fully original 1978 BMW (E21) 320i seen in the campgrounds at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.  Image Credit: 2016 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

1968 BMW 2002 seen at a rest stop.  Image Credit: 2016 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

This was a weekend that this writer had been thinking about for over two years.  Aside from being able to go to Germany and visit BMW Classic and the Welt Museum there was no way to see so many colorful, interesting, and unique BMW's in one place.  Many doing what they were built to do, perform on a racetrack.

Cookies that were available at the BMW Oktoberfest which was open to anyone at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on Thursday evening.  Image Credit: 2016 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

The BMW Oktoberfest ladies in traditional attire.  Image Credit: 2016 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

Who can think of a better racetrack to display their power than Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.  With that being said, I must also give accolades to BMW North America in arranging this ambitious undertaking blending throughout the 2016 Monterey Car Week.

Presented here were BMW's that looked like our regular cars or were primarily built for/or by BMW.

There were other cars present that looked nothing like a BMW but still carry BMW DNA in their pedigree - possibly a focus for another article (a two-parter?) from this intensely deep and diverse motor culture event.




TAGS: 100 Years, 3/15, 328 Touring Coupe, BMW, BMW Motorsport, BMW North America, Brandon O'Brien, Brian Redman, Bugelfalten, Colleen Sheehan, CSL, David Hobbs, Davy Jones, Jim Busby, John Andretti, M3, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, McLaren, McLaren-BMW, Monterey Car Week, Motor Driven Images, Nick Craw, Octoberfest, Pebble Beach, Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, Procar, Rolex Monterey Historic Car Races, Ronnie Peterson, Williams, Williams-BMW