Published in Monterey Car Week (Bimmerfest)
By D. Brian Smith
Photography: D. Brian Smith
As you might have guessed by its name, Bimmerfest is an automotive enthusiast event that caters to the multitude of BMW fans across the United States, Canada and the World at Large via the cyberspace of the Internet. For 15 years now, West Coast Bimmerphiles and East Coast BMW owners and enthusiasts have celebrated their love of these Teutonic Wonders by attending or participating in the shows’ twice-annual celebration of all manner of BMW automobiles, both new and old. We say twice annual since a show is held in May at the famous Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California for all the West Coast BMW enthusiasts. There’s also an upcoming East Coast event in Aberdeen, MD on August 2nd.
That red 1972 E9 3.0CSi and the ’73 E9 in black right next to it were crowd favorites for Bimmerfest 2014. It’s not hard to figure out why after checking these babies out and hearing them run.
Bimmerfest
The Classic Car Corral section of Bimmerfest was a huge hit among BMW fans both young and old. Within the Classic Car Corral was an amazing collection of some mightily nice vintage BMWs ranging from the early 1960s up through 1982, which represents a time in BMW’s history when the German car company was really starting to make an impact as an automotive company to be reckoned with around the globe. These are the years when BMW was really starting to build a great reputation and on its way to creating and living up to its tagline of The Ultimate Driving Machine.
Does the mill in that 1972 E9 and the surrounding bodywork look born yesterday or 42 years ago? That was a rhetorical question.
Mind you, there weren’t just classic Bimmers at this year’s West Coast fest. There were no less than 2,000+ BMWs and Minis on display. Some were factory fresh 2014 models, brought by BMW North America, like the all-electric and 70-percent carbon fiber comprised 2015 BMW i3, the soon-to-be available 2015 hybrid BMW i8 supercar and the scintillating BMW M4. Other Bimmers were fresh from BMW in terms of being 2014 models, but also right out of the talented hands of the many BMW tuner shops, vendors and BMW aftermarket parts suppliers. In other words, some of these spanking new BMWs and Minis on exhibit had been hopped up and customized to the Nines, with turbos, aero kits and all manner of go-fast goodies professionally installed to make for some perfectly personalized high performance and otherworldly Ultimate Driving Machines never before seen by even the most erudite of a BMW enthusiast.
This highly modified 840ci Coupe appeared in Eurotuner magazine in the mid 2000s.
We kid you not. There was horsepower, torque, pristine paint jobs, suspension mods and lavish interior appointments all for the BMW lovers to see at Pasadena’s Rose Bowl.
BMW North America calls the i8 an exotic for the 21st Century. It has an exoticar price of approximately $135,700. We like the looks, but will it deliver in terms of high-performance and environmental friendliness? We will see.
What was so impressive about this year’s fest was the amount of Minis and BMWs in the Rose Bowl’s lawn covered parking area just adjacent to Bimmerfest. There were even more BMWs and Minis in the parking areas than there were in the actual show. We could have spent the entire day photographing the spectators’ automobiles. There were several that could be Battle of the Bimmers contenders had they participated in Bimmerfest.
Bimmerfest also always has its fair share of models signing car posters. Amen to that.
While we were snapping photos of the fest, we became acquainted with Jackie Jouret and her adorable Rottweiler rescue. Jackie’s the longstanding editor of Bimmer magazine, which is published by Ross Periodicals up in one of beautiful Marin County California town’s called Novato.
GSR Autosport showed off its 2002 BMW E46 M3 racecar. Thanks to no interior, fiberglass doors and decklid, the racer weighs a scant 2,570 pounds. It also features a Brembo GT brake kit, custom GSR race headers and exhaust, a custom GSR wiring harness and an upgraded engine and oil cooling system with a custom GSR/JailBreak engine tune and aFe high flow intake manifold. The powerplant makes a commendable 342 horsepower and 270 lb/ft. of torque.
Getting back to Bimmerfest, where there was a veritable abundance of customer and vendor modified and restored BMWs on exhibit, there’s nothing like a perfect Spring day in May at the Rose Bowl to bring out some of the most scrumptious Minis and BMWs on the West Coast. As with many a car show, it’s hard to select the best of the bunch. The show judges are to be commended for their selections.
There were many over the top BMWs at the show, in terms of custom mods and paintwork. This one though, is an example of understated and tasteful execution. It looks fast without being outlandish.
The winners for Bimmerfest 2014 included:
Battle of the Bimmers sponsored by Nitto Tire –
Best of Show Overall
Joseph Liu, 2006 Mini Cooper S
Best Rising Star (Only owners 25 years old or younger are eligible.)
Charles Palella, 1996 BMW 328iC
Best Shop/Sponsor/Vendor Ride
Constantine Sotos, 2013 BMW M6
Best Stock
Jane Santos, 2008 BMW M3
Best Mini
Memo Santoyo, 2013 John Cooper Works
Classic Category Winners
First – Ron Perry 1979 520i/6
Second – Kevin Kolosvani 1972 E9 Cp 3.0CSi
Third – Mishel Keshashin 1989 E30 M3
Modified Category Winners
First – Patrick Estudillo, 2006 BMW M3
Second – Marco Svizzero, 2008 BMW 135i
Third – Norman Manchen, 1973 BMW 2002 tii
Furthest Driven
Rhode Island
Furthest Traveled
Japan
There was even a BMW M1 at Bimmerfest. Wow!
For a very long time the automobile company known as Bavarian Motoren Werke, what the initials BMW signify in German, has produced some of the best vehicles ever manufactured. Bimmerfest celebrates all those fans of the BMW and Mini brands that either take their BMWs several notches higher with customizing and performance mods or who bring their vintage Bimmers back to life with a full rotisserie restoration. If you’re a big fan of the BMW and Mini marques and you haven’t yet been to Bimmerfest West Coast or East Coast, you owe it to yourself to check it out in person. Until then, please enjoy our gallery of photos of some of the BMWs and Minis at Bimmerfest Rose Bowl 2014 that captured the attention and appreciation of the Monterey Car Week crew. We hope to see you at next year’s Bimmerfest. Enjoy!
Pelican Parts Founder and CEO, Wayne Dempsey, exhibited his recently acquired 1960 BMW 700 Sport Coupe in the Classic Car Corral. BMWphiles loved the diminutive Bimmer.
In the Bimmerfest Classic Car competition category, Kevin Kolosvani earned second place for his sublime 1972 E9 Cp 3.0CSi. Congratulations Kevin!
In the pre-owned BMW arena, the 850i is still supposed to be a great buy. Of course, look for a low-mileage example like this one that has been babied its entire existence.
One of our favorite more modern Bimmers at the fest was this Achilles Motorsport machine.
Earl Shepherd calls his 2007 Z4 M Coupe, Scatha. Mr. Shepherd hand-painted the driver’s side of his Z4 depicting Highway 154 overlooking Santa Barbara at sunset, while the passenger side is of Willow Springs International Raceway at dawn. Brushes and off-the-shelf acrylic paints were Mr. Shepherd’s art tools for his 360-hour, 2.5-month creation. With his Yin and Yang creation, he’s hoping to bridge the gap between fine art and the automotive enthusiast arena. You can learn more at www.MyArtCar.com.
With great new innovative cars on display like the new, all-electric BMW i3 as a lure, Bimmerfest definitely is great at bringing the BMW community together.
Being BMWphiles, we never grow weary of seeing nice Bimmers or attractive car show models who look like the Winnie Cooper character in the ‘90s T.V. series, The Wonder Years.
That little scooter’s pretty cool, but we’d prefer one of the BMW’s instead, thank you very much.
The Pelican Parts sponsored Classic Car Corral section of Bimmerfest 2014 was quite popular among young and old Bimmerphiles alike.
The Pelican Parts sponsored Classic Car Corral section of Bimmerfest 2014 was quite popular among young and old Bimmerphiles alike.
Kevin Kolosvani owns one of the nicest 1972 E9 Cp 3.0CSi’s that we’ve ever seen. Love that low stance and the elephant gray color.
Schnitzer-style fiberglass box fender flares and Electric Blue paint are two custom touches to this well wrought 1973 BMW 2002tii that has so many mods in all areas we could write a feature article all about it.
Sparta Evolution specializes in manufacturing some very nice BMW brake systems. The artful paintwork on the M3 E46 Sparta racecar appeared spot-on.
Each time we walked by the Toyo Tires display this tradeshow model was signing posters. She never took a break. Great job!
Considering how much lower than stock this Mini Cooper S sits, most auto enthusiasts might guess that Vogtland manufactures lowering springs and suspension systems for Minis and BMWs. That would be a correct assumption.
Bimmerfest certainly had its fair share of BMW tuning houses/BMW speed shops displaying the go fast gurus latest project vehicles. Check out these delectable machines.
In the Classic Car category Ron Perry’s 1979 520i/6 earned the top prize. Congratulations Mr. Perry!
Mr. Perry’s goal was to build a total “sleeper”. We’d say mission accomplished. The mill in his ’79 520i/6 is a Dinan 3.9L stroker-full race spec for a Group 4 CSL Batmobile. Diggity!
New Century BMW had a clever display showing that they know how to work on and repair the new and innovative BMW i3 all-electric vehicle. The stick it notes indicated the replacement parts used in producing this innovative vehicle.
Some people have legs that go on for days and days. The M5 looks like it could run for days.
For the first time ever the Best of Show Overall award went to a Mini Cooper S, specifically John Liu’s Chili Red Mini Cooper S. Congratulations John! You just won a free set of Nitto street tires.
Here’s a M3 with a most appealing paint job.
Lowdown, white and all airfoil’ed out, it looks like it might be a bad guy car from Miami Vice.
Here’s a face that not just a mother could love.
Yes, this ride looks nice but wait until you see what’s under that bonnet.
We told you so. Don’t miss out on next year’s Bimmerfest at the Rose Bowl. You’ll be bummed out if you do.
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