Autumn is a fitting time for a car show. Particularly in New England, where summer shows can occasionally become a searing affair of sun glare and humidity (factors amplified by 30-year-old leather and no air conditioning), autumn shows are an altogether more relaxed experience, accented by blazing red-orange leaves instead of blazing heat. The OktoberFAST show, a small gathering held each year by the Green Mountain Chapter in West Dover, Vermont, is an excellent example, and this year's show proved a fun and enjoyable event with some very neat vehicular surprises.
This year's show — open to vehicles from any German manufacturer — featured several dozen cars, each with its own interesting story. The BMW category (by far the largest present) included an assortment of spectacular '02s from the Nor'East '02ers group, several E92 M3s (a rare sight in brisk Vermont), a built M20—swapped E21, a genuine Z1 Roadster and a six—speed M4 from Ontario, Canada. The lattermost of these garnered extensive attention, as the pristine Alpine White car was the first many attendees had seen wtih a manual transmission.
The event also included a live tech talk and Q&A session with Roundel Technical Editor Mike Miller (who also brought his personal 2002), and rounded off the day with a foliage-lined drive through southern Vermont along some of the best driving roads in the state. In all, it was a fantastic day, and an excellent event to attend with any sort of German vehicle. For those of you in New England, be sure to keep OktoberFAST in mind for next year! —David Rose
