Club News
Five member-couples attended the BMW Couples Driving Experience the weekend of April 25–27 at the BMW Performance Center. Robert Stone and Anne Cooper from the Houston Chapter, Gerard Swind and Sue Ann Winter from the Michiana Chapter, Eric and Ina Mae Wienola from the Iowa Chapter, and Bruce and Linda Trefz from the Tarheel Chapter—as well as Eleanor Reisener of the Motor City Chapter—enjoyed a weekend of driving the Competition Package M3, the turbocharged 335i, and BMW's new twin-turbo 650i. Interestingly, six of the ten guests lived in or had connections to the state of Michigan!
On the first day, everybody performed admirably on the track, practicing braking-and-handling exercises in the Center’s own M3s. Everyone was humbled by the skid-pad exercise, trying hard not to get motion sickness while learning the dynamics of oversteer and understeer.
The next day, the couples were thrilled to drive into the Blue Ridge Mountains behind the wheel of the Center’s brand new 650is and Z4s. The group climbed to the top of Chimney Rock in North Carolina and posed for gorgeous photos. Later, everyone enjoyed a lovely lunch at Larkin’s on Lake Lure—the site of the movie “Dirty Dancing”—before the pouring rain came and ended the scenic tour.—Jackie Bechek
