June 10, 2021

  • Post category:Meetings

Sierra Chapter BMW Car Club – Reno, NV
10 June @ Bill Pearce

We meet on the second Thursday of each month @ Bill Pearce BMW, 11555 S. Virginia in Reno. The meetings start @ 6PM, but feel free to show up early to talk cars or just drool over the new stuff in the showroom.
After our meetings end (~7 PM) many of us head out to dinner at a local restaurant.

AGENDA

  1. Board Member Introductions
  2. BMW Briefs
  3. Membership Update
  4. Trivia
  5. New Member Challenge ($50.00 Gift Card)
  6. Remainder of the Year Calendar
  7. Questions
  8. Adjourn to Dinner @ Napa/Sonoma South (Longley and S. Virginia).

MINUTES

The meeting was called to order by Lance Taylor -Warren, President, on June 10th, at 6:05 p.m. at the BMW dealership. There were 18 members present. Lance welcomed everyone back after so many months without meeting because of COVID-19. He then introduced the new slate of Club officers.

BMW BRIEFS by Pat McGoff

The Chinese-spec 5 Series comes exclusively with the stretched wheel base. It is the same model as appears in U.S. except the wheel base is 5 inches longer as Chinese customers prefer more rear legroom. Motor1.com/news

BMW will spend $20 million building a new 67,000 square foot training center in South Carolina to be completed by mid 2022. The center will also house the apprenticeship program known as BMW scholars.

2021 4 Series convertibles start at $54K. No manual gear shifts. Horsepower runs from 255 HP and 295 lb-ft of torque for the 4 cylinder to 382 HP and 369 lb-ft of torque for the 6 cylinder.

BMW tops the list of U.S. auto exporters, exporting 218,820 vehicles. The top destination of exported vehicles is China which sees 23.3% of the exported vehicles. BMW car club magazine May 2021.

BMW is building more electric drive motors ahead of full scale i4 and iX production at Dingolfing plant. Plans are to produce 500,000 electric drivetrains annually starting in 2022. bimmerlife.com/2021.

The U.S. market launch for the i4, iX, and an M Performance iX was during the first quarter of 2021. Current BMW electrified vehicles are the iX xDrive50, the i4 eDrive40, and the i4 M50. bimmerlife.com/2021/06//05.

BMW is now making batteries at 3 sites in Germany and expect at least 50% of delivered vehicles to be fully electric by 2030.

MEMBERSHIP by Fred Watson

The Sierra chapter membership currently is 112 members and 138 including associates. There were 2 new members, 4 renewing members, and 3 lapsed members in past month. Fred is going to send “come on back” emails to former members. Fred has also placed club brochures in 2 additional sites that service BMWs.

TRIVIA by Pat McGoff

QUESTION: What car models have most drivers arrested for DUI?

ANSWER: Dodge Ram 2500 pickup. BMW 4 Series are 3rd on top 10 list of DUI arrests and 7 Series drivers are 7th.

GIFT OPPORTUNITY

Lance is sponsoring a drawing as part of the initiative to enroll new members. A drawing for a $50 gift certificate will be held at the Holiday Party in December. Current members will receive one entry in the drawing for each new member recruited.

UPCOMING EVENTS

  • The Second Saturday Drives (SSD) will continue. Suggested routes are solicited, just let Lance know.
  • Picnic August 22nd at Galena Regional Park.
  • Wine Tour will be last week of September.
  • Poker run will be in October.
  • November will have a car tour with date and site to be determined.
  • December will be Annual Holiday Party.
  • For details on these and other club happenings go to the club website.

DINNER

Following the meeting, members went to Napa Sonoma South for dinner.