2016 Events

2016-08-20 BMW Centenary Day and Bridgestone Red Star Raceway Track Day

Category: 2016 Published: 25 August 2016

Written by Colin van Son Hits: 2410

BMW Centenary Celebrations & Bridgestone Track Day - 20 August 2016 - Red Star Raceway

Story by Greg Reilly, Photography by RacePics.co.za

RSR 20 Aug cover pic resize

The BMW Car Club of Gauteng hosted yet another successful track day at the popular Red Star Raceway in Delmas on Saturday 20 August 2016. The event was held in conjunction with the brand’s 100th birthday Centenary celebrations. Bridgestone SA were also there with their pink squad to promote the Pink Valve Caps Project – Breast Cancer Initiative.

The day kicked off with the usual Bridgestone BMW Track School and Hot Lap sessions for those passengers who were brave enough to be taken around the track in the various cars from BMW Driving Experience which is the BMW Advanced Driving School. The Bridgestone Track Challenge also brought with it plenty of fast cars with some impressive times being recorded as the competitors made their way around the tight and technical Red Star Raceway.

The highlight of the day was certainly the Centenary parade around the circuit which started off with a static display of BMW cars and motorcycles in the shape of Africa. This was followed by a few slow laps of the circuit by the 147 cars and 256 motorcycles that had assembled to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the BMW brand. The enthusiastic participants enjoyed the opportunity of getting involved in the celebrations and the smiles and camaraderie of all involved were certainly proof of that.

Once the Centenary parade was completed the track once again opened up for the Bridgestone Track School, Hot Lap and Bridgestone Track Challenge sessions. With nothing to lose the various competitors put in their best efforts to score the fastest time on the day. The top ten results were as follows:

1) Leon Loubser (BMW E92 335i) - 2:00.393

2) Pieter Zeelie (Lotus Exige) - 2:05.225

3) Rick Loureiro (BMW E30) - 2:05.752

4) Alex Desogus (BMW E36 M3) - 2:08.079

5) Clinton Spence (Subaru Impreza WRX Sti) - 2:08.560

6) Steven Coetzer (Nissan GTR) - 2:09.972

7) Ricard Schuhardt (Porsche 911RS) - 2:11.570

8) Andreas Meier (BMW E36 STC) - 2:13.184

9) Mike Grobler (BMW E36 M3) - 2:14.161

10) Warren Dodd (BMW E36 M3) - 2:14.681

The Pink Valve Caps Project is an initiative started in October 2013 which The Pink Drive was the beneficiary. The Pink Drive is run by an individual in the private sector who relies solely on sponsorship from business. The project is geared to bridge the gap between private and public healthcare and address the needs of less fortunate and medically uninsured by introducing Mobile Health Units which take health care to the community. This has been achieved through collaborative relationships with likeminded corporate partners.

Over the past two years a total of R1 million per year was raised for The Pink Drive. In the first year alone Bridgestone SA was able to donate towards The Pink Drive’s first Mobile Mammography unit. Bridgestone SA currently supports the initiative through fund raising efforts and the sponsorship of tyres for the mobile units and support vehicles since its inception.

The Pink Valve Caps Project in support of Breast Cancer was a massive success on the day with promoters raising more than R10, 000.00 in three hours towards this worthy cause!

More about BMW Car Club Gauteng

The Club was formed in 1981 to afford likeminded enthusiasts the opportunity to interact with each other through a comprehensive calendar of events, a club magazine and website portal. The Club also organizes adrenaline and social based events such as breakfast runs, classic car gatherings, Concours d’Elegance competitions, social events, weekend trips, gymkhana’s and top speed events. The Club is proud of its family ethos where all enthusiasts are welcome. Annual membership starts from as little as R350, more information is available at www.bmwcarclub.co.za.

Pics of the day can be viewed and ordered from here: http://www.racepics.co.za/bmw-centenary-celebrations-bridgestone-track-day-20-august-2016-red-star-raceway-photographs/

RESULTS

Overall Results

Results by class

BMW CCG Time Trials Results Red Star 20.08.2016 - both overall and by class

2016 BMW CCG TT Championship - 20 August 2016

2016 TIME TRIAL CLASSES

A summary of all the BMW Clubs in Africa's Centenary Celebrations can be viewed by CLICKING HERE.

Report by: Greg Reilly

Event Photographs: www.RacePics.co.za

Media requests can be directed to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Website: www.BMWCarClub.co.za