Vintage In The Valley
One man’s classic collectible is another’s daily driver as BMW fans get together in Van Nuys.
It’s bright and early on a Saturday morning—well, okay, bright is something of an overstatement, as it is still dark. I’m leaving my place in Orange County, heading mostly west to Huntington Beach to meet up with a group of fellow BMW enthusiasts who have also dragged their butts out of the rack extra early this morning. Why are we doing this? Because we’re heading up to the San Fernando Valley to attend the third annual SoCal Vintage BMW gathering.
Sometimes cool ideas get hatched sitting around a barbecue with friends, and every now and then, one of these ideas bears fruit. The SoCal Vintage BMW event is one of these. Organizers John Barlow and Jeff d’Avanzo describe themselves as two guys whose managerial skills complement one another, and for those of us who attend these events, this is a good thing. Initially conceived as an event for cars 25 years old and older, the meet now encompasses model years into the mid-’80s, which means the 3 Series up to the E30 as well as Fivers and Sixes from the same period. But don’t think for a minute that the Neue Klasse, 02s, E9 coupes, E3 Bavarias and such are overlooked, because these cars are the bread and butter of the event, and you will see everything from freshly restored examples to barn finds in attendance.
As I head for the coffee shop in Huntington Beach, our designated meeting place for trips north, I begin to see a glistening on the freeway, and I note moisture on the windshield. What? Aw, come on! I’ve already cleaned the car twice this week!
Yeah, it’s raining—again. Now, the greater Southern California area is far better known for its temperate climate, sunshine, convertibles, and nubile blondes—but not today. It’s not all that cold, maybe in the low 60s, but it is definitely raining—or at least it’s what we refer to as rain. I have lived in the Midwest as well as the Pacific Rim, so I have experienced genuine rain, and trust me: What we have going on here is true windshield-wipers-sweeping, water-beading-on-the-wax weather. Argh! Good thing I packed a coat and hat: just might need ’em before the day is done.
Already at the coffee shop are a couple of 2002s, a couple of E9 coupes, and an M635CSi. Among the owners inside having a cup of java while they wait for the designated departure time are Ray Sterbens, Chris Macha, Marylinn Munson and her husband, Steve Johnson, Murray Fowler, John Capoccia, Paul Cain, Tom Rakestraw, and Gary Collins. Every couple of minutes another Bimmer drives up, and the owners join us in the warmth of the coffee shop. All of us are looking out at the weather and wondering how this drive is going to play out. Thankfully, several of us have been to Club driving schools; in fact, Johnson is an instructor for the West Coast chapters, so we get a bit of a pep talk going, reminding everyone to drive sensibly and watch out for the other guy.
Time to load up and head out. I’m in my E30 325iC and hang back a bit so I can be the last car; I can communicate with the leading cars via mobile phone. We’ll get there, but we’re going to take our time. From rainy Huntington Beach, Woodley Park in Van Nuys is about an hour’s drive north, in the San Fernando Valley area. This morning, however, it could take a bit longer, as Southern California drivers are better known for their ability to run into each other than for their ability to drive in rainy conditions.
But the drive turns out to be uneventful. The rain continues for another 30 miles or so, stopping just north of Los Angeles International Airport, and the remainder of the trip is in dry conditions. Arriving at Woodley Park, we pull into the parking area and check to make sure we haven’t lost anyone. Nope; in fact, we’ve gained a couple of cars that joined up en route. By design, the event isn’t put on under the umbrella of any specific CCA chapter, but a walk among the cars reveals a fair number with CCA stickers as well as plenty of familiar faces. As in prior years, attendees at the 2010 event have come not only from the greater Los Angeles area but also from the Bay Area as well as from San Diego.
“We really try to make it a relaxed event so everyone will really enjoy themselves,” says Jeff d’Avanzo. “I think I can speak for John in that we both work our butts off in the weeks up to and during the event so the folks we care about can just enjoy the show and focus on the cars and meeting old and new friends in the vintage-BMW community. We want everyone driving away with the thoughtthat they can’t wait till next year.”
Looking around the park, we see a diverse group of enthusiasts. Some are graying at the temples, and some are the youth movement that is vital to the success of BMW CCA and the local chapters. Just like members 40 years ago, when the Club’s Boston founders came together around the cars that sparked their interest, these younger folks are getting together and continuing the enthusiasm in their own way. It’s all about thatFreude am Fahren thing, the joy of driving and owning a BMW—and the friendships that we make and enjoy as a result.
Barlow and d’Avanzo have succeeded in creating an event that all levels of enthusiasts can enjoy. They even have a website where information on past and upcoming events can be found: www.socalvintagebmw.com.
