Wasatch Chapter President -  Rich Getty   

I was born in Pittsburgh, PA where my first experience with cars was helping my dad wash/wax and do body work to countless Corvairs. I definitely learned my obsession with clean cars from my dad. When I finally turned 16, I went on a date with a beautiful young lady on a cold, snowy night in a 1968 navy blue Corvair and much to our surprise, at the bottom of the hill to her house, the car caught on fire! It took the fire department about 20 minutes to get to the scene because of the storm and the back of the car, where the engine resided and the fire had started, was totaled. The fire became so hot that the tires actually melted to the road! The sad part was that the car was a gorgeous, deep dark blue show car that was scheduled to be in a parade the following day!

My interest in BMW’s began in 1998. I was driving an older, full-size American sedan and was looking for a replacement. The idea of a newer car of the same type was not appealing enough to warrant the change. SUV’s were very popular, but I had a pickup truck to use when needed. I began to develop a vision of a practical car like a sedan, but that handled well and was fun to drive. I got a chance to drive my father-in-law’s 1980 E21 320i and thought I’d found a possibility worth exploring. The car handled well, was fun to drive, had a manual four speed, seated four, and had a reasonable trunk. It was, after all, a sport sedan.

A friend whom I met for breakfast each week furthered my interest in BMW’s. He had driven them for years and was currently driving an E39 540i. He was a natural salesman, so he gave me a brief review of the features, benefits, and advantages to the Ultimate Driving Machine. After that, I began in earnest to find a BMW that met my needs. After some searching in the used market, I decided to order a new E46 323i in December 1998. We took delivery in March 1999 and I joined the BMW Car Club in April. There was no local chapter, so I became a member of the Las Vegas Sin City chapter.

Over the next few years, I went to several BMW High Performance driving schools. Also, I attended the first organizational meeting for the formation of the Wasatch Chapter of the BMW CCA and have been active in the Club ever since, helping with events such as our Car Control Clinic.

We enjoyed our 3-series BMW so much that in 2001, my wife was in the market for a 5-series. She’d driven several when she had an opportunity to purchase a 2001 E39 540i that our neighbor was turning in off a six-month lease. He was way under the mileage, so he was pleased to have us take it for an extended test drive. We took it up Little Cottonwood and Parley’s Canyons in a spirited fashion and decided that this car was both exciting and met her needs, so we bought it.

In 2005, our son Keith had been out of college and employed in Los Angeles for almost a year, so he was ready to purchase his own vehicle to replace the full-size American sedan he’d borrowed from us. While initially targeting a new Mini, he kept watching the used BMW ads in L.A. He was searching for one with a manual transmission, so the choices were very limited. He finally found a 1995 E36 M3 that met his criteria. While he drives a lot of miles in L.A. traffic, he has found an abundance of wonderful mountain drives in the surrounding foothills for weekends.

As a BMW family, it is always interesting to note how much we enjoy driving our cars every day. I periodically get a call from Shirley when she’s just driven home from work and she says, “I love my car.”

When Keith drove home for a visit, we got a picture of all three of our BMW’s parked in the driveway.

The car that started it all for Don.

When I was in the process of buying my home I saw an e30M3 on the used car lot at BMW of Murray.  This was in 92 and if I remember correctly the car was about $25,000.  I really liked the lines of the car and thought it look aggressive but understated.  I just couldn’t justify spending that kind of money when I was trying to qualify for a mortgage. If anyone gets to know me, they will learn that I spend quite a bit of time deciding before I actually act.  I have impulses but they seem to go on for what other would consider an extended duration.

It probability was a year later when we bought our home and another three before I started looking again at newer cars in earnest.  In that time I learned about e30M3.  The more I learned about the car the more I wanted one.  I also read quite a bit about other BMW’s and considered buying less expensive models.  I finally started looking at e30M3 and e36’s that came up in the paper every once and a while.  

During this process, I talked a long time with one of the sellers who is a member of a California chapter and was going to BYU.  He told me to join the car club and get educated on the cars.   Well I took his advice, joined BWM CCA and continued to look for an e30M3.  Over the period of a couple of years I must have looked at about 10 e30M3 and lots of other BMW’s, driving my wife nuts.  In 98, (see I told you it takes me a long time for me to actually act on an impulse) in the Roundel, I found what appeared to be a nicely priced e30M3 in Grand Junction, Colorado.  Its mileage was high but the mechanic who looked the car over said I wouldn’t be disappointed.  Well the seller agreed to meet me in Wellington (near Price) and I drove down with a cashier’s check in hand, hoping that I would end up with the car.  It was all as the seller presented it to be, a nice rather high mileage car (135,000 miles).  The AC wasn’t working but the seller said it just blew a fuse.   I bought it and drove home from Wellington in my new e30M3 on a hot August day without AC.  On my way home, I hit 100+ MPH in Price Canyon and knew I had the right car. 

I have since found out that the AC problem is a common malady in e30’s.  The ground wire frays from abrasion against its jacket. BMW of Murray fixed the AC problem without a hitch.  The gentleman who sold me the car said he was selling it because his wife couldn’t see over the wing, but I think it was because his mechanic couldn’t find the problem with the AC.  In any event it has been a great car.  Others have been impressed with how little beyond standard maintenance I have had to perform on the car.

I become actively involved with the car club when Sin City was asked to include Utah in their chapter.  They advertised for a local liaison.  Brandon and I replied to this ad, along with about 3 others.  Brandon and I teamed up over a piece of pie at Marie Calendars and brought this current chapter to life.  With the help of BMW of Murray and lots of suggestions from others, we advertised a General Meeting that BMW of Murray hosted.  This meeting lead to the nomination of our first Board, among whom were Mark Hanson, David Cianto, Kevin Heiner, Brandon Hill and me.  It has been very rewarding to become part of the founding group of our current Wasatch Chapter.  I was the Wasatch chapter’s first president and now the Historian. I have since met Ray Carrier and may others who were members of the old chapter, the Bonneville Chapter.  Being involved with the club has given me some close personal friendships and has led me into the club driving schools.  My involvement in this chapter has been very fun and I am glad that I became involved. 

O yes, I am also now making BMW of Murray a little nuts (also my wife, again); I am beginning my search for an e46-325xi.  Though, this car will be for her.  Maybe this time it won’t take me years to buy one.  After we get her a new one, then maybe I’ll think about an e30-325ix as a daily driver, we will see, but it is fun to look.  Rest assured the e30M3 will reside in my stable for quite a bit longer.  Now if only we bought a bigger garage…

I was born and raised in Provo, and started my love affair with cars at a very early age.   As the youngest I watched my siblings go through lots of exotic cars including an Austin Healey, MG, Alpha Romeo, Rover, several Morgans, Porsches, Lotus' and Ferrari's, even a Rochdale Olympic! 

My first car was a panel truck (it was after all the 60's) then several muscle cars, mostly Dodge R/T's , Coronet, Chargers, Challengers and the like, very fast in a straight line but not pretty to stop and/or steer. .  My first real "sports" car was a very short stint with a very high maintenance Corvette; my first German car was a Porsche 911T. 

I had always admired BMW's, particularly the "shark" nose on the 6-series and early E-23 7-series cars. I spotted an 81 735i for sale for $3000 a decade ago and was surprised that such a car was well within my price range!  I passed on that car because it hadn't been very well maintained, but it did start me looking in earnest for something similar.  I found a Bronzit 84 745i for sale in Bountiful, not the nose I wanted but the incredible torque from the turbo motor made up for it, I was soon hooked.  I joined the BMWCCA shortly after.

That car was hit twice while parked in March 1997 and totaled, but I negotiated with the insurance company to keep it for parts, as I knew I would own another one.  I located a suitable replacement in Phoenix, and Genae and I flew down in August and drove home the 85 Bahama Beige 745i. 

In 1998 I had the good fortune to be one of the 14 M-Roadster winners in the annual CCA raffle, and BMWNA flew us all to Spartanburg in November for the first annual "M-Day" celebration!  We took a factory tour, had the opportunity to thrash M-Coupes on the test track, had dinner with the race team, and enjoyed several other memorable events.  I decided to pass on the roadster and take the cash instead.  We had just bought a 911SC Targa, a roadster of sorts (with almost a back seat) for less than it would have cost us just to pay the taxes to win the new car!  This windfall probably makes me the only chapter member who is "cash flow positive" on BMW's.

In August 2001 I purchased an 88 325 for my daughter who was just getting her drivers license.  It has been a very sweet car and still runs great at 225K miles.

In September 2001 Kurt Z drew my attention to a gorgeous black 88 ///M6 in Paradise California that seemed underpriced, so I took a friend and flew down and drove it home.  It was a wonderful car but impossible to keep clean, and I found the ///M motor was complicated and difficult for me to work on. I decided it was just too nice for me, so it was sold in 2003.

In February 2002, a collectors 1986 Burgundy 745I with very low miles came available in Philadelphia, so I took a couple of friends and flew out to buy that car and drive it home, we call it the Plum.

In May 2002 I found an 85 745I in SLC, terrible paint/body/interior and a blown trans, but with a motor that purrs, we call it the Kludge.  I bought it cheap and dragged it home just for the motor.  I had made the decision sell the ///M6 and start looking for a 6-series to transplant the turbo motor into.

In September 2002 I located a fairly clean 635CSI in Mission Viejo.  My son Riley and I flew out and brought it home with non-operable AC, it was 118 degrees in Baker!  We consumed about 3 gallons of water between Barstow and Vegas without a pit stop, go figure.  I have lowered the car and installed a UUC short shift kit, but it runs so sweet at 190K miles with the normally aspirated engine that I am having a hard time getting motivated to transplant the turbo motor into it.  It is still on the agenda though, perhaps next summer.     

A non-bimmerphile friend introduced me recently as a car collector, I protested and he said "what else would you call someone that owns 7 BMW's and a Porsche all at one time"?

I really enjoy working on these cars, and I have been to about 6 driving schools (Porsche & BMW).  I really enjoy the club events and have made some very good friends with my affiliation with the Wasatch Chapter.   

  Since I was a young boy I would work on cars with my father.  It was not long before I fell in love with the automobile.  I remember wishing my dad would keep his 1965 Chevrolet Impala for me to have as my first car.  But at that time I was too young and the car was soon sold.  In High School I rebuilt my first car, a 72 Plymouth Cuda’.   While driving around I started to notice this real sexy car.  After a while I was able to identify it as a BMW 3.0CS.  I knew I had to have one but seeing one for sale and reading the sale price I didn’t think it would ever happen. 

  In 2000 my wife, knowing I loved the BMW 3.0CS, started to suggest that I get one for a fun project car.  We had just sold our 67 Mustang GT 390 fast back and home felt a little empty.  Well the search was on.  Just like before the price of the car seemed too high and to have not gone down in price over the years.  Finally I located a 1973 BMW 3.0CSi in California for what seemed to be a reasonable price (the CSi was a European only car). After contacting the owner I set of to San Diego to meet.  The car had been sitting for several years as its owner had passed away never able to rebuild the car.  His wife was selling the car in hopes that it would be rebuilt by an enthusiast.   The deal was made and I started the drive home. 

  Driving home I exited in Fillmore, Utah to get fuel and rest.  As I was exiting the freeway I was unable to shift gears.  I got to the local Ford dealer and they filled the empty gear box up with some oil.  I started back on the road and by the time I got to the freeway the gear box was shifting again.  I made it home and my new project was under way.  I have done a lot of work but I hope it will never end. 

  I purchased a 1998 M3 Convertible with DINAN upgrades to serve as a commuter / “work free” car.  It has been a great car but it took some time for me to learn to keep my foot out of the accelerator and to keep the police out from behind me. 

  I joined the BMW CCA and decided it would be more fun if I got more involved.  When the  Newsletter Editor position opened up I decided to give it a go.  I have never done a Newsletter so if you would like to see something new in it please feel free to make suggestions.  This way our club will be better for all of us.   Get involved and have some fun.

I purchased my first BMW (330 I) in January, 2001 and it was stolen 6 weeks later. This turned out to be a good thing! Because of this, I purchased a 2002 M5 and have been adding to the bimmer stable at an alarming rate.

I participated in my first High Performance Driving School in May, 2002 and got hooked. To date (April 2005) I have more than 50 track under my belt. I have installed a digital movie camera in the 2 cars I track and the feedback attained is absolutely stupendous. Prior to track events, I change out the front brake pads, rotors, and tires. Numerous performance upgrades have been installed on both vehicles. My current (April 2005) bimmer roster is as follows:2002 M5 Sedan, 1997 M3 E36, 2001 X5 4.4 SAV , and a 1999 M3 Coupe.

Membership Chair -  Dan Ernst db_ernst at msn dot com

From an early age, I have always been a interested and passionate about motor sports and cars. In my early driving years I drove a 1955 Volkswagon with over 250k miles and had access to Detroit muscle cars. I moved up to a 1969 Bug with no motor that I picked up from my brother. Not one to leave things alone, I built a motor for the car that was not normal to say the least and made changes to the suspension. The fun factor was high and my friends still talk about the car. I didn’t have to go down hill to bury the needle or load up my friends to go skiing and pull over 70+ mph up mountain passes.

Domestic responsibility relegated me to family cars since. Then in 2005, I decided it was time for a new car and kept talking to my wife, Anna about ideas. We looked at X-3’s for a family car the year before, but the timing wasn’t right. Then the though occurred to me, why do I need 4x4, the kid inside kept saying rear wheel drive, manual gearbox, fun factor.

BMW kept coming up. Researching and test driving I decided on the E46. In November of 2005, I found the car I was looking for, 1999 328i with premium package and sports package. There were a few issues but I purchased the car anyway and have since got them sorted out. The fun factor is great.

My wife like the car but still wanted a family car that was not prone to issues. The Volvo was having issues along with not many options for a reasonable fixes. You got it, X-3 became part of our garage set this last March. A 2004 X-3 with premium and sports package was found in Los Angeles and driven back. The kid prevails.

As I stated above, I cannot leave things along so the planning is in the works to make adjustments to the 328i. Stay tuned!

My first BMW consisted of a European 1981 323i.  This was my high school car (amongst others) and I enjoyed the car tremendously.  Deep down inside I knew I would own BMW's later in life, this came true in 2001 when I purchase a beautiful Schwarz 1990 BMW 535i.  After two lovely years of driving this wonderful car, I treated myself to a little something with a lot more power!  The DINAN 5 vessel as I call it, is something else and I thoroughly enjoy the whopping 320 HP she has!  One day in the future I can foresee an M5! (ahem, Jeff?) - *Update - As of Feb. 2007 my dream has come true.  The 540i Dinan 5 was sold to an enthusiast in South Carolina, and I acquired the gorgeous 2002 BMW M5 in Imola Red from an enthusiast in California!  My wife and I took a flight and drove her home on Valentines Day!!  

Have an M5?  Check out www.UtahM5.com for a Utah group of M5 owners! 

 Feel free to gander at my personal website on my BMW's here!

I have attended a few track events at this point and will continue to take part in the fun.  I am also a Emergency Vehicle Operator driving instructor and attend and instruct yearly driving events.

See you on the road (& track)! - Johnny