Andrew 30 Report post Posted June 20, 2007 Taming of the hoons By SARAH MACDONALD Wednesday, 20 June 2007 • Howick and Botany Times TAMING hoons and encouraging respect for performance vehicles has a popular car club on the road to success. Ollie McDermott, Andrew Timms and Glenn Osborne at the Bimmersport Club event at Botany Motor Worx last weekend. Photo supplied. The Bimmersport Club started as a small online forum for BMW enthusiasts to talk about their beloved cars. “Back in 2003, Andrew Timms, being a keen BMW fan, founded the website,†says Bimmersport director Ollie McDermott. “It really just scaled up from there. Last year we commercialised it because we’ve got almost 2000 members and we get over 1000 unique hits on the website each day.†The internet-based community soon came together at events and meetings. “Our target audience is the 20 to 30 year-old age bracket, but we’ve also got 60-year-olds,†says Mr McDermott. “The key thing about our club is we’ve got a really good culture of responsible driving. We encourage people to be proud of their cars, respect the powerful German cars and we don’t have a culture of doing silly skids or races.†The website encourages speed fiends to take their talents to the racetrack. “People need to get involved in organised motor sport at tracks and we host a forum for the BMW race series,†says Mr McDermott. “I think the government can keep going for the compulsory insurance and taking away boy racers’ cars, but it’s not going to change attitudes. The culture we’ve got going is quite a bit different to that.†More than 60 Bimmersport members gathered at Botany Motor Worx for a special event on Saturday. “The day included a show and shine where people clean their car for prizes. We had a brand new BMW 335i Motor Sport, which we put on the hoist and a new M6. We also had the Bimmersport race car there,†says Mr McDermott. Botany Motor Worx owner Glenn Osborne says he sponsors Bimmersport’s website and events because of the safe driving message. “Our intention really is to educate young kids. We’re all BMW enthusiasts, but we have problems on our roads with kids that can afford high performance cars,†says Mr Osborne. “They try to do stupid things to make themselves look cool. We’re trying to get through to them that being cool isn’t being a hoon or driving around in a dangerous car with chopped springs.†Mr Osborne says more mature club members influence the less experienced. “Even if we only help one young person out there, stop them hurting themselves or someone else, then we’ve obviously achieved something,†he says. “There seems to be no education programme in place in this country. Stopping boy racers is all a police threat, but that’s half the excitement for some of these kids.†Mr McDermott has sent letters to transport authorities outlining how street racing could be minimised. “I’m not sure how far I got with that really,†he says. “We’ll keep trying.†Bimmersport members across the country advertise their club affiliation with stickers on their back windscreens. “We’ve even got members from overseas,†says Mr McDermott. “We get comments everyday of people saying how glad they are they’ve found us.†For more information go to www.bimmersport.co.nz. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bravo 34 Report post Posted June 20, 2007 Nice one. Top effort. I have printed it out and left it in the staff room at work. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
*Glenn* 854 Report post Posted June 20, 2007 (edited) Why dont we try for a Government grant ??....lol Why not ?? I should've invited Helen Clark Edited June 20, 2007 by botanymotorworx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hartage 0 Report post Posted June 20, 2007 excellent News item, This is good for the site and younger drivers. Onl thing is am not sure about all this " Mr ..... bits " Hahahahahhaa Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
martyyn 2 Report post Posted June 20, 2007 (edited) Hahaha Mr McDermott this, Mr McDermott that.....Andy thanks for coming Edited June 20, 2007 by Penry Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Silver Fox 43 Report post Posted June 20, 2007 Who is he, haven't heard of anyone around here with that name. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
*sic 1 Report post Posted June 20, 2007 ollie. smiley on the left of the pic. nice one lads good to see the growing profile Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hybrid 1039 Report post Posted June 20, 2007 nice work ... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
B*Emz 0 Report post Posted June 20, 2007 Fantastico! Well done guys! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
drifty325i 0 Report post Posted June 20, 2007 Whoa nice work guys. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OLLIE 26 Report post Posted June 20, 2007 haha i was quoted sooo muich in that article, but it's all positive. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Phil Ken Sebben Report post Posted June 21, 2007 Good effort. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Carl 3 Report post Posted June 21, 2007 Excellent quotes Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Deftones 0 Report post Posted June 22, 2007 Nice work guys. I'll try to p1mp out bimmersport from this side of the world as well. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hybrid 1039 Report post Posted June 22, 2007 THE FACE OF BIMMERSPORT Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew 30 Report post Posted June 22, 2007 Hahaha Mr McDermott this, Mr McDermott that.....Andy thanks for coming Yeah they forgot me hah. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OLLIE 26 Report post Posted June 22, 2007 THE FACE OF BIMMERSPORThaha what does the ass of bimmersport look like? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bravo 34 Report post Posted June 22, 2007 That's a veritable can of worms. Wold post a pic but would prob get banned. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BMW POWER 2 Report post Posted June 23, 2007 ^^ But they don't hear about that kinda stuff do they? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
