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Saturday,
September 18, 2004
Spartenburg,
almost Heaven, SC. Most of our people have gone to the BMW Performance
Center for the day, where they are all driving new BMWs on the
factory test track and then enjoying an afternoon in which each
team gets to drive a new BMW 645i around the local country roads.
Debbie and I spent the day processing and printing pictures, getting
ready for the final banquet. The Banquet featured our fearless
leader Goertz Pfafflin giving heartfelt thanks to all those who
helped make the event a success, especially Walt and Johnny Thompson,
fellow central Texas Vintage Club members who selflessly took
custody of our baggage every day, Don Dethlefson, who provided
our sag wagon---his two-car hauling truck---and two of his employees,
Matt Jeffrey and Lefty Ingram, to drive it and help take care
of mechanical problems. Finally, he thanked our own Rhett Hubertus,
who spent every day chasing ahead of Marathon participants so
that he could set up photographs as they went by.
Other speakers included Rudiger Jopp, organizer of the European
contingent of Marathon participants, who gave another thank you
speech auf Deutsch that the Germans found hilarious. Larry Koch,
of BMW NA welcomed us to BMW Manufacturing in Spartenburg and
thanked us for supporting BMW and BMW Heritage. BMW NA was an
enthusiastic supporter of the Marathon and their support made
an incredible difference in the richness of the event.
Mobile Tradition, the German BMW Group responsible for keeping
BMW Heritage alive (and parts for old cars available) was also
an event sponsor and the head of Mobile Tradition, Holger Lopp
came back from Germany yet again to be here for our final days.
Also at the banquet was a large group of delegates to the International
Council of BMW Clubs who were here in Spartenburg having their
annual meeting. BMW CCA President Scott Blazey and Executive Director
Wynne Smith were also in attendance.
Numerous Special Service Awards were distributed after dinner
and, finally, rally participation trophies were awarded to everybody.
All in all, a very fitting, but melancholy, end to the event.
A lot of us were not ready for an end, and would happily continue---though
for others who were not so used to the constant companionship
of their partners, the end may have come just in time.
Sunday,
September 19, 2004
New
Orleans, Louisiana. Of course, our own personal marathon was not
yet over, since we had another 1200 miles to drive home. We left
Spartenburg a little tearfully and headed southwest into Ivan
devastated Georgia and Alabama. We found the drive sobering as
we passed mile after mile of trees blown down, road signs destroyed,
and buildings ruined. For at least a half a day, we drove at freeway
speeds, past forested areas with huge trees uprooted and pine
trees broken off. Much of that area had more than one in ten of
the trees killed and in some smaller places, a much higher percentage.
Very sad.
We made great time heading west, especially since we were used
to 200 mile days! New Orleans French Quarter for dinner and breakfast---will
wonders never cease!
Monday,
September 20, 2004
Austin,
Texas, center of the known universe. After a leisurely start in
order to avoid local rush hour, we continued our cruise west,
stopping to visit Matthew's Automotive in Houston, Matt Groner's
BMW shop where crashed BMWs get new life. Finally home to our
own beds, where we don't have to go ask the front desk when we
forget our room number and we can find the bathroom in the dark.
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