The 50th anniversary of BMW Motorsport will begin in the United States next month when the BMW CCA Foundation presents The Power of M at The Ultimate Driving Museum in Greer, South Carolina. Featuring 25 cars and a motorcycle from across the history of BMW Motorsport, the show will open to the public on May 16. In anticipation of the official opening of the exhibition, a limited number of tickets are available for the May 13 celebration rally at the BMW Zentrum in Gree, South Carolina.
This gala will recognize iconic figures in the history of BMW motorsport, such as the founder of the M brand – Joachen Nirpas. Also on hand will be Eddie Chiver, a member of the original BMW junior team created by Nirpash in 1977 and the winner of the 1998 Indy 500. You can buy tickets for the May 13 rally and details of other events at BMWCCAF50. Tickets to the Ultimate Driving Museum just a few miles from the BMW Zentrum to see the May 14 display are included.
“For the first time, the iconic members of M Motorsport and these notable cars will come together as part of BMW Motorsport’s 50th anniversary celebrations,” said Bruce Hazard, board trustee and head of the exhibition committee at The Ultimate Driving Museum. “We are honored to have Joachim Nirpas and Eddie Chiver join us to raise a toast to the golden jubilee of BMW Motorsport.”
Here are some iconic BMW cars on The Power of M display:
BMW 3.0 CSL Batmobile
3.0 CSL “Batmobile”, the first car made by the newly formed BMW Motorsport as an equivalent specifically for racing in the European Touring Car Championship, and a very early racing CSL, campaigned for the Dutch national team to win the series.
BMW M1 Supercar
An original 1979 M1 Procar with a Roadguing M1, the first M-badged car manufactured by BMW Motorsport.
E30 M3 Johnny Sekoto
An exclusive E36 M3 lit alongside the rare Steve Soper M3 with a remarkable history in DTM racing, as well as the rare Johnny Secotto special edition of the Roadgowing E30 M3, and an E36 M3 for Team PTG’s victory in the American Le Mans series.
Almost all M5 generation
Five generations of M5, from the original E28 M5 to F10.
1M, E92 M3 Lime Rock and E90 M3 CRT
Not for a pre-production 1 Series M coupe, a rare Lime Rock version E92 M3, and a US E90 M3 CRT.
BMW M8 GTE
A former team RLL Daytona was promoted on the 24-hour M8 GTE, such as IMSA.
BMW M635CSi Euro-spec
Although not technically an M car, the motorsport-enhanced 2002 Turbo, with a Euro-spec M635CSi.
The first BMW M superbike
BMW’s 100-year-old race-winning sport motorcycle tradition is represented by the M 1000 RR Superbike, built by BMW Motorrad in its first collaboration with BMW Motorsport.
The first 3.0 CSL racing car
The display will have 3.0 CSL No. 2211352, which is considered to be the first CSL to enter such a race. The Dutch National Racing Team promoted it with great success from 1972-75.
E46 M3 CSL
The display will also feature the E46 M3 CSL, one of only a handful of US CSLs with special features including sophisticated aerodynamics. Many of these parts were made of carbon fiber at the F1 facility of Landsuit, Bavaria’s BMW, which helped CSL lose 250 pounds compared to a standard E46 M3.
The Power of M: Sponsors and supporters of the 50th anniversary exhibition include Tire Rack, Continental Tire, FCP Euro, BMW Value Services, BMW North America, The Werk Shop, CocoMats, Century BMW, Hagerty and Enthusiast Auto Group.
The exhibition will be commemorated with new photographs and archival photographs by Klaus Schneitzer, as well as a wonderfully produced book featuring the authentic history of each car and M brand / BMW motorsport, with text from Jackie Jurrett. The books will be sold through the BMW CCA Foundation Store as well as Amazon.