From the July issue of the BMW Car Club Magazine

"The annual Connemara run is now fixed for Saturday 25th August, which will take a route called the Connemara Loop with a lunch stop in Letterfrack, lets hope for sunshine."

Kevin Barry the organisor has asked me to start a topic here on the forum to update people on the event.

If you are interested in participating in the event or want further information, either reply here or PM me and I will pass on queries to Kevin

Now lets see if I can finally get St Judith out of the garage???

Daxklynsmith wrote: Now lets see if I can finally get St Judith out of the garage???

If you need a push start, let us know!

I will be there

hope the route dosn't go trough Leenan as the bridge there is still b*llixed one lane one suposed to be finished soon tho. I'm up there for work twice till then so can check if needs be.

I'll do my best to make it. All going well i'll be there.

digweed wrote: I'll have to check but I'd say that I'll be there, whether I'll bring the two or the four wheel variety of transport I don't know yet. D.

No chance of helping me with setup, then???

Hi All

Kevin has updated me with the time and meeting place

http://www.connemaragateway.com/htmlsite/location.asp - Gateway Hotel , Oughterard, Co Galway at 10:30 August 25th

He is looking forward to meeting you all there

nn_dd wrote: Be up for that, but a bit early............will be a few of us Limerclartipponions on the way up.

Begining to sound like we may have a convoy!

Hi lads

sounds good count me in

nn_dd wrote: Be up for that, but a bit early............will be a few of us Limerclartipponions on the way up.

Is that 'onions for short???

nn_dd wrote: Fey! wrote: nn_dd wrote: Be up for that, but a bit early............will be a few of us Limerclartipponions on the way up. Is that 'onions for short??? Well, being from Dublin - All Ireland SFC Winners 2007 - for short - would be preferred.....

Looking forward to meeting some limericks with clear tipped onions and a few short Dubliners.

Digweed, happened to pass your car at Johns Gerridge today, what dropped into your engine??

As for the offers to push St gertrude out of gerridge, yes please, and when we get to the famine rd, plse push harder, would'nt do for BM to go there slowly ,  

I can see the utube video already,  a brown cloud of disintegrating rust with occassional flashes of 17 spoked BBS replicas moving across the Connemara flats with intermittent showers and thunderflashes trying to pass a Volvo whilst under tow.

Daxklynsmith wrote: Digweed, happened to pass your car at Johns Gerridge today, what dropped into your engine??

It might be my 330 you saw? 

I had an occassional fault a few weeks ago where the EML and ASC lights would come up, the cruise disengage and it went in to limp home mode.  John diagnosed a faulty coil pack but unfortunately, while changing the plugs at the same time one disintegrated and some pieces fell in to a cylinder.  He thought he got them all but there was obviously something still there so we ended up with a bent valve.  The head has been off to retrieve the bits, check the head and replace the valve, etc.  I think he has all the bits back so I should have it back soon.

Ouch!!!! sorry Dairmut/Dairmud/Dermot/Dergside, I get confused at times!!!

Yeah, looked deep into the pots and felt for you.

I've now had my original head rebuilt  (which does'nt have the sound of umpteen clattering tappets) and am trying to get up the enthusiasm to change  heads again!!!!

All thats stopping me is that St Jude has'nt been on the road as such since Kinvara and I'm wondering wether to test all the Hoses/connections with the older noisier head first??

Besides, she's carrying about a ton extra in body filler and assorted metal strips now.

Looks like the Connemara Run is going to be a good event again this year with nearly 10 people having expressed their intention of doing the event so far.

So if you are doing nothing and looking for a challenging extremely scenic drive be there at the http://www.connemaragateway.com/htmlsite/location.asp - Gateway Hotel , Oughterard, Co Galway at 10:30 August 25th

How many are "nearly 10 people" - 9?

See you there. Looking forward to my first meet.

Edit: I've been trying to persuade my friend with an E83 to join in (I don't think his wife will let him but I'll keep trying).

Dergside wrote: On previous runs the roads have been reasonably surfaced R grade roads and generally of the fun variety, traffic permitting, with good scenary thrown in.  There shouldn't be anything that would give rise to damage but it would be prudent to be watchful for the occassional pothole!

Or the Chairman in a mint E30 convertible braketesting you while you gaze aimlessly at the scenery!

Dergside wrote: I wasn't going to mention that Ben.....

Now why does that ring a bell in my memory....??

Well I just about know every road in Connemara, it's fine for a run, just watch out for the occasional pot hole or step ( inagh valley great for them and between Creerach church to Leenane......

Might try and make it for half of it, anyway this is the link to the loop.

http://www.goconnemara.com/ - http://www.goconnemara.com/

Enjoy..

Daxklynsmith wrote: Dergside wrote: I wasn't going to mention that Ben.....   Now why does that ring a bell in my memory....??

It was when we were out driving by the side of a lake i cant remember, Kevin spotted me daydreaming and slammed on the brakes in front of me, i nearly lost my life!!

Enjoy the run, lads; great piece of countryside.

Unfortunately, it yet again clashes with the Galway Rally, so I'll be out setting up our stage.

Ye're all welcome to come and marshal on the stage on the Sunday before ye go home.......

Ben O Brien wrote: i nearly lost my life!!

..... as well as a big lump of thread from one spot on your tyres once you hit the anchors!

Ben O Brien wrote: Daxklynsmith wrote: Dergside wrote: I wasn't going to mention that Ben.....   Now why does that ring a bell in my memory....?? It was when we were out driving by the side of a lake i cant remember, Kevin spotted me daydreaming and slammed on the brakes in front of me, i nearly lost my life!!

That was a bit stupid of him ?  All well and good having a bit of fun, but that's the sort of antic that gets a big no no in my book - no matter who he is/was/wannabe.

From what I remember it certainly was'nt deliberate , the scenery was stunning ,everyone was rubbernecking, a moments innattention.

It wasn't deliberate.  I was behind Ben when it happened.  Kevin was just braking to deal with the road conditions.

Yeah, that's my point, a gentle joke, between people who know each other is taken literally firstly by nn_dd and then followed by Larzyh.

Option1) Do not ever say anything that may be misconscrewed (Spelling deliberate) by anyone  who may well feel offended by any un-pc statement.

Option2) Think before you post an attack (wannebe????) on a gentle guy who sets up a run every year ,helps a lot of people,does a lot of thankless tasks just for the sheer enjoyment of owning a superb piece of machinery.

My riposte is not to Ben or Diarmot or those on the run who enjoyed the teasing but to nn-dd or larzyh .

If you have a problem with my comments regarding your attack on Kevin, kindly pm me as I doubt either Ben or Dergside would wish to slate Kevin .

Dick Klynsmith

(A very grumpy old man)

Hi Dick,

Grumpy indeed, no need to PM, seeming as you so kindly have posted your thoughts up on the forum. If it wasn't deliberate it wasn't, my comment was based on the "brake testing" not the teasing of it between people who know each other. My slating was of a "brake tester", it doesn't matter to me who that person to be. Just glad it didn't have a sour ending.

Its all very well to make comment after you hear all the facts been aired, so I suggest for yourself to reign in on your own eagerness to jump on a statement that I have made without first letting me apologise for any offence that I may have caused, by getting hold of the wrong end of the stick.

Kevin's work within the community is well known and appreciated, which exabberated my thought process on the whole thing and I can understand your defense of somebody who has done so much.

So, apologies to Kevin and with all respect Dick, I'll call it as it see it in the future regardless.

Nigel Delaney

(even grumpier)

Can we please leave it at that is this is going off topic, hope to see all at the Connemara run - even if it's in the Volvo !

nn_dd wrote: Can we please leave it at that is this is going off topic, hope to see all at the Connemara run - even if it's in the Volvo !

Ha ha Nigel i can see the two of us being asked to leave this board before long for bringing Volvos to events! I brought the poor 960 to the burren run and led the group!

And tbh it aint looking likely ill be in a BM for this either... nailing a roundel onto the jeep as we speak!

As for the "braketesting" incident, i dont think it was intentional and even if it was the whole thing was meant in good humour im just glad im not still paying to rebuild the back end of his immaculate E30 convertible!

Ben O Brien wrote: Ha ha Nigel i can see the two of us being asked to leave this board before long for bringing Volvos to events

If 635CSI can make it we could make it a joint BMW and Volvo car club event!

The joy of forums (fora?) is that they allow fairly un-edited expression of points of view. I stated mine in relation to "braketesting", a term not used first be either nn_dd nor I in relation to this issue; I stand by that statement.

I appreciate that the incident referred to was in fact not a case of "braketesting".

I will extend my sincere apologies to anybody who felt that I personalised the discussion as that was certainly not my intention. I hope to meet both Kevin and Dick at future events and hope there are no hard feelings.

Dergside wrote: Ben O Brien wrote: Ha ha Nigel i can see the two of us being asked to leave this board before long for bringing Volvos to events If 635CSI can make it we could make it a joint BMW and Volvo car club event!

Might be nearly as many Volvo's as BMW's then , while you guys will be enjoying crisp handling and taking on the undulating surfaces - I'll go falling asleep wondering what bad roads.....

I'll also be giving seminars in the following categories, Power Understeer, Living with Torque Steer and then demonstrating  how to show a clear pair of heels to a 530 until you meet a corner. Bookings taken on the day - if I get the M3 back next week, it's going to be a busy one as the NCT and Tax are up since April !!!!

Ok,Ok, so I'm suffering from from a bad case of PMS brought on by crows feet through the pearl coat after 7 careful layers between whatever b****rdised cheap thinners the Previous owner used on the Boot and the bonnet.

My apologies for attacking Nigel and LarzyH.

Unless I can lay Barcoat, primer , undercoat ,pearlcoat and Clearcoat between this Saturday and Next then I too will be driving something other than a BMW on the 25th.

Sorry guys im prob blind, but what time are ppl meeting up and what exact location? Ill be there in my m3, and also trying to convence friends to bring 840 & 750 fingers crossed.  Look forward to it.  Also what time does it tend to finish?

digweed wrote: nn_dd wrote: Dergside wrote: Ben O Brien wrote: Ha ha Nigel i can see the two of us being asked to leave this board before long for bringing Volvos to events If 635CSI can make it we could make it a joint BMW and Volvo car club event! Might be nearly as many Volvo's as BMW's then , while you guys will be enjoying crisp handling and taking on the undulating surfaces - I'll go falling asleep wondering what bad roads..... I'll also be giving seminars in the following categories, Power Understeer, Living with Torque Steer and then demonstrating  how to show a clear pair of heels to a 530 until you meet a corner. Bookings taken on the day - if I get the M3 back next week, it's going to be a busy one as the NCT and Tax are up since April !!!! If I bring the bike I'll give the seminar on how to show a clean pair of heels to an M3 . D

...............until you meet a corner

Daxklynsmith wrote: Ok,Ok, so I'm suffering from from a bad case of PMS brought on by crows feet through the pearl coat after 7 careful layers between whatever b****rdised cheap thinners the Previous owner used on the Boot and the bonnet. My apologies for attacking Nigel and LarzyH. Unless I can lay Barcoat, primer , undercoat ,pearlcoat and Clearcoat between this Saturday and Next then I too will be driving something other than a BMW on the 25th.

No Probs Dax, could be a scenario where there will be more non-BMW's due to too many BMW's broken down....

Well, the time is approaching.  Just wondering how many definites we might have at this stage?

Barring the unforeseen, I'll be there.

Confirmed:

• Dergside
• Ben O'Brien
• kizersozsy
• Larzyh
• Daxklynsmith

Hi guy's

do you mind if i tag along with you all for the connemara run? i'll be driving a little 320 baur tc 20 years old alpine white

hi ben

cheers, looking forward to it, what time and where are they meeting?

I am still on for Saturday. Anybody meeting up beforehand in the Limerick/Clare/Tipp are; if so, where and when would be convenient - any suggestions?

Welcome kizersozsy.

See you there.

thanks larzyh

It'll be great if the sunshines,  see ye there, i'll be in the e reg baur tc alpine white, no laughing but shes 20 years old and in very good order but needs a bit of tlc

Nice 1 chris

but dont think i'll see much of you with that 540i lol

No one will laugh at the baur, ill be bringing a toyota! plenty of fun to poke at that!

@ larzy, ill be coming from newmarket on fergus but seen as its saturday ill more than likely be out friday night and be leaving from limerick city as well if i stay over in town. Nigel and Diarmuid will probably be leaving from killaloe direction but we will see what the story is and maybe meet up on the way if it suits?

kizersozsy wrote: no laughing but shes 20 years old and in very good order but needs a bit of tlc

You'll be welcome along with the Baur.  A couple of years ago Kevin, the event organizer had his e21 323i Baur along.  If the weather is as predicted then you should get a chance to drop the roof.  In that case people will be jealous, not laughing.

Nigel, Diarmuid and Ben - I think we should add to the trip by meeting up along the way.

Do you travel cross-country coming from Killaloe or do you go through Limerick? We could meet up at one of the hotel car-parks, say Two-Mile inn (Dirty Nelly's is a bit early:-)).

My GPS indicates 1:40 minute travelling time to the Gateway so we should leave, perhaps, around 8:45.

Please let me know what you think.

LarsP.

Hi fey

your close but i'm out the headford road 2miles,

Fey

You probably see me skooting about in the baur, you can hear it before you see it, theres a silly loud exhaust on it which im taking off at my first opportunity...does'nt suit a classic like a baur,

must admit there's a nice growl off the 6 cylinder

larzyh wrote: Nigel, Diarmuid and Ben - I think we should add to the trip by meeting up along the way.

Larzyh, not sure yet what time I'll be heading away at yet as Mrs D may want to do a bit of retail therapy in Galway while I'm touring the countryside.  If so, it'll mean a slight detour in to the city, etc. so don't bank on me hooking up along the way.  I usually go cross country to get on to the Galway/Limerick road near Gort.

Hey,

I can meet up with you at the Two Mile Inn if it suits? Albeit in a Landcruiser! If im staying at home fri night ill meet up with ye on the dual carriageway or whatever, probably just after the shannon airport flyover or the clare inn flyover,

Well talk sooner the time anyway,

Cheers

Ben

Dergside wrote: Larzyh, not sure yet what time I'll be heading away at yet as Mrs D may want to do a bit of retail therapy in Galway while I'm touring the countryside.

I know this delightful little jewellery/antique shop on Cross Street you can leave her in to spend your hard earned...

[QUOTE=Fey!]I know this delightful little jewellery/antique shop on Cross Street you can leave her in to spend your hard earned.../QUOTE]

Her birthday was last week. Where were you then with that bright idea.....! 

Fey! wrote: Dergside wrote: Larzyh, not sure yet what time I'll be heading away at yet as Mrs D may want to do a bit of retail therapy in Galway while I'm touring the countryside. I know this delightful little jewellery/antique shop on Cross Street you can leave her in to spend your hard earned...

I can recommend it's for a good cause , the owner has a BMW to support.

Righto guy's

I'm off now to get the wee baur cleaned and polished up fpr tomorrow,,,,,,,Hope it does'nt rain

I'll see ye all in the connemara gateway carpark.........I wonder how many beamers will turn up?

Just something that might be relevant - the Tour of Ireland cycling race will take place in the Galway/Mayo area on Saturday. 

It might be worth allowing a bit of extra time in getting to Oughterard. 

The Friday stages end in Ennis.  I can't find out whether the set-off point is from Ennis on Saturday morning but those travelling on the N18 from Limerick to Galway might need to watch out for it.

Thanks for the heads-up Dergside - maybe I should listen to the GPS and take the "cross-country" road, never done it that way (first time for everything, I guess).

Ben, and anybody else who might like to form a caravane from Limerick; how about 8:30 at the Two Mile Inn?

http://www.tourofireland.ie/stage4.html - http://www.tourofireland.ie/stage4.html

Get going as early as you can

Look at the time it hits the Leenaun to Ougterard stretch which is common to both routes

If everyone gets there on time you should back in the hotel to watch the bikes come through

ha ha thanks killian... someone to rely on for a character witness if i ever get brought to court for speeding!

And i dont have the M3 id be bringing the jeep so unless the lads fancy turning it back onto its wheels for me....

As this thread will be nearing its natural end let me just say that I had a very nice day out "with the lads". Thanks to all present, it's good to finally have some faces on fellow entusiasts.

So the weather wasn't perfect but it wasn't too bad either and it was fun to see V's M3 squirming looking for grip under power. That part of the country looks beautiful in all weathers anyhow. Would have been nice to have seen the members with softtops with their tops down; maybe next time.

Driving infront of G's "unburderned" M3 on the way home was slightly intimidating; that car looks so mean and purposeful (I will claim that Dergside was holding me up!).

Dergside do you know a quicker route around Galway because my GPS insisted on a different direction to yours. Nearly made the evening news when a '99 CLK drove all the way around one of the larger roundabouts in the left lane, completely blocking my exit; I had to go around twice!

Caught up with V on his way back to Cork - hope you had a safe journey the rest of the way.

Many thanks Kevin for organising a very enjoyable day out and you will definitely see me at future events.

larzyh wrote: Dergside do you know a quicker route around Galway because my GPS insisted on a different direction to yours.

Nah....  Just popped in to town as I was passing to do a quick trolley dash.  One of the reasons for holding you up was that I was writing down the grocery list Mrs D dictated to me on the way back to Galway!

Excellent turnout and a great variety of cars covering e30's, e34, e36's, e38 and e39.  The route Kevin picked had some great driving potential but unfortunately drizzle and tourists interfered with some of it!

It was great to see some new faces too and thanks to those that made the effort to travel a distance to get there.  As usual, petrol related chat, etc. was interesting!

I have a few photo's that I'll post up tomorrow.

Hi all

Had a great day out in the hills of connemara, and nice to see a few e30 verts turned up on the day, The first thing on my list this week is to change the that noisey back box on my baur, it spoils the car something shocking, i miss the sweet sound of the 6 from the front, but all i have now is a bbbuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrfrom the rear and a few concerned neighbours

Anyways i enjoyed the day and will look forward to many more

Same here. I really enjoyed the drive despite the weather. The sights were indeed gorgeous...wished that I was a passenger more than a few times so that I could've taken pictures.

More importantly, it was good to meet some folks from the message boards. I miss my (car) friends quite a bit but making new ones here will definitely help with the transition. Thanks for making a noob feel welcome!