BMW Ladies’ Day at Boomrock
December 3rd, 2012 at 12:00 pm by David FarrarA guest post by Charlotte Kieft, as I have a Y chromosome.
As BMW New Zealand has just appointed a female CEO – Nina Englert – it seems only appropriate (though I am assured it is just coincidence) that BMW recently held a BMW Ladies’ Day at Boomrock near Wellington. And, seeing as Dave lacked the necessary prerequisites (and quite frankly even in a dress and wig would convince no-one), I volunteered to be the lady in question – tough job, huh?
I would be the first to admit, I’m not the natural choice for a day designed to wow motoring enthusiasts. To me, a car has always been a practical machine, designed to get you from point A to B in the shortest space of time, or to serve as a motorised shopping cart. In fact, my last two cars have been Toyotas – a Corolla and then an Echo. Good solid reliable 1.3 litre machines. Sure, they struggle on the hills in Wellington, but who needs to go higher than second gear up hill, right? Wrong! As I was soon to find out…
As we headed over the hills of Wellington, steadily north, it seemed even the weather conspired to give myself and the other ladies a great day out. After a week of strong winds and sporadic rain we were treated to a light breeze, a few fluffy wisps of cloud in the sky, and full on sun. You can’t beat Wellington on a good day, eh?
And when we reach our destination – wow. Boomrock is spectacular – a working farm turned event centre, better known for hosting weddings and parties, but which also boasts a purpose built ‘race track’ on the very top its lush green hills, complete with distracting views of the Mana and the South Island.
Once we had settled in, the Ladies were divided up into groups – Red Team and Black Team – sorry Dave, no Blue Team J.
We began the day with a quick lap of the course to orientate ourselves with one of the two fantastic instructors (Mike Eady and Martin Collins)
Next we got to have a go driving both the 1 Series Hatch and the 3 Series – or ‘the white one’ and ‘the blue one’ (I warned you I wasn’t a car person.)
Both were fantastic cars to drive – as smooth as silk on the road, even in the ‘wet spot’ and like drinking cream after the diet of slightly sour skim milk served by my trusty old Echo.
The instructors’ tips of how to sit in car correctly (who knew it was so easy to get wrong!), cornering, looking ahead and correct use of ABS brakes were real eye openers and definitely provided something worthwhile to take away.
Being a bit of a geek, I also fell in love with the great tech that comes with the cars: hands free Blue tooth (including voice activated calling with soothing BBC English responses), reversing cameras complete with lock lines, GPS, and the ‘heads up’ visual display which made you feel like you were in some futuristic version of Kit. I was so taken by the tech, I forgot to even check out the cup holder (usually my first priority!) and heated seats.
I felt a sense of almost grief when I left the lovely 1 Series (my favourite – and I later learned 2011 NZ Herald Car of the Year, Overall Car of the Year) behind but was soon consoled by my next adventure: off-roading in a 4WD, BMW style (the X5 if you are interested in models), complete with the obligatory whoosh through mud puddles, crazy up hill and down dales, and mud slinging donuts.
This time the features of the car could be shown off with daredevil hijinks – the impressive DSC (dynamic stability control) where the car brakes by itself gently as it rolls down the hill is of course best demonstrated by the driver having his feet poking out the door – look no pedals! Who’s driving now?
After a brief interlude of skeet shooting, archery and knife throwing, we arrived at the adrenaline-filled highlight of the day – the ‘hot lap’. Surely the most fun you can have on four wheels! The impressive Mike Eady took his bevy of lovely ladies around the track at breakneck, scream-inspiring speed just to show us how it is really done in the M Series Sports.
Afterwards, we were taken down to the lodge for bubbles on the lawn (Deutz – absolutely delicious) followed by a three-course lunch –I had worked up quite an appetite after all that excitement.
As I drank my second glass of bubbles and gazed over the ocean, I realised I finally understood what all the fuss was about – cars are fun. And a day out with the BWM team is more than just fun – it’s a great experience that I would recommend to anyone, young or old, man or lady.
Tags: BMW
December 3rd, 2012 at 12:10 pm
Interesting that people feel the need to drive BMWs while 270,000 New Zealand children live in poverty.
Don’t they have difficulty sleeping?
[DPF: off topic and trolling. 20 demerits]
Vote:December 3rd, 2012 at 12:12 pm
Really?
Vote:December 3rd, 2012 at 12:16 pm
Hamnida, you have access to a computer and the Internet – while, according to you, 270,000 New Zealand children live in poverty.
The Internet is a luxury. So is a computer.
Do you have difficulty sleeping at night? You should.
Vote:December 3rd, 2012 at 12:21 pm
“..man or lady.”
Definitely written by a woman.
Next time, try ‘man or woman’ or even, for goodness sake, ‘gentleman or lady.’
Vote:December 3rd, 2012 at 12:32 pm
This blog features more product placement than a Hollywood movie.
[DPF: No it doesn't. It features none. I got nothing for agreeing to the review]
Vote:December 3rd, 2012 at 12:34 pm
Sheesh Hamnutts you sad little smallminded POS.
It is called “LIVING”
Your idea of fun being half an hour on a ratepayer funded skate park on a childs stolen tryke and arf of chips no fish from a bin on the way home is not fun.
Vote:December 3rd, 2012 at 12:48 pm
Shame Emma Gilmour is sponsored by Subaru. I’m not doubting Mike Eady’s skill but if it’s going to be a ladies day may as well round the whole thing out.
Vote:December 3rd, 2012 at 12:49 pm
It doesn’t surprise me they need to train people to drive them properly… the capabilities of most of the better cars on NZs roads seem to be completely lost on the sorts of people that typically own them.
But anyway it’s also fun driving some POS little Toyomazda that cost you $1500, and hanging in there behind a BMW whose driver is trying – but failing – to show you his superiority…
(And for completeness: I’ve driven a couple of BMWs… 323 Ci E46 and 325 E30… lovely cars, but I wouldn’t want to own one, a few too many $1200 electronic black boxes under the dash for my liking!)
Vote:December 3rd, 2012 at 1:06 pm
North Korea is that way, Comrade >>>>>>>>
Meanwhile, in fun NZ – Boomrock looks great!
Vote:December 3rd, 2012 at 1:34 pm
Vote:My little toyomazda has been lowered 30mm stiffened 20% and sits on v good rubber
Love it when some prat in euro rubbish gets up my arse on the highway. I do NOT speed…… nor do I slow for corners….
December 3rd, 2012 at 3:31 pm
From experience, I can say that it is the best defensive driving course out there
Oh and Hamnida, thanks for reminding me I don’t possess sufficient misery nor hatered to be a sneering leftie.
Vote:December 4th, 2012 at 3:22 pm
Charlotte,
You skipped over the hour long tutorial on how to avoid using an indicator, tail-gating for best effect and “why-it-is-okay-for me-to-use-a-bus-lane” sections. The standard part of any BMW event.
Vote: