Z3 Homecoming

Homecoming 2002
Spartanburg, SC 8/29 - 9/1/2002

Homecoming #6, my third, and also my last. What can I say? It was the best Homecoming ever for me, for very personal reasons. Unlike the first two that Shearee and I attended in our 2001 Z3 3.0i, we were driving a 2002 ///M Roadster this time. A Homecoming it was indeed. Not just for bringing the car back to its birthplace, but also, and maybe more so, to meet with the extended family, all the great people one has come to know and appreciate over the years, be it by meeting face to face or via a message board.

This year also marked the 10 year Anniversary for BMW of NA. Unfortunately, it also is the last year Z3s were manufactured here. Great cars they are indeed and already hailed as the stuff legends are made of. Whether you drive a Roadster or a Coupe, whether it is 4 Cyl 1.9l Z3 or a growling 6 Cyl 3.2l ///M version, anyone who drives one of these cars knows what I'm talking about. As for others? Perhaps it's not too late for them yet, as there's always the CPO route. As for me, the successor , the Z4, is not an option, in fact, I won't be caught dead in one of those.

Thursday, 8/29, getting ready to hit the road

Thursday afternoon/evening, reception and hospitality suite at the host hotel

Friday morning, 8/30, BMW Zentrum Site	Amazing what pops out of the trunks of these cars	Visiting with an old friend

Friday afternoon downtown, parking on Main Street and party into the night

Saturday morning, 8/31, lining up for the panorama PICture on the lawn in front of the factory.

Party Saturday night at the factory

Sunday morning, 9/1, lining up for the mountain drive				with Breakfast on the lawn		then off to cruising the back country
					ending at the Green River Plantation

Heading home after lunch the long way around		Gatlinburg in its Sunday best		Ostrich Jerkey anyone?
Monday, 9/1, homeward bound by way of Pidgeon Forge, TN and back into NC via the Dragon			View from the Dragon		Going, going, gone ....

Click on the thumbnails above for a larger PICture.

	Homecoming 2001 Spartanburg, SC 8/30 - 9/2/2001

The 5th BMW Z3 Homecoming took place on Labor Day Weekend at the BMW Zentrum in Spartanburg, SC, the birthplace of the Z3. Below are some PICtures, a small sampling that hardly do the event justice. All in all, 510 cars were in attendance, 10 more than the registration limit of 500. Even though Mother Nature tried to spoil the fun, the showers could hardly dampen the spirits of the folks who came from all over the US, and abroad, to participate in this memorable event.

Friday morning, lining up for PICture taking in front of the Visitor Center.