LeMay – America’s Car Museum (ACM) has launched a crowdfunding campaign to help bring the BMW Car Club of America Foundation’s “Heroes of Bavaria – 75 Years of BMW Motorsports” collection to the Museum on May 12. The 17 iconic race cars in the display will celebrate and detail BMW’s storied motorsports legacy, and those who donate to ACM’s crowdfunding effort will be rewarded with opportunities to extend their experience beyond what’s offered by typical automotive museums.
Crowdfunding backers will enjoy benefits including passes to the exhibit’s opening celebration, limited edition posters and books, private tours of the ACM collection and the ability to “adopt-a-winner.” One lucky individual can also purchase an exclusive one-day experience at a BMW performance driving school, where they will be able to learn about the theory, physics, and mechanics of performance driving.
“As proven by the extraordinary collection of race cars within Heroes of Bavaria exhibit, BMW rightfully earns the title of the ‘Ultimate Driving Machine.’ Their vehicles have been tried-and-tested on race tracks for the last 75 years,” said America’s Automotive Trust CEO Adam Langsbard. “We’re thrilled to be the first to display this unrivaled collection on the West Coast and share BMW’s many motorsports accomplishments with the hundreds of thousands of guests who visit ACM each year.”
The Bavarian-themed grand opening celebration at ACM occurs the evening of May 12.
As part of the festivities, ACM Master Collector Peter Gleason will moderate a live discussion with notable BMW figures including:
• Bill Auberlen, the winningest BMW factory race car driver in history
• Erik Wensberg, longtime motorsport and M Brand Manager for BMW of North America
• Tom Plucinsky, BMW Group Product and Technology Department Head
Tickets to the opening night include membership discounts and are available here.
A free commemorative poster will be given to the first 150 people through the door.
For those who cannot make the evening opening, ACM Curator of Exhibitry Scot Keller will be leading an exclusive early entry Curator Talk & Tour on the morning of May 13, where he will delve into BMW’s history and provide expert insight to the remarkable vehicles on display.
“The Heroes of Bavaria exhibit celebrates the history of BMW racing by featuring noteworthy race cars beginning with the infamous 328,” said Keller. “The two-liter 328 – arguably one of the most successful sports cars of the 1930s – is just one example of BMW’s motoring legacy, having achieved a class win in the celebrated Mille Miglia in 1938 and an overall victory in 1940.”
Other notable vehicles will include the very first 1961 700 RS, a 1972 3.0 CSL Groupe 2 Rally Car – the only one of its kind – and a 2000 Williams Formula F1 driven by Ralf Schumacher in eight total races, achieving three podium finishes.
The full collection, which rounds out the 17 total vehicles will also include:
1. 1965 BMW 1800 TI/SA
2. 1975 BMW 3.0 CSL Group 4 IMSA
3. 1976 LeMans Posey BMW 3.5 CS
4. 1977 BMW E21 320 Turbo
5. 1981 March-BMW 812 F2
6. 1981 March-BMW M1/C
7. 1987 BMW E30 M3
8. 1992 BMW E36 M3 GTS-3
9. 1994 BMW E34 M5
10. 1994 BMW E36 318i
11. 2011 BMW E92 M3 GT
12. 2014 BMW E89 Z4 GTLM
13. 2016 BMW F13 M6 GTLM
To donate to the “Bring the BMW Heroes of Bavaria to ACM” crowdfunding campaign, please visit the Indigogo Campaign HERE.
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