My United States Trip in 5 Weeks with Members Part 2/6:IN, IL, WI, MN, NC, SC and GA

[Gustav]

Over 1000 pictures with comments


Massaschussetts and New York

My United States Round Trip in 5 Weeks with m5board.com Members Part 1/6: MA and NY


Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Caroline, South Carolina and Geaorgia

My United States Trip in 5 Weeks with Members Part 2/6:IN, IL, WI, MN, NC, SC and GA


Georgia, North Carolina and Florida

My United States Round Trip in 5 Weeks with m5board.com Members Part 3/6: GA,NC + FL


Florida, Atlanta, Louisiana, Texas, Kansas and Missouri

My United States Trip in 5 Weeks with Members Part 4/6: FL, AL, LA, TX, KS and MO


Colorado, Utah, Washington and Oregon

My United States Round Trip in 5 Weeks with Members Part 5/6: CO, UT, WA and OR leg


Arizona, Nevada and California

My United States Round Trip in 5 Weeks with m5board.com Members Part 6/6: AZ, NV,



Mini-meeting in South Bend, Indiana. It is there where m5board.com Sponsor The Tire Rack is situated and Luke@tirerack was hosting a meet!



We met up with some dspite ALOT of mileage GORGEOUS BMW M5 that belongs kris who has been a member since 1998.



Also, the Tirerack executives also had good taste; new BMW M5 and a clean with E39 M5 with very suitable BBS wheels.



A huge warehouse that stretches a mile from wall to wall.



Another nice BMW M5 in TireRacks facilities...



OZ Superleggera en masse! Tirerack is the distributor for them in the USA.




Many customization options for OZ Superleggeras.



Look and what do we see? Member phillym5 superchargd BMW M5 by Discovery Autmotive that was actually my mean of transport from the, airport in Grand Rapids, Michigan to South Bend, Indiana.



Indiana State Police!



Josh's (phillym5) Supercharged BMW M5 with OZ Superleggera wheels and LARGE Brembo Gran Turismo (Gold caliper) brakes.




Another route of Supercharging: the Discovery Autnotive route.



Eating in South Bend on a Mexican restaurant with the guys from TireRack meet; thanks Luke for the lunch!



Heading back to Tirerack for some Q&A sessions with the product specialist where we got interesting lessons regarding surface of the roads around the world, where we saw how think German Autobahns where and that roads on Hawaii acually have seasheels in them!



Member kris white 1992 BMW M5 with a stunning high milaege and runs perfect on the 1st engine. That was my means of transport between South Bend Indiana and Chicago, Illinois. It was so fas tthat we actually gained one hour!


We went into the a different timezone when we came to Illinois.



Cruising in the E39 M5 Superchargd "Midwest style": air conditioning off, window down and hand out (not elbow but full hand). Cathing a nice breeze at cruising speed. Getting to the Gingerman Raceway in South Haven, Michigan!







I see some Scandinavian flags at Gingerman (incl. Sweden's neighbour Norway) but not a Swedish flag!




On the 1993 BMW M5 these beutigul engraved handles with "BMW Motorsport" was produced on all BMW M5 E34s destined for the USA.





221600 miles!




For me this looks like the Wild West had frozen in time! Here at a local saloon we had an excellent dinner!



Fueling up!



Vorsteiner hood! We are saying bye to Josh (phillym5) and his one-off M5 as wel las the other guys. We are setting our sights on Chicago where I will meet member holmesmd with his BMW M6!



Driving into Chicago! One hour timedifference and the 7,8 mile long Chicago Skyway toll road built in 1958.



BMW M Sport mirrors where standard on the 1993 USA BMW M5's. Here we are giving forst some quarter to a beggar who then asks for a cigarette, which we gives.



Big mistake since his "friend" across the street realized that we was in a giving mood = -3(quarters + cigarettes)



Finally holmesmd shows up in a Sapphire black BWM M6 Coupe!



Looking good and at a meet at midnight there is only one place to go: hit the nightclubs!



Talking to a Chicago Police that holmesmd knows which later helped us... Connections are good to have!



Getting home!




A fast 4 a.m. tour of Chicago. I can say that the nightlife was a nice surpise!



Stunning view from the apartement and going into Chicago you appreciate Lakeshore Drive along Lake Michigan. This June day was a perfect day: beautiful weather and not too hot!



At summertimes it can get quite foggy arwith the breeze from Lake Michigan.




Lakeshore Drive was first named Leif Ericson Drive(the first European that landed in USA) but changed to the current name in 1946.



Having a great brunch isa great recipe for a serious hangover. From our brunch we had an excellent view on the "poseur alley". Above we're spotting an Audi S8 from our table. Oh, and the waitresses where also very serviceminded! That is clearly a difference from Europe, but so is also the tip.



Member holmesmd also owns a Imola Red Dinan S2 M5 which he enjoyd too much to sell! Also, it was in pristine condition. We took that the to our brunch drive. A $20 tip gave us the premiere parking spot!



Spotting the distinct Sears Tower which is the largest building in the USA and the third tallest in the world (incl. antennas).



The antennas added in 1982 increased the height to 520 m and the western antenna increased to 527 m in June 2000. As of August 2007 Burj Dubai ovetook the height of Sears Tower with a toal height of 585,7 m.





Appropriate name... Let's see what is inside!




Lamborghini LP640 Louis Versace Edition, one out of 20. Available in any colour you like as long as it is in black or white.



"Special" design externally and interiourwise.



Versace interiour...




And Versace "decals"...


Number 13 of 20.



Not included.



Yes, we are in a big city!



Apartements on top and garages below, smart!



Two Prudential Plaza and AON Center. Yes, we do not have any buildings of this kind in Sweden or let alone Northern Europe.




Smurfit Stone Building? Apparantly a female passenger nxt to me on a inbound flight in the US told me that the design was inspired by a no name-able female body part.



Soldier Field, currently the smallest (!) NFL stadum in the USA. New design in an "old building" looks spectacular.



Old meets new!



That is a human powered Smart car!



Dinan S2 M5 as nice as ever!



Lake Michigan and Chicago .



Lake Michigan!



Beautiful scenery and Lake Michigan. It was gorgeous to have a beach so close to a large city as Chicago.



Sad to see



A rent-o-mat: smart solution but I guess broadband might take over, or more or less Apple TV.



Member holmesmd has fast neighbours!



Driving shoes in style



BMW M6 has illuminated doorsills as opposed to the BMW M5.



Heading out from Chicago towards Wisconsin.



Fueling up and buying Skoal (Snus we say in Sweden) that you apparantly put in your lower lip?



Passing through Chicago's Jewish quarters.



Traditions.



Meeting up Member ericmoeser with his 6-speed manual BMW M5 V-10 in Wisconsin.



No paddles!



Heading towards old Indian reservation. On our way home we stopped and had a burger and traditional Wisconsin Ice Cream called Custard. Since I like vanilla it was very good! So Mustart with a C, recommended!



No S or D settings for the SMG on the manual version, logically.



Yes, another local beer!



Coldn't miss this clasic General Electric toaster, feels right at hime with a 50's Ford!



Getting ready for our drive to Road America and also towards Minnesota!



6-speed manual!



A clutch!



Santiagoa Calatrava designed building, the Milwaukee Art Museum is smaller that the design I am used to see by this Spanish architect but nonetheless stunning architecture.



The first Calatrava designed building annoyed local taxpayers but the return was something special.



Above is Calatrava's "Turning Torso" in Malmö, Sweden.



Some spectacular mansions along the roads along the waterfront on Lake Michigan.



Not too many BMW around here!





It's the Wild West, again!



Apparantly then President Ronald Reagan held a speech in this park in the mid-80's.



Lake Michigan!



Lookout for deers!



We are here!



Many type of animals are present on this racetrack!



Now get me and my V-10 a track with no limits!



A nice turn following a downhill on Road America.



Hitting it!



The clear lines of the BMW M5 are present.



Error of judgement! Notice the driver.



National park of SPEED!



Now we know we are in the USA, these types of pickups are rare in Europe.



I recognize these colours, Swedish. Turnos out the mechanics of this team where Swedish speaking...



...and the mechanic came from Dalarna, Sweden and worked there under the summer of 2008. Nice to talk your native language for a change.



Now we are seeing the connessuers are at the track



And a tasteful BMW M3 E46 with BBS wheels. No bling, no chrome, just low weight and race!



This was also a very nice M5 with aftermarket huge brakes. Looking good!



Heading for Minnesota! This does not look good...



We bumped into a local car show. Dead end for the BMW M5!





On our way!



I thought this was spectacular, but then I had not seen anything when you compare it to Utah!



Just cruising



Time to meet some American Muscle! Member STAmulinas Chevrolet Corvette Z06!



Raw power and a very different concept of the BMW M5 V10!



Alot of cornfields in Wisconsin!



Corn has had a large surge in production in the USA because of the biofule production.



Bikers. The roads through Wisconsin towards Minnesota was just breathtaking and finally NO TRAFFIC either!


We actually also went over the bridge that collapsed in Minnesota, the I-35W Mississippi River Bridge when I was the mapreader (I read the map wrong) and went over it twice (we had to go back). One or two days late it tragially collapssed during rush hour.



Mississippi River.



Along Mississippi River a beutifill summer evening. We had a wonderful dinner with also Member Pierce (Justin). A got the "M Shields" as a present and you can see how they look on the links from the meets below.

These members have along with Member SchnelleM5 done spectacular drives with m5board.com before and you can see some of them here, here, here, here and here.



Stockholm, capital of Sweden. But this Stockholm was signficiantly smaller in Wisconsin.



Checking out the GTboard.com DVDI to see what STamulinas Corvette Z06 was capable of!




So we got up early the folowng day to be able to enjoy the power of the Z06 and also the power of...



5,56 mm and a Sig Sauer rifle with optical scopes! It was 10+ years ago I did the army in Sweden but of course I couldn't resist to see how my makrsmen skill held up!



We had a fast travel to the shooting range.



A very precise weapon.



And a not so precise shooter!



But they where grouped nice at least. I also tried a really rough caliber older weapon from WWII and that you cold feel in the shoulder for some time!



Minneapolis, Minnesota!



We decided to have a look at the Swedish-Amercian Institiute in Downtorn Minnesota on Park Avenue.



And we didn't bring any guns!



Stunning interiour from the turn of the century.



The owner of the house founded the Swedish-American newspaper which folded due to lack or readership over 70 years ago.



Spectacular design with influences from the history.



Member Stamulinas BMW M5 E39 looking as good as ever!



A statue dedicated to Minnesotas firefighters at the Charles Lindbergh airport.



Overlooking the lakes and woods of Minnesota.



Coming into Atlanta, Gerorgia by night! The South, here we go!



Atlanta welcomes you! Arriving with a delayed flight at 11.30 p.m. and we had to leave for Spartanburg, South Carolina very early in the morning so we did not have too many hours of sleep.



Member bwnicely picks me up in his subtle but modified AC Scnitzer BMW M6 Convertible. The AC Schnitzer wheels go well together with the BMW M6, since they resembles the standard wheels.



Backing into one out of five garageports in the gated community.



Secured!



Here we have a nice collection of the wrong brand



Checking out the GTboard.com DVDI...



...in a stunning home entertanment room. It was great seeing carmovies on such a perfect system. Also, a cold Coke was great to have after the schedule of my USA Tour havent even reached half-time yet!



My room was gorgeous and too bad I only could use it for a three hour sleep before we had to leave for South Carolina!



So, I want to kill the lights...



...but looks like I can do alot else! Impressive, to say the least!




Firing the V-10 up in the early morning / late night to reach our new destination: M Experience in Spartanburg!



Fueling up BP!



Member bwnicely recommended me his favourite Southern franchise: Chic-fil-A! It was a bread covered chicken that was a great way to have a breakfast.



Checking out DVD on the way to Spartanburg.



Top is up and rain comes down...



AC Scnitzer front spoiler.



We see BMW Spartanburg at last and we will be there on time as well at 9 a.m.





Where here!



AC Schnitzer trunk really enhancesthe aggresiveness of the BMW M6 from the rear in a discreet and free flowing way.



BMW!



I see BMW M5s and 335i!



The man, the myth! Donnie Isley a.ka. willwin2day on the site! Please visit his personal site here: http://donnieisley.tripod.com/



And Mr Drifter! YouTube video here.



Donnie let us first loose on the skidpad testing our drifting abilities. He instructed us and then actualy started taking over my camera with ine hand and driving with one hand ata perfect 45 degree drift angle. And everything is filmed as well! Impressive car control!



We had lot of fun with the M5s that day and it have been filmed so I will publish that.



BMW Water!



M5s are FUN! Especially with a dedicated track and proffesional instructors that are also cmplete BMW M nuts!



I was lucky to get a BMW X5 4,8iS to drive on the off road track!



The off road track was very funny and you could really hear the squeeks in the chassis when you went over large obstacles. The 4,8iS hade a great exhaust sound!



Had a great lunch with two fellow members!



BMW coffee!



Nice TWS oil to our lunch



Member MTechnik540i picks me up in white BMW M5 E34.



Saying bye bye to member bwnicely!

[G ///McGregor K]

Gustav,
Nice pictures! I can definitely tell you spent a lot of time on this, but I didn't see any NC pics? I could have missed them, but I don't think so. Oh well, thanks for the post.

[Gustav]

Here was North Carolina!

My United States Round Trip in 5 Weeks with m5board.com Members Part 3/6: GA,NC + FL

Originally Posted by G ///McGregor K

Gustav,
Nice pictures! I can definitely tell you spent a lot of time on this, but I didn't see any NC pics? I could have missed them, but I don't think so. Oh well, thanks for the post.

[Luke_tirerack]

it was noce meeting you Gustav

[erikmoeser]

Good to see the toaster oven immortalized!

Looking forward to seeing you in Stockholm in July!

Erik/Carol

[Gustav]

Luke, many thanks, I had a great time in South Bend!

Erik, you are very welcome!

[Wi_KeD_M5]

Gustav,

The pictures here are great. You must have had a 100 memory cards for all of these and videos. It was a pleasure meeting you and glad you had a good time.

I had a good time meeting you and a few other board members.