Update: Report on the 57th International BMW M1 Meeting
As of: July 16, 2025
57th International Meeting of the BMW M1 Club e.V.
From Thursday, May 30 to Sunday, June 2, 2024, we were guests at Hotel Gut Brandlhof in A-5760 Saalfelden, Austria.
This meeting was organized by Peter Wenger together with his family and many dedicated helpers who supported us wonderfully throughout the event. Our sincere thanks go to the organizer, his team, and all the staff of Hotel Gut Brandlhof for the excellent hospitality and the unforgettable stay in Saalfelden.
Thursday, May 30, 2024
The official start of the BMW M1 Meeting was the registration and issue of starting numbers in the late afternoon.
Along with the roadbook and daily schedules, we received Styrian pumpkin seed oil, a special apple vinegar, and a wooden participant plaque with the individual starting number engraved on it.
Many thanks for this original and lovingly detailed idea!
For dinner, we walked a short distance up to the alpine hut belonging to Hotel Gut Brandlhof – fortunately, there were plenty of umbrellas available.
Once at the hut, we were welcomed to the M1 Meeting 2024 with an intro and presentation of the agenda. It was already clear at this point that due to 25 cm of fresh snow on the Großglockner, the planned M1 mountain drive had to be cancelled.
Incredibly, Peter Wenger and his team managed to organize an alternative program on such short notice.
Friday, May 31, 2024
The substitute for the Großglockner tour was a visit to the Eisriesenwelt (Ice Giant World) in Salzburg, organized by our club member and host, Peter Wenger.
We set off in our BMW M1s from Saalfelden to Salzburg, and once there, a short hike up to the cave further boosted our fitness.
The Eisriesenwelt was absolutely fascinating and spectacular, and undoubtedly a unique (if chilly) experience.
Still accompanied by steady rain, we returned to Saalfelden. Many passersby and drivers were both delighted and surprised to see such a large number of BMW M1s on the road despite the weather.
Dinner that evening took place at the famous Huwi’s Alm in Priesteregg, to which we were taken by coach. In a truly special atmosphere, we enjoyed the house specialty – the Tatarenhut (Tatar’s Hat).
It was a wonderful evening with delicious food and drink, served by a cheerful and attentive team.
Back at Hotel Gut Brandlhof, we ended the evening at the hotel bar, where we also welcomed some late-arriving members who reached Saalfelden just after midnight.
Saturday, June 1, 2024
At 9:00 AM sharp, we gathered at the driving safety center of the ÖAMTC, located directly next to Hotel Gut Brandlhof.
Alongside BMW M1 driver safety training, a separate Ladies/Gentlemen’s Cup was held for co-drivers, featuring specially designed ÖAMTC vehicles.
One challenge involved a car with a bowl mounted on the hood, in which a tennis ball had to remain throughout the course. Another task involved a car with its rear axle mounted on rollers, creating a tough slalom course against the clock.
The BMW M1s practiced various safety drills across the expansive grounds. A highlight was the wet skid pad with a sliding plate, where the trigger direction was set randomly, forcing drivers to react on instinct—an ideal training exercise for a classic car with no modern driver aids.
The final challenge was a timed course driven twice consecutively, with the scoring based on the time difference between the two runs.
A huge thank-you goes to the ÖAMTC team for their great efforts—even the instructors remained unfazed by the ongoing rain.
For the first time, the BMW M1 Club e.V. general assembly was held on Saturday, ahead of the Gala Dinner, at the request of members who usually face a long journey home on Sunday.
Our President, Dirk Friedrich, led us through the agenda as usual, so we were ready in time for the evening’s Gala Dinner—the highlight of the BMW M1 Meeting.
Hotel Gut Brandlhof once again outdid itself, treating us to a culinary feast. Our heartfelt thanks go to all the staff for their consistently friendly and attentive hospitality.
After the main course came the eagerly awaited awards ceremony for the two BMW M1 Challenges held in the morning.
Using data collected by the ÖAMTC, the organizing team compiled the results, which were then announced by our President, Dirk Friedrich.
The breakout star was our newest club member, Robin Gretener. At under 30, not only is he the youngest member of our club, but he also won the BMW M1 Challenge in his very first participation at a BMW M1 Meeting!
Results of the Challenges
Ladies/Gentlemen’s Cup
1st Place: Marie Sewing and Max Schubart
2nd Place: Nadja Camerotto and Thomas Krauth
3rd Place: Nadeshda Diring and Veronika Mayr
4th Place: Nicole Neuerburg and Marketa Landler
5th Place: Gisela Melter and Beatrix Koch
BMW M1 Challenge
1st Place: Robin Gretener
2nd Place: Peter Wenger
3rd Place: Achim Pohl
4th Place: Alois Landler
5th Place: Erich Matter
After the Gala Dinner, we met as usual at the hotel bar to reflect on the BMW M1 Meeting 2024.
It became clear that, despite the poor weather, we truly enjoyed and appreciated the events and time spent in Saalfelden and Salzburg.
Neither the constant rain nor wet roads could dampen our spirits or our enthusiasm for this annual gathering with our BMW M1 vehicles.
Sunday, June 2, 2024
Everyone began their journeys home according to their own schedules—depending on mood, sleep, or necessity.
Due to heavy rain and flooding in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, travel times reached up to 12 hours in some cases.
Looking Ahead to the 58th International Annual Meeting 2025 of the BMW M1 Club e.V.:
The date is still to be confirmed, but during our general assembly on June 1, 2024, members approved a proposal by Karl Rüdiger to repeat the 2024 meeting in Austria—hopefully with better weather in 2025, and maybe even a chance to finally realize the BMW M1 drive over the Großglockner!
Of course, Karl Rüdiger coordinated this plan with the original organizer, and we sincerely thank Peter Wenger and his team for their willingness to host the event again in 2025.
Erich Matter
July 7, 2024
Photo Gallery of the 57th International BMW M1 Meeting
As of: June 16, 2024
