IMSA 1975 BMW 3.0 CSL Group 4 2275985

 

 

Uncertain???

 

Two photos above - Daytona Paul Revere 250 miles / First : H. J. Stuck

 

Above 5 photos Mosport 1975 June 15th

 

Mid Ohio 1975 Phil Dremer attending on BMW 2002

Mid Ohio 1975
Picture shows the great Sam Posey getting off the ground with his 3.0CSL. Possibly Mid-Ohio? Sam and its drivers had this secret advantage, being able to put their inside tires where other cars couldn't, the air! Makes the corner just that much faster!!

2275986 in the fore front. 2275985 in the back. 1975 or 1976?

Ronnie at Daytona 1975 24 hours DNF

1975? Who ? Where ?

Perhaps 2275985 in the background - Many assumption for the track. Front car unknown yet.

Unclear which track and win

 

Racing number: #25 and #24

Year: 1975

Specifications:

• General Data
  • Weight 2431 lbs.
  • Length x width 184.0 x 70.0 in.

• Engine
  • Engine Type ‘M49’ DOHC, 24-valve inline 6-cylinder, Kugelfischer Fuel Injection
  • Displacement 3498 cc
  • Bore x stroke 94.0 mm x 84.0 mm
  • Power output 430hp @ 9000 rpm

• Drivetrain
  • Drive system Front engine/rear-wheel drive
  • Transmission Getrag dog leg 5-speed

• Chassis
  • Front suspension McPherson strut with
  • coil springs, anti-roll bar
  • Rear suspension Semi-trailing arms with
  • coil springs, anti-roll bar
  • Steering type Worm & Roller
  • Brake system 4-wheel ventilated discs
  • Wheels Front: 16 x 13.0 inch, BBS Alloy Rear: 16 x 16.0 inch, BBS
  • Wheels/Tires BBS 3-piece Mg/Al wheels/ 300/625-16 front 350/1650-16 rear

History:

Recent:

Chassis No. 2275985 has been restored to its race number 25 and was honored this past March with a Class win at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. Ludwig Willisch is scheduled to race the No. 25 BMW 3.0 CSL at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion from Thursday August 14th through Saturday August 16th.

Past:
This 3.0 CSL (Chassis No. 2275985) was one of a group of five chassis built and campaigned by BMW Motorsport in North America in the 1975 and 1976 IMSA Camel GT Series in Group 4 specifications. The cars were powered by a 3.5 liter, 430 hp version BMW inline-6 engine with double overhead cams and four valve cylinder heads. Campaigned under the racing numbers No. 24 and No. 25, the CSL enjoyed considerable success winning at Sebring, Riverside, Laguna Seca, Daytona and Talladega in 1975.

 

Originally believed to be the 1975 Sebring winner, 2275985 is now known to have arrived in the U.S. after the Laguna Seca round in early May that year. After the disastrous Road Atlanta weekend in April 1975, the team was able to repair 986 in time for the next race at Laguna but decided to retire 987 in favor of a new car. Chassis 985 was flown directly from Munich to California to meet up with the team right after the two sprints at Laguna Seca had been completed, as they were on their way directly to Riverside for the 6 Hour endurance race. Gmeiner’s records indicate that 985 was driven by Redman and Posey as the #24 car at Riverside and finished in second place. During Redman’s stint, the “Oil Press[ure]” light came on, so he pitted immediately. The crew checked the car, determined it was just a sensor issue and sent him back out. Driving at his best, Redman proceeded to re-pass the entire field to catch up to his teammate in the 986 car, and he ultimately finished second. The Riverside one-two was a great result for the team and the young BMW brand. BMW Motorsport’s usually reserved team boss Jochen Neerpasch was especially happy that his team had managed a sweep for visiting BMW Chairman Eberhard von Kuenheim and VP of Sales Hans Schönbeck. Later in May 1975, 985 went on to place second and third in the two Lime Rock sprints, driven by Stuck with race number #24. At the following round at Mid-Ohio, Sam Posey finished second in 985, also racing as #24. Redman drove 985 at Mosport as #25 but didn’t finish the race. It is probable that 985 competed in the remaining rounds of the 1975 season, but at this stage that cannot be confirmed nor can we say whether it ran as car #25 or #24. Chassis 985 has been owned by BMW North America since the early ’90s and has benefitted from a couple of cosmetic restorations over the years. The car is a familiar sight competing at the annual Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion in the capable hands of BMW NA CEO Ludwig Willisch. 985 has also been the poster car for all the BMW NA 40th Anniversary celebrations. Along with 984, it’s the only CSL that remains in something close to its 1975 Group 4 specification, and it is the jewel of the BMW USA Classic Collection.

Race attendance:

1. May 10 1975, 6 Hours Riverside
   1. Team: BMW NA
   2. Race number: 24
   3. Sponsor: Bavarian Motor Sport
   4. Pilots: Posey / Redman
   5. Result: second
   6. Grid: second
   7. Tires:
   8. Other E9s: 2275986
2. May 26 1975, Lime Rock 1
   1. Team: BMW NA
   2. Race number: 24
   3. Sponsor: Bavarian Motor Sport
   4. Pilots: Hans-Joachim Stuck (D)
   5. Result: 2nd (15s300 behind the winner)
   6. Grid: 2nd
   7. Tires:
   8. Other E9s: 2275986
3. May 26 1975, Lime Rock 2
   1. Team: BMW NA
   2. Race number: 24
   3. Sponsor: Bavarian Motor Sport
   4. Pilots: Hans-Joachim Stuck (D)
   5. Result: 3rd (0 laps behind the winner)
   6. Grid: 2nd
   7. Tires:
   8. Other E9s: 2275986
4. June 1 1975, Mid-Ohio
   1. Team: BMW NA
   2. Race number: 24
   3. Sponsor: Bavarian Motor Sport
   4. Pilots: Sam Posey
   5. Result: 2nd (0 laps behind the winner)
   6. Grid: 3rd
   7. Tires:
   8. Other E9s: 2275985
5. June15 1975, 6 Hours Mosport Park
   1. Team: BMW NA
   2. Race number: 25
   3. Sponsor: Bavarian Motor Sport
   4. Pilots: Brian Redman (GB) listed, never drove: Hans-Joachim Stuck (D)
   5. Result: 27th - did not finish
   6. Grid: 1rst
   7. Tires:
   8. Other E9s:
6. July 5 1975, Daytona 250 miles Paul Revere
   1. Team: BMW NA
   2. Race number: 25
   3. Sponsor: Bavarian Motor Sport
   4. Pilots:  Hans-Joachim Stuck (D)
   5. Result: Winner - (183.328 kph)
   6. Grid: 1rst (1:56.559)
   7. Tires:
   8. Other E9s:
8. 1975 and 1976 IMSA Camel GT series.
   1. Driven by: Brian Redman consistently drove it with a number of co-drivers including Peter Gregg, David Hobbs, Sam Posey and John Fitzpatrick. Redman was also doing double duty, winning championships for Carl Haas in the SCCA USAC Formula 5000 series driving the world beating Lola T-332.

Modern attendance (not exhaustive):

1. June 2014 BMW announced that BMW of North America President and CEO Ludwig Willisch will once again race the iconic BMW 3.0 CSL ‘Batmobile’ in the annual Rolex Monterey Motorsport Reunion at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca next week. “BMW fans and I have a very emotional attachment to this important car in the history of the BMW brand in the US. I’m honored to take the wheel that has been held by the great heroes like Posey, Stuck and Redman to demonstrate the car for the fans at this historic track and event,” said Ludwig Willisch, President and CEO of BMW of North America.

Owner:

1. Early 1990's: BMW NA

Thank you / Reference / Credit:

https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/usa/pressDetail.html?

http://www.turnology.com/race-coverage/sema-coverage/sema-2016-the-most-beautiful-bmw-csl/

Arthur Porter