The BMW Car Club of America New Mexico Chapter held a Chapter Lunch at the Placitas Café on Saturday, December 17, 2022. The day started out at Sandia Wheels & Coffee where it was a bit nippy for jaw-jacking outside amongst the collection of cool cars present. The group gathered inside the dealership where we were warmly greeted by Sandia’s collection of used exotics including a Ferrari 488 GTB, Lamborghini Huracan EVO, Porsche 911 Turbo S, 2 BMW M4’s and a Porsche 911 GT3!
Member Jon van Arsdel led a procession from Sandia BMW through Albuquerque’s North Valley onto NM 313 and the picturesque El Camino Real National Scenic Byway past Sandia Pueblo to Bernalillo. Then East on US 550 towards Placitas, NM and the quirky Placitas Café. Owner and chef Jon Franklin was very accommodating, having set aside a room for the Chapter. A holiday spirit was infectious as we ate a very tasty lunch.
Following lunch, Chapter Vice President Jim Levandoski led us on a journey to his house via the backroads of Placitas, providing stunning views to the Northwest including the distant Cabezon Peak. Upon arrival at his garage, Jim gave a well-prepared presentation on BMW VANOS and the INPA BMW diagnostic tool connected to his 540. We also got to see his nearly completed LS3 powered ’33 Ford Hot Rod which has since been insured and registered. Congratulations to Jim on his stunning hot rod build! Perhaps we will see it at a future Wheels & Coffee event.
