Yale Rachlin's 2002tii Inducted into the BMW CCA Foundation Museum

[thehackmechanic]

I know that not everyone is a BMW CCA member, and that's okay. But yesterday I was part of an absolutely remarkable CCA event. I'll be doing a Roundel article on it, but you folks are special, so you get the mini-version first :^)

 

Yale Rachlin was editor of Roundel Magazine for many years. He had a 1974 2002tii, Chamonix with Motorsport stripes, that was very well-known in the club.  Even if Yale weren't Roundel editor, he was a well-known driving instructor, and the car was on many tracks in the eastern US for many years. The Massachusetts licence plate on the car was "YaleR."

 

When Yale's wife Bette had knee trouble and they had to downsize to only one car, he sold the car in the early 2000s to 'CCA founder Michel Potheau's dentist, a decision Yale always deeply regretted.

 

Yale passed away in 2005. The car fell into disrepair. It was rescued by Vince Strazzabosco, who later sold it to Justin Gerry. Justin and his father Bob restored the car, keeping the external appearance the way Yale had it, but making modifications underneath for the many track days Justin did with the car. He maintained a Georgia "YaleR" plate, so the name "YaleR" stuck with the car.

 

About three weeks ago, in a remarkable act of generosity, YaleR was purchased by BMW CCA members Scott and Fran Hughes and donated to the BMW CCA Foundation. The induction ceremony was yesterday (Saturday January 14th). I was privileged to ride in the car from Justin's home in Georgia to the Foundation in Spartanburg. There was a caravan of about two dozen cars accompanying YaleR on his final journey to the Foundation. However, immediately upon leaving, Justin instinctively made a turn to take the route he'd take when driving to work in Atlanta. We were then honor-bound to catch up with the caravan. I was in the car when Justin wailed the living shit out of it (see photograph, and yes it has a 5-speed :^). It was glorious. I'm not one who believes in the whole "person X is smiling down" thing, but if ever there was a time to believe in it, it was this.

 

As we got off the interstate, Justin hit exit ramp, popped it down into 3rd, and nailed it. YaleR gobbled up the ramp. Justin said "sorry; I just had to do that one last time." I was smiling from ear to ear.

 

The induction ceremony at the Foundation was well-attended and remarkable. Yale's 91 year old wife Bette and his daughter Meryl were in attendance, having driven up from Florida. Vince, Justin, and his dad all spoke about the rescue and restoration of the car, I read the chapter on Yale from my book, holding back tears.

 

In addition to his duties as editor, Yale was ambassador of goodwill for the CCA. Anyone who ever spent a minute with him will attest to the fact that he never tired of talking with CCA members, and never for an instant made them feel that he needed to be somewhere else, that THAT conversation, THEIR conversation was always the most important thing in the world to him, and it actually was.

 

He was a wonderful man, a mentor to me, and I still miss him terribly.

 

Everything that was good and decent in this world, the shared bond that we have over this boxy Teutonic sedan, was right there in that room at the BMW CCA Foundation.

 

Keep on 02ing, everybody.

 

--Rob

 

 

 

Edited January 16, 2017 by thehackmechanic
clarity

[Glen Karr]

Great tribute.  Been following the event on your facebook.  Thanks Rob!

[SydneyTii]

Nice write up Rob, nice car, cool story, what a kind donation, thanks for sharing.

love those stripes btw?

[Mike Self]

Your usual great writeup, Rob.  Yale was the guy that got me started writing my Roundel column.  We were chatting at the 1994 Gateway Tech (anyone remember that annual fun weekend in St Louis?)  I bemoaned the lack of writing about 2002s in the Roundel, and then editor Yale said--"you know about 'em, why don't you write something?"  

 

I replied, "is that an offer?"  

 

Yale:  "How soon can you have me a column?"

 

That September was my first column, and I've been doing 'em ever since (with a two year hiatus 2012-13).  

 

Always enjoyed spending time with Yale...and for his encouragement to start with my writing.

 

cheers

mike

[thehackmechanic]

Mike, Gateway Tech is where you and I met :^)

[DRedman]

Thanks for sharing Mike!  FYI my daughter has a neighbor in Vienna, Va that purchased a car from you.  More details later.

[jgerock]

Love to know who was in the caravan.  I was in C-Ville so I couldn't participate.

 

Possibly the same car from one of Rob's old Roundel articles??

[Kidasters]

Nice.

 

I was talking to a guy today that's looking at a 75 2002.  I told him "yeah - they are fun cars, but it's the community that really makes it great.".  And this proves it.  For both.

 

 

[lilmo]

likie!

[thehackmechanic]

Jim, yes, THAT car! Yale stuck that photograph of his own car (accident at the old Bryar track in Loudon NH) into that article.

[jp02ti]

Jim, there were 4 2002s in the caravan.  YaleR with Rob and Justin in it, Dan Tell's gorgeous box flare turbo monster (with his wife and son), a green square tail whose driver's name I did not catch, and yours truly in the ti.  I would have offered Vince to ride shotgun, but have only one functional seat right now.  A few more met us at the foundation.  I know there will be pictures to follow.

Add to this assorted coupes, an a bunch of "new" stuff, like e30s (and some even newer!)

 

It was very cool that we got to tag along, and of course very generous by Scott and Fran Hughes to make it possible.

 

Jon