Another week, time is speeding up

This week at BMW was particularly busy. There are a couple of cars that had to be prepared for my co-workers to test. I have been given tasks to carry out independently and have been fairly successful in finding my way around, and conversing with people I don't know to get the job done. I took a visit to the wind tunnel this week which was extremely interesting. It's nice to hear everything that is taken into consideration when testing. It isn't just air flowing over a car, but it depends on tire motion and "street movement" under as well. There are a lot of sophisticated systems in place to accurately measure real world type scenarios.

 I am starting to re-review the suspension theory that I've been learning. It's one thing to understand the words in what they mean, but another to understand the point that they are trying to convey; what is this text actually describing? I took a moment to finally realize that after a while, my mind just goes to autopilot, and i read and understand, but not comprehend. More to work on.

I am under the realization that my vocabulary has started to suffer. Where technical vocab is used quite frequently, I have a hard time remembering some basic verbs, proper conjugation (on the spot when nervous) and prepositions still pose an issue. I've starting printing off Vocab lists and trying to dig through old exercises on Sakai to refresh my memory.

I was going to try to go to Braunschweig this weekend to retrieve some of my belongings I have left with friends, but I got out of work too late. Instead I will spend the weekend in, recuperate, and try to research some Graduate Programs abroad. I have spoken with several people and they explained that the Bachelor/Masters system is still too new in Germany. Industry doesn't quite know how to react to these new degrees so it is still ideal for applicants to have a Diplom/Masters; whereas in the states, one can get a good job with just a bachelors (or even just relevant work experience). I am interested in the IEP's Dual Masters track, but for me it's an issue of affordability. I can barely afford to do my Bachelors, and I max out loans and even wasted 3 hours a day for 3 years, commuting by bus to save money. The prospect of 3-4 semesters abroad at only 500Euros per semester is quite appealing. Cost of living isn't that much different from living in the states, I just have to see what financial aid opportunities I might be eligible for before deciding. It's getting difficult but it's better to prepare for something I may or may not do, than to be unprepared for when the time comes. I will have to consult some professors and other contacts for any tips and advice.

anyways..... next week my uncle from Canada is in Germany on business, I might be able to meet up with him and see how things are going. My Cousin is getting married early June, and I'm quite sad that I cannot afford to fly out and attend. I wish them well though, time is passing ever so quickly.

I am already a third finished with my time at my Praktikum. I feel like I've done a lot, but i also feel like I haven't done enough. I dread the day I will have to pack up and head back to the states to tackle the hardest semester i've had yet. I'm maxed out on course load, still living off campus, and there is a possibility I will not be able to graduate on time because of one required elective (ELE220 - Active Passive Circuits) that is only offered once a year, and it usually conflicts with every core engineering class I've had to take. I get stressed just thinking about it. I do look forward to seeing my girlfriend, my friends and my car. I welcome the life's conveniences I took for granted before leaving; I will definitely miss Germany, but if all goes well, I'll be back.

It's a rainy weekend this week, but today, the clouds have parted and the sun is shining brilliantly. I need to get some things done before the afternoon showers roll in. Then researching what it takes to get into Grad Programs abroad.

1000km Spa Francorchamps International LeMans Cup

1000km de Spa-Francorchamps was a lot of fun!

It makes me really wish I could afford a good telephoto lens. In any event, Peugeot is strong as usual. The new Audi TDI (now running with 6 cylinder motors) is extremely QUIET. Just the sound of wind rushing past,then all the other cars screaming behind.

The Corvette and the Aston Martin were easily the loudest.

Click this link for the full Flickr Album for Spa-Francorchamps LeMans

Here is a bunch of videos. Dont mind the end credits, i just used windows to stitch various clips together lol.

Going to Belgium!

This weekend I am going to Aachen, then Spa Belgium.

I will be watching the 1000km of Spa Francorchamps, International LeMans Cup race. I am quite excited and cannot wait to watch my first race in Europe.

 I hope it's the first of many races to come. I want to see if it's possible to attend WRC - Deutschland as it's in Trier, middle August. I will be around, but it might be difficult finding accomodations.

I do plan on going to 24Hours of Nürburgring June 23-26, 2011 which should be fun. I am doing the RingTaxi August 6th (My talented boss is also a RingTaxi driver). For those who do now know what the Nürburgring is, also known as the Grüne Hölle, it is a world famous race course and test track. 20.8km long, 73 corners, the Nordschleife is an extremely challenging and difficult course to master. It goes through so many elevation changes and one can almost experience all weather elements in one race. It's dangerous, its exhilarating. If I am lucky, maybe I can catch a glimpse of the "Queen of the Ring", Sabine Schmitz, if the stars are aligned and the gods are smiling, maybe I can get an autograph. Otherwise, it's fun to dream  ;)

Excursion to Garmisch-Partenkirche (Zugspitze), Burgheim, Neuburg and Kelheim

A friend visited from Braunschweig who had an exchange student in Bayern. She was visiting the family and I was invited to tag along. The Ruisinger Family was absolutely delightful. The dinner was amazing and the next day they showed us around three beautiful areas of Bayern. Burgheim which was the town we stayed in was very very quiet. The area was absolutely stunning.


Nikki, one of two cats of the great family that hosted us.

NEUBURG
Neuburg was not far. We drove and saw Schloss Neuburg. This palace is quite impressive and is in its original state (read: not war damaged). Schloss Neuburg was once residence to Counts of Pfalz-Neuburg; a principality founded in 1505. It was initially Gothic, then three Renaissance wings were added in 1530.  It has some beautiful hand etched stone of Biblical scenes which makes up an entire inner face of the courtyard (see pictures below). The technique used is called Sgraffito. Later between 1664 and 1668 a Baroque east wing and two towers were added. This was one of the very first Baroque palaces in all of Germany, but it covers an amazing array of styles, I honestly consider it an artistic marvel. 


Sgraffito

everything lined with shells

KELHEIM
Kelheim was about an hour away. It is well known for die Befreiungshalle (The Hall of Liberation). King Ludwig I commissioned the construction to comemorate both the victorious battles against Napoleon during the Wars of Liberation 1813-1815 and the unification of all the German races. It was modeled after buildings from Ancient Rome and midieval Italy. The outside houses 18 monumental statues with the names of German tribes. Inside there are 34 Goddesses of Victory made from white marble all joined in hands; they symbolise the 34 german  states of the German Confederation (Deutscher Bund) founded in 1815. The floor inscription reads:


MOECHTEN DIE TEUTSCHEN NIE VERGESSEN WAS DEN BEFREIUNGSKAMP NOTHWENDIG MACHTE UND WODURCH SIE GESIEGT.


Which translates to (according to wiki): May the Germans never forget what made necessary the Struggle for Freedom and by what means they won. 

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL FLICKR SET




A special thanks to the Ruisinger Family in Burgheim for their hospitality, friendliness and willingness to show us around. They are genuinely kind folks and it was a pleasure to have the chance to talk to them (in german/bayerisch)




The day before, on Saturday, we had gone to the Garmisch-Partenkirche to see the Zugspitze. It was a beautiful day and we took a cog train up to Zugspitzplatz where it then connected to a cable car to the summit. But the weather is unpredictable at the highest peak in Germany. It was snowing when we arrives but within 15 minutes, the sun was breaking through the clouds. 

taking a cog train; the center of the track has a grooved track for the teeth of a large gear to roll over and index. This pulls the train up steep inclines it would normally slide down.

View from the loading dock of the cable car

Germany's Highest Biergarten

A small map was found depicting what the view should have looked like. It was pretty close...

Then it Finally Cleared

Click here for the full set to Garmisch-Partenkirche on my Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22512029@N06/sets/72157626515704475/with/5691254184/


I give photo credit to Rachel Harper for any photos in which I appear. Thanks!

Sorry for the delay

I haven't been able to update much because I have been without internet since I moved out of the Hostel. The BMW Apartment quite is quite nice and is directly on a subway (U-Bahn) line making it convenient to get to work. I finally got internet last Friday and will be spending some time uploading photos and posting pictures for you all.

I have been given new levels of responsibility at work, and have been lucky to drive on the handling course under the instruction of my supervisor (the race car driver). He is very informative and gives excellent feedback and advice even while I'm diving into corner after corner. I think i'm going to ask for his autograph before I leave  ;)

I have been assisting some colleagues with setting up cars and learning some of the software used at BMW. I am sad that a month has passed so quickly. I honestly hate weekends because most of the time I have nothing to do. I always look forward to Monday's because I get to go back to work. I know it sounds backwards, but it's the truth. I am having a blast at this internship and learning a lot of suspension theory which is completely relevant to my interests in Motorsports.

Someone stop me now, I've been thinking about purchasing a German Textbook on Kinematik/Elastokinematiks for some light reading!

The BMW 320TC is a very very special and beautiful WTCC Race Car. Because new regulations have restricted the displacement of DTM/WTCC cars to 1.6 Liters this car is using the same motor that comes in a Mini. The team supporting it from ///M are all very friendly folks and answered the millions of questions I had with great enthusiasm. My boss is quite the driver as well, and is definitely one of the easiest people to get along with. I thought I knew about racing, but I always take something away when talking to him. He is also giving me a peek behind the scenes for things like testing and setups, which I will never have been able to do on my own.

<3 BMW

Today while at Ascheim I got to meet and talk to two ex-Formula 1 chief mechanics, a rep from Dunlop, and a gentleman that was taking calibration for exhaust sound, ride height and wheel distance (Basically log booking) for a very very special classic race car. What a day, I hope I can somehow get involved with motorsports when I graduate. I don't want to submit to a 100% desk job. These people were so awesome, and just having fun doing what they like to do best. BMW does a lot of amazing work, and i still consider myself lucky to have had the opportunity to get some experience  in what I consider, my Dream Job.