derBayerische March/April 2023 - 3

TheSteeringColumn
As we move into 2023, I reflect on how unexpected the last three years have
been. There have been changes and adjustments, and we've had to weather
the storm. To use a term that has embodied this time of covid, we have, to
varying degrees, had to pivot.
My return as Co-Editor of der Bayerische comes at a time when I feel
that things are finally calming down. The virus still rages on, but we've
learned to adjust to the new normal, to use another covid-era term.
I joined Walter Jones as Co-Editor of the magazine/newsletter for the
Sept/Oct 2014 issue. I remember it well as the cover featured a photo from
The Vintage at the time when it was still being held in Winston-Salem, NC.
I had written my first article, entitled " Beaver Creek or Bust " , about that year's
Oktoberfest, and I remember trying to convince Walter and Raine that we
should have a cover photo to reflect Oktoberfest.
I lost that battle and many more over the next seven years - but we all
worked together to produce a high-quality publication. It was interesting to
have a bird's eye view over our club's many activities and to interact with
article contributors as they covered DIYs, HPDEs, O'fests, vintage events,
Autocross, socials, offered tech tips and so much more.
I left the magazine just as covid hit. Coincidentally, my last issue was
the " We've Gone Green " issue in March/April 2020. The magazine had just
gone digital, and we weren't sure how that would resonate with our readers,
but to my delight, rates of readership are high.
I re-join as Co-Editor alongside the brilliant and hard-working Jack
Raymond as Mike Bevels leaves dB to pursue a new course with
BimmerLife. Mike has truly been an asset to the magazine and his shoes
are going to be big to fill. From his stellar photography to his article
contributions and his many innovations as the magazine, too, had to pivot,
he will be sorely missed.
The person who has been a constant for dBis our Production Manager,
Raine Mantysalo. Responsible for layout, Raine has been with the magazine
since 1996 so he has certainly seen editors come and go. He has put an
indelible stamp on the look and feel of dB that I know our readers appreciate
and to which they have become accustomed.
I look forward to stepping back into this role, not least because, like
many of you, the car club is my happy place. My happiest moments during
the pandemic were of easing back into socially-distanced tours with the
club. Tours and socials and other club activities are for the most part back
in full-swing, and I know this makes us all glad.
The highlight for me this year was getting to join fellow car club
members from across the nation at the Palm Springs Oktoberfest. It made
me realize that the social aspect of O'fest just can't be beat. It is so amazingly
fun to get together with fellow peeps and talk about cars. Sometimes things
come full circle, and you realize that despite life's challenges, you are exactly
where you want to be.
Happy Reading, and Happy Driving.
Anna Maripuu
March I April
3
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derBayerische March/April 2023

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