Author shares Bimmer love

Glens Falls Post-Star - October 11, 2013

Rob Siegel is a used-car buff's BFF.

The author will read and sign copies Sunday of "Memoirs of a Hack Mechanic: How Fixing Broken BMWs Helped Make Me Whole" as part of the fourth annual Vintage of Saratoga classic BMW car show at Saratoga Automobile Museum.

The book, which Siegel calls a "memoir with actual useful stuff," is an entertaining take into the mind of a car enthusiast and how he balances that passion with the demands of family life.

Do-it-yourselfers will find the technical information useful, while others will enjoy his story as a self-described "out of control hobbyist."

"I currently own eight cars - five BMWs, a Lotus Europa, my wife's Honda Fit and a Suburban with about 200,000 miles on it," Siegel said. "What I do is really what a lot of members of the (Saratoga Auto Museum) audience do."

Siegel said he tries to be a car nut "within boundaries." He may own eight cars but all of his "Bimmers" have more than 100,000 miles on them, and his daily driver, a 12-year-old 3-series wagon, is worth about $4,500.

Servicing and maintaining the cars himself lets him indulge his passion without going broke.

"You don't have to risk the kids' tuition money. That is an overarching theme," he said.

Siegel owned an AMC Rambler at one point, but clearly he has a love affair with BMWs that started when he was 13 years old. A college student who lived with his family used to ferry him around town in a BMW 2002. Siegel was so impressed with how the German sports sedan performed that in 32 years he has owned more than two dozen 2002 models and 50 Bimmers total.

And because none of the cars are mint-condition classics, Siegel said he doesn't feel like he has to treat them like museum pieces.

"The enjoyment I get out of my cars is in using, not just having," Siegel said.

IF YOU GO

Rob Siegel will read from his new book, "Memoirs of a Hack Mechanic," from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. and sign books from 1 to 2 p.m. Sunday at Saratoga Automobile Museum as part of the fourth annual BMW Vintage at Saratoga. For more information visit saratogaautomuseum.org/bmw-vintage-at-saratoga.

Article from and courtesy of Glens Falls Post-Star - http://poststar.com/lifestyles/author-shares-bimmer-love/article_cbbf9d40-31cb-11e3-8f4b-001a4bcf887a.html