Blumax

HB Chris

HB Chris

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If any of you know Murray now would be a good time to make or re-establish contact via letter or e-mail and wish him the best. He made it to Monterey with his two sons and two grandsons but he has weakened considerably and most likely will not be driving Blumax any more. I spent three hours with him on Thursday and he is in considerable pain and is using a wheelchair for mobility. His wife Beatrice is an angel and is caring for him around the clock but they may be bringing in assistance this week. I will see him again on Tuesday. His e-mail address is murray.fowler at ymail dot com (without the spaces of course). Or send them to me and I will print them out and take them to him. Thanks everyone.

Chris
(cmacha at socal dot rr dot com)
 
Very sad to hear about Murray's current condition. I had the good fortune a few months ago of buying a part with the CS legend and our various correspondences really left an indelible mark with me of Murray's friendly and gracious nature. Get well soon Murray!
 
Sad but inevitable

Thanks for letting us know Chris.
I have had this moment in mind from time to time. I am nevertheless happy to hear about his Grande Finale at Monterey, and that he hasn´t been involved in an accident (sofar). Very wise of him to refrain from further driving.
On good days, when not in too much pain, he can continue to follow us via this forum and the telephone, as well as seeing visitors on suitable occasions. His vast knowledge about the BMW coupes, needs to be shared to new custodians and passed down to the next generation. We all play in important role here. (I was happy to spend 20 min with a 26 year old (and his girlfriend) at my Golf Club parking space recently. He turned out to adore these cars and was quite well informed. OK, it was my Batmobile that he spotted (a 97% correct recreation built by an aircraft mechanic in Sweden in 1984-85), but he thought the normal coupes were fantastic as well.
 
Murray

Great pleasure of being around Murray, driving the Bluemax and meeting other coupsters via him. Thanks for Heads up!
 
Chris, thanks for keeping the forum updated on Murray.
 
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I'm a newbie and a novice with my 2800CS (under a year owned). I bought six or so of Murray's parts that he posted a while back. He spent over an hour with me on the phone answering all of my innocent questions and providing in detail how to care and preserve my car. A true gentleman in every way. I'll admit to having watched his Bluemax BMW TV video about 30+ times since purchase, with freezing the frame on the interior and his "third gear" acceleration segment. An honor chatting with him, CS royalty...Wishing him the best now.
 
HB Chris said:
If any of you know Murray now would be a good time to make or re-establish contact via letter or e-mail and wish him the best. He made it to Monterey with his two sons and two grandsons but he has weakened considerably and most likely will not be driving Blumax any more. I spent three hours with him on Thursday and he is in considerable pain and is using a wheelchair for mobility. His wife Beatrice is an angel and is caring for him around the clock but they may be bringing in assistance this week. I will see him again on Tuesday. His e-mail address is murray.fowler at ymail dot com (without the spaces of course). Or send them to me and I will print them out and take them to him. Thanks everyone.

Chris
(cmacha at socal dot rr dot com)
Click to expand...

done
thanks you for letting us know
regards
 
Have always enjoyed the time I have spent with Murray. Such a gentleman. I sent him a note earlier today.
 
If you look up gentleman in webster's dictionary there's a picture of Murray. I too bought some parts from Murray and he was such a pleasure to do business with.
Ernest
 
Thanks, Murray!

Chris-

Thanks for the update - Murray is the person that got me interested in and helped me purchase my coupe. back in 2007, he was selling the nicest Bavaria I'd ever seen, BVCREME, and I was in San Diego on business and I had a most enjoyable afternoon with him - we talked for several hours and I was able to go for a ride in the BLUMAX and I learned a great deal about the history of both of these fine cars. But more than that, I took away from that experience that coupe owners, with Murray in particular, were a fascinating, interesting, and fun group of individuals and that these cars and this community is one that is worth joining.

Over the next several months, He was able to locate a Silver 1972 CS in very good shape and this was the coupe that I purchased. During my search, I had contacted Carl Nelson about any advice he could offer for my first coupe purchase. His advice was four words - "do not buy rust". I am happy to say that Murray had scoured my coupe before purchase (it had come from the desert in Palm Springs) and that, five years later, no rust. The coupe arrived just as Murray had described and needless to say, after reading a variety of experiences of other first time coupe purchasers, I considered myself fortunate in meeting such a classy, friendly, and giving individual as Murray. He completely epitomizes the kind of person I associate with these great cars and When I think of my coupe and this community, he is and will be at the top of the list.

Thanks Murray!
 
I spoke with Murray yesterday and he told me the Doctors found some serious rust...

I was very depressed after I hung up because Murray told me the Doctors say he has some serious rust (not his words) and he was very sick...

Maybe one of his sons will take him for a few hot laps in BLUMAX just to get his mind off his pain and his blood flowing a little faster...

God Speed to you Murray!
 
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There is much more to Murray Fowler than his e9 knowledge. He graciously spent an hour with me on the phone one evening. The call originated through a purchase of some parts but quickly evolved into a brief autobiography of this amazing man. He served in the Korean war on a ship and recounted a tale of having a shell whistle just over his head. He is an author, a loving husband, a father, and a proud grandpa. Being on the east coast I can not arrange the tribute I would like to propose so maybe one of you left coast guys could pick up the ball. If you could get together one weekend day for a coupe parade by Murray's home, I think it would be a wonderful gesture for a man who has touched so many lives in so many special ways. If anyone could fill the bill, please Pm me I have a couple of more ideas. Thanks. Walter
 
Murray

Dear All,

I cannot claim to know Murray anything like some here do, but I did spend a little time with him on the phone recently and then he was kind enough to spend some time talking with me when I attended Legends of the Autobahn in Monetery.

What a lovely gentleman he is and I am glad to see my first impressions are the same as everybody seems to feel about him after many years of knowing him, an absolute pleasure.

Like everybody, I wish him well, but I wanted to bring to peoples attention a passing comment in Septembers "Sports Car Market" on sleeper GTs for Monterey. One of the three GTs mentioned was an E9 and the article contained a lovely reference to the story of Murray Fowler from Costa Mesa.

Best

Pete
 
The Icon

Like the Bluemax, I thought Murray was going to last forever. My list of things to do include making at least one Cars and Coffee Irvine, drive the entire PCH in sunshine and of course met Murray in person.

I don't know if it was Murray that said it first but he probably said it most often - "buy the best you can afford". When I was lurking/looking to buy an e9, Murray's encyclopedic knowledge and sage advice helped me avoid some less that perfect examples by educating me on what questions to ask and where to look. I ended up buying TJ Noto's first CS after watching the resto-modification on his website which gave me a level of comfort in the condition of the body and the direction of the work. It was the best I could afford.

I hope Murray hangs in there until I can drive down but I'm sure he is be pleased that the Bluemax will be.

God bless the man and the icon, not sure which is which.

Doug (decoupe)
 
It saddens me very much to hear Murray is in the bad stages of his illness. Murray is truly one of a kind. I know Murray is a religious man and he knows what he has to look forward to. I just pray that he does not have to endure much pain through this stage of his illness.

I always enjoy having a long chat with Murray. He has so many interesting experiences to talk about.
 
Read Murray even before buying my car, and met him last year at Cars and Coffee. Impressive person and impressive car. Advice seems easier on E9 problems than illnesses.

When I find unfair that Verona is better now than 7 years ago yet I am 7 years older, I find solace in rust as the great equalizer between car and its owner.
 
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