North Pole Retired
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 Dept 56 NORTH POLE CHAPEL 5626 0 NP Retired $36.99 Time Remaining: 29d 2h 25m Buy It Now for only: $36.99 |
 PHOTO WITH SANTA Set of 3 Dept 56 North Pole Series Retired $3.00 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 16h 47m |
 MITTEN MANOR Dept 56 North Pole Series Retired $27.00 Time Remaining: 16h 52m |
 Department 56 MICKEYS NORTH POLE HOLIDAY HOUSE Artist Signed Retired DISNEY $99.99 Time Remaining: 28d 1h 55m Buy It Now for only: $99.99 |
 DEPT 56 NORTH POLE TINKER BELLS LIGHTHOUSE NRFB MINT RETIRED $21.25 (5 Bids) Time Remaining: 17h 34m |
 DEPT 56 NORTH POLE BOARD GAMES FUN RETIRED $17.97 Time Remaining: 1d 22h 40m Buy It Now for only: $17.97 |
 DEPARTMENT 56 NORTH POLE ICE BREAKERS LOUNGE NRFB MINT RETIRED $16.01 (6 Bids) Time Remaining: 17h 36m |
 NORTH POLE THE REINDEER STABLES DASHER DANCER NRFB RETIRED $11.05 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 17h 36m |
 Department 56 CHRITMAS TANGLED IN TINSEL North Pole Series Dept 56 Retired $34.99 Time Remaining: 28d 1h 54m Buy It Now for only: $34.99 |
 Dept 56 Tin Soldier Shop North Pole Series Item 56383 RETIRED $20.00 Time Remaining: 18h 2m Buy It Now for only: $35.00 |
 Dept 56 North Pole PEPPERMINT PETES Retired 2010 $64.95 Time Remaining: 19d 22h 30m Buy It Now for only: $64.95 |
 Dept 56 Real Plastic Snow Factory North Pole Series Item 56403 RETIRED $35.00 Time Remaining: 18h 3m Buy It Now for only: $50.00 |
 Dept 56 ACME Toy Factory North Pole Series Item 56729 RETIRED $45.00 Time Remaining: 18h 3m Buy It Now for only: $60.00 |
 Dept 56 North Pole SKI BUMS 56710 NIB Retired 01 NP Acc Elf Mountain Ski Resort $23.95 Time Remaining: 28d 6h 24m Buy It Now for only: $23.95 |
 Dept 56 Santas Light Shop North Pole Series Item 56397 RETIRED $30.00 Time Remaining: 18h 4m Buy It Now for only: $40.00 |
 Department 56 COCA COLA FIZZ FACTORY North Pole Series Retired $99.99 Time Remaining: 28d 1h 55m Buy It Now for only: $99.99 |
 Dept 56 The Peanut Brittle Factory North Pole Series Item 56701 RETIRED $50.00 Time Remaining: 18h 4m Buy It Now for only: $70.00 |
 Dept 56 Weather Time Observatory North Pole Series Item 56385 RETIRED $25.00 Time Remaining: 18h 5m Buy It Now for only: $40.00 |
 DEPT 56 NORTH POLE SERIES BAKER ELVES SET 3 RETIRED 56030 FREE SHIPPING $19.99 Time Remaining: 27d 15h 51m Buy It Now for only: $19.99 |
 Dept 56 Maries Doll Museum North Pole Series Item 56408 RETIRED $25.00 Time Remaining: 18h 5m Buy It Now for only: $40.00 |
 DEPT 56 NORTH POLE WE DONT NEED INSTRUSTIONS RETIRED $24.97 Time Remaining: 1d 22h 40m Buy It Now for only: $24.97 |
 Dept 56 North Pole Chapel North Pole Series Item 56260 RETIRED $25.00 Time Remaining: 18h 6m Buy It Now for only: $40.00 |
 Dept 56 Santas Reindeer Rides North Pole Series Item 56748 RETIRED $30.00 Time Remaining: 18h 6m Buy It Now for only: $45.00 |
 Department 56 POLAR POWER COMPANY North Pole Series Retired $99.99 Time Remaining: 28d 1h 55m Buy It Now for only: $99.99 |
 Dept 56 Santas Lookout Tower North Pole Series Item 56294 RETIRED $30.00 Time Remaining: 18h 8m Buy It Now for only: $45.00 |
 Department 56 VILLAGE ACCESSORIES PEPPERMINT SIGN North Pole Dept 56 Retired $23.99 Time Remaining: 28d 1h 53m Buy It Now for only: $23.99 |
 Dept 56 Santas Workshop North Pole Series Item 56006 RETIRED $180.00 Time Remaining: 18h 8m Buy It Now for only: $250.00 |
 Dept 56 Santas Rooming House North Pole Series Item 56386 RETIRED $40.00 Time Remaining: 18h 9m Buy It Now for only: $55.00 |
 Department 56 CHRISTMAS CAROL REHERSAL North Pole Series Dept 56 Retired $34.99 Time Remaining: 28d 1h 54m Buy It Now for only: $34.99 |
 Dept 56 Reindeer Barn North Pole Series Item 56015 RETIRED $30.00 Time Remaining: 18h 9m Buy It Now for only: $45.00 |
 Department 56 A PUZZLING SIGN North Pole Series Dept 56 Retired $29.99 Time Remaining: 28d 1h 54m Buy It Now for only: $29.99 |
 Tassys Mittens North Pole Dept 56 Hassels Mufflers Woolies 1991 Retired $40.00 Time Remaining: 1d 1h 37m |
 Department Dept 56 An Irish Cheer for Santa set of 2 Retired 5656848 $9.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 1d 2h 26m |
 Department 56 FLURRYS SNOWGLOBE MAKER North Pole Series Retired $109.99 Time Remaining: 28d 1h 54m Buy It Now for only: $109.99 |
 Department Dept 56 Hot Wheels Lets Give it a Spin Retired 5656441 $9.99 Time Remaining: 1d 2h 28m |
 Department 56 MMs STAMP OF APPROVAL North Pole Series Dept 56 Retired $39.99 Time Remaining: 28d 1h 54m Buy It Now for only: $39.99 |
 Department Dept 56 North Pole More yarn for your stockings Mrs Claus retired $9.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 1d 2h 31m |
 Department Dept 56 North Pole Series Elf Land School Sleigh Express Retired $10.99 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 2h 31m |
 Department 56 SANTAS FLIGHT PLANNING TEAM North Pole Series Dept 56 Retired $34.99 Time Remaining: 28d 1h 54m Buy It Now for only: $34.99 |
 Department Dept 56 North Pole Series One Choo Choo burger coming up Retired $9.99 Time Remaining: 1d 2h 34m |
 Department 56 LIGHT THE WAY SANTAS BEACON North Pole Series Retired $89.99 Time Remaining: 28d 1h 54m Buy It Now for only: $89.99 |
 Department Dept 56 North Pole Series Dash away Delivery Hot air Balloon Retired $10.49 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 2h 34m |
 Department Dept 56 North Pole Series Glitter Detail set of 2 Retired $10.49 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 2h 38m |
 Department 56 COCA COLA SLIDING HILL North Pole Series Retired $89.99 Time Remaining: 28d 1h 54m Buy It Now for only: $89.99 |
 Department Dept 56 North Pole Series Cruisin Crayola Elves set of 2 Retired $9.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 1d 2h 40m |
 Dept56 North Pole Village Last Minute Delivery retired 1998 MIB $9.00 Time Remaining: 25d 23h 29m Buy It Now for only: $9.00 |
 Department Dept 56 North Pole Series This Looks Like A Good Spot RETIRED $9.99 Time Remaining: 1d 2h 42m |
 Toots Model Train Mfg Dept 56 56728 Retired Animated Limited Edition $109.95 Time Remaining: 1d 13h 4m Buy It Now for only: $150.00 |
 Department 56 MMs FUN ON ICE Dept 56 Animated North Pole Series Retired $82.50 Time Remaining: 28d 1h 53m Buy It Now for only: $82.50 |
 Department 56 North Pole Series Tangled in Tinsel 56708 Retired $17.99 Time Remaining: 1d 18h 18m |
 DEPT 56 NORTH POLE CANDY CANE CORNER RETIRED $111.97 Time Remaining: 2d 5h 47m Buy It Now for only: $111.97 |
 Department 56 North Pole Woods Elves 56922 Retired $15.99 Time Remaining: 1d 18h 22m |
 Reindeer Barn Retired North Pole Series Department 56 Collectible $35.00 Time Remaining: 1d 22h 21m |
 DEPT 56 TRIMMING THE NORTH POLE 56081 RETIRED NORTH POLE VILLAGE NIB $14.72 Time Remaining: 6d 2h 43m Buy It Now for only: $14.72 |
 DEPT 56 NORTH POLE SANTAS BELL REPAIR BRAND NEW RETIREDBIG DEPT 56 SALE $10.00 Time Remaining: 2d 6m |
 Dept56 North Pole Village Weather And Time Observatory retired 1999 MIB $12.00 Time Remaining: 28d 16h 57m Buy It Now for only: $12.00 |
 DEPT 56 NORTH POLE CHECKING IT TWICE WIND UP TOYS IN BOX RETIRED $44.00 Time Remaining: 2d 14m Buy It Now for only: $49.00 |
 BUSTIN A MOVE Set of 2 North Pole Series Retired $9.00 Time Remaining: 2d 1h 22m |
 Department 56 SANTAS SLEIGH MAKER Set of 2 North Pole Series Dept 56 Retired $109.99 Time Remaining: 28d 1h 55m Buy It Now for only: $109.99 |
 All Aboard Dept 56 North Pole 56803 Retired $13.95 Time Remaining: 2d 12h 59m Buy It Now for only: $15.70 |
 Dept 56 North Pole POLAR PIZZA NEVER COLD Retired $18.50 Time Remaining: 25d 5h 46m Buy It Now for only: $18.50 |
 Scrooge McDuck the Ghosts of Christmas Dept 56 North Pole 56940 Retired $19.99 Time Remaining: 2d 13h 15m Buy It Now for only: $23.95 |
 DEPT 56 NORTH POLE WOODS ELVES TRIM A TREE FACTORY 56884 RETIRED IN BOX $12.99 Time Remaining: 2d 18h 9m |
 Department 56 HOLIDAY CARD PHOTO HUT Dept 56 Retired $34.99 Time Remaining: 28d 1h 54m Buy It Now for only: $34.99 |
 COCA COLA FIZZ FACTORY Dept 56 North Pole Series Retired $20.00 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 2d 18h 41m |
 DEPT 56 CLASSIC ORNAMENT SANTAS WORK SHOP NORTH POLE 1990 RARE NEW RETIRED $9.99 Time Remaining: 26d 8h 18m Buy It Now for only: $9.99 |
 Toymaker Elves Set of 3 Heritage Village North Pole Series Retired 56022 Mint $14.99 Time Remaining: 3d 31m |
 Baker Elves Dept 56 Heritage Village North Pole Retired 56030 Set of 3 Nib $14.99 Time Remaining: 3d 39m |
 Dept 56 WOODSMEN ELVES Set of 3 56308 NP Retired $26.99 Time Remaining: 23d 2h 24m Buy It Now for only: $26.99 |
 CUTTUNG THE TRAIL Dept 56 North Pole Series Retired $5.75 Time Remaining: 3d 6h 35m |
 Dept56 North Pole Village Toymaker Elves retired 1995 MIB $5.00 Time Remaining: 6d 18h 43m Buy It Now for only: $5.00 |
 Christmas Critters Pet Store Dept 56 North Pole ElfLand 56772 Retired $59.95 Time Remaining: 3d 12h 36m Buy It Now for only: $69.57 |
 Can I Keep Them Dept 56 North Pole ElfLand Accessory 56864 Retired $9.79 Time Remaining: 3d 12h 42m Buy It Now for only: $11.50 |
 Dept56 North Pole Village Santas Bell Repair retired 1998 MIB $12.00 Time Remaining: 28d 16h 57m Buy It Now for only: $12.00 |
 DEPT 56 TWINKLE BRIGHT GLITTER FACTORY IN BOX AND RETIRED NORTH POLE SERIES $34.99 Time Remaining: 3d 14h 16m Buy It Now for only: $39.00 |
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Racing through time with the BMW M3
From 1995 through 2006, BMW of North America’s BMW M3 racing program boasted 53 wins in 118 races entered, and 14 championship trophies. The first generation M3 swept through the racing circuits of Europe like wildfire. Winning the World Touring Car Championship in 1987, eight European Championships, and an additional 60 national titles, by 1992 the E30 M3 became the most successful touring car of all time.
While the car was officially sold here, North American enthusiasts read about the M3’s racing triumphs with fervor, but reading was one thing – they wanted to see it in competition for themselves. Beginning with the introduction of the second-generation E36 M3, they got exactly what they wanted – in spades.
Victorious from the start
BMW of North America began its first racing program only days after its incorporation in March 1975. With BAVARIAN MOTOR WORKS lettered across the top of the windshield, the overall win by a BMW Motorsport-prepared 3.0CSL at the 12 Hours of Sebring set the winning tone for the twists and turns of the next 30 years.
After the CSLs, the ’70s decade ended with the 320 Turbo program that introduced BMW’s move to a more refined, up-market model. Known affectionately as the “Flying Brick,” the fame-throwing coupes delighted sports car racing fans with their signature exhaust fire.
The program also added reams of data to BMW’s turbocharging technology – information that would help a BMW-powered Brabham win the 1983 Formula 1 World Championship. There were a few more flery years in the late ’80s in IMSA’s (International Motor Sports Association) top prototype category with the BMW GTP.
The very expensive program netted only one win, but added incalculable experience to BMW of North America. Back to production cars, BMW of North America sponsored a pair of E34 M5s to an IMSA Supercar championship. When the second-generation M3 debuted in 1995, the company was ready for a major effort in production car racing.
The two M3s that rolled off the BMW Team PTG (Prototype Technology Group) race truck at the 1995 24 Hours of Daytona looked very much like they had come directly from the showroom. They were, however, surprisingly fast, as longtime BMW driver Dieter Quester took the GTS-2 class pole.
This was the beginning of a long and successful run for the second-generation M3. When the M3s appeared at Daytona the next year it was obvious that things were getting very serious. The M3s almost leapt from the PTG transporter. They were lower, wider and meaner.
A second consecutive pole resulted in a podium finish (third), and the team knew they were finally on the right track. Later that season, in May, a 27-year-old Bill Auberlen joined the effort at Lime Rock Park. Auberlen would go on to win more races in an M3 than anyone in North America, and to personify “The Ultimate Driving Machine.
If the addition of Auberlen was the program’s “tipping point,” it was Sears Point Raceway in July that was the program’s turning point. The team introduced its new, lighter “sprint” M3, and the new car led a 1-2-3 BMW sweep. Three more wins garnered BMW the 1996 IMSA GTS-2 Manufacturers’ title.
The next two years, 1997 and 1998, were arguably the most rewarding. After serving notice the previous season, the BMW Team PTG M3’s declared ownership of sports car racing’s GT class. Wins at the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring, plus six more victories, gave BMW its second Manufacturers’ Championship, the Drivers’ crown to Auberlen, and the Team title to PTG.
As it did on the street, the four-door M3 sedan was an equal part of the team, adding win after win. The success continued in 1998 with victories again at both Daytona and Sebring. Racing in two series simultaneously (USRRC and SPORTS CAR), the BMW Team PTG M3s won seven more times, sweeping the Manufacturers’, Drivers’ and Team Championships.
New competition arrived in 1999, limiting the E36 M3’s success to wins and the ALMS Team Championship. The 2000 12 Hours of Sebring saw the introduction of the all-new E46 M3, but the competition continued to be strong, and it was not until the tenth round, at Laguna Seca Raceway, that BMW Team PTG reached the top step of the podium. It was the new M3’s only victory in a development season.
BMW was back on top in 2001 as two BMW Team PTG M3s combined with two BMW Motorsport M3s to dominate the ALMS GT class and sweep the Manufacturers’, Drivers’ and Team titles with the awesome, V-8-powered M3 GTR. However, these proved a little too awesome, and racing rule changes made the car ineligible to return with the V-8 engine.
After a hiatus in 2002 and a diversion to the SCCA’s World Challenge Series in 2003, BMW Team PTG entered the Rolex Sports Car Series in 2004 and 2005. With new six-cylinder-powered E46 M3s, BMW Team PTG won 10 of 12 races to take the 2004 Manufacturers’, Drivers’ and Team Championships. The next year saw seven more wins with the team missing another Manufacturers’ title by only seven points.
Returning to the ALMS for its final season in 2006, the M3s worked hard against competition with larger engines. In an unfamiliar role as underdog, the BMW Team PTG M3s reached the podium three times, showing that even as a six-year-old design, the M3 could still compete with more modern, powerful machinery. Although winless in 2006, the BMW M3 retired as an overall winner.
When the checkered fag fell on the last race of the 2006 season, BMW of North America wrote the final page of the most successful chapter to-date of its 31-year motorsport story. From 1995 through 2006, BMW of North America’s M3 racing program drove to 53 wins in 118 races entered, adding 14 Championship trophies to corporate display cases – and a shine on the roundel like never before.
About the Author
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