March 2010
Chris writes:
Joachim (Joe) Groeger was treated by fellow BMW riders Saturday morning 3/13 on the occasion of his 90th birthday. Later, Joe hosted a tea in the afternoon for long time friends and associates. Many of us know Joe from the 49’er Rallies where he takes home (usually), the oldest rider and oldest machine ridden to the Rally. Lars Swartz, Alan Huntzinger, Chris Weld, Brent Hansen, Duane Ausherman and others were on hand for this august occasion. The ‘girls’, BMW riders all, posed with the guest of honor on the staircase.
The Fire Marshal wasn’t keen on a cake with 90 candles (the air conditioner couldn’t handle the load), and Joe settled for a mere 9.
Joe is a dear friend who kept me riding when it couldn’t have happened otherwise - this as a poor college student living on the VA benefit.
Joe came to the USA in 1954 as an ‘industrial spy’, this to protect German camera manufacturing patents. Joe did a full apprenticeship in Germany as a watch and clock maker and spent his early years in fabrication of aircraft and rockets; he’s also noted for designing and building his own steroscopic 120 mm cameras. Today, Joe remains the force behind Groeger Special Tooling, a tool, die and manufacturing business in Redwood City, which is also a front for collectors/restorers of old BMW motorcycles. Joe still designs and frabricates tools and jigs for the restoration of /2’s and others.
Fire_Marshal-_No_on_90
Joe_and_Fans_(BMW_Riders)
Joe_at_90_Yrs_and_Riding
Joe’s_Crank_Jig
Norine sends these pics from Saturday afternoon and a group shot from Joe’s 2007 holiday party.
Group shot from 2007
Joe 90 afternoon group
Joe and son