In every special interest club, there are always the 10%ers. That is, in any organization that exists because of the single common interest in something, only about 10 % of its members are actually active in its clubs activities. This is also true of our club. With more than 500 members of the Iowa BMW CCA, only about 50-60 are regular attendees of our planned events and activities. Some members only attend one event a year. Why is that? We have just concluded our Annual Planning Meeting and had several members attended that had not attended any event before. These first timers gave us some input for our activity calendar for next year. So, what is holding you back?
When I was a new club member about 10 years ago, I was initially slow about attending my first event because I would not know anybody. But the members at my first event greeted me and were happy I was there. Therefore, I have been coming back ever since. So, what is holding you back?
In the fall of 2010, we had two brand new members attend Oktoberfest at Road America in Wisconsin as their first club event. They had a splendid time attending the many activities provided at O’fest, and since then, they have also attended the 2011 Fall Colors Drive and had the same wonderful time. So, what is holding the other 90% back? We have attempted to publicize our events via our newsletter Newswerks, via our Facebook and Twitter accounts and also through our email announcements. So, what is holding you back?
We are just a little over a month away from our signature event of the year, our Annual Dinner and Awards Banquet. For the first time in our history, the banquet will be held at one of our primary sponsors facilities on the showroom floor at BMW of Des Moines.
The site of 2012 Oktoberfest has just been announced which will be at Mid-Ohio Raceway from September 17-22.
So, what is holding you back?
If you have some direct insight as to what keeps you away from events, or what could attract others, let us know. Email me at president@bmwia.org.
Oktoberfest this year was in Birmingham, AL. Unless you’re a loyal son or daughter of Dixie, that may not sound like a wonderful spot to host our national club’s annual gathering of the faithful. But those who missed the festivities this year missed a great setting and event.
I had never been through that section of Alabama before, and I was pleasantly surprised by the hills and curvy roads, along with constabulary and local populace that didn’t seem to take speed limit signs very seriously. So we had some great driving for the fun rally and the time-speed-distance rally, and pleasant drives out to the track at Barber Motorsports Park from the Ross Bridge Renaissance host hotel. This resort hotel is tucked back into a wooded nook not far from the city, and is a beautiful interpretation of an old Scottish baronial manse. Attendees who did not get wrapped up in the driving events could instead enjoy the spa at the resort or try their hand on the stunning golf course that was right outside our windows.
Barber? What to say about Barber? This place has to be the fanciest track I’ve ever seen. Beautiful landscaping around the track itself in addition to the grounds. Sculptures within the track confines -picture booming at triple digits downhill into a hairpin turn, and looking up from the sand trap at a huge spider right in front of you! A world-class museum of motorcycles and race cars. All of the facility was extremely well taken care of, and the Heart of Dixie Chapter folks ran a great driving school for us. One of the Ofest evening receptions was held inside the Barber museum. The security staff must have been having heart attacks watching us wander about their unprotected displays of up to hundred-year-old conveyances with our food plates and libations in hand – but they allowed us free rein anyway. I haven’t seen so many motorcycles since accidentally wandering into the Harley Davidson Sturgis rally some years ago on a Black Hills trip, and they weren’t taking nearly the trouble to display those nicely.
Sightseeing when we travel is a must. For Birmingham, with its notorious legacy of civil rights conflicts, there is the Civil Rights Institute and museum. I think almost all of our Iowa Chapter contingent went there at some point during the week, and all came away both more educated and impressed by the depth of the struggles and the eventual resolution. Our family also hit a number of stops to and from Ofest: Memphis with its river-oriented culture, blues and BBQ; Tupelo MS for a surprising antique car collection; Vicksburg’s Civil War battlefield sites and tours; and the Great River Road through numerous quaint small towns in Missouri, Illinois and points south. Altogether, a great trip for both car and tourist stuff – not to mention the occasional pause for local or unique food. (Just ask Scott and Joyce or the VanLengens about traveling on one’s stomach…)
And now it’s time to start getting ready for next year! Oktoberfest 2012 has been announced for Sept. 17-23 at MidOhio Sports Car Course, a little north of Columbus (OH, naturally). The host hotel has not been finalized as of this writing, but stay tuned on the national club website,
www.bmwcca.org. Mid-Ohio has a reputation for being a fun and challenging course, and the area should provide lots of touring and sightseeing activities. See you there!
(From the journal of Nehru Cheddie, who picked up his new M3 in Munich this fall. Read about his journey to Germany with wife Karisa below).
Well we were not a minute late to our check in for delivery. It took just a few minutes going over documents then signing papers, the process seemed overly easy.
In the Premium Lounge we helped ourselves to some pretty decent food and drink. I couldn’t resist not having a beer! All along Karisa, my wife, thought we were getting the car in Interlagos Blue which was her third choice behind Moonstone and Jerez Black. I said Moonstone was too expensive, but I ordered it for her anyway. I figured the car was on the floor, but I didn’t want Karisa to see it pre-delivery. So I snuck out to the balcony that overlooks the delivery floor and saw our M3 for the first time. Wow! The car looked amazing and Karisa did right on the color, no regrets.
Finally, we saw our name on the board and went out to meet Bernard, our delivery specialist. We casually walked down the stairs to see the car spinning under a spot light. All Karisa could say is ‘that’s not our car’. Bernard was perplexed, then I said ‘Surprise its Moonstone!’ and she was floored! I actually pulled it off, she was truly surprised! Bernard…truly confused!
Once we let Bernard in on the secret, he proceeded to go over the engineering highlights of the M3. He was fantastic going over everything technical about the car and even snapping a few pics for us with our camera.
After about an hour he said he had to prepare for his next delivery and told us to take our time. We attached the Go Pro camera to the roof and proceeded to do two “victory laps” around delivery floor. What a great feeling to finally be sitting in the car driving it for the first time around the Welt. An experience which every BMW enthusiast should experience at some point in their life.
Other highlights of the trip included a trip to south Germany to get a glimpse of the Bavarian Alps, several nights in the Black Forest and an overnight stop at the Nurburgring, my favorite stop. In Germany the roads were very scenic and very curvy. The views were spectacular! What a way to break in an M3!
President's Column, What's New | David Brighton | 
December 23, 2011 4:30 pm | 
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