Summer of 2020 Cancellations and Changes

Details

Published: 04 July 2020

Just when you think things might be looking up, when events start shaping up, you get the rug pulled out from underneath you. Such has been the case with events for all of 2020.

To date, the following usual summer and fall events are cancelled:

• Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix (PVGP)
• Legends of the Autobahn
• Festorics Turn Five Corral and Hospitality Area
• O'Fest Forever

We are trying to plan for a Shine N Show event for either September or October, but cannot finalize details yet.

We also have a tentative brewery visit planned, again, contingent upon the upcoming months and the host site.

There will be a Third-Quarter virtual Board meeting on Sunday, 2 August 2020. If you wish to attend virtually, click the link for the event's page from under the left-side Upcoming Events.

Keep checking the calendar for updates on 2020 events. Meantime, let's look forward to better times and new adventures in 2021.

And, as always, keep the shiny side up and stay safe!

Revised Chapter and Organization Update -- 10 April 2020

Details

Published: 10 April 2020

At this time, all driving events for Northern Ohio Chapter are suspended.  The next Board meeting probably will be conducted via electronic communication as resources enable us.  We shall keep Chapter members posted as things progress and develop.  Be safe and well.

Following is the latest communication from BMW CCA and BMW Car Club of America Foundation
10 April 2020

Coronavirus Update

The BMW Car Club of America and the BMW Car Club of America Foundation are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of our members, chapter leaders, boards, staff, and guests. Last month we published our first statement in reaction to the COVID-19 Pandemic. At that time, we promised to carefully monitor the situation and all communications from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); federal, state, and local governmental agencies; and local health officials to keep abreast of this ever-changing situation.

We have continued to receive many questions from chapter leadership and members regarding the planning and execution of upcoming events in the face of the worsening COVID-19 outbreak. We have reached a point of national crisis and during such a time it is our patriotic duty to assist our fellow Americans in any way that we can.

In this instance it is as simple as removing ourselves from harm's way.

To that end, the BMW CCA Board of Directors voted to approve the following: Beginning at 5:00PM ET March 20, 2020, and running through June 1, 2020 at 5:00PM ET, BMW Car Club of America chapters and members are prohibited from engaging in any in-person events or gatherings under the umbrella of the BMW Car Club of America.

In other words, there must be no sanctioned, hosted and/or sponsored/co-sponsored BMW Car Club of America events including, but not limited to: business meetings, social gatherings, driving tours, concours, autocrosses, HPDE’s, Club Racing, or any other type of in-person gathering. Any chapter and/or member attempting to organize, execute, or otherwise participate in said activities or gatherings under the umbrella of the club will face disciplinary action including, but not limited to revocation of membership and revocation of chapter charter. MOREOVER, any individual member, chapter leader, and chapter that violates this policy will be denied coverage under the BMW Car Club of America liability insurance program.

The Club and Foundation will continue to monitor and review the situation with close attention to our current policies. Updates will be issued as needed and relevant.

The safety and security of our guests, students, members, staff, and leaders is now and will always remain our highest priority. Our thoughts and prayers are with the thousands of Americans who have been sickened by COVID-19. Our greatest hope is that this passes quickly and that we can all resume our normal lives.

As always, thank you for your membership in and support of the BMW Car Club of America and the BMW Car Club of America Foundation. We are here to help in any way we can. Please do not hesitate to ask any questions. We look forward to serving our members and providing safe, fun, and educational events in 2020 and beyond.

BMW Car Club of America • 2350 Highway 101 S • Greer, SC 29651
864-250-0022 • bmwcca.org

BMW CCA Foundation • 190 Manatee Court • Greer, SC 29651
864-329-1919 • bmwccafoundation.org

Origins of Northern Ohio Chapter

Details

Published: 09 October 2016

When early BMW Car Club of America members joined the national organization in the mid-1970s, they became members of a local entity which was rather unique at the time. While most chapters were located around metropolitan areas, Ohio had one of the first—if not the first—statewide chapter, Buckeye.

After attending meetings and events in the Columbus area for a time, our lifetime member John Franklin contacted members in Cleveland, Akron, and other northeastern Ohio areas and created the Cleveland/Akron Area to have more localized events and management. At approximately the same time, members in the Cincinnati region also organized regionally as an Area within Buckeye.

Cleveland/Akron monthly meetings initially were held at the Franklin home and later in area restaurants. To pull members from Cleveland’s western suburbs, later meetings were held at the Elegant Hog—the current location of the Windham Hotel.

In the early 1980s, the Columbus Area turned over management of Buckeye Chapter to the Cleveland/Akron Area.  In the late 1980s-early 1990s, the Cincinnati Area became the managing force for Buckeye.

After Buckeye Chapter hosted their first BMWCCA OktoberFest, members of the Cleveland/Akron Area requested secession from Buckeye Chapter. The intention was to concentrate activities and governance in a more localized area, believing this would better serve local members. This request for secession was one of the first of its type for the national organization.

In late fall 1991 with agreement from the remaining Areas of Buckeye Chapter, Northern Ohio Chapter was formed, encompassing Ohio postal zip codes from 44000 to 44999, which corresponds to the northeastern quadrant of the state. The general territorial area covers from Castalia-Sandusky to Galion-Mansfield to Dover-New Philadelphia over to the Pennsylvania border and northward to the shores of Lake Erie.