General Club Info

The year was 1969. There were soldiers in Vietnam. Hippies at Woodstock. And in Boston, a few car nuts were wandering the streets, snapping leaflets to the windshields of a curious new German import – the BMW 2002. They were recruiting members for a new car club dedicated to the object of their desire. At least some people had their priorities in order.

In time, veterans, hippies, and other driving purists from all over the spectrum would find common ground in what has become the world’s largest owner-supported car club – the BMW Car Club of America. Today, BMWCCA has 67 chapters nationwide, with more than 75,000 members, mutually enhancing each other’s BMW ownership experience.

You know that little flash of camaraderie that washes over you when you see a pair of BMW kidneys coming down the road? If you even know what that question means, you’re either already a member, or should be. You have to own a BMW to understand.

It doesn’t matter what model you drive. Whether you’re on your first Bimmer, or your thirtieth, there are just certain subjects that only BMW owners are interested in. BMWCCA is where we address all of them.

Our official mission is: to enhance the BMW experience for our members by providing services, support, information, and activities that promote camaraderie and encourage social awareness and responsibility. Unofficially, we’re a big support group for Ultimate Driving Machine addiction. Nothing wrong with that.

BMWCCA enjoys a strong yet independent relationship with BMW AG and its BMW of North America subsidiary. We are a not-for-profit corporation governed by a nine-member elected board of directors — four national officers and five regional vice-presidents who serve the interests of our chapters. Each chapter is an independent corporation chartered by BMW CCA. Our headquarters is in Greenville, SC.

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.

Northern Ohio Chapter of the BMW Car Club of America is a non-profit Ohio Corporation.

This web site and the Bimmer Pilot are publications of the Northern Ohio Chapter of the BMW Car Club of America. All contents remain the property of the Northern Ohio Chapter of the BMW Car Club of America. Information supplied on this web site is provided by members and for members only.

The Northern Ohio Chapter of the BMW Car Club of America is in no way associated with BMW of North America, or any other agents of Bayerische Motoren Werke AG.

The Northern Ohio Chapter of the BMWCCA assumes no liability for any information herein. Please note that, unless clearly stated, no information in this publication bears the status of “factory approved.” Ideas, opinions, and suggestions expressed herein are those of the authors. No authentication is implied by the Northern Ohio Chapter of the BMWCCA, officers, editiors, publishers, or webmaster. Modifications to vehicles within the warranty period may void the warranty, in full or in part.

“BMW”, the “M” logo, “The Ultimate Driving Machine,” and the BMW roundel logo are registered trademarks of BMW AG. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

The classifieds section has been made available by the NOCBMWCCA as a service to Club members and cannot be held responsible for any items or the exchange between the buyer and the seller. All information regarding items is provided by the seller. The chapter cannot check postings for facts, authenticity or condition.

The electronic mail addresses included on this web site are for the use of members of the Northern Ohio Chapter of the BMWCCA, and are not intended for commercial use, such as spam, junk email, or unsolicited commercial email. Inappropriate use of these mailing lists will be considered theft of service.

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The Northern Ohio Chapter BMWCCA

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