We appreciate your membership, but we also hope you appreciate your membership. And from what we hear from so many of you, you do like your membership.
While we certainly hope you continue your membership, we also recognize that many of the very reasons you enjoy your membership expand when you actively share it with others. As you go out and further the energy—and membership—of the club, remember some of the highlights that bring in people and keep members. Whether your passion is new cars, old cars, cars that work well, project cars, track cars, race cars, show cars or go cars, there are current and future club members with whom to share—and stoke—that passion.
We don’t mean just the bullet points: you get rebates on BMWs, discounts from partners, discounts at the Performance Centers, Roundel Magazine, local and national events, the Ombudsman, technical advice and more. We mean—well, you mean—the intangibles; the benefits you don’t necessarily get from a mouse click, but you do get from being a part of a community 70,000 strong, many of whom are like-minded and share why you are passionate, and many of whom enjoy completely different aspects of the club to expand your BMW enthusiasm to new levels.
You don’t have to go far to be reminded of the enthusiasm within the club. The October issue of Roundel Magazine has many letters extolling the benefits of being in the club. Jeff Gifford of Austin, Texas, wrote, “I love my BMW CCA membership, the schools, the club drives through the Hill Country around Austin, the parts discount at BMW of Austin, but I particularly love my Roundel. I read it cover to cover as soon as it arrives.”
CT Burke from California wrote, “I just wanted to reaffirm what a great thing it is to be a BMW CCA member. Unknown to some, making a purchase of a BMW motorcycle, just like an automobile, has its benefits to club members. After making the best deal I could, I produced my club membership card and they knocked an additional $750 off the base price of the bike. Everyone remember to keep your membership. It really does pay off.”
Others recognize that Roundel Magazine alone is a highlight of membership. Member Greg Cory wrote, “The arrival of Roundel is the highlight of my month.”
Outside of Roundel, we hear more about how much members appreciate the club. Some of you like going to events. Kim and Nick Caraballo were at Legends and Festorics this year with their now-six year-old daughter, Abbie. “We love all the different events the club offers,” Kim explained. “We never have to worry about bringing Abbie, as she always has a great time. Abbie can become overwhelmed easily, but the club environment makes it possible for us to attend these events we love so much comfortably, and our whole family is able to enjoy ourselves. We especially love getting to meet so many people with the same passion for cars that we have.”
The experiences and benefits of being in the club extend far and wide. “I can honestly say, with 100% certainty, that I would not be currently living my lifelong dream of racing professionally were it not for the relationships developed through the BMWCCA; not least of which are my team owners – Todd and Michelle Brown,” raved club member Anthony Magagnoli, 2017 Pirelli World Challenge TC Class Rookie of the Year and driver of the #80 Rooster Hall Racing / FCP Euro BMW 235iR. “I’ve been involved in BMWCCA driving events since the beginning of my driving career, starting with Autocrosses, progressing to driving schools and then to Club Racing with a K-Prepared E30 325is. Even as I moved on to race in other series, I’ve always remained closely engrained with the BMW CCA Club Racing and Driving School communities. I’ve continually returned to join drivers in enduros, coach advanced drivers, instructors, and racers, and instruct and facilitate BMW CCA Club Racing Schools, and it’s because of the people. Even though we’re now in pro racing, team Rooster Hall Racing / FCP Euro remains a team of BMW Club Racers, just living the dream.”
Anthony has been in the club fifteen years, but how many times have we said or heard, “I should have joined the club sooner!”? Max Thomas has had a blast this first two times at Legends and Festorics, and might be thinking the same thing if it weren’t for all the fun he’s been having since he joined. “I’ve only been in the club a short while,” Max admitted, “but my favorite moments as a member have to be winning the Hagerty Das Beste Auto this year at Legends and then last year at the Centennial celebration when my girlfriend and I got to drive our ‘02s on the track at Laguna Seca for the BMW CCA parade lap! Smiles for miles!”
Los Angeles Chapter member Chris Palaganas attends events, too, but with his first child due any week now, he appreciates other aspects of the club, too. “One of the best things about being a club member is the camaraderie you build with fellow members,” Chris described. “I recently acquired a 1999 Dakar Yellow, E36 M3 coupe. I was tipped off by a fellow member that another member was selling it from his collection. The first member put us in touch and the next day, I met with the selling member, completed the sale, and now I’m a proud new owner. Not only did I get a really awesome car, I also made another ‘BMW friend.’ There was an instant comfort there that accelerated the sale and made it easy for both of us and now we’re still in touch!”
Most members enjoy the discounts, true. After all, if you’re paying a mere $48 dollars a year and can immediately receive hundreds of dollars in savings any number of ways, that’s pretty good math, even before the intangible benefits are included. The BMW Performance Center is an excellent example. It’s an absolutely phenomenal experience, but there is certainly a price to it. Membership can save you $300 and more attending a class. Non-club members groan when they hear that maybe half the class paid 15% less than they did for the same event—and will save 15% again on the items in the store!
But sometimes it’s not just the savings, but the experience. Sandlapper Chapter member Jim O’Leary brought his daughter, Catherine, to a Chapter M Days at the Performance Center. “Catherine and I had a marvelous day at the center meeting other club members and enthusiasts, improving our knowledge and skills, and experiencing the outstanding capabilities of the current M cars,” Jim recalled. “As a parent, it was particularly gratifying to see my daughter embracing the challenge and excitement of spirited driving and improving her skills throughout the day—which culminated in her placing 3rd in the timed lap competition involving over 30 BMW club members! It was certainly a proud paternal moment and one which will be retold and embellished for years to come!”
And although we can save hundreds through the Member Benefits discounts with our partners, sometimes it’s the preventative savings that makes a bigger difference. Each month, we hear from members who have gone right to Mike Miller’s Tech Talk section in Roundel Magazine. Whether they’re writing in themselves or they’re reading a similar problem that has plagued them as well, those letters and Mike’s responses have time and time again saved countless trips (and return trips!) to services centers and often helped save time and hundreds of dollars by arming us with the proper information so we can tell the service centers how to proceed.
One member recently asked, “Do I get something like a hat for joining?” Well, you can buy a hat…but actually if you refer just four people to join the Club, you’ll receive $20 in CCA bucks, and there’s your hat! Do you know four people who might like the tangible and intangible benefits? Do you know one person right now, and then maybe three more later in a month or year? There’s your hat! And those friends don’t even have to have a BMW now—we’ve all heard stories of people saying they might join after they get a BMW…but ironically, if they join a year before they get their CPO or new BMW, they might have saved up to $1500! And that—in fact all of this—is a pretty good return on the annual membership dues!
Thank you for your membership and thank you for growing the BMW Car Club of America!
