“Passion” Exhibit Ends with Celebration

The “PASSION – 50 Years of BMW Cars and Community” exhibition ended with a great celebration on January 11, 2020. Over 140 people chose to bid farewell to the array of 23 automobiles and memorabilia associated with BMW CCA members who have been paramount to developing a club that now numbers over 70,000. The evening festivities included a panel discussion moderated by Jackie Jouret, awards to BMW Performance Center and BMW North America members who have been tremendous supporters of the Club and Foundation, an array of door prizes plus a silent auction, which helped many folks leave with not only good memories but a more tangible remembrance of the evening.

The panel discussion included four very interesting BMW personalities:

• Rich Brekus, General Manager of Product Strategy for BMW of North America from 1994 to 2009, and former member of BMW’s worldwide Product Strategy group.
• Larry Koch, former Motorsport and M Brand Manager for BMW of North America.
• Matt Russell, former M Brand Manager and Communications for BMW of North America, current ALPINA automobiles representative for North America.
• Tom Plucinsky, current Head of BMW Group Product Communications for BMW of North America including BMW USA Classic.

Each provided an honest and interesting perspective on the previous and current models, introspection to the thoughts behind them and workings within BMW.

The day also offered a two-hour BMW factory tour, plus hot laps at the BMW Performance Center.

In all, the group included a wide array of people from brand new members to long time admirers of the BMW marque.

It was a great time. The next exhibition is called GENISIS: BMW From the Beginning. It features BMW and Motorcycles from the 1920s to 1965. It will be the largest ensemble of older BMWs assembled in the USA.