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Report from Phil Abrami, President
BMW Club of Canada
abrami@education.concordia.ca
514-487-4646

September 15, 2003

I am writing these notes on board a Swissair flight en route to Montreal from Munich and the annual meeting of the International Council of BMW Clubs. As club president, I served as the voting delegate to the meeting. An official observer, Jim Westmacott, President of the BMW Car Club of British Columbia, also accompanied me. Jim and I worked together well as a team and he did a wonderful job as an ambassador for the BMW CC. Thanks, Jim.

The meetings and social events were centered around the resort hotel and fitness centre "Parkresidenz Bachmair-Weissach" located in Tegernee in the Bavarian alpine foothills about 90 minutes from Munich. The event was hosted by BMW Mobile Tradition and BMW AG and included national automotive and motorcycle club representatives from Europe, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Japan, and the Philippines.

The business meetings lasted one and one-half days and social activities and informal gatherings consumed another one and one-half days. The Frankfurt Auto Show was going on simultaneously but I was not able to extend my stay to attend since I needed to be back home to teach.

BMW Mobile Tradition certainly put out the red carpet for our visit. Accommodations were first rate and the meals were excellent, if perhaps too plentiful. The weather played spoiler, as we were only able to enjoy clear, sunny weather the morning of our departure from Tegernee. Events included a boat ride, and visits to the Olympic Park, Transportation Museum, Rocky Horror Picture Show, and a beer garden, of course.

The highlight was a guided tour of the Mobile Tradition car collection and restoration facilities. This is the home of the greatest collection of historic and special interest BMWs in the world. We saw everything from early DIXIs to 328s, 507s, 2002s, E30 M3, and F1 cars, Far too many to name here and not enough time to photograph, although I did get some shots which I hope will be posted to the national web site. My personal favorite? Probably the 328 which won the Mille Miglia and which BMW just purchased for several million dollars. The most unusual car? Probably the 7-series used in the James Bond film steered by a driver sitting in the rear footwell and using a low mounted TV camera and screen to see ahead. The most mysterious car? The entire basement collection of prototype vehicles-no cameras allowed. And then there was the row of crated S14 engines, all with zero kms. If only I could have figured out a way to get one back home.

The meeting of the International Council was an especially important one and it was especially useful that the BMW CC was represented there. I summarize some of the key developments below. Official minutes of the meeting will probably be forthcoming.

BMW and Car Clubs
BMW AG through Mobile Tradition has decided to renew and increase its interest and investment in its automobile and motorcycle clubs worldwide. Mobile Tradition has a new team in place to facilitate the work of the International Council and to insure the dynamic growth and development of both existing and new clubs throughout the world, including new markets in Central and South America, Asia, Africa and the Pacific. There will now be three fulltime employees who have responsibilities in the International Council Office including some work for BMW Clubs Europa. I am confident that this renewed commitment will have benefits to our club in Canada and that it will further strengthen our good relationship with BMW Canada.

I also discussed both privately with members of Mobile Tradition and then publicly with the Council some concrete ways we can work together with BMW to increase awareness and interest in the clubs worldwide. These included having BMW AG and Mobile Tradition encourage the following:

1. Announcements about BMW clubs in the BMW magazine;
2. Membership applications in glove boxes and/or car manuals; and
3. Active and prominent links to the relevant club(s) on each distributor's web page.

One of the things we learned about was the existence of the Mobile Tradition annual catalog. Twenty copies will be sent to us for distribution to each regional chapter. Club members are entitled to a 20% discount on orders; many of the items are not available through the usual dealer parts counter.

New Structure of the International Council
A considerable portion of the meeting was devoted to exploring the proposal for a new structure for the Council that now represents more than 200,000 enthusiasts worldwide. Embedded within the debate were concerns expressed over the role and financing of BMW Clubs Europa and BMW Historic, Classic, and Type groups. The outcome of the debate was to increase the size of the Council and modify the nature and amount of support BMW AG currently provides to BMW Clubs Europa bringing it more in line with how things operate in other regions of the world and freeing up additional funds for special initiatives worldwide.

The new structure will be organized to mirror BMW major sales groups. It increases the potential size of the voting members of Council to include up to 16 national club representatives, one BMW Mobile Tradition Representative, and three BMW AG regional representatives, as follows (when warranted):

North America-4
South America-1
Europe and Germany-4
Veterans & Type clubs-2
Asia-2
Oceania-2
Africa-1
Mobile Tradition-1
BMW AG Regions-3

The representation for North America does not change so we are assured our continued place on the Council as one of its founding members.

The International Veterans & Type Clubs will be able to recognize non-regional clubs when, under normal circumstances, they:

1. Are truly international in scope and goals;
2. Establish the importance of vehicle type and historic brand value;
3. Have an international membership;
4. Are not a "run-away" or renegade club;
5. Have these criteria approved by the International Clubs Office and the Executive Board of the Council with input from the appropriate national and/or umbrella organizations.

Future annual meetings of the International Council will probably alternate between Munich and host countries around the world. Spartanburg may be next and then probably South Africa. The suggestion concerning Vancouver was warmly received and we hope to play hosts towards the time of the Winter Olympics.

Council Vice-Chair
Over the course of the meeting, I was encouraged by several Council members to allow my name to stand as Vice-Chair of Automobile Clubs worldwide. I eventually accepted the nomination and was unanimously acclaimed to the position for a three-year term. Among my specific responsibilities will be to work towards a positive resolution and restructuring of Clubs Europa. I'm sure our recent experience with BMW CC and its new constitution will contribute to a good outcome. It is also my opinion that being a member of the Council Executive will provide direct benefits to our club as I become more familiar with the workings and personnel involved in Mobile Tradition and The Council Office, in particular. International Office will keep me abreact of developments by issuing monthly e-mail and phone updates, among other things.

Conflict of Interest
The Council took seriously our request for guidelines to cover conflict of interest issues including requests for endorsement, and use of the club name, logo, and the BMW roundel. A working committee will be formed to address the issue. In the interim, it was suggested that the club request written applications regarding the use of the club name, club logo, and BMW roundel except for decals and other items distributed by the club to members. Use of the BMW roundel in any advertising or display by individuals, companies and other commercial concerns should also be referred to BMW Canada for approval.

Awards
One of the highlights of the meeting was the Friends of the Marque Award and the Dr. Gerhard Knochlein Mobile Tradition Award. I am pleased to report that a Canadian was honored with the Knochlein Award-Dr. Sultan Karim. Compliments to Jim Westmacott for doing such an outstanding job in representing our nominee to the Council. The Council went so far as to recognize the application prepared by the BMW Car Club of British Columbia as the standard by which all other application should be judged. I would like, therefore, to recognize both Dr. Karim and the efforts of Jim and the BMW CCBC by having this nomination with notification of its success placed prominently on our national website. (You can view a PDF version of the Canadian nominations here.)

Otherwise, I believe we should make a concerted effort for next year to nominate a member for the Friends of the Marque award. I can think of several deserving members who have made tireless efforts on behalf of the club for many years who are deserving of this recognition. I would be especially pleased to see a nomination in 2004 from someone in the Trillium Chapter in special recognition of efforts to inaugurate the club and sustain it over more than a quarter century.

International Oktoberfest
Word of LeCircuit and Tremblant resort has spread and our history of collaboration with BMW CCA, including the 2003 North American Challenge Race, has not gone unnoticed. Our friends from BMW CCA approached us at the Council meeting about the possibilities of co-hosting an Oktoberfest in the summer of 2005. Certainly, the facilities are right for a large event of this sort, including the Blainville test facility which will be perfect fro duel autocrosses and safety schools. To add a little extra to the mix, The President and Executive Director of the Motorcycle Owners of America are also interested in scheduling a motorcycle rally coincident with such an Oktoberfest. Even the folks from Mobile Tradition were excited about the idea and pledged to send over one or more representatives from Germany to take it all in. How excited are the Americans? They want to arrange for their Oktoberfest coordinator to visit by the end of the month.

There are, of course, many challengers to overcome before we could think about realizing an event of this magnitude and scope. Fro example, one complication is dealing with US vendors who wish to sell merchandise in Canada. But where there's a will there's a way. I hope that all the Clubs from west of the Rockies will be willing to join together to explore how we can make this a reality. And it would be great to have BC and Alberta join us too even if it were in a reduced capacity.

In Other News
The BMW CC and its eight regional clubs have so far enjoyed a very successful 2003. There have been many wonderful and varied events throughout the country. As a national club, we are working to insure that every chapter has its own website and that the national website gets bigger and better all the time. We established driving events committees who have been consolidating student and instructor driving manual and videos. We also have plans for some national merchandise that if everything works out may be available at Christmastime. In short, things are moving along nicely and we have much to be proud of.

On a personal basis, many of you know that I was involved in an unfortunate racing incident at the Mosport Dayze club race that resulted in a spin and contact with the wall exiting turn 10 onto the front straight. Damage was moderate and ended my season but I plan to return in the spring. A small consolation was that the other driver was found to be completely at fault and placed on probation. Thanks to those of you who asked; I'll see you next at the kart track!

Phil Abrami, national president, BMW Club of Canada