My understanding is BMWCCA does not represent BMW, nor is there a line on the org chart linking the two, let alone dealerships. The grassroots club is run by members. And the membership is open to all. Like TwistySister mentioned, you can find other marques at a HPDE event. At the one I went to, about a third of the cars were not BMWs (from my cloudy recollection): Z06 Vette, fox body Stang, RX-7, two A4's, supercharged G35, a pair of 911's, and a pair of Mini's.

For those inclined towards performance, not taking advantage of the knowledge and schooling available for a low cost seems incredulous. And the Teen Street Survival program the local chapters run is a good thing that I wished I had done in my stupid days. Or the car control clinics. So, yes, I am a member, but not active at all, as a 17 month old tends to keep one busy and the budget tight. And I joined to take advantage of the HPDE's.

 

I'm not because I also drive a MINI, not a BMW. I am a member of a MINI club that recieves the same discount at the local dealerships as BMW CCA so I don't have any insentive to join.

 

In my state I drive a BMW MINI

 

I would like to join a club, but I do not think a BMW club would be appropriate for me. The Mini clubs I check out seem to be all about hot-rodding and racing. Neither of which holds my interests any longer.

It does not keep me from enjoying Romi.

 

I know what you mean about what seems to be most Mini clubs. They don't have any social events. Yes the emphasis is on the car, but there's nothing wrong with some regular social events on a calendar.

 

I do more events with the local BMW club than I do with the local MINI club, the BMW club has a well though out run or social event a month.

I've never felt like my MINI was any less of a car at a BMWCCA event. This month I'm going to be in the car coral with the BMW people at the Barbers races and I might go to the dragon with them in the fall.

 

Have you seen the Roundel?

Seriously, I know what you are saying, but BMW - its products, company and even representatives at times - is an intergral part of the club not only in subject but it seems in support when it comes to events, car reviews & info, as well as endorsements in other ways. Dealers are often part of the equation as well, as is true with most national car clubs. IMHO the division between the brand and the club advocating it is a fine line, a technicality at that in many ways.

For example, would Roundel or the club newsletters ever give a truly unfavorable review of a car, its performance or looks, or write about inherent defects/repetitive problems or dealer failings? I could go into specifics but its early and I've blabbed enough, but to me it seems clear that the national club does not exist in a seperate realm from the company represented since there seems to be an inherent reliance on the parent company for approval.

 

Looks like you need to move about 100 milies south.

 

Ummm...isn't that like a Corvette owner saying, "I drive a Corvette, not a Chevrolet."? That statement makes NO sense. Of course you drive a BMW...a BMW MINI, whose roots go back to the original Mini. If the Brits had done a better job of Mini ownership thru the years, we "new" MINI owners could still be owners of an all British car and not a halfbreed.

 

Corvette's Official US Website http://www.chevrolet.com/corvette/
MINI's Official US Website http://www.miniusa.com

Besides the official ownership, BMW plays a minor role (in comparison to the Chevy/Corvette comparison) to MINI. MINI has no mention of BMW on their site, you don't purchase them at a BMW dealer, you purchase them at a MINI dealer, which just so happen to share the site of a BMW dealer. A Corvette is purchased at a Chevy dealer. I don't know about your local dealers, but the ones I've been to keep the BMWs seperated from the MINIs, the MINI side has its own building for financing and sales.

 

I agree, eVal, with the fine line of promotion and the club. That being said, the skills and knowledge of the members of the club that are available at a HPDE, car control clinic, or Teen Street Survival event transcend brands. Of course there are other orgs as well, SCCA, NASA, etc., that offer schooling.

I certainly believe the Mini is a worthy successor to the 2002 in spirit if not a technical one. Us folks arguing about how many angels fit on the head of a pin represent a small minority, read gearheads, of the general automotive populace who view cars as an appliance, status symbol, etc.

Motor on!

 

Not quite. That analogy would work if you said "I drive an MC, not a MINI" since the Corvette is a model within the Chevy line and the MC is a model in the MINI line.

By your analogy, its more like saying I drive a Pontiac, not a GM car. Which, of course, still makes no sense.

 

Plus it is not like you can get a Mini serviced at a BMW center (much to the chagrin of many who do not live near a Mini dealer)..

 

I don't know what BBWs, CCAs, or DEs are and I don't join things if I don't know what they are. I don't usually join when I do know.

 

It would be more like a Vette owner saying, "I drive a Corvette, not a Pontiac, Cadillac, Buick, or GMC."

 

I bought my MINI, I joined BMWCCA (there was no MINI club). I drove in five of their HPDE over three years.

We lost are one and only track and DE were no longer possible.
I didn't renew my membership since the MINI club does the same car rallys and social events as the BMWCCA did. My BMWCCA chapter has 330 members and only 8 show up for car rallys. I drove in about 6 of those rallys- usually the same 4 people plus a few more.

Most MINI owners just drive their cars and are not doing HPDE. Maybe as little as 10% would consider it. More like 2-3% would actually do it.

Of the HPDE I have been to in my area out of 40 cars we have about 5-6 MINIs. In autocross out of 110+ drivers we have about 6 to 8 MINIs. The most we have ever had was 12 in one event.

For track events we would have about 4 MINIs tops. No instruction just lapping or competing.

If we had a track and BMWCCA were more active and doing HPDE then I would sign up and encourage others MINI owners.

 

I was not previously aware of any of that. Of course, I haven't looked for info on BMW stuff....

 

I bought my BMW MINIs at Midwestern Auto Group, in Dublin, Ohio. They sell all kinds of luxury, sports and other cars...grouping them. MINI has its own building, right beside BMW, although the service and waiting areas are in the same building. I have never felt ostracized because of the cars I have bought there.

I love my cars. I'm happy as all get out that the works are BMW and that the coach is British. Having had an original Morris Mini Minor "back in the day" and constantly seeing it in the garage getting engine parts replaced is sure different now with BMW at the helm.

 

I haven't done any HPDEs - MINI or otherwise (guilty). Much as I think it would be fun and informative to put in some track time, the MINI is my only car, and I feel like I go through tires and other maintenance so frequently as it is. I do lots of drives with my club, but since it's my only car, the desire to get on the track has so far not outweighed my desire not be extremely hard on my car and my tires.

Maybe one of these days.

 

Thread renamed to correct typo - it actually says "BMW" now instead of "BBW".

 

WOW...ya mean to say we've been riding BBWs all this time?? Zowieeeee!

 

im in the bmwcca- and my fiance who drives avw is too- and im getting my folks to join too so they can take the DE courses- safety first!
you dont have to own a bmw to join- and you get great track deals - who cares if you think your mini is a bimmer or not- its still a great deal if you want to go to the track- my fiance and i also articipate in vw, mazda/ miata, audi, s2000 events and clubs as well- because it saves us a buck or two- and those 2 bucks get put in a pot that will pay for our next track event or mod- i dont see why everyone has issues with that-
and even if you dont like bimmers- wouldnt you love the opportunity to pass an m3 at the track?
(see "video" in my gallary) : )

 

Or North! Redwood Empire Mini Enthusiasts has a LOT of Sacramento/Valley area members, and we have events every month. Our unofficial motto is "We drive and we eat!" We do some spirited driving through twisties, but we're mostly low-key and all about the socializing, which is not to say that we don't have a lot of modded cars. Location of runs/events is all over NorCal, including some in the East Bay, Delta, Sacramento-foothills, and Santa Cruz area that might be a little closer for you (than, say Napa or Pt. Reyes).

www.redwoodempiremini.com

 

That's my point though.

There needs to be social events not coupled to a run.

 

We have fairly regular Sacramento get-togethers that are not driving events. Just dinner or ice cream or such.

July 14, a bunch of members are headed to a Giants game at PacBell Park (that one's full up), and July 21 we're getting together for ice cream (and food if you like) at Leatherby's in Sacramento.

The Sacramento dinner get-togethers are a more recent thing, as we've gotten more members from this area. I haven't attended that many myself, yet, but I will be.

Of course, I know that a trek to Sacramento for dinner is a bit of a driving event in itself from Manteca.