Rally Site Requirements | Rally Site Selection Process

The BMW MOA hosts an International Rally in July of each year. This event, referred to as the ‘National’ is held in a different location throughout North America each year so that as many members as possible can attend. The 1st Rally, held in 1973, was in California. The latest and greatest was in Lima, Ohio. The Lima Rally, commonly referred to as “Beemerville USA” boasted the largest attendance ever with over 8,000 plus future riders (the young ones) at the annual event. Charleston, WV and York, PA were the 2nd and 3rd largest. The 2006 Rally in Essex Junction near Burlington, Vermont, then topped the Lima record with more than 9,000 attendees. In 2007, the Rally was held in West Bend, Wisconsin. For 2008, we'll be in Gillette, Wyoming. Stay tuned to the BMW MOA Website and the BMW Owners News for more information.

Often times we hear the question, “How does the BMW MOA decide where to have the International rallies?” Well, we have a map of North America on this dart board and we throw ….no, that's not right. Actually there are three ways that we find new Rally sites. 1) Word of mouth, 2) The International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE), and 3) the Rally Site Selection Team. Information from members and the IAFE is provided to the Rally Site Search Team (RSST) which evaluates suggested locations to see if the potential sites can meet a strict list of requirements. The RSST then makes a recommendation to the Rally and Events Committee. That committee then makes a presentation to the entire Board of Directors. A final decision is made, contracts are signed and a Rally Chair person(s) selected.

The RSST consist of seven members who volunteer their time to search for and visit potential sites for the future. Those seven members, who represent a region of the US and Canada, are identified on the map below. Chuck Manley, a member of the BMW MOA Board of Directors, coordinates the efforts of the team. Once a site has been identified and agreed to by the Board of Directors, the negotiation phase begins and a contract is signed. The `MOA tries to have sites “under contract” two to three years in advance. If you have any questions, or ideas for a potential site, you may contact the volunteer in your region or feel free to call Ray Zimmerman, Executive Director, at 636-394-7277.