Bimmerfest 2008 - Where?

I know this will be shot down but it is just my 2 cents.

What about in Dallas at Fair Park? Its a huge venue that would work. The problem is if people from the east and west coasts could come out to Dallas. If it was a weekend event as in more than one day I could see it happening. And i'm that the Texas State Troopers would enjoy it

I'm down for Vegas! Especially since I'll be 21 for Bimmerfest 08 !

Keep Bimmerfest in SoCal just have an East Coast Bimmerfest too.

I think Atlanta or somewhere near Spartanburg, SC... with the Blue Ridge Parkway getting there would be more than half the fun. It would be a good drive from SoFlorida, and NE. Chicago and Texas would a stretch though

Originally Posted by Malibubimmer

Wanna bet pink slips? I've been to the Showgrounds with 5,000 people there for equestrian events and this was bigger.

Naa, I don't have a pink.......Maybe a beer at the next event??
The next Scarantinos!!?!?

No matter where we have the event, and I mean NO MATTER, people will always have something to complain about.

bimmerfest should stay where it began, and that's in S.B.

More space, Yes, I agree with that, but it has to stay in S.B.

Thats final, and I think everybody needs to respect that

Further South might work, especially if it was slightly North of LA in Ventura County. There is a sizable contingent that comes from the SFBA and the Pacific Northwest and not having to drive into or across the LA basin makes a difference. I'm not sure about Las Vegas, but I've not been there in the Spring or Fall. Travel to Vegas would radically transform the event as far as its impact on my travel. Where ever it is held, Bimmerfest is basically an outdoor event and the climate needs to be mild enough to accommodate that.

Other than location, the paramount requirement probably revolves around the nature of the facilities. Exhibit halls need to be available for sponsors along with outdoors parking for enthusiasts with unrestricted movement between the two areas. Availability of hotels and banquet facilites is important. A competent concessionaire is needed. Traffic control should be provided for.

No one cares about celebrities unless they're people like Will Turner, Bill Auberlein (or maybe Joe Conforti ) and the like. This show is about enthusiasm for BMW's, not Hollywood.

(edit: whatever location has to be readily accessible for Jon too - I don't think he's planning on living out of a suitcase to make a bigger Bimmerfest a reality)

Originally Posted by Shinobi

Its been mentioned by a few people, but how about Vegas? In particular, the Las Vegas Speedway. I'm not familiar with that venue, but the parking lot should be more than enough to hold 1,000s of Bimmers. Not to mention, they should have better food facilities, and with the nearby track, perhaps different track events like drag racing, autox and maybe a driving school? Or better yet, paying for ride alongs with pro drivers like Bill Auberlein(did I spell that right)?

And 2 additional bonuses - we could all go to the Valley of Fire sinces its a few miles North of the speedway on the 15 and from there take this friggin awesome road back to Vegas. Its like 50+ miles of twisties! We could have the road rally again, and it won't impede traffic nearly as much as it does in SB. Plus of course, its Vegas - we could easily make it a 2 or 3-day weekend of fun.

a 2 or 3 day weekend bimmerfest in vegas would be awesome! but it would definitly need to have all of those things like auto-x's, drives, drags, or whatever.

The more I think about it the more the California Speedway looks like the best place. Huge facility. Lots of driving opportunities. BMW might even send out a crew for a DE-like demo. Good parking. If it's in Vegas you are not going to get the draw. The only way into Vegas (I think) is I-15. I have experienced some monumental traffic jams coming back from Reno and Mammoth on US 395, and I suspect the traffic jam of BMWs to Vegas will be a real Bear. (Sorry, Bear.) I have heard some pretty ugly stories.

If Jon can find a bigger site in Santa Barbara that would certainly be the best, but I think Earl Warren is about it. Any larger venue, for parking, won't have the facilities.

The celebs I am thinking of aren't necessarily face-time celebs, but BMW celebs and BMW afficianados who all of us will recognize. (Excluding Paris Hilton, who is now riding shotgun in an M6 'vert but routinely drives her Bentley GTC, allegedly without a license.)

Doesn't UCSB have a stadium with a big parking lot? Anywhere that will allow the In-N-Out truck to pull in would work quite nicely. San Louis Obispo has the same weather, and a little closer for the NorCal types.

Originally Posted by Robsa

Doesn't UCSB have a stadium with a big parking lot? Anywhere that will allow the In-N-Out truck to pull in would work quite nicely. San Louis Obispo has the same weather, and a little closer for the NorCal types.

"Facilities" require more than a place for the burger truck to park. We need picnic facilities, bathrooms (the biggest issue for any large gathering), speaker systems and convention display areas. If it's to be done right. And it's clear Jon and his crew are the kind of people who want to do it right (and do).

Santa Anita is another great facility, and a bit outside of LA.

The SB airport would probably have enough space, but would suck as a venue.

Originally Posted by Malibubimmer

"Facilities" require more than a place for the burger truck to park. We need picnic facilities, bathrooms (the biggest issue for any large gathering), speaker systems and convention display areas. If it's to be done right. And it's clear Jon and his crew are the kind of people who want to do it right (and do).

Santa Anita is another great facility, and a bit outside of LA.

The SB airport would probably have enough space, but would suck as a venue.

What about Pepperdine?

Originally Posted by Malibubimmer

The celebs I am thinking of aren't necessarily face-time celebs, but BMW celebs and BMW afficianados who all of us will recognize. (Excluding Paris Hilton, who is now riding shotgun in an M6 'vert but routinely drives her Bentley GTC, allegedly without a license.)

I think Jon, Todd, Scott, Mark and Tim have the celeb thing under control. Paris is driving a cell, last I checked.

Santa Barbara is just too nice to pass up. Santa Anita, the Rose Bowl and all other places are ass ugly, IMO. SB is gorgeous, close to the beach and the traffic there isn't too bad.

Originally Posted by Jon

Malibu, what are your thoughts on Las Vegas?

...Just curious...

that is a nice place too,but at end it is wear ever you what it brother this your baby dude...I have a hole year to plan for it this....

Originally Posted by Robsa

What about Pepperdine?

Great idea except for access and facilities. There are only 2 roads in - PCH and Malibu Canyon Road. Both would be jammed beyond belief. The local constabulary would be thrilled to give out certificates of appreciation, too. While parking on the grass overlooking the Pacific would be great, using the bathrooms in the dorms wouldn't.

Originally Posted by DaKine

Santa Barbara is just too nice to pass up. Santa Anita, the Rose Bowl and all other places are ass ugly, IMO. SB is gorgeous, close to the beach and the traffic there isn't too bad.

I know that a lot of your parents swore they would never give up their typewriters or carbon paper, but time has passed them by. Likewise, the crowds have made Santa Barbara, otherwise the perfect spot, impossible. I think even Jon realizes that.

So, rather than whining about how it should never leave Santa Barbara, try to figure out where we could have it that would be almost as good. It won't be just as good. But since it's going to be huge, we will probably have to settle for almost.

Progress.

I think a new venue would greatly improve my Bimmerfest experience.

Every April I go to my Pantera club's annual convention in Las Vegas. It’s a four-day event with its HQ at the Orleans. Size-wise the Pantera Club is on a different planet and it’s tough for me to see where the model would work for Bimmerfest . Perfect for those who couldn’t find enough debauchery in Santa Barbara, though…

On the other hand, last year I also went to the Cobra club’s annual west-coast convention at California Speedway in Fontana. It had club racing and open track events along with a major-league concours and vendor row. Fontana was absolutely perfect for the Cobras and I think it would be a a great fit for a future Bimmerfest, particularly if a big BMWCCA race weekend could be scheduled as part of the festivities.

Matt Merritt
2007 Bimmerfest Attendee, Red E30 M3

Hey malibubimmer i probably know you and i didn't even know it haha. Where do you live at in malibu? i live near trankas but now im near dukes.

What about the Ventura Fairground? The parking lot is huge, they have a large expo hall, AND it is close enough to Jon so it would not be a total PITA for him. Not to mention it is right on the water, and only a few blocks from old town Ventura.

Originally Posted by MalibuMafiaV

Hey malibubimmer i probably know you and i didn't even know it haha. Where do you live at in malibu? i live near trankas but now im near dukes.

I used to live at Decker and LeChusa but now I am on Mulholland Highway in a top secret location. The extension of my house is known as Eagle's Nest. I cannot say anything further. You can see me driving one of my vehicles. If it is the Bimmer - get out of the way!

Originally Posted by Malibubimmer

Great idea except for access and facilities. There are only 2 roads in - PCH and Malibu Canyon Road. Both would be jammed beyond belief. The local constabulary would be thrilled to give out certificates of appreciation, too. While parking on the grass overlooking the Pacific would be great, using the bathrooms in the dorms wouldn't.


I know that a lot of your parents swore they would never give up their typewriters or carbon paper, but time has passed them by. Likewise, the crowds have made Santa Barbara, otherwise the perfect spot, impossible. I think even Jon realizes that.

So, rather than whining about how it should never leave Santa Barbara, try to figure out where we could have it that would be almost as good. It won't be just as good. But since it's going to be huge, we will probably have to settle for almost.

Progress.

I wouldn't call it whining. I know plenty of places that started off small and over the years crowds grew and grew, but they never moved there locations. I think where the bimmerfest event is held does just fine.

Originally Posted by SB540i

What about the Ventura Fairground? The parking lot is huge, they have a large expo hall, AND it is close enough to Jon so it would not be a total PITA for him. Not to mention it is right on the water, and only a few blocks from old town Ventura.

That might be an ideal location. Will it be big enough? As I recall, the facilities aren't great.

As for access, the only "problem" is that the only way to get there is via US 101, but that's the same "problem" Earl Warren has.

Since I know Jon has absolutely nothing to do for the next 363 days, I am sure he will drop down there tomorrow.

As I recall, there is a trailer park nearby and the Santa Clarita River (really a stream most of the year) was flooded over a couple of years ago and wiped out a large part of it. (I am not confusing this with the area where the hillside popped out and there was a huge landslide and several people died down the coast towards Malibu. This was a flood during the heavy rains I think in 2005.)

LuvThatSam - You are right. You were not whining. Somtimes I get carried away. Having a 10-year old daughter in the house makes me a little touchy and pre-emptive sometimes.

If it's not in SB I like the rose bowl. easy to get to

Originally Posted by Malibubimmer

That might be an ideal location. Will it be big enough? As I recall, the facilities aren't great.

As for access, the only "problem" is that the only way to get there is via US 101, but that's the same "problem" Earl Warren has.

Since I know Jon has absolutely nothing to do for the next 363 days, I am sure he will drop down there tomorrow.

As I recall, there is a trailer park nearby and the Santa Clarita River (really a stream most of the year) was flooded over a couple of years ago and wiped out a large part of it. (I am not confusing this with the area where the hillside popped out and there was a huge landslide and several people died down the coast towards Malibu. This was a flood during the heavy rains I think in 2005.)

LuvThatSam - You are right. You were not whining. Somtimes I get carried away. Having a 10-year old daughter in the house makes me a little touchy and pre-emptive sometimes.

It's all good. I'm going to be in your situation in about 8 years myself

I'm going to chime in here. This was not my first bimmerfest. Jon has done an exemplary job of organizing this event ever since its inception. I think that there were about 20 cars at that one, we all knew each other through the message board at Roadfly. Dogs and brats were on the barbque and all went well. From those humble beginings the event has become THE premier event on the west coast, and everyone east of the Mississippi is green with envy. Cowboy up east coasters, I happily drive/fly from Cali to South Carolina for Homecoming.

Santa Barbara is a great place to hold this event. The weather is great, nightlife before and after the event is epic, and the local law enforcement are extremely tolerant. (The CHP are state and have their very own revenue generation criteria so they are going to do whatever they do wherever the event is held in Cali.) All in all a people loving place with a small town atmosphere. You are NOT going to find that in most of the locales already mentioned. The Rose Bowl MIGHT be an exception. (Old Pasadena and State Street have a similar vibe.) The airport might not be a bad idea with porta johns, a rented PA, and three In-n-Out trailers and/or other catering type places that would contract out.

Vegas sucks and may provide the first fatality statistic in bimmerfest history. I15 from the south were the caravans can all reach top speed to the event at the right time of day with emergency services being far out of life saving is a recipe for the inevitable. I've been on a couple of caravans from L.A. and can tell you that the trip to the event quickly becomes a contest. I doubt 300 miles on a straight road in the middle of nowhere is going to change things for the better. This is just coming from the L.A /Orange County/San Diego areas. I would imagine that those coming from other directions wouldn't fare much better.

There is a whole year for Jon to take input and once again make this thing a great experience should he choose to take it on once again. I can't sing enough praise for Jon and crew here. I just can't. So if we, collectively, take a bit of time over the next 6 months with the thinking that the event stays in Santa Barbara and offer positive suggestions to make the next one even better.

Thank you one and all that made this happen once again.

CaliJeff



P.S.

The concessions at Earl Warren are out of Jons' control. They SUCK and that's just the way it is.

If Jon's goal is for the event to grow, he might want to move it. I don't know what his intentions are, but I don't know if making it super-massive are really his goals?

The only problem I see with Earl Warren is the concession situation, but it's out of his control, and if that's the only problem we can find, I would say it's pretty flawless event.