Bimmerfest Questions

I received an email from someone today and I will post some of it here for the benefit of those who may be unclear about Bimmerfest:

Thanks for writing. First off, I just want to say that we are doing the best that we can with the resources that we have available. Bimmerfest is provided at no charge (i.e. free admission) to both attendees and vendors. It is a not-for-profit venture provided solely for the enjoyment of the BMW enthusiast's community. This year marks the 6th year of the event which has established itself as the largest BMW-exclusive car show in North America.

Direct answers to your questions.

• Activities, (Contests, seminars, autocross, vender space avilibility, food ?????)

>> "Battle of the Bimmers" competition (contest), seminars TBA, vendor space now full, free food ("Bavarian BBQ"). Car show winners to be judged by members of the automotive press (e.g. Bimmer, European Car, and Eurotuner Magazines). We are currently working on having a local radio station do a live broadcast and provide music entertainment for the event as well. The day ends with the Bimmerfest Road Rally, an hour and a half drive in caravan formation (approx. 1,000 BMWs) up the California coast (HWY 101), and then back through Santa Ynez Valley wine country (HWY 154). (no autocross)

• Date and times
(Is there a car show contest, if so when is registration, the cost, how long must the car remain in place, etc.

>> The event will be held on Saturday April 23rd, and begins at 9:00 a.m. There is no formal registration process for the car show. All cars parked on the lot are open to consideration. Suggest arriving on time when the gates open to park on the lot.

• A event map floorplan and parking information
(If the dealer's lot fills up and late arrivals have to park their cool cars 1/4 mile away where no one will see them, then what'ts the point of even going?

There is an extensive list of tuner's and vendor's vehicle that will be worthwhile to see on display. In addition to the dealership the adjacent Hope Ave., and Hitchcock Way can accomodate overflow with free parking within a 5 minute walk. If that fills up, La Cumbre Plaza is within a 5 minute walk as well and has ample parking available for overflow.

• The BMW dealer's small lot should be reserved for Contest or show cars, ONLY, not stock street cars that arrive there first. yes?).
Then a separate specific parking area should be reserved for the other cars which is close by and people can hang out in as well and talk about their cars.

>> The dealership facility in Santa Barbara is one of the most amazing in the United States. Designed by one of the premier architects in the nation with the sole purpose of showing off exotic automobiles it offers something a little bit more to the atmosphere of the event than some giant asphalt parking lot would. I agree that ideally, only modified or special interest/show cars should park on the lot. This includes rare BMW's, Classics, "M" cars, ...etc. However, it is not really possible for us to enforce this rule. There is an obvious tradeoff given the location of the event. Unfortunately, we're not in L.A. or Long Beach. We don't have a convention center approach to Bimmerfest.

Hope this helps,
--Jon

Hi guys. I just signed up for the bimmerfest in SB. and i wanted to know how i will know if i have a spot or not. Will it be by just going there, or will i recieve an email. Thanks.

just show up

Parking on the main lot is first-come, first served. We are trying this year to reserve the premium spots for true show cars (Classic or rare BMW's, ///M-cars, modified cars, or other BMWs of particular interest). I will be sending an email out to all registered attendees about this about a week prior to the event. Enforcement will be difficult. We will be using the honor system. There will be plenty of parking on either Hope Avenue, Hitchcock Way, or the La Cumbre Plaza shopping mall lot for overflow.

Attached are aerial images of the dealership. We will have the entire facility to work with (not just the BMW side as in years past), increasing parking capacity substantially.

I want to stress again the need for stringent self-monitoring. If you have a box-stock late model BMW, please be considerate of everyone and park off-site. Also, because the lot will be jam-packed with show cars, *if* you plan on parking on the lot, please don't expect to be able to leave early. You will not be able to leave until we depart for the Bimmerfest Road Rally.

Jon, do you have any show car pictures from the past?

Originally Posted by BMWenthusiast

Jon, do you have any show car pictures from the past?

I have hundreds of them...

Here ya go Jon, Keyhole can get you a little better overhead view .

Originally Posted by KrisL

Here ya go Jon, Keyhole can get you a little better overhead view .

Kris,

Can you move the pic a bit to the South East?

What we're seeing there is mainly the Infiniti/Jaguar/Landrover store and Graham Chevrolet/Cadillac.



The Mercedes/Porsche lot **which we will have this year** is partially in view.

All of that black asphalt in the upper lefthand corner of the pic you've posted is available parking for attendees driving the bone stockers..

Originally Posted by Jon

Kris,

Can you move the pic a bit to the South East?

Here ya go!

There it is!

One more favor Kris:



If we could have the same shot again, only zoomed out a bit...
(to illustrate more off-site parking options)

Originally Posted by Jon

There it is!

One more favor Kris:



If we could have the same shot again, only zoomed out a bit...
(to illustrate more off-site parking options)

Sure!

That's not zoomed out too far, is it?

Perfect!!

What is the criteria for having a "modified" BMW?

Originally Posted by ASAed330

What is the criteria for having a "modified" BMW?

*******>*******>********>********>

mod·i·fy (md-f) To change in form or character; alter. To make less extreme, severe, or strong: refused to modify her stand on the issue. Grammar. To qualify or limit the meaning of. For example, summer modifies day in the phrase a summer day. Linguistics. To change (a vowel) by umlaut. v. intr. To be or become modified; change.

modified
adj 1: changed in form or character; "their modified stand made the issue more acceptable"; "the performance of the modified aircraft was much improved" [ant: unmodified] 2: mediocre [syn: limited]

jon, what time will the road rally begin? thanks.

"mediocre" is I believe the word you are suppose to be getting out of all of that fluf above.

So, the e21 Legion will be in full force again this year Jon. I think that either CJ or Attila had been trying to get it so we could all park together again, but since some of our cars might NOT be considered modified, are we going to have to alter that plan? We can also try and get you a full list before the event of the planned attendees, and see what mods they DO have that would 'allow' them access to the lot. By this point most of these 22+ year old cars are far from stock, even if they seem to be on the outside. But whatever....everyone needs to get a spot in the sun, right?

Originally Posted by Jon

Parking on the main lot is first-come, first served. We are trying this year to reserve the premium spots for true show cars (Classic or rare BMW's, ///M-cars, modified cars, or other BMWs of particular interest).

E21's are considered to be classics, aren't they?

Yes the E21's are classic. We are going to have highly modded E21's there from turbocharged, to fully built all motor, light modded and stock. Either way, this year, the site of the E21's are going to awesome!

While my car might not be "above standard" i am driving up to represent the LMU Automotive Enthusiasts. If i get there early enough, would it be possible to group 2 or 3 of our members together with our banner?

Originally Posted by Jon

E21's are considered to be classics, aren't they?

Then i should have no concerns that the Arizona E21's making the trip will have a spot on the lot. The E21 group should be a few more strong than last year, and we're all anzious to park together!

Thanks Jon!

Originally Posted by MattE21

Then i should have no concerns that the Arizona E21's making the trip will have a spot on the lot. The E21 group should be a few more strong than last year, and we're all anzious to park together!

Assuming that you guys arrive on time, and in a group, it is reasonably
foreseeable that you will be able to have a spot all together on the lot.
That is something that I can not personally guarantee at this time, though.
I want to see you all together, there is no question about that. There are
the minor logisitical challenges/obstacles that must be overcome...

Jon, speaking of people coming from AZ (or even further), as part of Battle of the Bimmers, should there be a prize for person driving the farthest to get to get to the 'fest?

Originally Posted by scottn2retro

Jon, speaking of people coming from AZ (or even further), as part of Battle of the Bimmers, should there be a prize for person driving the farthest to get to get to the 'fest?

Originally Posted by RKT BMR

I just had a meeting with the principals at the dealership.

There will be an award for the farthest travelled to The 'Fest...

Jon, will you allow all the ASA'er cars being parked together in the lot or is that not modded enough.