We hear you—and we’re keeping the O’Fest name! Following the 50th Anniversary Oktoberfest in Greenville, we e-mailed a survey to attendees, and respondents overwhelming expressed their desire to keep the O’Fest name. So O’Fest is back—in that abbreviated form—and will henceforth be the name of our annual national event. The traditional gathering of the club will be endlessly honored, and known for years to come as O’Fest Forever—the ultimate BMW event! Not the 51st, 52nd, or 53rd—your record is still safe, Michael Izor—but as a timeless and lasting celebration for generations to come.
If you didn’t know, Izor attended all 50—yes, 50!—BMW CCA Oktoberfest, and was honored during the closing banquet at the 2019 event in Greenville with a standing ovation. He’s a founding member of the BMW CCA, and embodies the true spirit of the club—and we can’t thank him enough for all he has done to help the club grow. Michael, your record is now safe forever!
With a slightly new spin on the name, we are also excited to announce that Michelin will be our presenting sponsor again in 2020, with plans to offer a tech talk, a driving experience, and onsite giveaways. We are very proud of our partnership with Michelin and grateful for the incredible support they provide to the club every year.
Now for more event details: This year’s BMW CCA O’Fest Forever, presented by Michelin, will be held in Palm Springs, California, September 15–19. The host driving venue is, of course, BMW Performance Center West, and the host hotel will be the beautiful La Quinta Resort & Spa. Attendees can look forward to all of the traditional events, including tech talks, receptions, a vendor hall, a car show, driving tours, autocross, a TSD rally, driving programs at the BMW Performance Center, and much, much more!
The BMW Performance Center will again offer a women’s driving program on the first day of the event, Tuesday, September 15, and a $99 half-day driving program on Thursday, September 17. New this year: The Performance Center will add a full-day Club M School to the lineup on Friday for 32 participants. All of these programs were wildly popular last year, and filled quickly. When registration opens this spring, you’ll definitely want to sign up early!
The week’s activities will culminate with the ultimate BMW and BMW CCA celebration on Saturday. We will take over Old Town La Quinta on Saturday night for an epic car show and concert sponsored by Akrapovič. We have reserved the streets exclusively for all-BMW parking. Attendees can stroll through the shops, grab dinner, catch up with club friends, look at cars, and enjoy a fun concert on the square!
During O’Fest, the La Quinta Resort & Spa will offer room rates starting at $139 a night—and we’ve negotiated a reduced resort fee of $10 a night (it’s normally $30). The resort fee includes self-parking and valet parking, unlimited use of the fitness club, all pools, in-room coffee and tea, high-speed WiFi, on-resort shuttle transportation, and use of the golf driving range.
First time to Palm Springs? You are in for a real treat—there’s no better way to experience the area than with your fellow BMW enthusiasts! The desert will delight you with its beauty and variety. Set your own agenda, from driving events to local highlights such as architectural tours—you’re at the epicenter of Mid0-Century Modern, after all!—Native American art, hiking, museums, shopping, and more! Or simply enjoy the desert and relax at the La Quinta’s award-winning spa, with its many pools. There’s no denying that this is a great getaway for couples and for families.
Make plans now to celebrate all things BMW with us in Palm Springs in September. We hope to see you there! The new O’Fest website and registration will launch this spring. Look for future updates via bmwcca.org and BimmerLife.com!—Chris Hennecy
[Photos courtesy BMW CCA.]
