BMW NA recently released the following information regarding the upcoming M Anniversary Celebration. Note that the all-new 2023 BMW M2 and the first-ever BMW XM will be on public display for the first time at the Performance Center and BMW CCA headquarters during the celebration weekend!
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BMW’s celebration of 50 Years of BMW M comes home to Spartanburg, South Carolina, with the M Anniversary Celebration: three days of very special events at the BMW Zentrum, The Ultimate Driving Museum, and the BMW Performance Center. Exhibits and displays celebrating five decades of BMW M, M track driving experiences with professional instruction, charity rides in historic BMW M race cars, and BMW celebrity guests and speakers are lined up to make the weekend something to remember when the tire smoke clears.
- VIP reception at the BMW Zentrum and panel discussion with BMW racing legends
- Driving events on a closed course with pro instructors
- Special M Celebration display at the Ultimate Driving Museum
- Meet IMSA champion and BMW Motorsports icon Bill Auberlen
- All-new BMW M2 and first-ever BMW XM on public display for the first time
If you’ll be traveling from Florida, be sure to check out BMW CCA M Chapter’s caravan (open to ALL members) that starts on October 13th. Register for the caravan here: http://msreg.com/MChapterCaravan50thAnniversaryM
Friday, October 14: The Ultimate Driving Museum and BMW Zentrum
The weekend kicks off Friday, October 14, at the BMW CCA Foundation – home of The Ultimate Driving Museum. From 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. ticket holders receive admission to the museum’s “The Power of M: Celebrating 50 Years” exhibit featuring over 25 vehicles spanning the history of BMW M including the 1972 3.0 CSL Batmobile, the mythical 2012 M3 CRT, and the 2018 M8 GTE race car. While there, visitors can pre-purchase Jackie Jouret’s soft-cover exhibit book and have it signed by the author from 11:00-11:30 a.m. and 1:00-1:30 p.m.
Guests will check-in at the museum and collect a registration badge that will gain them access to an evening event featuring cocktails and appetizers at the BMW Zentrum from 6:00-9:00 p.m. The event will honor Jochen Neerpasch, BMW’s first Director of Motorsport and the creator of BMW M who, sadly, is unable to attend. Head of BMW Product Communications Tom Plucinsky will moderate a discussion with Eddie Cheever, star of Neerpasch’s first BMW Junior Team driver development program, and IMSA legend Bill Auberlen. Door prizes include a set of tires from Continental, driving experiences at the BMW Performance Center, and memorabilia signed by Eddie Cheever and Bill Auberlen.
Tickets for the VIP Reception cost $195 per person. Information and registration available here.
Saturday, October 15: The BMW Performance Center
The history of BMW M roars to life on Saturday, October 15, when the BMW Performance Center opens its doors for a full day of track experiences and displays. Guests will get behind the wheel of BMW M’s latest products for some track time with instruction by the Performance Center’s pro drivers. Two 2-hour sessions will be offered from 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Rare and distinctive street and race cars spanning five decades of BMW Motorsport will be on display throughout the day, and visitors can even purchase a spot in the passenger’s seat of a classic BMW M race car for the ride of a lifetime, with the proceeds benefitting the BMW CCA Foundation.
The all-new 2023 BMW M2 and the first-ever BMW XM will break cover at the BMW Performance Center during the day and mark the first time BMW M fans in the U.S.A. can see and hear the two newest vehicles from BMW M in the light of day.
A Bavarian Mittagessen (lunch!) of brats, pretzels, and beer will be available for purchase from 12:00-2:00 p.m. Bill Auberlen and other BMW celebrities will be there for questions, conversation, and photo ops. The Ultimate Driving Museum will be open from 2:00-5:00 p.m., where Bill will be among the featured guest speakers.
Tickets for the driving event are $135 per person and include the afternoon activities, or $35 for the afternoon events alone. Tickets and more information are available here.
Sunday, October 16: Cars and Coffee with the BMW M Chapter
The weekend winds up at the BMW CCA headquarters with a Cars and Coffee car show hosted by the BMW M Chapter. The show is expected to attract dozens of new and classic M vehicles, plus a few very special vehicles from BMWUSA Classic Collection. Also, for those who missed them on Saturday, the all-new 2023 BMW M2 and the first-ever BMW XM will also be on display in the BMW CCA headquarters garage.
The Cars and Coffee will run from 8:00-11:00 a.m. Starting at noon, the M Chapter will host an exclusive drive along some of South Carolina’s best backroads.
Guests wishing to go on the drive must register here. Admission to the Cars and Coffee is free.
[Photos courtesy of BMW, the Zentrum, and BMW CCA.]
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[…] decision easier, how does later this week sound? Both the XM and the M2 will be on display for the M Anniversary Celebration at BMW at BMW CCA and BMW NA events in South Carolina. If you like what you see, BMW has announced the base price will be $62,200 (plus a $995 […]