The BMW Motorcycle Owners of Alabama

The “BMW Motorcycle Owners of Alabama” was formed in October of 1971 by John Harper, who is still a member to this day. We are chartered club #5 in the BMWMOA (BMW Motorcycle Owners of America) an International organization and chartered club #107 in the BMWRA (BMW Riders Association) a National Organization. At this time our club has 433 members. The members consist of folks not only in Alabama, but also in 12 other states. We have a camaraderie that can’t be rivaled. These other states include AR, FL, GA, IL, LA, MD, MO, MS, MT, NC, TN, & TX.

 We are a “statewide” club, as opposed to most other clubs in the BMW organization, which are either city or area defined. Most other states have two to four different clubs. Currently we are the largest BMW club and have to plan more elaborate monthly meetings than the smaller localized clubs. This is to accommodate the members all around the state and in closely surrounding states. Many of our meetings are at Alabama State Parks, and we move them around to different parts of the state each month. Some meetings are in the surrounding states because we like to ride!  The business meetings occur at 9:00 AM on the last Sunday of each month with a campout the Saturday night before.

 Most meeting/campouts include some kind of dinner on Sat. night that members in the area of the meeting have agreed to put together. Cost is usually nominal.around $4 to $10 per person.

The Alabama club has also held a BMW rally each year for the last 19 years, in Huntsville, at Ditto Landing, during Memorial Day weekend. It’s known as the “The Chicken Rally” held in “Rocket City”. This is because for an entry fee of $40.00, you get three nights camping, rally pin and gift, and all you can eat 24 hours a day of fresh smoked chicken, and pancakes each morning for breakfast. We do serve fresh smoked pork on Thursday night. We buy 1800 pounds of chicken and keep it in a freezer truck the entire weekend. Any left over frozen chicken is given to the local Huntsville area charities or homeless shelters.  This rally has grown to about 750 attendees now. This May we had folks from 31 states and Canada and Bermuda and Nova Scotia. There are also “Self-guided” rides to area attractions, chicken games, and vendors selling the latest in gear, parts, and accessories. We raffle off a new BMW motorcycle each year at the rally and the profits go to charity. All monies made usually are voted to go to The Head injury Foundation, and The Motorcycle Safety Foundation. If you would like to help sell tickets for the bike, contact Mari Harrelson at secretary@bmwmoal.org, or call her at 205-621-1682. You may also buy tickets from any other club member or at the rally itself. Tickets for next May are available NOW. This bike will be an F650 GS.

Officers in the club come from all around the state and are voted on each January. New members as well as old, are encouraged to run for office. Each meeting throughout the year draws anywhere from 20 to 70 folks and of course that always means a party. Our ages range from 18 to 83 with the median age about 49.

Membership is $20.00 a year with $3.00 for an associate member, and that just covers the 11 monthly issues of our newsletter. Articles are sent in by members about their trips, experiences, technical tips, and anything else they might want to write about. Advertising is not encouraged, as we are not trying to make a profit. Pictures of club events are also included. Feel free to contribute. 

We are “Brand Loyal” but many of our members own Harleys, Ducati’s, Honda's and other types of bikes. We enjoy the company of guests on any “two-wheeled” mode of transportation. Folks who own other brand bikes are allowed to join our club as “Friends of Beemers” and they receive the newsletter and all benefits except voting privileges or holding office.

Be sure to visit our local (and only) Alabama BMW dealer, Bogart's BMW Motorcycles. www.bogartsmotorsports.com, 5350 Grantswood Rd., Birmingham, 35210. 205-956-6693, toll free 877-797-2592. Bryson Stephens - Owner, Steve Johns - Sales, C.R. Hyde– Parts.

www.BMWMOAL.ORG

Connie Reaves