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2002
When a handful of enthusiastic BMW 5er owners decided to get
together in August of 2002, they didn't know what they were
starting. That's the year the first 5er Fest took place,
and was held in Ft. Worth, Texas. The idea behind the get-together
was for this small group of 5er owners to meet and look at
each other's cars. Friends taking the time to gather in a
city park, talk about what it takes to keep one of these cars
on the road and prod each other about why they do.
The first event yielded 50 BMW E12 and E28 cars. Planned
functions included a show and shine, tech sessions, an autocross
and awards ceremony. Ft. Worth's Trinity Park on the river
was the setting for this event, which was to become the future
for 5er Fest as an annual event.
2003
Next year, the event was held in Banner Elk, North Carolina.
Enthusiasm abounded with the success of the previous year's
event. Almost 100 E12 and E28 cars gathered at the base of
Sugar Mountain ski resort in the mountains of North Carolina.
5er Fest 2003 included tech sessions, an awards banquet
in downtown Boone, and a lot of picture taking. Attendees
drove to the event from as far away as California, just to
be a part of it. The event got attention from Bimmer magazine
as well as European Car.
2004
Then in September of 2004, organizers put together the event
in San Diego, California. Once again, nearly 100 cars arrived
at the event. 5er Fest 2004 used two venues that turned
out to be the next best thing to having it right on the beach;
The show and shine part of the event was held at Simpson's
Nursery in Jamul, California, while the awards banquet and
raffle was held at the Marina Village Conference Center, in
San Diego.
2005
The BMW Zentrum just outside of Greenville, South Carolina
was the setting for 5er Fest 2005. With over 200 BMW
E12 and E28 cars registered by the time registration closed
in early May, the event proved to be the largest single gathering
of the cars in the US to date. History was made with nearly
300 attendees registered for the Memorial Day holiday weekend
Fest. With the help of the BMW CCA, the Peachtree Chapter
BMW CCA, BMW Manufacturing Company and terrific sponsors,
5er Fest 2005 was another successful get-together for the
enthusiastic owners who keep these cars on the road.
2006
South Bend, Indiana was our location for the fifth event.
The venue for 5er Fest 2006 was the Tire Rack corporate
headquarters and was once again held on Memorial Day Weekend..
Not only were the grounds of the Tire Rack perfect for the
event, the company was very gracious and welcoming to the
crowd of 5er owners! The Windy City Chapter BMW CCA was our
host and members from the chapter were very helpful, managing
our Autocross event and more. Some new functions at 5er Fest
2006 included a Test and Tune event and creeper races. The
South Bend Marriott was our host hotel, and we couldn't have
selected a better host hotel. 5er Fest 2006 was another successfull
get-together of both old and new friends that keep the incredible
E12s and E28s on the road!
2007
Once the dust finally settled in making location arrangements
for 5er Fest 2007, the sixth annual event was held
in Chattanooga, TN. Our very gracious and generous event host,
BMW of Chattanooga, was the perfect setting for the event.
Once again, enthusiasts traveled from across the country and
Canada to attend the event. The Choo-Choo Chapter BMW CCA
was the host chapter and members from the chapter helped at
every event function. Almost every event function was held
on the BMW of Chattanooga grounds, including the awards banquet
held in their immaculate garage. Sunday's driving tour through
the scenic mountain roads of Tennessee and Georgia was very
well attended. 5er Fest 2007 had support from many great sponsors,
including the donation of a running 528e, which was raffled
off to a lucky winner. Attendance for the event exceeded the
2006 event, proving that enthusiasm for the BMW 5-series continues
to grow.
Now with six annual 5er Fest events gone by, owners are looking
forward to the seventh event for 2008 to be held in Reno,
Nevada. Once again, we'll all drive 100's, maybe even 1000's,
of miles to talk with our 5er brethren and ogle over what
each has done - or not done - to their wonderful 70's and
80's BMW series 5 car.
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