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BMW ACA/CCA Issue
Member Letters, April 2000
Greg Mierz
I've been involved in this club and board for over 20 years. I've seen us go from about 300 members to over 1100 during that time. This merger proposal is the most important issue to come along during this time. I've seen our relationship with the BMW CCA change over time. Our relationship with the International Council has also changed and not for the better. Without the recognition of the International Council our future has become very fragile. I truly believe that now is the time to merge. We are strong and will become one of the biggest and possibly the best club chapter in the country and be recognized as such. Yes, it isn't a perfect solution. There will be an additional level of bureaucracy for the board to deal with. The general membership won't see this and shouldn't see any change in the caliber and number of events we can put on for you. The prospect of two clubs competing for time and resources would be a very negative situation. Our leadership can make a CCA merger happen and leave all the great history of the ACA chapter intact. We are a great chapter because of the work of the many people who make it happen. The same will be true if we are a BMW CCA chapter. It's not a decision I've come to make lightly but one I feel is right.
Greg Mierz,
Roster Manager, Past President, Past Track Chairman
Lance Richert
I look at the prospect of merging with CCA as the cup being more half-full rather than half-empty. To me, the biggest benefit to merging is bringing another 500+ BMW enthusiasts into the local fold and allowing these people to have the many opportunities to enjoy their BMWs like we do. Presently, we work so hard to recruit each new member. To add 500+ fanatics makes merging an easier decision for me to make. If we don't merge, surely there will be a second club formed in the near future, what a pain!
I think most of the issues regarding our lapping days can be worked out. Currently CCA says only "Instructors" can carry passengers on the track. So let's consider broadening our definition of "Instructor". We can make it work. There are 50+ other local BMW CCA chapters in America. I read their newsletters and they all appear to be doing just fine.
Many of the other issues we face are minor, or are adjustments that your Board will have to make to keep CCA happy. We can handle them. I am very proud of this club, and in a perfect world, wish we could stay independent. We have proven over the past 30 years that CCA does not really need to exist. But because CCA won't tell their Western Washington CCA members about us, I think we need to merge to provide our excellent club benefits to as many local Bimmer fanatics as possible.
Lance Richert, #791
Vice-President, PSR BMW ACA
Gary Komarow
I've been a BMW ACA member for a number of years now, and have always enjoyed my association with the club. I am also a member of the local Porsche and Alfa clubs. I have been doing track events with these clubs since about 1990.
One of the nicest things about driving with the BMW club is that I am able to take friends and family out on the track with me. We really enjoy these opportunities to play "show and tell." Describing what the driving experience is like is not at all equivalent to experiencing it.
Retaining the ability to take riders on the track is worth a lot to me - easily the difference in costs between the clubs. Actually it's easier than that for me - I won't renew my membership if I can't take riders out on the track with me.
Gary Komarow
Doug Barritt
I attended the ACA/CCA discussion meeting on March 11 to learn about the CCA's rules on Z3 Roadster participation in club track events. The following summarizes what I learned from the CCA Pacific Regional Vice President, Keith Wollenberg: 1. There are special requirements for rollbars and seatbelts for convertibles on the track. 2. Full track-type rollbar assemblies are nominally required for convertibles. However, at Chapter discretion, "Factory Rollover Protection" may be allowed. One chapter may allow it, another may not. 3. For "High Speed Drivers' Schools" (such as our "Lapping Days" at SIR), a 5- or 6-point seat harness is required. For "Autocross-type Events" (such as our Bremerton "Driving Schools"), factory 3-point seatbelts are acceptable (only one car at a time on the track, and lower speeds). 4. Rules Exceptions? CCA track events are governed by an approved Operations Manual. The driving event rules were adopted by a unanimous vote of all the individual chapters; local changes or waivers to the published rules are "very unlikely" to be approved.
Under ACA rules, my car and other stock Z3s in the Club (with factory rollover protection and stock three-point belts) are approved for all Club track events. I like our Club track program, which allows us to learn high speed driving under controlled conditions, in our stock vehicles. Non-stock modifications are expensive, and would lower the resale value of our vehicles. I think the level of safety provided under BMW ACA rules is quite good, as borne out by the Club's safety record. Though there are many Pros and Cons to consider with regard to a possible ACA/CCA merger, this is an important one if you want to drive your Z3 Roadster "sports car" on the track! There are several other CCA/ACA differences in track rules (passenger carrying, tech inspections, helmets, etc.) which apply to ALL vehicles on the track; I think these have been well addressed in prior letters.
Doug Barritt, ACA #3255
David Lightfoot
The Board and the Special Committee started out this process in favor of remaining an independent ACA Club. There has been a lot of work put into analyzing this issue. The Club leadership is now unanimously in favor of joining CCA. I hope the general membership agrees and respects the judgment of those who are closest to the issues.
While I respect the opinions of those who dissent, joining CCA is the right thing to do. The time has come.
I look forward to a new era as a chapter of BMW CCA. I dread the possibility of a vote to remain independent because I believe this would be the beginning of the end for this Club. Slowly but surely the Club would deteriorate.
Any negatives related to becoming a part of CCA can be handled by creative and innovative solutions that have always been a hallmark of this Club.
I'm proud to be a part of the group making this courageous recommendation. I urge you to vote to merge with CCA.
David Lightfoot, Zündfolge Editor, Past President
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