German Cars Take Over Socal: Bimmerfest 2016

Bimmerfest 2016 in all it’s glory

  Sometimes there is an event that has such enormous appeal, that the demand sometimes outweighs the idea. It may sound a little weird, but, the demand for such a thing is what drove a show like Bimmerfest to be created. Bimmerfest has been around in Southern California for 17 years now, and the demand that created that show is still there. This demand was brought about by fans of the BMW brand, and for years people had been chomping at the bit for it. Bimmerfest is the result of many fans coming together and making something that they themselves would want to go to. That is the true hallmark of a show, and something that is always the key to keep people going. 

  I was fortunate enough to head to Bimmerfest last year. It was my first time going to the show, and something I had been looking forward to for a long time. I had heard about this show for a few years, and always thought about about attending. Not owning a BMW, and knowing little about the brand, it is like I had always thought. If you want to know more about anything, the best way to do it is to jump right in and immerse oneself in the culture. So, seeing as how that show would be my first time, I had only a small idea of what it was I was going to see. Of course I knew there would be BMW’s as far as the eye can see, but, what would the mood be like there? As it was, just on the drive over there, the sky was very overcast, so, maybe it was a bit of an ominous sign. Cold and overcast was not how I expected this average Saturday to be, especially out in Fontana (the show takes place at the Auto Club Speedway in the city of Fontana), but, I am pretty open to anything, so, I was curious to see how it would go.

The main road into Bimmerfest

The new BMW i8 at the Toyo Tires booth

  Driving into the show this year felt a lot like that last year. In fact, it was a bit of deja vu taking the road out to the Speedway. A lot of the same feelings that had raced through my mind a year before, went through my head this time around as well. I was excited to say the least. Even though I was there last year, I was excited to see what they would have. Would that mood be the same though? It is exactly what it was and then some. With more cars, more people and a lot more attractions for everyone, it was just great. Just the sound of the cars racing around the track as you pull up was entrancing. It was sure to be a real treat, and one I was looking forward to.

  As much as I love going to car shows, to be honest, there can come a point where it’s a little hard to get excited for it. When you run in the same circuit as I have, and for so long, you tend to see a lot of the same cars and people. While that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s a bad thing, it does tend to make a person blase about what he or she sees. The people in a lot of ways are the main draw anyways, and that is why there can be times when this level of enthusiasm for a change of scenery is welcome. That was the case this time around. I come from the Nissan scene (I own a 240sx myself) and have always appreciated the camaraderie that a group of brand loyalists could have. Some may call them fanboys, but, I just call them fans with a brand [Hey, that rhymes. Maybe, i’ll keep that one stored in the memory banks for another time] . I have always been interested in seeing what loyalists are like when you put them in their own environment. We were fortunate to run around with the Evo guys last year (courtesy of the World Wide Lancer Club), and we had a lot of fun there. So, seeing what the BMW guys (and gals of course) were all about is something that we were excited about. That set up the scene for Bimmerfest last year, and this time around, it would be even more special for me since I knew a bit about of what I was going into. 

  Right off the bat I have to say that I was happy to see an additional day added onto the schedule. Last year, and every year before it (as far as I know) had only a one day window for Bimmer fans to get their fix. Adding in that second day was a blessing not only for myself, but, for many other Bimmer fans as well. The amount of loyalty is proven by the amount of people that come in from some really far away locations just to attend Bimmerfest. It’s pretty awesome, and I am sure it shows everyone out there (including outsiders such as myself) appreciates having the extra time to be around other like-minded car enthusiasts. It’s especially great for the folks riding around on the track I am sure. 

Awesome Bimmer from Team Legacy at the Toyo Tires Booth

Beautiful models from Stance Wheels and Vertini Wheels

  One of the first things I saw going into Bimmerfest (besides the roaring of the engines whizzing by as I went on the underpass to the track) was the main parking lot. And, just like last time, the parking lot is just as great as the show itself. With some of the nicest cars around and all of them in the parking lot of the show, it was hard to even get past that part. I mean, without even having to walk ten feet from where I parked, there were some show-worthy cars. Even past that, there were a ton of them all around. It was almost absurd to note the amount of awesome cars within the small radius from where I was standing. A lot of those cars had come from out of state as well, so, I think I just had to take a little bit of time to appreciate those rides before I even made the walk into the show. Some of those cars are shown in this feature, in case you were wondering. One thing I appreciated though, was seeing all of the different styles and mods done to these cars. A lot of times I will see a Bimmer on the street or at a show, but, since I don’t often see more than one, or even a few, I don’t really get to appreciate the different styles that people bring to the Euro table. This was fully on display here, and really made me appreciate the cars I knew very little about. 

  That was great, and seeing something that I did not expect really set the tone for the rest of that day. If everything that I had said before wasn’t enough to gain interest, there was something that BMW themselves brought out for the crowd that we almost never get to see. In order to appreciate this car, one has to realize just how rare this car is, and how rare it is to even think of seeing one. There were only 106 ever made, and at a cost of over $1 million a piece, they were some of the most expensive production cars to ever be released. While that may sound like a lot, and there are cars that are even more expensive now, you have to understand that this car was released in 1992, is still one of the most sought after cars the world over. This car is none other than the McLaren F1. It is a car that I have had many dreams about (some tame, and some naughty, but, that’s a story for another time, yeehaw! lol), and a car that I have always wanted to see in person. It wasn’t until Bimmerfest that I, and many BMW fans were lucky enough to see. And to be honest, it was even nicer in person. The cherry on top of the McLaren, was seeing the fact that this particular car was driven by Nelson Piquet. A racing legend, this made the appearance of this particular car even more special. To make this whole thing even more incredible was that there were three other cars parked right next to this one that also shared a similarly exotic story. That’s how BMW does it though folks. The McLaren F1, in case you were wondering, was a team up of McLaren (who designed the car) and BMW,who provided the fantastic 6.1L V-12 engine. This car is something else, and you know that standing right next to it. 

The super rare McLaren F1

Classic BMW looking great at Bimmerfest

The show itself was also quite scenic. Like the year past, there were a ton of really nice cars on display. There are too many to list here, and I would rather you see these cars in all their splendor, as I got to see them. There was also quite a bit more to see, from the vendors to the models and everything else in between. This year’s Bimmerfest was a roaring good time, and if it is any indication of what next year will be, I am sure to have a good time again. If they bring back that McLaren, I would die a very happy man. But, alas, we will see until next year. Until then, sit back and appreciate these cars as they were intended. I know I enjoyed being a part of this crowd, and seeing what BMW and their die-hard fans were all about. Let’s hope next time around I myself will have more time to go back a second day next go-around. Thanks Bimmerfest and all of the staff that made this show possible. The people such as myself, and those that drove in from places such as the Bay and out of state sure did appreciate the effort that went in to making this show what it was. How can I be so sure of this? Easy, the smiles on everyone’s face told the whole story. You can’t fake happiness there, and it sure showed that day. 

Two beautiful models from RF Wheels

Classic BMW from the Toyo Tires Booth

Rolloface brought their big brake kits to display

Convertible Bimmer at Bimmerfest 2016

One of the models from 2Crave Wheels

This slammed Bimmer from VF Engineering looked wicked at the show

Check out this Spider-Man wrapped i8 at the 3M booth

Just look at the detail in these Forgiata Wheels

VIBE Motorsports stopping traffic at Bimmerfest

Even this crazy Liberty Walk R8 made an appearance at the show

A BMW with a Toyota engine? Yup, that was there

One more shot of the uber sexy McLaren F1

Line of Bimmers at the show looking awesome

Slammed and with a rack up top, this ModJunkies ride sure looks sweet

Orange M3 from the VIBE Motorsports booth

Words and Photos By Daniel Navarrete 

-Spektrum Magazine

For more information on Bimmerfest check out their website at Bimmerfest

This article was prepared or accomplished by Daniel Navarrete in his personal capacity. The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Spektrum Magazine, or its affiliates.