Club Happenings – Fall 2016: Circle BMW Hosts its First Oktoberfest

by NJ BMW CCA

By Matt Baratz

The trees hadn’t quite blossomed last spring when Circle BMW contacted our Chapter to inquire what kind of an event the Chapter might like in 2016. Circle has hosted a dealer meeting at its pristine Eatontown facility for many years and it never fails to impress the membership with its events.

Pam Marshall, Circle’s Director of Marketing and Communications and Ken Vicari, its Parts Manager, have hosted tech sessions and new product presentations at previous events. Pam and Ken wanted to build on Circle BMW’s tradition of success and create a really special experience for the Chapter. When Board Member John Gyorfy suggested a show and shine, the team at Circle hit on an Oktoberfest event and a new Chapter tradition was established.

Over the summer, plans for the event solidified – it would be held on October 8th, a real celebration in prime Oktoberfest time. By mid-September, more than 100 members had registered for the show and shine.

Circle hosted the event at its beautiful new back lot overlooking the dealership. They set up registration, hospitality and raffle stations and arranged for BMW to demonstrate its detailing system on a Caribbean Aqua Mini Convertible. Circle even opened a dedicated parts store and offered special pricing for members. Circle also provided a prime spot for the New Jersey Chapter’s tent and over the course of the day we registered new Club members and sold some of national’s nicest bling.

By late morning the lot filled up with fine German metal. Circle displayed a new M2, an M3, as well as an M4, an M6 and an i8. They joined a wide range of classic Bavarian beauties, from shark-nosed E24 classics to V-8 E92 M3s and Individual F32 M4s. There were even a few fine motors from Stuttgart and Sindelfingen and one silver beauty from Modena.

Circle arranged to have Sterling Sowerby, also known as the Flying Deutschman, drop by in his incredible mobile beergarten. Sowerby’s Currywurst is just as good as they serve in Charlottenberg and maybe better because Circle treated the attendees to lunch. The Deutschman went through so much food that his truck must have really flown home.

After lunch, Circle raffled some great prizes including BMW’s new carbon fiber bike which was won by Vic Lucariello, Jr. As goody bags were loaded into trunks and engines fired up, Circle bid farewell to participants and promised to make this fabulous event an annual tradition.

Thanks for a great event Circle, we tip our Trachtenhats to you.