BMW Motorcycle Owners of America

Founders of BMW MOA in Chicago in 1972.

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A cover of BMW Owners News.

The BMW Motorcycle Owners of America (BMW MOA) is a private, nonprofit membership association for owners and admirers of BMW motorcycles. It has over 40,000 members, and "has grown to be the largest brand specific motorcycle club in the world that is not owned and operated by the marque."

BMW MOA was founded in 1972 in Chicago by five enthusiasts, Vern Hansen (Detroit), Jeff Dean (Madison, WI), John Moore (California), Charlie Smith (New York), and Frank Diederich (Chicago) - left to right in the photo.

The organization is based in a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri. It publishes a monthly magazine, BMW Owners News and an annual Anonymous book to assist touring riders in difficulty. Though founded in the United States, BMW MOA has members across the world.

Annual rally

Every year since 1973 the BMW MOA has held an annual rally that is the largest gathering of BMW enthusiasts in North America. Rallies have been held all over the United States and once in Canada:

1973 — Morgan Hill, CA 1974 — Tablerock, SC 1975 — Branson, MO 1976 — Oshkosh, WI 1977 — Colorado Springs, CO 1978 — Rutland, VT 1979 — Brainerd, MN 1980 — Prineville, OR 1981 — Hurricane Mills, TN 1982 — Shreve, OH 1983 — Lake Placid, NY 1984 — Missoula, MT 1985 — Lake Wales, FL

1986 — Laguna Seca, CA 1987 — Escanaba, MI 1988 — Madison, IN 1989 — York, PA 1990 — Rapid City, SD 1991 — Flagstaff, AZ 1992 — DuQuoin IL 1993 — Oshkosh, WI 1994 — Moodus, CT 1995 — Durango, CO 1996 — Morgantown, NC 1997 — Fredericksburg, TX 1998 — Missoula, MT

1999 — Rhinebeck, NY 2000 — Midland, MI 2001 — Redmond, OR 2002 — Trenton, ON 2003 — Charleston, WV 2004 — Spokane, WA 2005 — Lima, OH 2006 — Essex Jct., VT 2007 — West Bend, WI 2008 — Gillette, WY 2009 — Johnson City, TN

External links

• BMW MOA Website