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The Start of Something Big: GVC BMW CCA- The Formative Years
By
Joe Ajavon, Founder, Genesee Valley Chapter BMW CCA
It all began the fall of 1974, the year I bought my BMW 2002 tii. While driving through Victor NY (Route
96) I saw a beautiful 2002 Alpina with all the Alpina trick stuff. I summoned the driver to pull over
into a parking lot to find out where he got the front and rear spoilers. He told me that he got them from a company in Youngtown,
Ohio and then told me all about the BMW CCA and encouraged me to join. He had a Roundel magazine with him and gave it
to me. His name was Jim Buckley and we became fast friends. The next day I was on the phone to
CCA to sign up for membership. If my memory serves me right, the fee was $15.00. I received my membership
card within two weeks, and in the envelope there was mention of joining the local chapter. But the only problem was - there was
no local chapter. I then called CCA about starting a local chapter. They thought it was a great idea and advised me to
call my zone governor. I believe it was Rich Meltzer (also known as ‘Tex’) who told me I had to stay
within a sixty mile radius. He also told me to get in contact with the Patroon chapter in the Schenectady/Albany area for assistance getting started.
Patroon chapter president, Bill Kane (now deceased) was a great help. He drove to Rochester many weekends
to help with meetings. I will always be grateful to him for his hands on approach.
The first BMW CCA member I met and spoke to about forming a chapter in this area was Gene Skic in 1976
at the Kling BMW dealership (which was later bought out by Holtz) in Honeoye Falls, NY. I told Gene I was
going to start a local BMW chapter and was going to have a planning meeting. Gene assured me he would attend and he did.
The first order of work was to get names and numbers of local BMW CCA members. I called the national
BMW CCA regarding this matter and received a list of approximately 150 members. The first call was made
to Gail (currently Gail Davis) and John Rose. John and I spoke for two hours. That conversation was
a motivating force! The next phone calls were made to Bill O’Neill, Stan Parker, and Charlie Stancampiano.
They were all receptive and enthusiastic. I then began to organize and plan the first GVC club meeting. I
was able to solicit Mt. Read BMW/VW for a meeting room. Then I had to send out 150 letters inviting area
CCA members to attend the first meeting to develop an area chapter. I broke my bank account, making
long distance phone calls and mailing out all of those letters.
The first informal meeting held in the fall of 1977 exceeded my expectations, 38 people showed up. It was
a great start! We bantered around ideas about starting a chapter in this region. Friends of BMW continued
to meet off and on throughout the years and then officially became a recognized CCA chapter in 1981. Stan
Parker did a great job publishing articles for the monthly newsletter, negotiating drivers schools at
Watkins glen and providing his residence for board meetings. The first picnic was held in 1983 at Stoney
Brook State Park in Mt Morris, NY. Our first drivers school was in 1984 at Watkins Glen and we hosted our
first O’fest in Rochester in 1988. GVC-CCA events and socials continued to grow long lasting friendships,
garages that store insurmountable and intangible amounts of known and unknown BMW parts, both current
and antique, and provided a venue to discuss long-winded theories and ideas about pistons, brakes, engines and braking techniques
that allowed you to maintain more than reasonable speed cornering by using the "heel and toe" method to improve car control.
I’ve met some great people over the years and it continues to be a great ride.
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