As the Chair of the BMW MOA 2022 National Rally, it is my pleasure to invite all of you to the biggest BMW motorcycle family reunion in the world this June in Springfield, Missouri!
Every BMW MOA Rally has been special for different reasons, but this year, we have both the opportunity and responsibility to celebrate the MOA’s golden anniversary. That’s right, 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of the BMW MOA!
Fifty years is a long time, and the BMW MOA and BMW Motorrad have seen amazing changes over that time. In 1972 BMW produced only one basic motorcycle model: the Slash 5, in three displacements including 500cc, 600cc, and 750cc. Additionally, for the first time ever you could buy that Slash 5 in colors other than black, including white, red, blue, green, and curry (gold)! You could also buy any one of those models for well under $2,000!
As a part of our Rally “Anniversary” activities, we have some very special things planned around the BMW Slash 5 bikes. More information about those activities will be revealed in the coming months, but I can tell you now that we really, really encourage you to bring your /5 to the Springfield Rally! Ride it if you can, trailer it if you must, but we want to have your bike there regardless of whether it’s a 10-point restoration or if it looks like it’s never seen a bath or polish since it was uncrated. If it is some variant of a Slash 5, we want you and your bike to be part of a very special series of events. This won’t happen again, so don’t miss out!
Just about any location is good for a celebration, but the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds is going to be an excellent rally site! The grounds have all the facilities we need for vendors, activities and camping. Springfield is also the birthplace of Route 66, the “Mother Road,” and there are many historic Route 66 points of interest to explore.
Springfield is also the home of the Bass Pro Shops headquarters. If you have ever shopped Bass Pro Shops or Cabela’s, you simply must see this as it is beyond description! Springfield is also a great jumping off point to ride Missouri’s Ozark region just to the south. Many consider the Ozark region to have some of the best motorcycling roads in North America, so do plan time in your schedule to ride through on your ride to or away from the rally.
Over the next few months, you will hear more about the Springfield area, what to do at the rally, anniversary activities, riding opportunities, and much more here in BMW Owners News and through the other MOA media outlets, so stay tuned!
Rally registration has been open since December 1st, so don’t hesitate to take advantage of the early registration discount. Visit www.bmwmoa.org and find more information about the rally which includes a very helpful FAQ section.
Along with Co-Chairs Pat Carol and Greg Feeler, we want to extend the warmest invitation possible to you and your riding friends to attend a very special rally. Our rally slogan is “Wander Farther!” which honors that part of our BMW riding culture and the philosophy of the BMW MOA which is always compelling us to go just a bit farther, whether it be over that next hill or into that next time zone!
Make plans now to join your extended riding family by wandering your way to Springfield, Missouri, this June 16th - 19th, 2022!
