The BMW Motorcycle Owners of Alabama is chartered club #5 in the BMW MOA and #107 in the BMW RA. We are a statewide club but our membership also includes riders from many other states. Our meetings and outings are held around the southeast and always provide a great time of riding and camaraderie!
We have a good mix of riders that enjoy Touring, Sport Touring, or Off-Road riding. Rides are mapped and group rides are structured to accommodate all levels of riders providing a fun and safe experience for everyone. There is a bottomless barrel of folks willing to lead rides of different types and in different areas of the state, so a ride is surely going to be held near most members at regular intervals.
We invite you to join us at one of our upcoming events soon!
The “BMW Motorcycle Owners of Alabama” was formed in October of 1971 by John Harper. We are chartered club #5 in the BMW MOA (BMW Motorcycle Owners of America) and chartered club #107 in the BMW RA (BMW Riders Association) two international owners groups. We are a statewide club but our membership also includes riders from many other states including AR, FL, GA, IL, LA, MD, MO, MS, NC, SD, and TN. Our meetings and outings are held around the southeast and always provide a great time of riding and camaraderie!
Our club elects a slate of officers for the coming year at our annual January planning meeting and all members are encouraged to seek an office. Each meeting draws between 30 and 75 members and guests and so are sort of mini-rallies in themselves. Our ages range from 18 to 83 with the average member in their middle 50’s. Annual membership is $25 per year and associate members or spouses are an additional $5.00. We communicate regularly through a series of ENews newsletters sent via email normally once per month or when an item or event of particular importance to the entire group is announced.
Because we are a large club with a wide geographic footprint we tend to plan more elaborate monthly meetings than the smaller more localized clubs. This is to accommodate the members all around the state and in closely surrounding states. Many of our meetings are at Alabama State Parks, and we move them around to different parts of the state each month. In addition, some meetings are held each year in locations in North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, or Florida, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Club business meetings are held on Saturday nights or Sunday mornings of the meeting weekends. Most meeting weekends include Saturday and Sunday although depending on the location sometimes we start the fun on Friday! Those who don’t camp, stay in cabins or hotels in the area of the meetings.
Our club is truly one big family of riders and friends. We have many who will step up and take on the cooking or planning of a monthly meeting weekend, jump in and fill a slot or ten at the rally jobs each year, and still manage to come up with some great “lies” around the campfires each month. You would be hard-pressed to find another group of folks that have so many, so willing to take on a part of the work and help make the club the wonderful “family” that it is. We have many long-time members who have been in the club for 10, 20, and even 30 years or more. We think that speaks volumes about how much fun, and how easy-going this club is when you attract members from so many other states that want to be a part of the group. So much fun in fact that we have been doing it for over 52 years!
We have a good mix of riders that enjoy Touring, Sport Touring, or Off-Road riding. Rides are mapped and group rides are structured to accommodate all levels of riders providing a fun and safe experience for everyone. Rider meetings or briefings are conducted before group rides so everyone knows the details. There is a bottomless barrel of folks willing to lead rides of different types and in different areas of the state, so a ride is surely going to be held near most members at regular intervals.
Most meeting/campout weekends most often include meals on Sat. night that members in the area of the meeting have agreed to put together. You got to brag when you have a club with this many GOOD SOUTHERN COOKS, and I’m not just talking about the ladies. Cost is usually from $6 to $12. per person for the dinners depending on what we have planned. Sometimes catered meals can be around $20 but you will have advance notice. Camping fees vary but are usually discounted. Hotels are usually nearby in case you do not camp.
We invite you to join us at one of our upcoming events soon!
OUR FEARLESS LEADERS
PHIL AGER, PRESIDENT
Phil has now lived in Huntsville for about three years after selecting Alabama for a more relaxed and family-oriented retirement community over the metro DC area. I’m a former beltway Info-Tech/DoD commuter for nearly 20 years after serving in the USAF for 20 years. I’ve owned a handful of BMWs throughout my 50 years of riding; my first bike was a 650 Triumph Bonneville bought new in Baltimore. After joining the AF, I got my R90S in 1975 in time to ride it to Daytona for the 1976 races. In fact, it’s still in use today (just a little worse for wear). We now pull a smallish pop-up camper behind the big K1600GT for extended trips.
I participated as both secretary and newsletter editor for the BMW Bikers of Metropolitan Washington (BMW2) during some of those 20 years in the Maryland suburbs. I’ve ridden over 300K miles on various BMWs. The Secretary and I became engaged after an invigorating ride through Passo Giao in the Dolomites (elev 2236m). We’ve toured all of the lower-48 as well as ten European countries. We intend to keep ADVenturing as long as we’re physically able — there’s so much yet to explore - especially on rented BMWs.
Now for the fourth time in as many years, Phil follows in the footsteps of Pam Werstler, who followed, Bill Tonkin, who followed Tim Flynn as your AlaBeemer President. That’s as far back as I can relate, but I’ll do my best to expand participation in and enthusiasm for the BMW Motorcycle Owners of Alabama. Ride Safe and Ride Often!
PAM WERSTLER, VICE PRESIDENT
In 1984 when I met my husband, Tom, he told me about his motorcycle and our first date was a motorcycle ride to Guntersville State Park. I had ridden motorcycles a little before but not since I was a teenager, so I was a little concerned. He soon proved that he could handle himself and we have been riding ever since.
I like to carry a camera or two while riding and take photos along the way…you never know what might pop up. I especially like to shoot old barns.
Tom and I enjoy being members of BMW MOAL. As with any group, it’s all about the people and our club members are lots of fun!!
KAREN AGER, SECRETARY
Motorcycles were “outlawed” in the home of my youth, so I came to riding relatively late. I’ve been riding since 2007 when I bought my first bike - a 13-year-old Yamaha Virago. It was a great starter bike, but the 2-gallon gas tank made it less practical for longer trips.
Through Philip, I got involved with BMW Bikers of Metropolitan Washington (DC) when we lived in MD. I knew I needed to fully join the fold, as it were. My first BMW was a 2007 F800ST. That “love affair” lasted until my first long ride, but I kept the bike for two years anyway trying to make it fit. My current all-around bike is a 2009 F650GS (twin) that I have ridden over 160,000 miles. In the fall of 2019, I acquired a 1982 R100CS from a club member, Jeanne. This gives me an in with the Northern AL Vintage Motorcycle Club and is teaching me about maintaining old airheads. Riding is one of my many passions. Short trips, long trips…my bags are packed.
I was elected secretary in January 2020. This was my first real involvement with BMW MOAL, but it has been a great experience. The club officers are here to make your club experience better. Please let us know how we can build upon the heritage of MOA club #5, or just get involved yourself. It’s an enjoyable way to meet others who share our passion for riding BMWs.
MARI HARRELSON, TREASURER
JIM KALAHAN, SAFETY DIRECTOR
I joined the club at my first meeting at Little River in 2007. I started riding motorcycles in 1967 and then stopped in 1976. The passion was rekindled in 2003. I got my first Beemer in 2006. It was an R1150R. Then went to the R1150GS I now have and also a G650 X Challenge. I love the ability to be able to ride all different types of terrain and get "off road" and in the dirt. I became Vice-President in 2009 and have become involved in all the different aspects that our club has to offer. I am honored to tell other people about our club and the national recognition it has received due to its members and the success of our annual "Great Chicken Rally". I hope to either see you at one of our monthly meetings or out on the road enjoying the scenery of this beautiful country we live in.
Birmingham
Each Thursday evening, the Birmingham folks meet at Baha Burgers located about 1 mile south of the Galleria on US-31. It's just north of the Cahaba River bridge on US-31. Those who don't care for burgers can order from Taziki's, just down the shopping center (same parking lot) and bring it over. If Taziki's isn't busy, they'll sometimes deliver to Baha Burger! Arrivals begin from about 5:00 to 5:30 PM and stay till about 7:30 to 8:00 PM.
Baha Burgers
4745 Chace Circle
Hoover, AL 35244
(205) 682-6980
GPS Loc: N33 25.341 W86 47.827
Huntsville
The Huntsville crowd currently meets at 6:00 pm each Friday night at The Nook on Bob Wallace Stop by for food and conversation.
The Nook
3305 Bob Wallace Ave SW
Huntsville, AL 35805
GPS Loc: 34.711234, -86.611977
Spanish Fort
Saturday mornings at the Cracker Barrel at the Eastern Shore Center. Riders usually arrive from 7:30am to 8:00am. Rides are concocted for afterwards.
Cracker Barrel
30227 Eastern Shore Court
Spanish Fort, AL 36527
GPS Loc: 30.665069, -87.851342
About the Award
The Russ Simpson Award recognizes annually the distinct and extraordinary accomplishments of members, officers, and directors of the BMW Motorcycle Club of Alabama who have served the Club and communities with superb contributions outside the realm of their membership, jobs, and duties. Award recipients enhance both the success and the reputation of our club through their extraordinary actions.
The Membership Director will be responsible for taking the votes each year from the general membership for the recipient of the Award with a plaque to be presented by the Rally Chairperson at the annual rally. The next plate on the Club's historical display plaque will be engraved and installed with that recipient’s name.
Criteria
The nominee must be a Primary or Associate member of the BMW Motorcycle Club of Alabama. The nominee should have demonstrated one of the following:
- Extraordinary behavior well beyond the scope of his/her membership, officer or director role and responsibilities.
- An act that had a significant positive impact on fellow members and the community.
- A superior contribution of time/effort to the success of a project.
- Exceptional participation or leadership in a regular or special assignment or in responding to an emergency.
- Former award recipients may be nominated again if the above criteria are met.
Past Recipients
Jim Kalahan, 2016
Our 2016 recipient Jim Kalahan has served our club as President for two terms as well as other officer and director positions. He has been instrumental in the planning and hosting many monthly meetings and rides as well as an integral part of our annual Rally planning. Jim has a can do attitude and is always available when called upon for any club task. Thanks for all you have done Jim. The club applauds and appreciates your hard work! Keep it up!
Martha Warren, 2015
Member since 1996. Membership Director 2010-2016. Responsible for maintaining up to date membership hard copy and now online directory, compiling Club Blue Book directory and mailing annually up until it became online. She did extensive research and drafting of new Club by-Laws revision for the By-Law Committee presentation. She worked tirelessly on the updating of BMW Club Articles of Incorporation and Change of Registered Agent and filing with the Secretary of State.
Sheila Kalahan, 2014
As Rally Chairperson for 2013, Sheila Kalahan has contributed months of coordination and organization including enthusiasm towards the success of the 2013 Chicken Rally for members' and guests’ enjoyment which is our last rally at Ditto Landing location.