Allegheny Chapter

The Allegheny Chapter of the BMW Car Club

Fall Leaves Tour

2018 Fall Leaves Tour detail will be posted when available.


CANCELLED for 2017

35th Annual – Fall Leaves Tour & Picnic ???

Letter from Rudi & Kate:

It is hard for Rudi to have to cancel 2017 FLTP. He feels as I do, that TRADITION is so much a part of our love, not only of a marque, but of a driver, that knows what he or she is doing.

We, so believe, that each generation is affected by the previous one. Our commitment to FLTP is as much a celebration of being in BMW CCA, as it is, the friendship, courtesy, knowledge, of being people who enjoy and share each other.

33 or is it 34 years of driving, meeting, sharing a picnic lunch and our love of cars, driving and well, it means something. We’re talking three generations of drivers, who
get to experience  & learn from ‘the Keepers of the Wurst’ that friendship and caring is the key to life.

Driving a good car, learning how to handle it, how to make it safer, all comes with time and a little picnic in West Virginia has been the perfect venue to develop this maturation process.

All the events that the Club offers are part of a whole, a car club that celebrates a Marque- BMW, our love of cars and our desire to share:  Driving skills, friendships, and interesting, fun things to do.

Enjoy your car, take advantage of what your car club offers. We all work hard to give you the opportunity to enjoy your BMW to the max!

Love,   Kate & RUDI


Click HERE to see some photos from the 2015 Fall Leaves Tour & Picnic.

Below you can find a beautifully written article by Kate Flavin.

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“PLAY IT AGAIN,  RUDI! “

Excitement was in the air as we joined the BMWs gathering at Great Southern Shopping Center in Bridgeville on Saturday morn, October 17, 2015.  The blustery, cold wind and grey overcast sky that made me wish for winter gear, but I was anticipating warmer weather.  After all, we were heading due south, our destination Watters Smith State Park, traditional venue of our annual T & P, “THE PICNIC” in West Virginia.

We were 15 cars strong and realized that just may be too many Bimmers to maintain as an organized caravan.  Too much of a good thing (all those beautiful cars) and tedious, what with all the passing and trying to stay together, so we formed two wings, 7 and 8 cars .  Bill Permar was lead car for the first group and Mike Meehan, in Marianne’s cute red 325 convertible, was lead car of the second group. Rudi’s little olde black 325 ix (Black Magic Woman) was clean-up car, catering to stragglers, join-en-routers, breakdowns and whatever.

The drive was smooth and fast, although a few more of those twisty, two-lane West Virginia country roads would have been appreciated.  Upon arrival at the Park, the leaves were a canopy of crimson and scorching yellows and deep burgundy that enveloped us with a peaceful calm and an invitation to stretch our legs and enjoy a gorgeous fall day.  The Lodge had a welcoming fire blazing against the chill.   Maybe it was the brisk weather or that it was lunch time and we were hungry or simply because the dessert table was first to be set up that, in no time, a crowd was engaged in sweets and animated conversation.   Appetizers were quickly put out and the barbecue was soon sizzling on the stove.

Folks were chatty and checking out the scenery and picnic area, while with no little haste the ‘chef’ readied the  succulent pulled pork and hot sides and salads, and did we get right to it!  As always, there was more than plenty.  We are thankful for the bounteous sharing of friends and good food.  Wise beyond his tenure, our President regaled us with the shortest welcome speech ever.  George Synder then gave a splendid introduction to Rudi and Dave Chenoweth (from Mt. State), two of the original, thirty-three straight years’, Picnickers!

Funny, but our initial encounter with Dave was us (Rudi & I) cruising on I 79 in our ’83 733i five speed toward our very first West Virginia picnic.  In fact it was our first ever BMW(no space)CCA event ever.  We passed a powder blue  3 Series BMW.  Turns out it was Dave and though he was going about 90 mph,  we just flew by him.  Naturally, Dave had to pass us, and the game was afoot.  Yes, they played a bit, but it was all in fun.  When our cars met up at the parking lot of the picnic grove in Watters Smith State Park, “I knew you must be going here”, a friendship was forged that has lasted these 33 years.  All because we share the ‘Freude am Fahren, driving the ultimate Marque,’ i.e. BMW.’

That about sums up the picnic:  friends, food and cars.  Our granddaughter was there with her little Bimmer, we rejoined lots of  familiar faces and met a few new ones. Several doggies, a ‘photo-drone’, the mass gathering for our traditional group photo (which would be a great FULL PAGE PICTURE above October of our club 2016 Calendar), folks exploring the ‘model-farm’ park, taking kids on walkabouts of grounds, sliding boards and swings, throwing pebbles in the pond and courtesy of Marianne, games and prizes,  all and everything made for a fun afternoon.  Clean-up was a breeze, because everyone helps, and a special thanks to Johna for washing the pots (my least favorite thing of the entire picnic).

We hope to continue the legacy of the ‘FEAST & CELEBRATION of THE WURST’  and the continued joint event which Allegheny Chapter has shared with Mt. State for the last 33 years.  We (the Committee),  encourage y’all to give it a try next year.  If you remember from our last Newsletter (and who doesn’t read ” The Allegheny Apex ” now???), as Lou Ann Shirk said “Allegheny Chapter Knows How To Throw A Party” and, of course,  we know what a PICNIC! should be.

Thanks to all,  and love to all,

Kate   (Chair of Rudi’s FLT&P Committee)