Buick Club of America
The Buick Club of America (BCA), founded in 1966,[1] is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and restoration of automobiles built by the Buick Motor Division of General Motors Corporation.[2] The Buick Club promotes activities, resources, and friendships. The Buick Club has 8,000+ worldwide members and 70+ local Chapters in nine regions. These chapters promote local networking among Buick enthusiasts. The Club also has seven divisions based on vehicle types instead on geographic locations. One must be a member of the national organization to be a member of a division or chapter.
The Buick Club of America is not affiliated with Buick Motor Division, nor with General Motors.
Membership
The Buick Club of America is a renowned and respected club[3] and offers domestic and international memberships for anyone interested in the Buick automobile. Ownership of a Buick is not a requirement of membership.
Activities
The Buick Bugle
The monthly magazine of the Buick Club of America is the Buick Bugle. The magazine features a variety of types of articles, including year and model specific authenticity features, historical documentation, personal interest stories, and technical tips. The magazine also features Buick-related advertisements for parts and services as well as member classified ads for cars, parts, and other related items.
Website and internet forum
The BCA maintains as website containing general and historic information and events calendars. Through this website, members may also access internet forums to discuss specific issues.
National Meet
Each year the Buick Club of America host their National Meet. There is only one BCA National Meet and it moves around the United States. Historically the Meet has been hosted by a Chapter or Region of the BCA. Beginning in 2013 the meet will be hosted by the BCA National Meet Committee.
The National Meet features various competitions for different classes of automobiles:
- Restored or excellent condition unrestored vehicles 12 or more years old
- Unrestored vehicles 25 or more years old of any condition
- Drivers award—awarded to a vehicle 25 or more years old that is driven (i.e. not transported) from the owner's home to the meet location (indicating ongoing road-worthiness).
- Modified Vehicles in categories of Mild / Resto Rod / Radical / Driven
- Display only vehicles of all years to current
Some of the Regions of the BCA host Annual Regional Meets or Tours.
Divisions of the BCA hold annual tours and activities as well, some in conjunction with the BCA National Meet.
Locations of National Meets
| Year | Location | Host |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Flint, MI | Buick Motor Division and Volunteer Buick Club Members |
| 1972 | Flint, MI | Buicktown |
| 1973 | Flint, MI | Buicktown |
| 1974 | No Meet | |
| 1975 | Flint, MI | Buicktown and North East Ohio |
| 1976 | Flint, MI | Buicktown and West Michigan |
| 1977 | Strongsville, OH | North East Ohio |
| 1978 | Flint, MI | Buicktown and North East Ohio |
| 1979 | Bloomington, MN | Gopher State |
| 1980 | Chicago, IL | Chicagoland |
| 1981 | Sandusky, OH(Cedar Point) | North East Ohio |
| 1982 | Bethlehem, PA | Free Spirit |
| 1983 | Westerville, OH | Central Ohio |
| 1984 | Atlanta, GA | Dixie |
| 1985 | Los Angeles, CA | LA chapter |
| 1986 | Indianapolis, IN | Central Indiana |
| 1987 | Orlando, FL | Sunshine State |
| 1988 | Flint, MI | Buicktown Chapter |
| 1989 | Batavia, NY | Finger Lakes |
| 1990 | Cincinnati, OH(Kings Island) | Southwestern Ohio |
| 1991 | Sacramento, CA | California Capitol |
| 1992 | Overland Park, KS | Mid-America Chapter |
| 1993 | Phoenix, AZ | Valley of the Sun Chapter |
| 1994 | Atlanta, GA | Dixie Chapter |
| 1995 | Lisle, IL | Heartland Region |
| 1996 | Plano, TX | North Texas |
| 1997 | St. Louis, MO | Gateway Chapter |
| 1998 | Danvers, MA | Minuteman Chapter |
| 1999 | Columbus, OH | Central Ohio |
| 2000 | Richmond, VA | Northern Virginia |
| 2001 | Buffalo, NY | Niagara Frontier |
| 2002 | Kokomo, IN | Indiana Chapter |
| 2003 | Flint, MI | Buicktown |
| 2004 | Plano, TX | North Texas |
| 2005 | Batavia, NY | Finger Lakes |
| 2006 | Rochester, MN | Gopher and Fireball Chapters |
| 2007 | Seattle, WA | Northern Cascade |
| 2008 | Flint, MI | Buicktown |
| 2009 | Colorado Springs, CO | Four Corners Region |
| 2010 | Ames, IA[4] | BCA with assistance from Hawkeye and Gopher State
Chapters |
| 2011 | Danvers, MA | Minuteman Chapter |
| 2012 | Concord, NC[5] | Carolina Chapter |
| 2013 | South Bend, IN | BCA National Meet Committee |
| 2014 | Portland, OR | BCA National Meet Committee |
| 2015 | Springfield, MO | BCA National Meet Committee |
Technical Advisors Program
The BCA Technical Advisory Program consist of volunteer advisors who are knowledgeable about specific Buick vehicle eras, years, models or engines and assist other members with technical questions.
Famous members
- Joe Mantegna, actor[6]
References
- http://www.hemmings.com/clubs/detail.html?hmn_club_id=1684
- Buick Club of America home page
- Terry B. Dunham; Lawrence R. Gustin (1987). The Buick: a complete history. Automobile Quarterly. p. 444. ISBN 978-0-915038-64-0. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
- http://www.iowastatedaily.com/news/article_6972a4ae-990b-11df-9eef-001cc4c03286.html
- http://www2.independenttribune.com/news/2011/jul/12/buick-belongs-where-racing-lives-ar-1200709/%5B%5D
- Matt Stone (27 June 2011). My First Car: Recollections of First Cars from Jay Leno, Tony Stewart, Carroll Shelby, Dan Aykroyd, Tom Wolfe and Many More!. MBI Publishing Company. pp. 124–. ISBN 978-0-7603-3534-5. Retrieved 5 October 2011.