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BMW Club Newsletter - February 2026

Happy Groundhog's Day. Don't worry, you won't have to relive this February 2026 club newsletter over and over and over again like the Bill Murray movie. This newsletter includes:

Winter Banquet Recap 2026 Club Board Photo Slide Show Mileage Contest Results Annual Club Awards February 12 Meeting in Maple Grove Hiawatha Rally Updates

Club Banquet Thanks to everyone who attended the club banquet Saturday January 31. We collected 346 pounds of groceries, diapers, and other food shelf donations! We also collected $410 in cash and check donations. Thanks toRon Bongard(left), who first proposed that we collect food shelf donations at the banquet.Terry Stirewalt(right), our vice president, delivered all the donations to theVEAPfood shelf in Bloomington. Yes, for those of you who enjoy a bad pun, our VEEP was at VEAP.

2026 Club Board We inaugurated and welcomed our club board for 2026. Left to right: TreasurerChuck Banks, new at large memberChris Svensrud, Vice PresidentTerry Stirewalt, PresidentJeff Ricker, Board MembersDan ReeseandChuck Bushnell, RecorderJoel Howard.

Unfortunately,Tim Schwartzdidn't make it up front for this picture. As past president, Tim is still a board member and is a valued member of our club leadership. Steve Ballantine, our other new at large member, was vacationing in Mexico and could not attend. Photo Slide Show Thanks toDan Reese, who compiled the slide show for our banquet. Clickhereto view the slide show in You Tube. Mileage Contest Results We presented the awards for our club mileage contest. We had 50 people complete the contest and rode 304,676 miles! Here are the winners for BMW riders: First: Daniel Maki - 30,492 miles Second: Jeff Oden - 28,480 miles Third: Bruce Dahl - 24,152 miles Our average rider was Terry Stirewalt (5999 miles). Our club average was 6094 miles.

Dan Maki receives his first-place plaque from Steve Handeland.

Jeff Oden receives his second-place plaque.

Terry Stirewalt won the award as our average rider.

We also had 13 finishers on other motorcycle brands. They rode 35,597 miles. Here are our top three non-BMW riders: First: Anita Bescheinen - 11,457 miles on a 2025 Can Am Spyder Second: David Gunderson - 10,175 miles on a 2010 Honda Goldwing Third:Daniel Degallier - 6679 miles on 2022 and 2025 CFMotos

Anita won first place for non-BMW riders. Thanks to our mileagecontest coordinators,Steve HandelandandDan Elasky. Note: Keep in mind that the awards we just presented are for ourclub mileage contest, which runs from April 1 to the end of October. This is separate from thenational MOA mileage contest, which runs from April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026. We will be in touch in March to collect:

Yourendingmileage forthe national MOA contest. Yourstartingmileage for the next club and national mileage contests.

Annual Club Awards Here are the winners of our club awards.

Hard Luck Shaft:Mark Hoesly. Mark had a tire blowout and dropped his R1200RT at 75 mph in Missouri. He broke several vertebrae and his 2025 riding season was unfortunately done in April. MacGyver: Steve Nollet.Steve encountered various electrical problems (some self-inflicted) on his 1978 R100RS on the way to the Falling Leaf Rally. He was assisted in rural Missouri by a recovering meth addict, a church lady, and other intriguing characters. Steve is our first repeat winner of the MacGyver award. Helping Hands:Dan Maki. Dan received this award for all the assistance he provided to Mark Hoesly to reconstruct Mark's RT after his bad crash.

Hard Luck Shaft winner Mark Hoesly with his refurbished RT.

Steve Nollet receives the MacGyver award from President Jeff Ricker.

Dan Maki receives the Helping Hands award from Jeff Ricker.

February 12 Meeting is in Maple Grove Just a reminder that our February 12 club meeting is at theGranite City Grillein Maple Grove. Come at 6 to visit and buy dinner. The meeting starts at 7.Daniel Degallierwill make a presentation on his Backcountry Discovery Routes (BDR) adventures. Hiawatha Rally Updates Our 49th annual rally is May 29-31 in Money Creek. Clickhereto learn about the rally and pre-register. If you pre-registerbefore May 9, you are eligible to win a free set of tires. Dunlop Tires, one of our rally sponsors, is donating this fine prize. We will open up the online signup soon for rally volunteers. Anyone who volunteers at the rally will be eligible to win a free registration to our 50th Hiawatha Rally in 2027. Thanks for supporting the club and our rally. Joel Howard BMW Minnesota Club Recorder