2024 IMSA Battle On The Bricks With BMW CCA

Back in the early 2000s, I did a lot of freelance writing and photography in the luxury watch industry.  Not only did I get the opportunity to photograph and write about watches, I also was invited to go on a lot of press trips.  One of the best press trips I got to go on was to the 2006 IMSA American LeMans Series at Laguna Seca.  Let me tell you – once you’ve had the opportunity to have media credentials, a photo vest, and the access that comes with them at a race, there’s just no going back to sitting in the stands with Joe Six Pack.  I got to literally stand right on the track at the infamous “corkscrew” and get some of the best race photos of my life.

I had complete access to anywhere I wanted to go during the race, including to go back in the pits and talk to the drivers:

If I get tired or hot, I just went to the luxury chalet and got free food and drinks and watched the race in air conditioned comfort on television.  There’s just no way to replicate this experience when you buy a ticket to a race.  Well…almost no way.

It had been years since I’ve been to a racing event when the Buckeye Chapter of the BMW Car Club of America announced the availability of a limited number of tickets to attend the 2024 IMSA Battle On The Bricks and watch the race from the BMW Performer Center  at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS).

A few years ago BMW entered into an agreement with IMS to host a Performance Center where BMW could conduct driving courses.  The status of that arrangement is currently unknown, but BMW still uses the facility and worked with BMW CCA to make this special race weekend happen.  The package included food, drinks, parking, meet and greet sessions with drivers and teams and parade lap.  All for just $375 for both Saturday and Sunday.  Discounted tickets for other members of your household or guests were also available.  I’ll fully admit that my schedule prevents me from being in attendance to many of the club’s events (I’ve been a member for nearly 20 years) but I could not pass up this opportunity and purchased a ticket.

I drove to Indianapolis Friday night and grabbed a hotel downtown.  Finding a room proved a little difficult because there was a home football game for the Colts that weekend.  But Marriott took care of me.  Saturday morning I made it to the track right when the gates opened at 7:30 AM and headed to Gate 10 (corner of Hulman and 30th).

The BMW Performance Center at IMS is ideally located between IMS Road Course Turns 4 and 5 on the backside of the track, so Gate 10 was by far the best access point.  From there it’s a pretty straight shot to the Performance Center building.

No having to park miles away from the track for BMW CCA members:

It was unseasonably hot in Indianapolis on Saturday, and ended up raining on Sunday.  But BMW CCA members had a comfortable area  with more than enough seating for our group and two large televisions carrying the feed directly from the track.

A continental breakfast was served Saturday and Sunday, as well as lunch both days, concluding with dinner on Sunday.  Water and soda were always available throughout the day, and there was bar service in the viewing area with each ticket holder receiving two drink tickets.

Large, clean indoor bathroom facilities were in the building as well.  A staircase on the outside of the building (an elevator is also available) leads this o the observation deck on the building with an outstanding view of the track.

Saturday’s schedule was jam packed.  On the track, a series of qualifying races took place.  Here’s a few photos I got from the top of the observation deck:

After the morning qualifying race it was time for the traditional parade lap – a great honor that was given to our club.  I’ve taken an M School course at The IMS BMW Performance Center, which was fantastic.  But the opportunity to take my own vehicle out on this most famous of race tracks was an experience and privilege that few will ever experience.  This was no casual drive around the track either.  This was a spirited, challenging drive made more so by the street sweepers that were on the track in preparation for the next race.  Everyone that signed up for the parade got a photo of their car going over the famous bricks at the finish line of Indy:

After we finished the parade laps, we quickly downed some lunch at the Performance Center And started the first of three separate “ meet and greet” sessions with BMW team drivers and crew.  One of the great things about IMSA Is that there is the opportunities for fans to get up close with the cars and drivers.  But these private group sessions arranged by the club were next level.

Everyone we met was super nice and more than happy to sign autographs or pose for pictures.

By 6 o’clock track activities wrapped up, and it was time to head back to my hotel to get cleaned up for the group dinner that was organized by Mandi Arnold.

SUNDAY

 

Sunday was the main event- the Battle On The Bricks.  The race was six hours in duration, and started at about 12 noon.  After breakfast was served we headed for Pit Lane to participate in the traditional Fan Walk where the cars in the race are on display, and some of the drivers came out to interact with the fans.  Incidentally, if you think this weekend would have been a killer for your feet due to all the trips back and forth from the Performance Center to the infield, think again.  BMW CCA lined up golf carts with volunteers who transported our members wherever they needed to go at IMS.

Experiencing the Fan Walk was neat, but really made you appreciate the small, intimate one-on-one meetings we had the day prior with the drivers.

After the Fan Walk, back we went to the Performance Center to watch the beginning of the race and enjoy lunch. Shortly after the race began it started raining.  I had never photographed a race in the rain, so I headed up to get some photos:

BMW Team RLL drivers Eng and Krohn took 1st place in GTP class car #24, and teammates Yelloly and De Phillippi in car #25 took 1st place.

The BMW Turner Motorsport team of Walker, Gallagher, and Foley also had an impressive podium finish in the GTD class coming in at 2nd place.

How could you ask for a better conclusion to a fabulous weekend of IMSA racing with the BMW CCA Buckeye Chapter?

Events like this cannot happen without the generous support of corporate sponsors.  As a member of the Buckeye Chapter, I wants to do my part in supporting this event.  So I’d like to Personally thank and recognize the sponsors:

Title Sponsor:

Dreyer & Reinbold BMW in Indianapolis, Indiana. A big supporter of the Club and a great place to find your next BMW!

Presenting Sponsors:

Rahal Paint Protection in Carmel, Indiana

Detail Pro Shop in Columbus, Ohio

Food & Beverage Sponsor:

Jason Jones, CFP®, AAMS™ of Raymond James and Associates in Columbus, Ohio.

I started off this article by reminiscing about attending events like the Battle On The Bricks as a freelance writer and photograph – and how attending such and event without the special access I enjoyed wouldn’t be as good.  I was wrong.  What the BMW CCA Buckeye chapter put together was better than any press event I ever attended.  The chapter’s hard working leadership has assured me that there’s a “99.9% chance” the event will again happen next year.  The date for the 2025 Battle On The Bricks is already scheduled by IMSA – September 19th – 21st.  Ladies and gentlemen of the BMW CCA, mark your calendars…and start your engines!  We’re heading back to the Brickyard!

Here’s a video on the ThruMyLens YouTube Channel of my parade lap: