All about how we began…
A group of BMW motorcycle riders in Santa Barbara in the early ’80s were just a loose alliance of friends who would occasionally go on impromptu rides.
- But as the years went on, their bond grew stronger, and they eventually decided to formalize their relationship and create a club.
- The group met to discuss their plans, and they quickly elected officers. Doug Cowin was named vice president, Fred Carlberg was named secretary/treasurer, and Earl Ness, who was a dentist, was named president.
- The group needed to have 10 members in order to be chartered by the BMW Motorcycles Owners of America Inc., so they went out and recruited a few more riders. They eventually settled on the name “Santa Barbara BMW Riders,” and opened a checking account with the money the fledgeling members chipped in.
- The club’s first order of business was to get some legal advice. Earl Ness knew a lawyer who could help them incorporate, and they met with him at one of their dinner meetings. The lawyer gave them a bunch of paperwork to fill out, and they eventually incorporated and became tax-free. The club’s members were all passionate about motorcycles, and they loved to ride together. They would go on weekend trips, attend rallies, and just cruise around town. They were a close-knit group, and they always looked out for each other.
- The Santa Barbara BMW Riders is still going strong today, and it’s a testament to the friendship and camaraderie of its founding members. They were a bunch of misfits who just loved to ride motorcycles, and they ended up creating something special. In the words of our current president Steve, “They were a group of guys and gals who found each other and found a way to make their passion a reality. They created something that has lasted for decades, and they left a legacy that will continue to inspire others.”
A few
Quality is not an objective property of things, but rather a subjective judgment that is influenced by our values. One could argue that there is no such thing as “absolute quality” – what is considered “good” or “bad” is always relative to our own individual values and experiences.
thoughts on
Our personal identity is not fixed, but rather something that we create through our interactions with the world. We are all constantly evolving and changing, and our sense of self is shaped by our experiences and the people we interact with.
Motorcycles
The importance of craftsmanship and attention to detail. We believe that craftsmanship is a way of connecting with the world around us and finding meaning in our lives. When we take the time to do things well, we are not only creating something of lasting value, but we are also connecting with our own inner selves.
And…Life.
The need to find balance in our lives. We need to find a balance between the rational and the intuitive, the mind and the body, the individual and the community. When we are able to achieve this balance, we are living a truly fulfilling life.