2023 Drives & Events
NPD Car Collection and Lunch at Cheddar's - January 23rd
We will be going back to the NPD (National Parts Depot) to view their collection of well over 100 classic cars. It is considered one of the finest collections of cars under one roof in the country.
We have been invited to a private showing by owner Rick Schmidt himself who will be telling us all about the cars.
Amazingly most of the cars are low mileage and drivable (Rick even selects a different car each day to drive home!). Many are muscle cars and there's a heavy amount of Lincoln Cadillac Pontiac Ford and Chevrolet with a smattering of Oldsmobile Buick and antiques mixed in. Several trucks are also included. Many are one-of-a-kind cars with stories to tell.
Before we tour the NPD we will be having lunch at Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen. What does Cheddar's say about their restaurant?
It’s pretty simple actually. We’re all about good food made well for a good price. How do we pull that off? By cooking from scratch. And here’s the secret about our secret ingredient — it makes for great tasting food and even better value.
We will be going back to the NPD (National Parts Depot) to view their collection of well over 100 classic cars. It is considered one of the finest collections of cars under one roof in the country.
We have been invited to a private showing by owner Rick Schmidt himself who will be telling us all about the cars.
Amazingly most of the cars are low mileage and drivable (Rick even selects a different car each day to drive home!). Many are muscle cars and there's a heavy amount of Lincoln Cadillac Pontiac Ford and Chevrolet with a smattering of Oldsmobile Buick and antiques mixed in. Several trucks are also included. Many are one-of-a-kind cars with stories to tell.
Before we tour the NPD we will be having lunch at Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen. What does Cheddar's say about their restaurant?
It’s pretty simple actually. We’re all about good food made well for a good price. How do we pull that off? By cooking from scratch. And here’s the secret about our secret ingredient — it makes for great tasting food and even better value.
Lunch Drive to Puddle Jumpers Lakeside Grill in Tavares - February 23rd
Casual lakeside dining at its finest at Puddle Jumpers Lakeside Grill in Tavares! A warm and welcoming atmosphere accompanied with personable and attentive service! Good food good drinks a good ride good time with your Villages BMW Z Club’ers
Casual lakeside dining at its finest at Puddle Jumpers Lakeside Grill in Tavares! A warm and welcoming atmosphere accompanied with personable and attentive service! Good food good drinks a good ride good time with your Villages BMW Z Club’ers
Gypsy Gold Horse Farm Tour & Lunch at Blue Gator Tiki Bar - March 7th
Ocala Florida is known as the horse capital and for good reason. Marion County is home to more than 600 Thoroughbred farms and is one of only a handful of Thoroughbred centers in the world. One of those Thoroughbred farms is Gypsy Gold Horse Farm.
Located on 40 acres in Ocala Florida Gypsy Gold’s facility features a 14 stall show barn and a 12 stall bedding-free barn surrounded by 21 lush paddocks dotted with ancient granddaddy oaks draped in Spanish moss. Private trails hilltop views and many gorgeous backdrops are here for the remaining foundation herd of Gypsy Vanner’s. Beautiful Fair Hill is the final resting place for America’s first and most famous Gypsy Vanner Horses.
We will be taking a 2 hour Horses and History Farm Tour! The first hour is an informative lecture that provides an introduction to the breed and its history. The second hour we meet the mares foals stallions mules donkeys and parrots that call Gypsy Gold home. You will also get to take a photo with a Gypsy Vanner Horse! And you are welcome to bring carrots to feed the horses!
After the farm tour we will be going to lunch to Blue Gators. Located on the Withlacoochee River patrons can sit outside soak up the sun and fresh air while enjoying local specials.
Ocala Florida is known as the horse capital and for good reason. Marion County is home to more than 600 Thoroughbred farms and is one of only a handful of Thoroughbred centers in the world. One of those Thoroughbred farms is Gypsy Gold Horse Farm.
Located on 40 acres in Ocala Florida Gypsy Gold’s facility features a 14 stall show barn and a 12 stall bedding-free barn surrounded by 21 lush paddocks dotted with ancient granddaddy oaks draped in Spanish moss. Private trails hilltop views and many gorgeous backdrops are here for the remaining foundation herd of Gypsy Vanner’s. Beautiful Fair Hill is the final resting place for America’s first and most famous Gypsy Vanner Horses.
We will be taking a 2 hour Horses and History Farm Tour! The first hour is an informative lecture that provides an introduction to the breed and its history. The second hour we meet the mares foals stallions mules donkeys and parrots that call Gypsy Gold home. You will also get to take a photo with a Gypsy Vanner Horse! And you are welcome to bring carrots to feed the horses!
After the farm tour we will be going to lunch to Blue Gators. Located on the Withlacoochee River patrons can sit outside soak up the sun and fresh air while enjoying local specials.
Lunch Drive to Shamrock Inn - March 23rd
This lunch drive is going to the SHAMROCK INN in beautiful historic Floral City where you will find:
Good Food - Good Friends - Good Time
As usual we will travel through the scenic countryside that makes driving our Z's so special.
This lunch drive is going to the SHAMROCK INN in beautiful historic Floral City where you will find:
Good Food - Good Friends - Good Time
As usual we will travel through the scenic countryside that makes driving our Z's so special.
THE 2023 Z Club Road Rally - April 8th
Drive Captains Phil & Alice Priemer have been hard at work with their committee to put this together.
This year there are more sponsors a wonderfully entertaining destination and more and bigger prizes !
The road rally is a driving contest over a currently secret route to a secret (very fun) destination. This
event will have scoring criteria and test the crew of each car’s ability to follow written route guidance over
paved and well-marked roadways maintain posted and safe speed limits and observe the route
surroundings.
Route guidance and quiz questions to be answered will be provided as drivers meet at the
start of the rally.
This event is heavily sponsored and prizes and benefits to rally participants will far surpass the minimal entry fee.
Cash prizes will be awarded to many of the best scoring teams and a trophy to hold for a year also goes to the overall winner.
But everyone will be rewarded with a “special” fun event and lots of laughs. And at the end of the drive we enjoy the
cuisine at a unique and entertaining restaurant (cost of lunch not included in the entry fee).
This is a timed drive not a race. And perception of roadside “interests” is a significant part of the event.
Scoring of the rally will be based on distance traveled drive time duration and answers to quiz questions
about observations along the route.
For safety reasons it is mandatory that you have a navigator.....driver only cars will not be allowed to participate.
Each team will receive a Road Rally prep package that will include what time they are to report to the meeting place since it is
a staggered start.
Drive Captains Phil & Alice Priemer have been hard at work with their committee to put this together.
This year there are more sponsors a wonderfully entertaining destination and more and bigger prizes !
The road rally is a driving contest over a currently secret route to a secret (very fun) destination. This
event will have scoring criteria and test the crew of each car’s ability to follow written route guidance over
paved and well-marked roadways maintain posted and safe speed limits and observe the route
surroundings.
Route guidance and quiz questions to be answered will be provided as drivers meet at the
start of the rally.
This event is heavily sponsored and prizes and benefits to rally participants will far surpass the minimal entry fee.
Cash prizes will be awarded to many of the best scoring teams and a trophy to hold for a year also goes to the overall winner.
But everyone will be rewarded with a “special” fun event and lots of laughs. And at the end of the drive we enjoy the
cuisine at a unique and entertaining restaurant (cost of lunch not included in the entry fee).
This is a timed drive not a race. And perception of roadside “interests” is a significant part of the event.
Scoring of the rally will be based on distance traveled drive time duration and answers to quiz questions
about observations along the route.
For safety reasons it is mandatory that you have a navigator.....driver only cars will not be allowed to participate.
Each team will receive a Road Rally prep package that will include what time they are to report to the meeting place since it is
a staggered start.
Trip to Vero Beach to See 42nd Street - April 28th
Mark Simon put together this two day trip to Vero Beach to see the play "42nd Street".
‘Z’s’ will depart in the morning taking a scenic drive to Vero Beach.
There will be some free time after hotel check-in followed by dinner at the Ocean Grill then off to the show at the Riverside Theater.
After check-out the following morning individuals or small groups will be free to golf shop visit the botanical gardens hit the beach or any other desired activity before heading home to The Villages.
Mark Simon put together this two day trip to Vero Beach to see the play "42nd Street".
‘Z’s’ will depart in the morning taking a scenic drive to Vero Beach.
There will be some free time after hotel check-in followed by dinner at the Ocean Grill then off to the show at the Riverside Theater.
After check-out the following morning individuals or small groups will be free to golf shop visit the botanical gardens hit the beach or any other desired activity before heading home to The Villages.