THE VILLAGES BMW Z CLUB
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2025 Drives & Events

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​Cars Coffee and Donuts at All German Motorworks - Jan 11th
All German Motorworks in Leesburg has agreed to host our Club with a Cars Coffee and Donuts event at their service facility.

For over 10 years AG Motorworks has been servicing luxury European cars for our clients in The Villages specializing on German makes.

Their technicians are factory-trained and experienced in all aspects of auto repair and service from routine maintenance to complex repairs.

Before they start any work they provide detailed upfront estimates to avoid surprises.

They believe in transparency throughout the repair process and keep you informed every step of the way. No surprises no unexpected “upcharges.”

You will get to meet all of their service technicians who will be happy to answer all of your questions

In addition they will take one of our Z's and put it on the lift and show us how they inspect every car that comes in for service.


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Three Sisters Springs w/Lunch at Stumpknockers on the Square - Jan 15th
This drive is for all you nature lovers. Join us as we explore Three Sisters Springs!

Part of the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge this is a gem of the Nature Coast where visitors take a boardwalk that surrounds Three Sisters Springs to observe the springs and native wildlife.

Three Sisters Springs is a world-renowned winter sanctuary for the West Indian Manatee. Over 100 different native and migratory bird species use the refuge year-round.

The 57-acre refuge that surrounds the Three Sisters Springs is an example of a restored wetland habit.

Visitors can observe mammals birds reptiles and amphibians common to a Florida spring ecosystem.

The cooler winter days bring 100's of manatees seeking warm water refuge into the springs.

​We will have a guided tour led by US Fish & Wildlife Service volunteers to field questions concerning the refuge native wildlife and the Florida spring system.

After the tour we will proceed to have lunch at Stumpknockers on the Square in Inverness.

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Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing w/Lunch at The Back Porch Restaurant - Feb19th
When you were a kid do you remember the roar of a racing engine and the smell of burning rubber? Well let's relive that memory by visiting the The “Big Daddy” Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing!

Imagine standing inches from “Big Daddy” Don Garlits’ iconic dragsters the very machines that blazed new trails in speed and innovation. Every engine every gleaming chassis and every victory is preserved here offering an up-close look at the raw power that made drag racing an American phenomenon. 

The museum boasts an extensive collection of over 300 race cars and personal memorabilia. Many of the Garlits "Swamp Rat" cars are here but he also turns out to be a pack rat with an accumulation of cars and memorabilia from other top names in the sport. 

The museum is also home to the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame. 

After viewing this marvelous collection of automotive hardware we will journey back to The Villages to have lunch at The Back Porch Restaurant.

So come feel the roar with us. This is your chance to experience drag racing history! Click here to sign up.

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Z's Around Brownwood Square - Feb 28th
Okay......so we were bumped from the Z's at Lake Sumter Square on February 28th.....bummer.

But hey.....through the diligent efforts of member Ed Evenski we convinced The Villages Entertainment Department to let us do a Z's Around Brownwood Square on the same day!

This show is limited to 32 cars. I hope all of those who originally signed up for the show at Lake Sumter will resign for this show.

The snowbirds are still here so the square should be packed.....a great time to interact with spectators who will love our eye candy.


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Ozello Trail Drive with Lunch at Peck's Old Port Cove - Mar 6th
Let's go driving!!!!!

Though not quite the Tail of the Dragon the Ozello Trail is 10 miles of some fun twisties.The 10 mile long trail is a meandering road through magnificent salt marshlands that are filled with the perfect combination of small islands and saltwater! 

And at the end of an exhilarating drive we will end up at Peck's Old Port Cove Seafood Restaurant and Blue Crab Farm.

The most popular menu item at Peck’s is the steamed blue crabs and the garlic crabs which are raised on-site. Many hard-crab experts consider Peck’s to have the best crabs in the area.They also have soft shell crabs served with light batter and fried to a golden brown crust.

Another great choice is peel and eat shrimp.  You peel the shrimp and eat them either with garlic or a house hot sauce.

Other specialties include oyster or scallop dinners an almond fried catch of the day shrimp and cheese grits. and an all you can eat catfish platter.Their fried seafood platters and fried fish are outstanding because they don’t go overboard with the breading.  ​

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2025 Z Fun Fest - Mar 19th
This is one of the premier events offered by your Villages BMW Z Club.

The date is March 19th.

Again we are excited to be having the 2025 Z Fun Fest at Grand Oaks Resort!

Grand Oaks offers a relaxing location with gracious amenities in the heart of Florida’s scenic horse country.

We will assemble our wonderful Z's in a large coral for everyone to view and vote on.

WINE WILL BE AVAILABLE WHILE YOU ARE VOTING ON YOUR FAVORITE Z!

Voting competition will be in 5 categories:
  Best Z3
  Best first generation Z4 (Soft top)
  Best second generation Z4 (Hardtop/Convertible)
  Best third generation Z4 (Back to a soft top)
  Best in Show

After perusing and voting on the cars we will go inside and have a scrumptious lunch catered by Mission BBQ.

During lunch we will be entertained by Jonnell and the Gman for your listening and dancing pleasure.

Expect many prizes and gifts to be handed out! And maybe a few unexpected surprises!

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Lunch Drive toThe Salt Shack in Clermont! - Apr 9th

*When hunger strikes Salt Shack on the Lake has you covered with a diverse menu that caters to all tastes. From classic American like burgers and fries to fresh wild-caught seafood and salads this is some of the highest-quality food in Clermont.

*One of the best parts of Salt Shack on the Lake is the fantastic beach area on Lake Minneola

*The scenic views of Lake Minneola offer a picturesque backdrop for fun photos and sunsets.

*And you get to enjoy a peaceful retreat with delicious food drinks and lakefront service.

The date is Wednesday April 9th. We will meet at Everglade Recreation Center at 11:45am.

The cutoff date is April 5th. The cutoff date is April 5th. This drive is limited to the first 50 people to sign up!

So bring you pail and shovel and your appetite!

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Vero Beach Drive to See Beautiful - April 23rd-24th

We've done this for two years straight SO LET'S DO IT AGAIN


Member Mark Simon has again put together a trip for April 23-24 2025 to Vero Beach to see the Broadway Show Beautiful! This Tony Award Winning musical is based on Carole King and is all about her rise to acclaim in the industry. 

The show is on April 23rd at 7:30PM show at the Riverside Theater. Almost every performance gets sold out way in advance so we must act fast to secure tickets.

We have reserved 40 tickets so the trip will be limited to the first 40 people who sign up. The tickets are on hold only until June 13 2024.

TWe will be staying at the SpringHill Suites in Vero Beach. A group dinner will be at the Ocean Grill in Vero Beach.

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Ma Barker House with Lunch at Gator Joe's - May 13th
On May 13th we will be going to the Bradford-Ma Barker House at Carney Island Recreation and Conservation Area on Lake Weir.


If you're not familiar with the significance of this house see if you remember this:

The home is famous for being the location of the longest gun battle in FBI history.
This is where Ma Barker the most wanted woman on the FBI list and head of one of the last notorious gangs in the United States was gunned down with a Tommy Gun in her hands.

We will have a docent guided tour lasting approximately 1.5 hours.
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Then we will feast at Gator Joe's Beach Bar & Grill on Lake Weir.

Billed as Marion County's Florida’s only Key West style waterfront restaurant.
Gator Joe's dates back to 1926 and is a family friendly restaurant with a laid back atmosphere and island cuisine.

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2025 Tail of the Dragon Trip - May 19th - 23rd​
The TOTD committee has been hard at work to make this the most memorable TOTG trip ever!

Our work is finished and it is now time for you to commit. The reason we need to get started so soon is that we have a limited time to make our reservations at the hotels.

The trip is a five day excursion from May 19th through May 23rd.

You will get a Tail of the Dragon sticker for your car as well as a commemorative gift.

Instructions for making hotel reservations will be given to you after you pay your deposit.

We are limiting this drive to just 32 people so make your deposit soon before you get closed out!

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The Longest Day Dinner Drive to the Citrus Tower in Clermont - Jun 27th
On June 27th we are going on our first Dinner Drive! We call it "The Longest Day Drive"  because it is during the week of the longest day of sunshine of the year.


On this day we are going to first stop at The Citrus Tower in Clermont.

The Citrus Tower in Clermont Florida is a historic 226-foot-tall (22 stories) observation tower built in 1956. Originally constructed to showcase the region's thriving citrus industry it offers sweeping panoramic views of the surrounding hills and lakes. Once surrounded by vast orange groves the tower now stands as a nostalgic landmark celebrating Central Florida’s rich agricultural heritage.  

Then it's on to Piesano’s Stone Fired Pizza for a delicious Italian dinner.Piesano's is a warm friendly destination to gather with friends & family. It’s a place where they use the highest quality ingredients available including Grande® premium mozzarella ricotta & romano cheeses. They make their sauce & dough from scratch & all of our pizzas are baked in our unique Granite Stone Fired Pizza Oven.

We will be gathering at Homestead Recreation Center at 2:30PM. The drive will be through the beautiful countryside and should take less than an hour.

The drive is limited to 42 people with a sign up deadline of June 15th. 


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Lunch Drive to Catfish Johnny's Restaurant - Jul 16th
Our July drive was a fun lunch drive to Catfish Johnny's Restaurant at Lake Panasoffkee.                                                                                  
For 34 years in Catfish Johnny's has been serving great food at great prices in a friendly casual atmosphere.
                                               
Due to the size of our group they have created a special menu just for us (The jumbo shrimp special looks inviting!):                                            
We will be dining in Pat’s Taps Taproom. They offer 14 rotating craft beers as well as seltzers ciders wine and bottled domestic beer.

The date is Wednesday July 16th. We will meet at Lake Sumter Landing behind the old Sonny’s BBQ at 11:00am. The drive is limited to the first 50 members that sign up. Sign up ends on July 2nd.

As usual the drive to the restaurant will be through some beautiful scenic Florida roads.Lunch Drive to Catfish Johnny's Restaurant

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BMW Z Club Trip to Ireland - July 21st - 30th
Banking off the enthusiasm of our international trips we are ready to offer a trip in 2025 that you won't want to miss.
Ready for this.......we are going to IRELAND!

Member Sandra Eldred has put together a breathtaking 10 day journey to some of the best cities and attractions the Emerald Isle has to offer.

Landing in Ireland feels like stepping into a land of legends and lore. The lush green landscape stretched out in all directions a vibrant mosaic of fields hills and ancient stone walls. The air is fresh carrying the scent of rain and the promise of adventure.

When done you will leave with its landscapes its people and its stories woven into your hearts.

Included in the land portion are:
  *Luxury 4 star hotels
  *Private motorcoach transportation between cities and to attractions
  *Breakfast every day
  *Dinners almost every night
  *Seeing sights you can't imagine

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Lunch Drive to Lake Eustis Waterfront Grille - Aug 7th
Time to sign up for our next exZiting lunch drive!

This time we are going to the Lake Eustis Waterfront Grill!

Lake Eustis Waterfront Grille is an impressive 5000-square-foot two-story restaurant overlooking Lake Eustis that’s known for delicious food drinks and some of the most spectacular lake views around.       ​

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Albin Polasek Museum Drive w/Lunch at 60 Vines - Sep 18th
What better way to usher in fall than to be inspired by the internationally acclaimed Czech sculpture Albin Polasek.

On September 18th we will travel to see the Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Gardens to visit his home galleries and sculptures.

This talented 20th-century American sculptor is celebrated for his figurative works embodying the true structure of nature.

After being inspired we will head on over to 60 Vines Restaurant for lunch.

60 Vines is where great food wine and company come together to create unforgettable moments!

As "the winemaker's restaurant" they deliver wine country inspired-cuisine paired perfectly with 60 wines on our sustainable tap system. Be transported to the greatest wine regions around the globe with pours and pairings tailored to your palette.
This drive is a little longer than our typical drive. (about 1 3/4 hours using local roads). so please take that into consideration before signing up.

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BMW of Ocala Annual Dinner - Oct 1st
Again this year we want to thank our friends and sponsor BMW of Ocala for hosting our October meeting at their dealership.

They will be providing a wonderful dinner along with entertainment and prizes.

This has always been a premier event each year and I can't wait to see what they have in store for us this year.

Robb Cole and Bobby Watts do so much for our Club that we should show our thanks by having as many members of The Villages BMW Z Club attend.
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The date is October 1st. We will gather at Mulberry Grove Recreation Center at 5:00pm and proceed to take the backroads to Ocala.
We want this to be the largest turnout of Zer's ever!

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Lunch Drive to JB Boondocks - Oct 17th
The Villages BMW Z Club has experienced some great lunch drives over the years.....SO LET'S KEEP IT GOING!

On October 17 we will motor our way to JB Boondocks Bar & Grill in Howey-in-the-Hills.

JB Boondocks is located directly on Little Lake Harris in Howey in the Hills.

Originally known as Palm Tree Harbour Fish Camp “Mama B” purchased the Old Fish Camp in 1999 and completely refurbished the bar kitchen docks and deck then named the establishment.

To facilitate a large group we will have the special menu.

The drive to Howey-in-the-Hills is always a fun one through the countryside.
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Bushnell Station Train Museum w/Lunch at Lollygagger's Sports Bar & Grill - Nov 12th
ALL ABOARD!

Step back in time and experience the golden age of rail travel at the Bushnell Station Train Museum! This hidden gem in the heart of Florida is The Largest Model Train Exhibit / Museum in the State of Florida.

Explore vintage railcars authentic artifacts and captivating exhibits that tell the story of how trains shaped America. Hear the whistle blow and feel the rumble of the tracks as you immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of a bygone era.

We will have a guided tour plus a 1/2 mile train ride.

After your train journey we will lunch at Lollygaggers Sports Pub & Grill in Floral City for some delectable food a wide array of spirits and a menu that features everything from their renowned chicken wings and burgers to fried catfish nachos shrimp meatloaf and much more.
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2025 Holiday Party - Nov 30th
This year we are moving the event to the large ballroom at Eisenhower Recreation Center! ​

To fill the stage we are again having the FIVE PIECE JAY RUBIN BAND! They were such a hit last year for us. ​

As in the past our catered meal will be prepared by Pasta Faire! They served up a wonderful dinner last year and this year should be no exception.

Again The BMW Z Club cookie bakers will be baking their delicious treats again.

Bring your favorite libation and glass to get you in a festive mood.

As always we will be conducting the 50/25/25 RAFFLE for the benefit of the charities we support.

We also ask you to bring a canned or packaged food item to be donated to the Wildwood Food Pantry.
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Dress is "Party Chic"
We want to fill the ballroom with Z'ers who know how to party!

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Villages Girl Scouts Alumnae Annual Pajamas and Books Drive w/Lunch at O'Keefe's Irish Pub - Dec 8th
HERE'S THE CHALLENGE!

It's time for us to beat last year's record for the Villages Girl Scouts Alumnae Annual Pajamas and Books!

Our first year we filled TWO Z's with pajamas and books.

Last year we filled FOUR Z's.

Our goal this year is to fill at least SIX Z's!

You can make it happen! Start collecting today!

The drive culminates on December 8th at Everglades Recreation Center at 11:30am.

Representatives from the Villages Girl Scouts Alumnae will be on hand to accept our generous donations.

Then we will be traveling the backroads to have lunch at O'Keefe's Irish Pub in Tavares
(O'keefe's is typically closed on Mondays but they are opening up just for us to celebrate!).

Lunch is limited to 65 people so sign up quickly. Even if you can't come to lunch or we reach the 65 person capacity we still want you to come to Everglades Recreation Center to drop off your donations.

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