• Grid Icons is Pit+Paddock’s fresh car show concept that highlights a specific genre of performance-themed vehicles.
• The third Grid Icons chapter called “NA Heroes” partners Pit+Paddock with BMW CCA to celebrate an iconic era of naturally aspirated BMW M machinery.
• This latest round will be staged on March 23, 2024, adjacent to the Lions Lighthouse in Long Beach, California.
• Official partnerships from Akrapovič, AST/MOTON, H&R, and ST Suspensions highlight the industry’s support of the effort and will help elevate the experience for BMW enthusiast attendees.
• The official Eventbrite page for NA Heroes signups is active, so BMW fans are welcome to register immediately to secure a spot.

I don’t know about you, but I’m getting tired of parking lot car shows. Fortunately, I think that sentiment is universal amongst Pit+Paddock’s ranks, and as an agency, we’ve made it a priority to think beyond convention for our clients. The Grid Icons concept was the result of this brainstorming and an acute awareness of what the modern enthusiast wants. Each Grid Icons event takes a defiant stance toward prioritizing quality over quantity, and in doing so, features curated collections of very specific cars instead of a “first come, first serve” approach.

As I mentioned in our first NA Heroes announcement, the third chapter in this series will focus on BMW. The brand’s motorsport lineage has gone hand in hand with enthusiasts since its inception, and because of that, the vigor that exists within the die-hard BMW M community is seldom rivaled. It’s no surprise, then, that the BMW Car Club of America is the largest single-marque car club in the world, tallying over 70,000 active members. Meshing Pit+Paddock’s taste-making talent with BMW CCA’s growth objectives made our NA Heroes partnership a serendipitous exercise that will help unify generations.

AN ICONIC LOCATION

After hosting the first two Grid Icons chapters at the ‘gram-worthy 405 Motoring, we knew that we had our work cut out for us to find the next spot. For the amount of cars we wanted to bring, we knew a larger footprint would be mandatory. But we also wanted to change the vibe up to accommodate the breadth of BMW’s enthusiast base. After a few diligent months of hunting, we planted our flag at Shoreline Aquatic Park in Long Beach. The park may not ring a bell with many, but the Lions Lighthouse that sits atop the park’s crown has certainly earned local fandom. The 65’ lighthouse was built by the Downtown Long Beach Lions Club as a reminder of the Lions Clubs International’s dedication to helping people with impaired vision. The RMS Queen Mary is also visible from the park grounds. Fittingly, the lighthouse and ship pairing are two seminal mainstays of Long Beach and, at least in spirit, parallel the harmonious partnership that Pit+Paddock has struck with BMW CCA.

A WAGON APPROACHES

Bimmer Invasion marked our wagon’s last foray on a multi-stop East Coast tour. Now, the Pit+Paddock x Bilstein E91 GTS Tribute Built by PSI is heading westward to make an appearance at our NA Heroes event. For anyone who’d missed seeing the car in California before, this will be a standalone opportunity to catch it in the flesh before its next ambitious journey.

YOU’RE INVITED

We haven’t pulled the curtain back on everything that will make NA Heroes a truly special event, but consider this your official invite to the show. Sign up today via our Eventbrite page and stay tuned for more announcements as March 23 draws closer. We all hate a tease, I know, but taking a stake in our official industry partners—Akrapovič, AST/MOTON, H&R, and ST Suspensions—know that the next pronouncements will be well worth the nail-biting anticipation. Mark those calendars if you haven’t already.

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