• The MPACT Motorsports Festival has been running out of Pit+Paddock’s backyard for the past 50 years, so we made the customary trip to the largest growing event the East Coast has to offer.
• Variety is key—not just within the BMW marque—but also the activities available to spectate and partake in.
• Appearances from leading manufacturers like Akrapovič, BBS Wheels, LIQUI MOLY, and CSF Radiators allow enthusiasts to get hands-on experience with the parts that fuel the cars they see on the track.
• Whether you live near or far, MPACT has something for every enthusiast even outside of the event’s main focus.

The Pit+Paddock team is no stranger to the MPACT Motorsports Festival; we’ve been writing about the annual assembly of the East Coast’s greatest Bavarian builds since 2017 (under our previous name, Front Street Media). It’s hosted at the famous Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, less than two hours from our home base at Turn 14 Distribution headquarters.

It’s been just over 50 years since a random spinach farm in NE Pennsylvania transformed into the unique 2.5-mile race track we know today. “They didn’t know whether it was going to be a triangle, a rectangle,” recalled Mario Andretti, the famed track designer and motorsports legend. “And then, in the end, we all decided that we’re going to make it three different corners: one banked, one sort of like the kink flat out—the tunnel turn—and then a nice wide radius [in] turn three.”

Thus, the “Tricky Triangle” was born, and it’s now the site of three NASCAR national series races and summer-long lists of other motorsport events and organizations: the Stock Car Experience, Bertil Roos Driving School, and the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA).

A NEWBIE…KIND OF

My time at Pit+Paddock has led to countless hours researching the world of both local and international motorsports, but before then, what I knew about Pocono Raceway came from what it’s most known for: NASCAR. I came to find out that the Tricky Triangle had more to offer, from the classic Clean Culture car shows, to Ready Set Drift clinics, to getting covered head-to-toe in mud during the Warrior Dash.

But it wasn’t until my introduction to the BMW world, with the purchase of a 1987 325is (E30) in 2020, that I began to notice the recurring mob of Bimmers heading up the Pennsylvania Turnpike towards the end of each summer. Once I found out where they were headed, I followed the pack in search of inspiration and to connect with fellow enthusiasts about what makes their cars so special.

STOP AND SMELL THE R-OUNDELS

I mentioned this might be a familiar stopping ground for the rest of the Pit+Paddock team, but this was only my second time attending the venue during MPACT, and my first time with the appropriate media credentials.

I’m not ashamed to admit I enjoy the classic “park and chill” car meet more than the average enthusiast in this day and age. Aimlessly walking down long rows of show cars waiting for something to catch your eye and then spending the next five minutes dissecting everything that makes it unique—the wow factor, the astonishment, the sheer amount of effort—is my idea of bliss. The experience changes you and changes what you consider the “ultimate build” in your head. I was quickly overwhelmed with the volume and variety of BMW chassis available for admiration.

A CHASSIS FOR EVERYONE

During a time when the BMW community felt more divided than ever, it was comforting to see representation from all corners of the marque. Although not equal, almost every series and generation of BMW made an appearance. Even for the most picky enthusiasts, it’s hard to go more than 50 feet without coming across something you can appreciate—a beautifully staged trio of E30s, an F80 M3 with slicks more flush than half the road cars, a BMW V12-powered March 87B, and the LS-swapped ECS Tuning X5 were a couple of standouts that stopped me in my tracks.

RECORD TIMES, FLY-BYS, AND EXHILARATING RIDES

If you somehow missed the Hooked on Driving HPDE Track Sessions on your way in, simply walk through one of three tunnels to find side-by-side roll racing on NASCAR’s longest straightaway or 16-year-old Rhys Conklin slinging passengers around in a drifting showcase. Whether you think cars are meant to be used, abused, or admired, there’s a little something something for everyone.

Then, take a break from the action to shop around and talk to the industry-leading manufacturers supporting the hundreds of cars you see around you. A stop by the Akrapovič, BBS Wheels, LIQUI MOLY, and CSF Radiators booths allow you to get up close and personal with their most popular products across the entire BMW lineage. Turn around to view installed examples on strategically placed cars to draw your attention (I guess it worked), and field any questions you might have about the solutions they have for you.

I couldn’t help but end my tour with a stop at the BMW Car Club of America tent, where I was eagerly greeted by members of the Deleware Valley, BMW M, and BMW X chapters asking if I was familiar, or better yet a member, of the largest single-marque car club in the world. I expected the welcoming smiles to suddenly fall after I delivered the bad news, but they only seemed to stand even taller as they passionately explained all of the benefits that come with the membership, and local events they would like to see me come out to. To not get too sidetracked I opted out of making any concrete decisions on the spot, but by the time I got home, I was already convinced. As of the day this article goes live, I’m officially a BMW CCA member!

We might’ve concluded there’s a little bit of something for everyone at MPACT Motorsports Festival, but cliches only get you so far. With so much to do and see, who is the event really for, and how do you know if it’s worth making the two-hour drive? The four-hour drive? The twelve-hour drive? I’ll tell you.

WHOSE GAS MONEY IS IT ANYWAY?

If you’re a fan of the BMW brand, any length is honestly worth the travel. It’s by far the largest gathering of BMWs in the Northeast United States, and only seems to grow year after year. If you’re about everything motorsports but not the biggest Bimmer enthusiast, a two to four-hour drive is still plenty worth it. MPACT’s reputation didn’t stop the occasional supercar owner from showing up to compete against the final bosses of powerful BMWs, and Toyota Supra spottings were understandably more common than ever. If you are somehow reading this and not a particular fan of everything mentioned above but simply a resident of the local area, this is still at the top of our must-see Pocono Raceway events.

Not a northeast local? You’re still in luck! This past June, MPACT made its debut at another iconic race track—Circuit of the Americas—in Austin, Texas to extend its footprint. If you’re still on the fence about attending the MPACT Motorsports Festival, check out our previous articles or visit www.mpacteast.com for more information.

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