Sometimes, the best ideas come after a few adult beverages with friends. At least, that’s how the Birmingham Mopar® Owners Club (BMOC) came to life in 2009 when nine Mopar enthusiasts eased out of a local establishment and decided they needed a club name. As current president Scott Harris tells it, the eureka moment arrived when someone connected their Birmingham location and Mopar ownership with a classic college acronym. “Someone said, ‘Well, we’re in Birmingham, we all have Mopars.’ Then another chimed in, ‘You know what, we could be like the Big Man on Campus’,” Harris recalls with a grin. “Birmingham Mopar Owners Club – BMOC. And we were born.” Naturally, they went back inside to celebrate.
Sixteen years later, that impromptu decision has blossomed into something remarkable. From those original nine members, BMOC has grown to 83 paid members and another 500 casual enthusiasts who, as Harris puts it, “Want to be part of the club but have many reasons they simply can’t commit to being full members.” This is an active group with a whole lot of events on the calendar. You won’t have to worry about your membership card gathering dust between annual meets.
The club’s early days saw rapid growth, quickly expanding to 18, then 20, then 40 members. Initially dominated by new Challengers, the roster began diversifying as classic Dodge, Chrysler and Plymouth owners showed up at meets. What kept them coming back? Harris said it was simple: “We just want to have fun with the cars and like-minded people.” That philosophy and their everyone-welcome attitude helped spread the word about the club.
The BMOC keeps its calendar packed with everything from weekend cruises and car shows to a surprisingly competitive chili cook-off. They’ve spread their wings well beyond Birmingham, with members now scattered across Tennessee, Georgia and Louisiana. Their only actual requirements? Own a Mopar vehicle (any Mopar vehicle – they’re not picky), respect your fellow members and leave the drama at home. The club’s social calendar reads like a gearhead’s dream. Regular cruises happen every weekend across Fultondale, McCalla and beyond. They host summer picnics and even venture down to the “Big Easy” Mopar meet. But perhaps their most entertaining gathering is their annual Christmas party, featuring a rather competitive “Dirty Santa” gift exchange that apparently gets more than a bit rowdy.
“We don’t care if you are in somebody else’s club,” Harris explains about their inclusive approach. “Doesn’t matter to us. If you want to join and are in three other clubs, that’s fine.” Though he does add with a laugh, “We did say no to some Ford people, but sorry, that’s the way it is.” The club’s growth hasn’t just been in numbers – their garage diversity has expanded, too. While they started primarily with new Challengers, the roster now includes everything from classic muscle to modern Jeep® and SRT® vehicles. They’ve even welcomed a few Chrysler 300s and Plymouth Prowlers into the fold.
They’ve also adopted what Harris calls an “honorary Mopar wannabe” – a Mustang owner intending to jump into the Mopar lifestyle. “We’re fitting right into the times,” Harris quips, showcasing the club’s ability to poke fun at themselves while maintaining their Mopar-centric identity.
For those interested in joining this high-octane family, membership runs $35 annually and includes T-shirts, patches and access to members-only events. You can find them on Facebook under Birmingham Mopar Owners Club, or BMOC, where they maintain both public and members-only pages. You can find them on Facebook; make sure to check them out!
After 16 years, the BMOC has proven that sometimes the best ideas come after a few drinks – as long as you remember to write them down before ordering another round. From humble beginnings in a local watering hole to a thriving community of passionate enthusiasts, they’ve built something special in the heart of Alabama. As Harris puts it, looking around at his fellow members, “We’re still like that. We have a very diverse group here today – classics, moderns from all over the place.” And with their welcoming attitude and focus on fun, the BMOC shows no signs of slowing down.
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