In this section, you'll find the most important news from Ohio's tourism attractions and visitors bureaus.
Largest parade of BMW Cars will set Guinness World Record in Warren County
ZFest held Sept. 3 – 6
8/14/2009
CONTACT:
Jennifer Burns, Marketing and PR Manager
jburns@wccvb.org
(513) 204-7046
MASON, Ohio (Aug. 14, 2009) - BMW owners from around the country and Canada will convene on Warren County this fall to attend ZFest 2009, Sept. 3-6. It will be the largest independent gathering of BMW Z1, Z3, Z4 and Z8 Roadsters and Coupes anywhere in the world.
The highlight of the event will include an attempt at a Guinness World Record on Friday, Sept. 4 when an estimated 200-car convoy will leave the Showcase Cinema Kings Island parking lot at roughly 2:30 p.m.
The convoy will proceed south on Kings Island Drive, enter I-71 south of Western Row road and continue south on I-71 for approximately 2 miles. To satisfy the Guinness World Record rules, the group must stay together as a convoy for two miles. Upon completion of the two-mile convoy, most of the Z roadsters and coupes will head to Riverboat Row where the participants will board the Belle of Cincinnati for an evening dinner cruise.
ZFest will also have its own ConcourZ d’EleganZ at 2:00 p.m. Saturday Sept. 5 where 35 cars will be judged. Visit
www.zfest.com for more information.
To date, more than 200 cars have signed up for ZFest including cars owners from as far away as Yellowknife in Canada’s Northwest Territories who will make the 2,900-mile drive to ZFest.
The host hotel for the event is The Kings Island Resort and Conference Center in Mason. The event will generate an estimated economic impact of $334,950.
ZFest has been organized and facilitated by Cincinnati residents Chris and Cheryl Cane and the Warren County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Chris is the vice president of the Z Series Car Club of America. The ZSCCA is the major sponsor for the event.
For the past 12 years, BMW hosted the BMW Roadster Homecoming in Spartanburg, SC. BMW expanded their X3, X5 and X6 production at Spartanburg last year, added more than two million square feet to their plant at Spartanburg; however, ultimately transferred the Z series car production to Germany. With production ending in the USA for the Z series, the BMW Roadster Homecoming also ended.
“There is no question that this event will be a great success,” said Chris Cane, Zfest Coordinator and vice president of ZSCCA. “The support that we received from the Kings Island Resort and Conference Center helped us get started. Theresa Hollingsworth, Senior Sales Manager at the Warren County Convention and Visitors Bureau has also provided a remarkable amount of help along the way.”
For registration information visit
www.zfest.com. ZFest supports the Make a Wish Foundation.
About Warren County and the WCCVB
Warren County is Ohio’s Largest Playground! With easy access from Interstates 71 and 75, visitors to Warren County can enjoy more activities within a 30-mile radius, than anywhere else in Ohio.
The Warren County Convention & Visitors Bureau is a destination marketing organization whose mission is to drive tourism and overnight visitation to Warren County. Tourism is the leading industry in Warren County. The 6.4 million yearly visitors drive an economic impact of $917 million and 11,029 tourism-related jobs.
For additional information, visit
www.OhiosLargestPlayground.com or call 800-433-1072.
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