Out of the Garage

Berry Motor Works rolls forward with new leadership, emphasis

Scott Richards ( middle), former member of Berry Motor Works

Photos: Thanks to Scott Richards

By Caitlyn Barron, COM 301
Edited and posted by Laura Price, COM 303

Nothing beats a classic BMW.

Berry Motor Works, BMW, is a 12-person, on-campus organization that specializes in the promotion of lifelong skills in basic automobile knowledge. Founded four years ago, the group emphasizes the enjoyment and safety awareness of motor vehicles.

“It’s an everyday escape from the college experience,” said Scott Richards, former member of Berry Motor Works

After the club’s first year, founder Andy Johns graduated, leaving the club without a president. BMW became nonexistent until 2007 when brothers, David and Scott Richards, former members of BMW, asked Isaac Jessup to reorganize the club.

Completely transformed, BMW focuses largely around the current expressed interest by its members in motorcycles more then automobiles. The club also holds events that include car and motorcycle shows.

When not riding a motorcycle, you can often find members gathering in the Krannert Center lobby on Monday nights before heading to dinner or to practice behind the Cage Center. There, the group is learning how to ride motorcycles. The riding lessons start out gradually around campus, but are frequently taken off campus so that it does not disturb students and faculty that may disprove of motorcycles.

Surprisingly, being a mechanically geared group, there is an equal amount of men and women. All three men agreed that they enjoyed working with women. The women in the club are very interested in learning about how to ride motorcycles as well as work on different projects and sometimes pay even more attention then the men.

“You see guys have this little ego thing going on, it kind of prevents them from listening to what we actually tell them to do,” said David Richards. “It’s really funny watching them get on the motorcycle for the first time and letting them have it; they listen better after that.”

Besides showing members the fun of riding motorcycles or teaching self achievement lessons like changing one’s own spark plugs or oil they share personal experiences. Scott Richards recently was involved in a motorcycle accident, of which he has almost completely recovered.

Picture of Scott Richards wreck

He shared his personal experience with BMW, making them aware that when something does go wrong the motorcyclist is either going less than 12 mph or they are a victim to someone else’s fault.

Not only does BMW want to instill vehicle knowledge to all of its members, but basic communication skills that they know Berry students will need when they graduate. The members feel a real sense of achievement sharing their knowledge with others that want to learn and have fun. BMW feels a sense of accomplishment seeing its members learning other life long skills besides, what they have learned from classes.