Meet the Board – Illini Chapter of the BMW CCA

It’s time to meet the Illini Chapter’s Leadership Board! Just like you, we are all avid BMW enthusiasts. Scroll on through this page to learn a bit more about each of your fearless leaders. As always, feel free to contact any of us if you have questions.

President: Rick Largen – Contact

Resides in: Lakewood, IL
Drives: BMW M2, F30 328iT
Biography: Rick has been a member of the BMWCCA since 2009. He currently serves as president of the Illini Chapter. Rick has also been involved in the Tire Rack Street Survival program. He has been an instructor with the program since 2009. In 2014 he took over the position of chairman and currently serves in that position. Since taking over the program, the club now hosts two schools in one weekend. Because of this, he was elected to the Circle of Excellence in by the BMWCCA Foundation. He is the first one to state that his selection is just a representation of the excellent people who work in the program at the local level. Rick is retired from the Illinois State Police after 26 years. He is also a veteran of the United States Air Force, where he served for eight years.

Rick and his wife Kim reside on a small farm in rural Shelby County. Rick claims Fort Bragg, North Carolina as his hometown. He became a resident of the state of Illinois after his father retired from the US Army in 1973. Rick says being the son of a soldier had its benefits. He said that living in Okinawa for four years and in West Berlin, Germany for four years were the highlights of his youth. Rick has two sons, Robert and Allan. His hobbies are working and driving his cars, taking care of the animals on his farm, and traveling.

Vice President: Rick Roudebush – Contact

Resides in: Canton, IL
Drives: 1988 M6 Shark, 2001 Z3 M Roadster (2,000 miles), 2005 645Ci (14,000 miles)
Biography: Rick has been a BMW CCA member since June, 2004, and was one of the originl board members when the Chapter reorganized in 2008. He’s been one of the most active members who, along with his wife, Sonja, served as the Chapter’s Social Events Chair for several years. Since becoming the President in 2013, he’s already demonstrated excellent leadership by getting more members involved in organizing and conducting club events.

Rick says that he demonstrated good judgment, by marrying Sonjya AFTER her did finished paying for her college education. Both he and Sonja were born and raised in Canton, IL, where they attended school together, and still reside. They have one daughter in the area, whose husband is a real car guy and often helps out at Chapter events. Maybe Rick can work on him to see the light and become a Bimmerite.

Treasurer & Secretary: Bruce Huber – Contact

Resides in: Morton, IL
Drives: e39 2000 540i
Biography: Bruce served previously as Secretary of the Illini Chapter from 2005-07. Now retired, he has the time and interest to volunteer in both Secretary and Treasurer roles. Bruce joined the BMW CCA in 1999 when he bought his first BMW, an e39 540i with M-Sport options and 6-speed. His next daily-driver was a 2001 740iSport, with the same V8 in the short 7-series body and the last of the classic e38s. That was followed by an SAV, the e83 X3 – but by then, he was really missing the fun he’d had with the ’00 540. When a fellow Club member posted a nearly-identical e39 in the Roundel classifieds in 2017, Bruce flew to DC to drive it home. An enjoyable cruise through the Appalachians!

Track Events Chair: Boris Peharda – Contact

Resides in: Peoria, IL
Drives: Coming Soon.

Newsletter Editor: Eric Wank – Contact

Resides in: Peoria, IL
Drives: 1995 BMW M3

Past President: Sean Hayes – Contact

Resides in: Washington, IL
Drives: 1988 325, 1995 M3, 2003 330iT, 2011 X5
Biography: Sean Hayes joined the board in 2013. Having been an active member (and attending Oktoberfests) since he was about 10, Sean has been a member for over 15 years already! To be true to his dedication, he has been a Lifetime BMWCCA Member since 2013!

Sean is an engineer for Caterpillar during his day job, designing components for Motor Grader Performance Structures. He has spent most of his career in Decatur, but spent 6 months in Peoria and 7 month in Suzhou, China – he’s hoping to go back. In his free time, he’s involved in many other activites, including: First Lego League, Catholic Youth Group, CAT Young Professionals Chapter President, and, last but not least, he’s constantly attending high performance driving schools, autocrosses and tinkering on his 3 old BMWs!

Sean was not only responsible for the website you are on now, but he brought autocrosses back to the Peoria area. Sean is excited to see what else he can do for the Illini Chapter!