BP Classic

Reissuing the Challenge! Register now!

BP Classic — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 15:58:24 +0000

The Whiting Refinery Team at the first Classic in 1985 in Texas City.

Join us in Whiting for the 28th Annual BP Classic!

In 1985, BP Classic founder Cory Webster, then a heavy equipment operator at Amoco’s Whiting refinery in Northwest Indiana, issued a challenge to sister refineries throughout North America to compete in a single softball game. The challenge? The losing team would fly the winning team’s state flag over their refinery for a year. A few months later, Webster received a reply — Texas City, Texas, had accepted the challenge.

Long after the end of that afternoon of competition, Whiting and Texas participants reflected upon the camaraderie and the new friendships they had made. They knew this event was something special, and they also knew the experience was worth repeating. So it began. So it continues. Less than 100 people participated in the event that first year. It didn’t take long for word to spread, however, and in just two short years thousands of employees representing BP/Amoco facilities from all over the world joined in the fun.

Now, 27 years later, we, the employees of Whiting and Texas City refineries, are once again issuing the challenge to all BP facilities worldwide, to come and play us in softball, basketball, tennis, volleyball, bowling, golf and a 5K run for charity for the 28th Annual BP Classic. We will also be conducting Volunteer Day activities, where we will strive make a difference in the Whiting community.

REGISTRATION FOR THE 2012 BP CLASSIC IS OPEN NOW!

The challenge has been issued, now it’s up to all of you to join us for the fun! Hope to see you in Whiting this June!

Visit the 2012 Classic information page for full details…

2011 Volunteer Day a Double Success

BP Classic — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 18:56:33 +0000

The 2011 BP Classic in Houma found current and former BP employees participating in a weekend of competition, fellowship and rewarding charity activities. Volunteer Day included projects at two venues — Jim Bowie Park in Houma and Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program at Grand Isle, Louisiana.

The efforts of BP Classic Volunteers were mentioned in a recent article in Houma Today about the revitalization of Jim Bowie Park.

View photos from the Volunteer Day activities in our 2011 BP Classic Gallery. We will add more pictures as they become available.

If you have photos from the 2011 Classic that you would like to share with others, please contact us and we will make arrangements to get them from you and post them on the website.

Also, if there is a photo that you would like to have a copy of, we can send you a high resolution version suitable for printing. Just contact us.

2011 Classic registration now open!

BP Classic — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 21:33:07 +0000

You may now register for the 2011 BP Classic in Houma, LA on our registration page.

Please make your registration information as complete as possible so that we can make sure we have the necessary resources and amenities available for all participants.

Also, hotel information for the Houma event has been listed on the 2011 BP Classic page. The Louisiana BP Classic has chosen the Wingate by Wyndham in Houma, Louisiana, as our host hotel. Mention the BP Classic for special rates when registering with the Wingate.

Everyone will be responsible for their own travel arrangements. We may be working with a particular car rental vendor for our transportation needs. We will announce such arrangements and discount codes when they become available.

We look forward to receiving your 2011 registration information!

Join us in Houma, Louisiana for the 2011 BP Classic!

BP Classic — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:11:46 +0000

The 27th Annual BP Classic will take on a creole flare as we journey to the great state of Louisiana June 22 thru June 26. Experience the rich flavors of gumbo, etouffee, and jambalaya, spend a day fishing, or book a birding or swamp tour along the ecologically rich wetlands stretching out toward the Gulf of Mexico.

Join us in Houma, Louisana for the 2011 BP Classic where they showcase the region’s Cajun heritage and hospitality every day.

We hope that you will join us to support the community, renew old acquaintances and make many new friendships.

See you in Louisiana!

Get complete details about the 2011 BP Classic in Houma…

2010 BP Classic Review

BP Classic — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 18:38:30 +0000

A great weekend of community service, charitable fundraising and athletic competition was had by all who attended the 26th Annual BP Classic hosted by the Whiting Business Unit on June 24 thru 27.

On Thursday, June 24, over 500 students from Franklin Academy middle school in East Chicago worked along side BP employees from Whiting, Texas City, Houston, Tulsa, Naperville and other BP locations across North America to construct an environmental park on the grounds of the school. The project was highlighted by local media.

After Volunteer Day, employees competed in a variety of athletic competitions, including bowling, golf, softball (men’s and co-ed), basketball, volleyball, tennis and a 5K run/walk.

The 5K run/walk was open to the public and all proceeds from the event were donated to the Whiting Food Pantry and the City Museum. The golf competition raised money for the Shriner’s Children Hospital.

Here are the results of the events. Thanks to all who coordinated and/or participated in this year’s BP Classic event! You can also view photo galleries from this year’s event.

5K run/walk
Men:
1st Place: John Bartels, Whiting – (19:07)
2nd Place: Justin Ford, Whiting – (20:47)
3rd Place: Jeff Fleitz, Whiting – (20:50)

Women:
1st Place: Amanda Nurse, Whiting – (23:23)
2nd Place: Lena Schmidt (24:19)
3rd Place: Darlene Shike, Whiting – (26:54)

Softball
1st Place Whiting Business Unit

Co-ed Softball
1st Place Texas City Business Unit

Basketball
1st Place Whiting Business Unit

Volleyball
1st Place Whiting Business Unit

Bowling
Men’s high game scratch – John Cleve, Whiting – (288)
Women’s high game scratch – Linda Seto, Whiting – (234)

Men’s high series scratch – John Cleve, Whiting – (804)
Women’s high series scratch – Linda Seto, Whiting – (609)

Men’s high game handicap – John Amato, Texas City – (236)
Women’s high game handicap – Donna Brault, Des Moines, IA – (248)

Team high scratch series – John Cleve, Drew Tegen, Tony Miller, Jeff Szczepanick, Richard Lewis, Whiting – (3245)

Team high handicap series – Dan Kats, Bill Lash, Reese Ryzewski, Tod Ryzewski, Darwin Rod, Whiting – (2955)

Tennis
Men’s doubles – 1st Place – Kevin Barnes & Adam Kogut, Texas City Business Unit
Men’s singles – 1st Place – Kaleb Barnes, Texas City Business Unit

Golf
TBA

Photos from the 2010 Classic

BP Classic — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 02:46:05 +0000

The 2010 BP Classic came to a close Saturday evening, and employees from around the country have returned to their home towns after spending a weekend participating in competition, fellowship and rewarding charity activities.

Relive moments from the weekend in photos from some of the events and gatherings in our 2010 BP Classic gallery.

If you have photos from the 2010 Classic that you would like to share with others, please contact us and we will make arrangements to get them from you and post them on the website.

Also, if there is a photo that you would like to have a copy of, we can send you a high resolution version suitable for printing. Just contact us.

Latest event information for the 2010 Classic

BP Classic — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 20:11:21 +0000

Are you attending the 2010 BP Classic in Whiting? Here is the latest event information and site directions to Volunteer Day, golf and the 5k Walk/Run:

Volunteer Day Project – East Chicago, IN

FRANKLIN ACADEMY, EAST CHICAGO, IN - Over the past couple of months, Wildlife Habitat Council — on behalf of BP — has been working with Grade 5 students in the classroom, helping them to design and build their very own school park. In recent weeks, the kids and BP volunteers have been working on the actual park construction. The park is nearly 70% complete now, and on Thursday, June 24, we hope to complete the project. Students, administrators, teachers and parents will be on hand to assist. Come on out and have some fun, and help us make an impact in the community!

Volunteer Day will start at 9 AM. You will be assigned to team leaders for a day of planting native plants and trees, moving mulch and stone, building compost containers, and hanging bird and bat houses. Lunch is at 11 AM and we expect to be finished by 2 or 3 PM.

Quick Directions: Traveling on I-80/94 exit on Cline Avenue going North. Go North on Cline Avenue and exit on Columbus Avenue and turn left or west under Cline Avenue overpass. Travel about 1 mile until you reach Main Street and turn left or south. There is a Walgreen’s there and the police department is across the street. Follow Main Street which will take you to the back of the school.

Google Maps Link

Golf – Aberdeen Country Club, Valparaiso, IN

Aberdeen is one of the top courses in Northwest Indiana. The Course at Aberdeen is located at 245 Tower Rd, Valparaiso, IN 46385.

Golf will take place on Friday, June 25^th, 2010 at 8:00 AM. All of the carts have roofs, windshields and rain covers and cart paths are paved the entire way around the golf course. Therefore, the only cause of an interruption in play would be for lightning. When the storm passes, able to resume play shortly thereafter.

Golf events for the day will be as follows:

7:00 AM – Registration and Driving Range will be open for practice
8:00 AM – Shotgun Start at time of your choosing
1:00 PM – Lunch and Awards Presentation

Includes:

18 holes of golf with electric golf cart
8:00 AM Shotgun Start
Practice Balls set up on the driving range before the event
Custom cart signs, score cards, player lists and rules sheets tailored for your event
Professional tournament scoring and Awards Presentation
On course contests (i.e. Long Drive, Closest to the Pin, etc.)
Bag valet service before and after the event
Player assistants to assist your golfers while on the golf course
Registration and prize tables, chairs, and tablecloths

Beverage Cart(s) will be driving around to cater to your player’s needs

5K Run/Walk – Whiting, IN

Over 150 runners/walkers have signed up to date. All proceeds from the 5K will benefit the Whiting Food Pantry and the City of Whiting Museum. Here’s some quick directions.

Directions: Traveling on I-80/94 you can exit at Indianapolis Blvd going North. Follow Indianapolis Blvd to downtown Whiting. Turn right on 119th Street and go east until you reach LaPorte Avenue. Turn left or north on Laporte and go to 117th Street and turn right or east again and you are right where you need to be — Lakefront/Whiting Football Stadium.

Google Maps Directions

2010 registration now open!

BP Classic — Fri, 14 May 2010 17:25:22 +0000

You may now register for the 2010 BP Classic on our registration page.

Please make your registration information as complete as possible so that we can make sure we have the necessary resources and amenities available for all participants.

Also, hotel information for the Whiting event has been listed on the 2010 BP Classic page. We will be using the Courtyard Marriott in Merrillville, Indiana, which is conveniently located near many of the BP Classic sports venues. Please make your hotel reservations early.

We look forward to seeing receiving your 2010 registration information!

It’s Whiting!

BP Classic — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:12:41 +0000

The BP Classic will be returning to Whiting, Indiana, June 24-26, 2010.

BP Classic organizers look forward to the event’s return to Whiting, a small but historic city in Northwest Indiana. Whiting Refinery has a proud history, and has been an Amoco and BP community for more than a century.

We hope that you will join us to support the community, renew old acquaintances and make many new friendships.

See you in Whiting!

BP Classic Volunteers from across North America win special recognition

BP Classic — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:31:20 +0000

From Planet BP: BP Classic project garners Houston award. Work by BP volunteers to transform raw land into a sea of green at Texas City’s western gateway has garnered recognition from the city’s large neighbor to the north.

Some of those volunteers were on hand when the city of Texas City received special recognition from the Keep Houston Beautiful campaign and the 2009 Mayor’s Proud Partners competition at an awards luncheon on Nov. 16 at the Houston Post Oak Hilton Hotel.

The beautification work was done on June 24 by 160 BP Classic volunteers who planted 4,000 hardy grasses around the city’s distinctive metal Western sculptures of longhorn and a windmill in a large area between FM 1764 and Interstate Highway 45.

BP Texas City hosted the 25th annual BP Classic, a four-day volunteer and athletic event with teams from BP facilities across North America. The landscaping project is among a long list of remarkable projects completed by BP Classic volunteers, who leave a positive and lasting impact on host communities.

Today, the area that BP volunteers lovingly nicknamed “Longhorn Park” comes alive as a showpiece for the Texas City community. Southeast Texas winds and sunlight tease the specially selected grasses until they mimic shimmering waves.

John Amato, refinery Process Safety Management (PSM) coordinator for the Utilities group and president of the volunteers, explained how the successful public-private partnership came about.

“We asked for a project that the city really needed,” said Amato. “When we first met with Texas City Mayor Matt Doyle to see how we could help, he asked us to paint and rebuild some city park fences. We told him we wanted something bigger, and he came through with the beautification of FM 1764, which had been indefinitely postponed by a blowhard named Ike.”

Designed with feasibility and safety in mind, the summertime project included an onsite barbeque, shade-giving tents and plenty of ice-cold water. Enthusiasm and sheer numbers reduced what would have been an 8-hour job to just 3.

Tina Lyons, PSM technical specialist for Texas City Chemicals (TCC) and event coordinator for the BP Classic, said, “Sixty engineering interns from Westlake added to our ranks. We had engineers, operators, machinists, management, plant managers, lots of admins, maintenance folks, and some spouses and kids. What we accomplished was amazing.”

The sea of orange t-shirts became celebrities when they were spotted by a passing news crew from KPRC Channel 2. The sight was irresistible and became a featured story on that night’s newscast.

After the volunteers finished their work, landscaping professionals came in to add agave and groupings of crepe myrtles as well as other plants that required expert attention.

The project’s effect is just what the mayor of Texas City desired for the community—a showcase entrance to the city.

Amato said, “I live here in Texas City and I love when people tell me how beautiful it is driving in. And I’m proud that BP volunteers could give back to this community by doing the lion’s share of work and saving Texas City taxpayers a bunch of money.”

Lyons added, “I never get tired of seeing the results of what we did. It seems like the colors change every day when I drive by.”

Seventeen Proud Partner awards were given along with 15 certificates of recognition. This marks the first year in the organization’s 25-year history that awards were presented—four in all—to gateway communities outside the Houston city limits.

Texas City was nominated for FM 1764 by HLS Enterprises, the landscaping company that designed and contributed to the planting of the project.

All nominations are judged by the same criteria—numbers of volunteers, positive visual impact and a sustainability plan. Also, judges give higher marks when corporate involvement is present.