By SEMA News Editors
Content Creator Spotlight: Keely Gorney
Instagram: @e9xkeely
TikTok: @e9xkeely
YouTube: @e9xkeely
Follower counts: 3.8k on Instagram; 255 on TikTok; 171 subscribers on YouTube
Focus: BMW community, N5X motors, E9X chassis and overall high-horsepower street and drag-car builds
Keely Gorney, a content creator, automotive professional and stalwart of the BMW enthusiast community, is aiming to take on a bigger role in the aftermarket world in 2025, with plans to attend more events, grow her online audience and connect further with like-minded enthusiasts through advocacy efforts that support the industry. She recently advanced that goal by joining SEMA/PRI in Washington, D.C., to help fight to stop the ban on internal combustion engines (ICE).
Get to know Gorney in her interview with SEMA News below.
SEMA News: How did you get into the automotive industry?
Keely Gorney: I've always been surrounded by cars, thanks to my dad and his side of the family. From a young age, my dad would take me to our local track, Firebird Raceway, where we'd watch Funny Cars, junior drag races and more drag racing. He also introduced me to what I can only call the worst addiction: speed. Before my time, my dad built custom mini trucks, some of which were even featured in magazines and car shows. One of the memories that stands out the most is when my dad put 100-octane fuel into one of his trucks, which made it shoot flames out of the exhaust. From that moment, I was hooked on cars.
Growing up, I was always watching my dad work on his vehicles, whether he was upgrading the interior, installing new sound systems or adding exterior modifications. I'd often find him making his cars more personal, which inspired me to do the same. My younger brother Xavier and I would spend hours playing "car school," a game we made up with Hot Wheels cars. We'd set up Lego classrooms, create tiny paper dyno sheets and race our cars down Hot Wheels tracks to see which one was the fastest. We even went to Hot Wheels Pinks Racing events where we could trade, buy and race Hot Wheels cars to win prizes. Those little moments were the start of my love for cars.
Then, in elementary school, I saw the E46 M3 in Need for Speed, and that's when I really got into BMWs. Both of my parents owned BMWs and I instantly knew that one day I wanted to have one of my own. That dream came true when my dad bought an E93 '11 BMW 335i. It was my first time driving a turbo-powered BMW and I was completely hooked. I may or may not have snuck out with it for late-night drives before I even had my license. My dad also allegedly took me to street racing events to drive his car, which helped me become comfortable handling high-performance cars. Those experiences helped me feel confident handling performance vehicles. Today, I'm proud to drive my own 600-plus-hp single-turbo BMW, and I owe so much of that passion and knowledge to those early experiences with my dad and brother.
Professionally, I've taken my passion for cars to the next level. I started as the manager of operations at Vader Solutions, a high-performance BMW shop based in Mesa, Arizona. Working closely with the owner, Omar, was a game-changer for me. He pushed me to pursue my BMW build goals, helped develop my career and provided invaluable mentorship that expanded my network, and deepened my car knowledge and skillset. More recently, I've been with Carvana since 2021, where I'm now a team lead. This role has allowed me to grow professionally in the automotive industry. Additionally, I've had the opportunity to collaborate with brands like Bimmer Invasion, FCP Euro, Elite Tuner and more, which has been an amazing way to expand my reach and contribute to the automotive community on a larger scale.
SN: What's been your biggest motivator?
KG: My biggest motivator, automotive-wise, is ensuring that my '08 BMW 335i lasts my lifetime. It's a forever build for me. I'm dedicated to doing everything I can to keep it running long-term. From advocating for combustion engines and sharing knowledge about the BMW community to becoming deeply familiar with the inner workings of my car and engine. I want it to outlive me and continue being a symbol of my passion. Additionally, one of my goals is to eventually own an individual BMW M3 that I can build to my exact specifications.
Professionally, my motivation revolves around becoming more well-rounded and creating my own personal brand. I aspire to leave a lasting impact on a community of people. That's why I focus heavily on leading and supporting events, networking and pushing my personal/online brand forward. Building connections and contributing to the community is what drives me.
Outside of that, I'm all about mantras, and the one that resonates with me the most is one I created myself: "Mentality is everything; success is earned." It's a constant reminder that my mindset shapes my success.
SN: What's been your favorite part of being a part of the automotive community?
KG: I know it sounds cliché, but honestly, the best part of being part of the automotive community is the community itself. The BMW community, in particular, is by far the most tight-knit group of people I've ever met. I've built lasting relationships through it! I met my boyfriend, my best friend and have grown even closer with my little brother, all thanks to being more involved. Beyond that, the opportunities I've received have been incredible, and they've all come from simply doing what I love and staying true to myself. It's amazing how the automotive world has connected me with so many amazing people and opened doors I never expected.
SN: As a content creator in the industry, how do you hope to make an impact on your audience?
KG: As a content creator in the automotive industry, my main goal is to make sure that everyone who interacts with me feels heard, valued and supported. The car community is filled with so many passionate individuals, and I want to shine a light on them and give them the recognition they deserve. I don't want to be seen as just another surface-level content creator. I want to truly make an impact by highlighting important things that can impact myself and my audience, celebrating my audience's wins and motivating them to move forward with their goals. The community's support is what fuels my own dreams, and I want to return that by encouraging and uplifting them in their journey. My aim is to build a meaningful connection with my audience, helping them feel seen and heard, while also sharing in the excitement of their automotive passions and achievements.
SN: What made you want to integrate advocacy into your content?
KG: As someone who's often looked to as the "voice of reason" in group chats I manage for BMW owners (and trust me, you can imagine the interesting exchanges that come up), I decided to take that role a step further. I'm deeply involved with the AZ BMW Club, Road Runner CCA, N54/N55 enthusiast groups and E9X Owners, and I help support events hosted by Bimmer Invasion and FCP Euro.
With all the behind-the-scenes work I do to ensure events run smoothly, help people connect with communities within the BMW world and share valuable tips and tricks, it just made sense for me to broaden my reach and use my platform to advocate for the things that matter to the community. I want to show people that I'm in the trenches for them. Whether it's helping them connect with fellow enthusiasts or advocating for laws that could impact the future of the cars we all love, it's all about making sure the community thrives and stays strong for years to come.
SN: What's been the biggest moment of your career thus far?
KG: The biggest moment of my career so far has to be when I decided to drop out of college to pursue my passion for cars. I went from being a full-time student working toward a double major in psychology and neuroscience to making the bold decision to work at Vader Solutions and Carvana while building my BMWs and getting more involved in the car community. It was a huge leap, but it ultimately set the foundation for everything that followed.
Since then, I've had several pivotal moments that have shaped my journey. One of the biggest was attending the 2024 SEMA Show, which was an incredible opportunity to connect with industry leaders and showcase my passion. I've gotten much closer to the Bimmer Invasion team, had the chance to work with Donuts & Wheels as a model for their brand and was even recognized by the CEO of FCP Euro more than two years ago for my loyalty as an FCP customer. It's been surreal to see all these companies take notice of my work and passion, and it continues to fuel my drive every day.
SN: What is on the horizon for you in 2025? Anything you're looking forward to?
KG: 2025 is shaping up to be an exciting year already, and we're only three months in! The rest of the year is packed with events all across the country, most of which will be with the Bimmer Invasion team. I'm also working on transitioning into a role that allows me to focus more on content creation, get closer to the community and support car culture on a deeper level. The reason I'm pursuing this change is to produce better content, travel to car events and be in a position that aligns more with my passions. Everyone wants to do a job they love, something that doesn't feel like work, and that's what I'm striving for. I'm looking for a company that values the car community as much as I do.
On the personal side, I have some ambitious goals. Social media-wise, I'm aiming to hit 5,000 followers on Instagram. I've also got some exciting upgrades planned for my own car, including a transmission swap, pushing it to 700-plus hp, getting my wheels redone and possibly giving it a fresh paint job! I'm also hoping to find a project car. Preferably an E92 BMW 328i manual. I want this so I can track build/daily drive it.
All in all, I'm excited about the opportunities coming up, from the events I'll be attending to the progress I'll be making on my car. 2025 is definitely going to be a year to remember!
Are you a passionate automotive or racing content creator? Do you want to get involved with SEMA/PRI and spread the word about important advocacy initiatives? Contact Lauren Wilbor from the SEMA Washington, D.C., office at laurenpw@sema.org.