Archive for September 2003
Sep 18th, 2003
Here's some news from the Airzona MINI Owners. I'm not sure if anyone from Chicago could make it but I thought I'd at least let everyone know about the event:
A MINI Vacation in Vegas 2004
Friday February 6th, 2004 - Sunday February 8th, 2004
Las Vegas, Nevada
Hello fellow Mini/MINI owners!
For a couple months now there have been rumors going around the Internet of a huge gathering of Mini/MINIs in Las Vegas, NV. This is to inform you this event is an official Arizona Mini Owners (AMO) event. AMO club membership is not required to participate. Both classic Minis and new MINIs are welcome! Each participant is responsible for their own expenses, including, but not limited to, gasoline, lodging, meals, tolls, park fees, show admission, etc.
The fun is starting Friday February 6th, 2004 and continuing thru Sunday February 8th, 2004. Turn this event into your family vacation. Make new acquaintances. Make it a long weekend of fun.
This is not your typical gathering in Vegas. There will be no key-note speaker, no name-tags, or the things you associate with conventions in Vegas. The Mini owners I know are much too relaxed to put up with that. What there will be is plenty of group motoring activities and tons of great company amongst Mini owners! Schedules will be flexible. This is supposed to be fun, right? Remember, there?s something for everyone in Vegas! In addition to things to do while in Vegas, other activities may include group picnics, drives to local attractions and some fun site-seeing drives.
Group rate accommodations have been arranged for this event at the Stardust Resort & Casino for only $75.00 per night for Friday and Saturday nights. This is an excellent rate for a hotel right on The Strip! Thursday and Sunday nights will be at non-peak rates meaning they will be much lower. You will need to make your own reservations by calling 1-800-634-6757 and mention group code ?MINI206?. The cut-off date is January 7th, 2004 to make reservations under this group code. Room tax, telephone, energy surcharge, and other charges may apply. When making your reservations your credit card will be charged immediately for the first nights stay. This is to secure your room. You can cancel your reservation up until 48 hours prior to arrival time, but there is a cancellation penalty. If there are fewer than 15 rooms rented per night for either Friday night or Saturday night, they will remove the discount for everyone. Be sure you understand Stardust?s reservation policies prior to making your reservation. You are not required to stay at the Stardust for this event. Feel free to make your own accommodations. However, all fun-runs will start from the Stardust?s parking lot. There are some off-Strip hotels that aren't as cool as the Stardust, but may have a better price. Contact agro@ragingbull.com for further details.
We encourage regional Mini clubs organize their own group drives to and from Las Vegas. Contact your local club to get the ball rolling, or if you don?t have a local club, I'm sure you can find other like-minded Mini/MINI owners to motor with from your location. It?s been rumored that people as far away as Florida are planning to motor out to Las Vegas for this event! Don?t miss out.
Happy Motoring!
Arizona Mini Owners
Web Site: http://www.aMiniVacationInVegas.com
Message board: http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/aminivacationinvegas/
Contact E-Mail: < ahref="mailto: info@aMiniVacationInVegas.com">info@aMiniVacationInVegas.com
Sep 18th, 2003
I'm happy to announce that we have now launched the club forum on MINI Cooper Online. This will allow members to communicate easier among other things. You can check it out here: CMMC Forums.
Sep 17th, 2003
(This post replicates the email that was sent out to everyone recently)
Chicago MINI Motoring Club Update
I’m happy to report The Club now has almost 60 official members. Our website is up, our stickers are printed and club welcome packets are being sent out every couple of weeks to new members.
From this point on the vast majority of events the CMMC will sponsoring will be member only events. So get your membership applications in soon!
Upcoming Events: South Bend MINI AutoX and Rally
October 4th 9:00pm at Tirerack in South Bend IN.
Our friends in the South Bend area and Tire Rack are holding an Autocross event on October 4th. This is a great way to get your MINI out on the track for a minimal fee, check out the largest tire seller in the world, and meet MINI owners from all over the midwest. Our Chicago group will be tentatively leaving from the Planetarium at 7:00am - the same place we met for our July Rally.
You can check out all details at this geocities.com/southbendmini/
Cost to participate is only $20 per person! This covers all equipment, track and insurance for the autocross. To register, print the registration form, ( http://www.geocities.com/southbendmini/reg.html ) , and mail with your check to: South Bend Mini Club, 1501 Ironwood Drive, South Bend, Indiana, 46635. You must register by September 20. Don’t miss this chance to get out on the track for such a low price!
Upcoming Events: Fall Foilage Rally
October TBA
I also wanted to let everyone know that the CMMC will be sponsoring a Fall drive similar to what many of us participated in last year most likely in the latter half of October. The exact date and times haven’t been decided yet but all the info will be posted on our website very soon. Stay tuned!
Past Events: The CMMC Baseball Rally Wrap-up
I'd like to first thank everyone for coming out - what a great time! I'd also like to thank both Knauz and International MINI for donating our giveaways and for being great hosts. Photos have been posted on the club website here.
Past Events: Thoughts on the Midwest Driver Trackdays
For all those who missed Phil Wick's Driving Academy at Gateway International Speedway club member Maxwell Heathcott does a great job in his post on the CMMC website recaping the say and what was learned. You can read it here.
Future club email updates will be more geared towards club members rather than those simply on the email list. Again if you like to join the Chicago MINI Motoring Club and haven’t had a chance to fill out an official club application yet I’m attaching it to this email.
If you have any questions about it or regarding the club don’t hesitate to contact me at: gabe@chicagominiclub.com.
Happy Motoring!
Sep 16th, 2003
You can now have your very own Chicago MINI Motoring Club signature in the MINI2 or MINI Cooper Online Forums. At this point we have two to choose from:
For information on how to add these to the end of your posts at MINI2 or MINI Cooper Online read on>>
Sep 13th, 2003
For anyone who missed the Phil Wicks event in St. Louis, there is a smaller event at Putnam Park on Monday, September 15th. Four members of the St. Louis Area Lotus Lovers who had pre-reserved (and pre-paid!) are now unable to make it, so that opens up four spots for people who might be interested. Phil Wicks and a couple members of his regular crew will be there, and from what I understand it will be a bit more laid back than the regular Driving School that he does, but with all of the same fundamentals and ability to receive instruction from the pros.
Anyone interested to go should contact Mark Pfeffer at feffman@yahoo.com as soon as possible, and he will put you in touch with the right folks! Also, if you do end up joining up, please post here!
For a wee bit more info, check out:
http://www.lotuscarclub.org/trackday2003.htm
Sep 8th, 2003
Our friends in the South Bend area and Tire Rack are holding an Autocross event on October 4th. This is a great way to get your MINI out on the track for a minimal fee, check out the largest tire seller in the world, and meet MINI owners from all over the midwest. Our Chicago group will be tentatively leaving from the Planetarium at 7:00am - the same place we met for our July Rally.
You can check out all details at this website and below:
When
October 4, 2003. We will start signing in drivers for the autocross at 9:00AM.
Where
We will meet at The Tire Rack, 7101 Vorden Pkwy, South Bend, IN 46628, [for directions click here].
Autocross
This will be a laid back style race. Most, if not all, drivers will not be experienced. An autocross race is a chance to test your skills and your car’s abilities on a track with cones creating the twisty turns. One car on the track at a time, each competes against the clock. [click here to learn more about autocross racing]
Road Rally
In the afternoon, we will form a line with all of our Minis and take to the roads. We will have planned route, taking us through the twisty-est roads we can find, (this is Indiana) on our way to the campus of Notre Dame. There we will have many opportunities for pictures.
The Tire Rack
Our event will begin at this state-of-the-art world headquarters of this supplier of performance equipment. Alex, as our host, will arrange informative tours.
Registration
Cost to participate is $20 per Mini. This covers all equipment, track and insurance for the autocross. To register, print the registration form, [go to registration], and mail with your check to: South Bend Mini Club, 1501 Ironwood Drive, South Bend, Indiana, 46635. You must register by September 20. [In the unlikely event of an insufficient number of registrations, the autocross will not be held and registration fees will be returned.]
T-shirts
We have had shirts professionally designed for this event. They can be pre-ordered with your registration for $10 each. The design features a retro look and is dated for this event. [t-shirt order form]
Food
Bring your picnic style lunch. Some snacks and beverages will also be available. Following the Road Rally, those who want, will gather for dinner at Hacienda Mexican Restaurant, at the historic 100 Center, for their famous Wet Burritos and Frozen Margaritas.
*You do not have to be a member of the Chicago MINI Motoring Club to attend this event.
Sep 7th, 2003
I'd like to first thank everyone for coming out - what a great time! I'd also like to thank both Knauz and International MINI for donating our giveaways and for being great hosts. And finally on a personal note I'd also like to thank Robby for letting me use his grill 
If anyone has photos that they'd like to share with the rest of the club please email them to gabe@chicagominiclub.com so we can get something online soon. Watch this space!
Sep 5th, 2003
Update: I've just been informed that the game is Sold Out! Should be a great time!
I wanted to remind everyone going to the baseball rally on Sunday of our schedule:
7:30am Gather at Knauz
8:00am Leave Knauz for Milwaukee
9:00am/9:30am Arrive at International MINI
10:15am Leave for the Stadium
10:30 to 12:30 MINI Tailgate Party
12:30pm/12:40pm Enter stadium for the game
It looks like we'll have giveaways from both Knauz MINI and International MINI.
Remember it's much cheaper to bring your own food to grill (or simply ready to eat) before the game so feel free to bring tailgate goodies, an FRS radio (if you have one), your best MINI apparel, and a smile.
See everyone there!
Sep 2nd, 2003
This Sunday September 7th is the Chicago MINI Motoring Club Rally up to Miller Park in Milwaukee!
There are only a couple of tickets left if you have not already signed up. Contact ron@chicagominiclub.com or steve@chicagominiclub.com for info.
Here’s the original info:
We now have yet another Chicago event to announce! But this time
it will include our fellow motorers from the north.
What Type of event is this: This is a drive to
href="http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mil/ballpark/
mil_ballpark_history.jsp">Miller Park, in Milwaukee, for a huge
MINI tailgating party, and to see the Milwaukee Brewers vs. the Chicago
Cubs.
Who can join us: This drive is open to all MINI car owners
in the Midwest, and anyone who rides along in a MINI.
When: Sunday, September 7th. The Chicago portion of the
group will be leaving as a group from Knauz MINI in Lake Bluff at
8:00 am. We'll drive to International Auto in Milwaukee and
meet up with the Milwaukee and Madison MINI groups. We will leave
there @ 10:15 and motor to Miller Park. Milwaukee and Madison MINIs
should be at International Auto no later than 9:45 am. Miller
Park opens between 10:00 and 10:30 am. We must all arrive
together in order to park together. No organized drive is planned
post game, so far.
Where: Miller Park is the Brewers wonderful new baseball
park. One of the best features of the park is that it has an retractable
roof, so we will not be rained out. The huge open parking area, food
pavilion, rest rooms, and hot coals disposal sites, will be ideal for
tailgating. The parking areas are also patrolled by Milwaukee County
Sheriffs during the game, so our MINIs will be well looked after.
Costs and Tickets: We have reserved a block of seats for
this event, and tickets can be purchased thru the ticket listing below.
The cost of parking is $6.00 per MINI. The Baseball game tickets are
$12.00 each. We have a set amount of tickets and they are
going quickly so please place your orders as soon as possible.
No game tickets will be available from us on the day of the drive. To get
tickets, you may reserve them by e-mailing ron@chicagominiclub.com. We will return e-mail you, same day, with confirmation and payment info.
Payment will be cash or check.
Directions (from Chicago): From Knauz we'll take Route
41 north to 120. West on 120 to I94 North. I94 North to Milwaukee
and the 894 West bypass. 894 West to 45 North. 45 North to National
Ave, exit 2a. Keep left at ramp fork and turn left onto National ave
(west). Turn right on Cleveland ave and go to 108th street (2 to 3
blocks). Turn right on 108th street. International will be a couple blocks
down, on the right side at 2400 108th street.
Giveaways:Knauz MINI and International MINI will be
raffling off prizes so come prepared for MINI trivia.
Things to bring: Tailgating is always a great time, and it's
even more fun in a MINI. Pack your boot with all your picnic goodies.
Food, drink, and a mini charcoal grill to cook whatever you bring.
Tailgating is an event. People typically cook everything from hot dogs to
gourmet meals at Miller Park. Pack your mini folding chairs, or sit in the
shade of your boot door. MINI drivers are always friendly, so you may
find someone willing to share a grill. Miller Park has hot coal and tailgate
trash disposal site everywhere on the parking areas.
You may also want to bring an FRS radio to communicate on the
drive there. And of course don't forget to wear your best MINI apparel.
Remember you will need $6.00 for parking and stadium cuisine can be
rather expensive so make sure to bring plenty to eat for the
tailgating. Of course the full line of Miller brewery and it's subsidiaries is
served in the stadium.
If all goes according to plan this could be one of the larger MINI
events in the midwest this year. See you there!
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