From Kumho PR:

FONTANA, CA?The Kumho Tire Challenge will be at the IKEA store in Schaumburg, IL, from October 14-17. The event teaches consumers how tires can make a difference in the way a car performs by giving them the opportunity to drive MINI Coopers equipped with different wheels and tires.

The event will be staged in the parking lot of the IKEA store (located at 1800 E. McConnor Parkway). Participants will drive the cars through an autocross course on the lot.
The Kumho Tire Challenge is a national tour that was launched by KUMHO Tire USA in July of 2003 as a means to educate tire dealers and consumers about how different tires affect the performance and handling of a car.
??Unfortunately, most people don?t give much thought to their tires,? said Rick Brennan, high performance brand manager for KUMHO Tire USA. ?They know they?re round, they?re black, they?re rubber and you have to put air in them.

?But when you give someone a bit of information and then put him behind the wheel of a car and turn him loose on an autocross course, he?ll quickly learn that tires play a huge role in how a car performs,? noted Brennan. ?After going through this exercise, most people are amazed to learn that there can be such a difference between tires, and they?re also usually surprised to learn just how well the tires perform.?

Kumho uses three MINI Coopers for the Kumho Tire Challenge. The cars are equipped with automatic transmissions and a variety of aftermarket performance products, and each car is equipped with a different Kumho tire. ?We use MINI Coopers for our Challenge program because the MINI is one of the best-handling cars in the world, which makes it the perfect vehicle to showcase the performance of our tires,? added Brennan. ?And the MINI is a people magnet. The cars attract attention wherever they go.?

The Kumho Tire Challenge at IKEA will run rain or shine and will be open on a first-come-first-serve basis to the general public on the following dates and times:

• Tuesday, October 14, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Wednesday, October 15, 11 .m. to 7 p.m.
• Thursday, October 16, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Friday, October 17, Noon to 7 p.m.

The MINI Car Club of Indiana has some info about the upcoming F1 event:

Info About Late Ticket Purchasing

If anyone wants to purchase tickets?plenty are still available.?Simply call the ticket office at 317.492.6700.?If you are a MINI Car Club Member and want to participate in the Car Corral, then tell them on the phone that you are a member of the club, and that you still want to be part of the Car Corral.

Info About the Car Corral

If any members still want to be a part of the car corral, they will need to call the ticket officeat317.492.6700?at this point and identify themselves as being a member of the Mini Car Club and then order tickets straight from them (yes?you must have a ticket to be in the car corral).? The cheapest seats anyone can get are the $45 1st Turn Terrace Seats.? Then, they can sit in their seats, sit in the infield if they want, or enjoy the festivities in the car corral.? But make sure anyone calling about tickets identifies themselves with the club so they can get the car corral hang-tag.? Any MINI Club members that would like to be escorted into the car corral with other MINI club members should read the section on the ?Police Escort to the Car Corral.??Otherwise, check your car corral confirmation materials on how to enter the infield and park in the car corral.

Info About the Police Escort to the Car Corral

The MINI Car Club has 20 spots reserved for an 8:00 AM police escort.?Any MINI Car Club Member who has car corral access (the hang-tag) can participate in the police escort.?The escort will depart the Indianapolis Zoo (downtown) at 8:00 AM, and then drive into the car corral together.?If you will be participating in the police escort, please arrive at the Indianapolis Zoo (West Washington Street, Downtown) at 7:45 AM.?

Thanks,
David H. McKee
Treasurer, MINI Car Club of Indiana

This news is from the organizers of this South Bend event:

IMPORTANT UPDATE!!! The South Bend Mini Event will be held without the autocross. We were not able to arrange for a better insurance package, and fell short of the 50 pre-registrations required. All who registered for the autocross event will get their checks back. WE ARE STILL HAVING AN OCTOBER 4th EVENT!!!
Our new, (loose) agenda:

9-10:30 AM — Meet at The Tire Rack, meet Mini owners, meet Alex, tour (parts) of this amazing performance facility.

10:30-Noon — Road Rally Course, includes Notre Dame campus

Noon-2:00PM — Lunch at Hacienda Mexican Restaurant at the historic Kamms mansion. www.haciendafiesta.com Order off the regular menu, all your food will be FREE! For your margaritas, Coronas, whatever-you-want-to-drink, you are on your own.

Come share a wonderful autumn day with Mini enthusiasts!

While this news is certainly disappointing for many of us I'm still planning on going and having a great time. In fact I'm probably going to come home with some tires from the TireRack. Who can still make it?

I just recieved an email from Phil announcing his next Trackday event:

The next track day has been announced and will be held on Saturday, November 15, at Gateway International Raceway.? The rate listed on the web is $175 if booked before November 1.? The discount rate of $140 is good for MINI club members only.
?

Cheers!
Phil Wicks

What a deal! This will be a great opportunity for those of us who couldn't make the first event as well as those who can't wait to go again. Here's Phil's contact info if you're interested in going:

Phil Wicks/Midwest Driver:
midwestdriver.com
racerwicks@aol.com
(314) 330-6449

The Windy City BMW has asked me to pass along some information to all the MINI owners in the Chicago area that there will be a general meeting next Wednesday for all current Windy City club members and non members who own MINIs and might be interested in the club. I thought that there may be some interest among some of you who are looking for more track time etc. Here's the info:

Location:
Bill Jacobs BMW/MINI

Address:?
1564 W. Ogden Ave.
Naperville, IL 60540

Date:?
Wednesday, September 24, 2003

Time:
7:30 PM

Description:?
Light Refreshments Provided

Join us for a big meeting about the MINI! Windy City member (and BMW owner) Gabe Bridger of the newly formed Chicago MINI Motoring Club (www.chicagominiclub.com) will give us the lowdown on the state of the MINI world and tell us about the MINI community that's cropping up all over the US. Of course this also includes Windy City events! We're also hoping to have information about upgrades and aftermarket mods you can do to your MINI. This is shaping up to be a great meeting for anyone who owns a MINI, rides in a MINI, or just daydreams of a MINI!

Bill Jacobs BMW/MINI is located at the intersection of Ogden Avenue and Jefferson Street in Naperville. The easiest way to get there is to take I-88 west to Rt. 59, go south on Rt. 59 and make a left at the light on Jefferson Street (Portillo's on corner), and go straight a couple of miles to Ogden.

PARKING WILL BE IN THE LOT ACROSS FROM BILL JACOBS, BEHIND THE GEMATO'S GRILL RESTAURANT.

Motor on over!
Vince Strazzabosco

For those of you in the Chicago MINI Motoring Club and might be interested in more track time and further benefits (the monthly magazine the Roundel for one) I recommend also checking out the BMWCCA. They're happy to welcome MINIs into the club and we at the CMMC are looking forward to working with them on the future on joint events.

The club is hoping to have a small event showing the original Italian Job at a local dealer sometime in October. The only issue is we'd be very limited in terms of space due to dealer seating. That is unless someone else has a better idea for a location.