WRAPUP: What a fabulous event!! MINI of Grand Rapids was a great host, and Chicago area people filled close to half the 30+ cars that convoyed out to St. Ignace. Friday night was fun to just hang out and watch MINIs cruising the area in all directions. Early Saturday, we gathered in a field and took off for a 15 mile drive thru some scenic back roads culminating with a drive over the Mackinac bridge. A party was held afterwards with plenty of time to check out hundreds of cool MINIs. We were a little short of the world record, but with 846 1/2 cars (the half was a trailer) it was the largest single gathering of MINIs in North America. We did get a record of the most cars playing a song on car horns, and the prize for the best dressed MINI was won by CMMC member Sean!!
Send links to photos to steve@chicagominiclub.com and I’ll add them ehre..
UPDATE 07/15/2013: A small group will be departing from MINI of Grand Rapids on Friday at 1pm. Must be there by 12:30 (remember they are a time zone ahead of Chicago). you MUST RSVP by adding a comment to this post so we can have the correct count for plans.
UPDATE 06/21/2013
Registration is now open!! visit http://www.minionthemack.com/ for details
We are starting to get a bit more information from MINIUSA about this World Record attempt.
Also check out details from the previous post for a CMMC block of hotel rooms at a discount price
Join MINI motorists from all over the country as we attempt to break the Guinness Book World Record for the Largest Parade of MINIs at MINIs on the Mack.
MINIs on the Mack will take place on Saturday, August 3, 2013 with a mass crossing of the Mackinac Bridge.
Itinerary
Friday, August 2, noon – 7pm
Registration and pre-ordered T-shirt pick up at Little Bear East Arena, 275 Marquette Street, St. Ignace, MI
Early Registration costs will be $25 a person, $10 for children, and free for children under 5
Event T-shirts will be for sale. Included in registration will be an event antennae topper that we will hand out at the field prior to the crossing.
Saturday, August 3, 7:30am-9:30am
Meet in a large field at 1312 West Central Ave., Mackinaw City, MI. Registration packets and pre-ordered T-shirts will be available for pick up at this location until 9:30am.
10:00am (SHARP!)
Depart field to begin Largest Parade of MINIs
10:30am
Mackinac Bridge crossing
11:00am
Arrive at Little Bear East Arena, 275 Marquette Street, St. Ignace, MI
11:00am-3:00pm
Lunch, entertainment, contests and tailgating at Little Bear
4:00pm-11:00pm
Bands, beer tents and food vendors at Bayside Music Festival in downtown St. Ignace (walking distance)
Fireworks at Dusk!
Click on this link MINI on the Mack.com (link not yet available), to secure your spot at the event and purchase t-shirts! Early registration discount available until July 14th.
The intent is to make a weekend out of it so we have included websites for the St.Ignace Visitor’s Bureau and Chamber of Commerce along with Mackinac Island and Mackinaw City to help with accommodations and sites to visit.
There’s no Michigan landmark more iconic than the Mackinac Bridge, which is why any visit to St. Ignace should include a visit to Bridge View Park, where the structure’s storied history is told through interpretive panels and photographs.
Situated on the picturesque shores where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron meet, St. Ignace provides the perfect Upper Peninsula escape at affordable prices. A variety of family-friendly activities are located right in St. Ignace, including two historic museums, the Museum of Ojibwa Culture, and Fort de Buade Museum, and a variety of other unique attractions such as Castle Rock, Deer Ranch, Mystery Spot, and much more. The visitor’s bureau can help you with day trips to Mackinac Island from St. Ignace and driving itinerary’s up north to view the wonderful nature beauty the UP has to offer.
St. Ignace Visitors Bureau
Website: www.stignace.com
Phone: 800-338-6660
St. Ignace Chamber of Commerce
Website: www.saintignace.org
Take a ferry to Mackinac Island. The shortest, most-picturesque crossing leaves from St. Ignace. A pedestrian ferry transports visitors past Round Island Light to a bustling island dock. Rent a bicycle built for two, take a carriage ride, or walk to Fort Mackinac, any number of gifts shops, and around the island’s scenic perimeter. Savvy travelers know they can enjoy all the island has to offer and still have inexpensive overnight accommodations in St. Ignace. www.mackinacisland.org
Registered and made reservations at the bavarian haus! We’ll be there for sure… now to get that Friday day off from work….
All Registered,
We’re headed to Grand Rapids after work Thursday and on up Friday AM.
Would like to meet up in GR for the drive if anyone’s around.
Nancy and I are now registered for the trip over the Mackinac bridge.
We missed the Hot Dog run and others but we will make this one. Registered and made reservations at the bavarian haus for friday and saturday night.
We will leave St. Charles Friday AM.
Anyone want to convoy ?
We’re planning to head out Friday AM also, and probably try to meet up with the people in Grand Rapids… I think there was some talk about doing something like that.
Nice Photoshop work Steve. LOL
Just been called in for Jury Duty on Monday August 5th.. That changes my plans for heading home.. Still need to figure out the new plans
U can get out of Jury duty if you have plans for being out of town!
Thank you.. I was able to postpone my grand jury summons with the right documentation.. Looking forward to the whole round the lake trip!!
Count me in as one of the people meeting in Grand Rapids. Not sure what time we’re leaving on Friday morning to get there, but we’ll get there! Any one caravanning from the Chicago area Friday morning?
Just registered this morning. 2 people, 1 mini. Heading out from Griffith Indiana sometime Friday. I would be in for a caravan or a GR meet. I’ll keep checking for updates.
Ok.. Have passed along RSVP details to meet at MINI of Grand Rapids for Myself, Mark, Tamara, Bennett, David, and Shawn so far.
I believe Terry & Nancy, Lori + Dave are leaving Friday from Chicagoland area but I am not yet sure if they are going straight up or meeting at MOGR.
There are a few others I am not positive of plans yet.
HI All!! a little late to this party, but it looks like I’m going to make the trip afterall. Still working out some details so I can’t commit to anything at the moment. But I think I’ll try and catch everyone at MOGR.. unless I decide to head straight up to St. Ignace. I’m going to register for the event later today.
Francis talked me into it. We’re going. We’ll leave Friday morning to meet up with the group at MOGR.
I will be leaving on vacation starting July 27th for two weeks in that area. Bringing the Mini “Alicia” and plan on attending. Registered this morning. Lot’s of great things to do in this area. A nice spot for lunch is Legg’s Inn located in Cross Village. It is a 30-45 minute nice drive out of Mackinac City to the eastern shoreline of Lake Michigan. Then the tunnel of trees down to Harbor Springs. Nice Brewery with roof deck in Cheboygan. Great places to eat on Mackinac Island-Gatehouse, Village Inn, The Woods, The Iroquios, and of course you have to have a drink on the porch at the Grand Hotel. Go before 5pm or men are required to wear a Suit Coat. Should be fun!!
Tawana and I have changed plans again and are driving up Friday morning – we’ll meet at MOGR.
Passed along RSVP’s for meeting at MINI of Grand Rapids for Nat, Terry and Francis.. I am pretty sure they will have your registration and shirts ready at Grand Rapids.. Anyone RSVP-ing later than that, will be the regular registration in Mackinac.
Hi to all:
I’m a new member for CMMC. I am registered for Minis on the Mack and was wondering if anyone will be driving up to MOGR early Friday morning and from what area of Chicago or burbs? I am located in Hanover Park.
Thanks
Hi Karen,
Go to North American Motoring and send me a message if you want to drive up with Tawana and me. My user name is ChicagoRus. I’ll email you back with a way to get a hold of us. We were thinking of leaving between 7 – 7:30.
Hi Rus,
I’ll share out e-mails to the people posting up as interested in meeting up, and once everyone works out a meetup time/place I’ll add it here (or someone can add it) so others can join in of plans fit.
Let me know where we’re all leaving from also… I’m leaving from near Willow Springs (2 enterances for 294 south and a dunkin doughnuts and gas station (along with a big parking lot nearby)) I figured it might be a good jumping off point if anyone else was interested….
Passing along some info from Rita from The Soup Cup..
Hi MINI on the Mack!
We at “The Soup Cup a MicroSouperie” in
Traverse City, Michigan…and fellow Mini Cooper owner (originally from
CHICAGO along with our Cooper)…are joining in the World Record
Attempt…we are gathering fellow Northern Michigan Cooper owners to
gather at The Soup Cup on Friday, August 2nd for lunch on their way UP
to Mackinaw City!!!
We would LOVE IT if you could help us spread the word as well!
http://www.thesoupcuptc.com
FB: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Soup-Cup-a-MicroSouperie/434497073237863
With Cooper LOVE,
Rita and Scott Nitsche
The Soup Cup, a MicroSouperie owners
AND
Mini Cooper Clubman owners
For those departing Chicagoland on Friday.. (thanks Rus)
Several people will be meeting up here.. Departure 7:15am Sharp!!
meet at the Chicago Southland Lincoln Tollway Oasis. At that point it is
80/294. If we leave at 7:15 sharp we should be in Grand Rapids at 10:45 local time.
The address of the Oasis is:
700 East Tri-State Toll Road
South Holland, IL 60473
https://maps.google.com/?cid=10472761883341310140
it’s the oasis side heading South/East.
I doubt I will be able to hit the road that early. Were there any other planned stops after GR Mini? Maybe I can catch up somewhere.
Hello to all:
I just wanted to thank everyone for welcoming me as a new member of the club. I enjoyed meeting everyone and thoroughly enjoyed our drive to Mini of GR. Well, except for the down pour. I had an awesome weekend!
It was a great time. Oh, and I still have one of the magnets. Found it in the back of the mini when I got home. I’ll keep it in so I can give it to you next time I see you.
I had a great time as well.. What a fun MINI community!!