Six cars from the Chicago area drove down together to Indianapolis where we met up with another six cars from the Minnesota Club. An additional 3 Chicago Club members caught us at lunch time and along the way. We ran an impressive 15 car high speed caravan down to the Cincinnati area.

There was a Friday night pre-event meetup at Skyline Chili, which by all reports was a big success

Over 100 MINIs converged on Kings Island Amusement Park in Mason Ohio on Saturday morning, June 16th. We were presented with VIP passes, and treated to a Continental breakfast in front of the Italian Job Roller coaster before the park oopened. We are able to line up to be the first ones on the ride when the park officially opened. A picnic style dinner was also provided as well as a chance to take one more exclusive ride on the Italian Job Coaster after the park closed at 11pm.

My family and I had a great time both at the park, and meeting and hanging out with so many other MINI owners. I was even able to have my car put on display in the entrance at the front of the park

All in all, a great weekend. I hope PKI puts together another event next year!!

Here is the place to post for people interested in attending the Kings Island MINI event on Saturday June 18th.

There is a group leaving the Chicago area at about 9:30 on Friday morning. We intend to meet members of the MINIsota Motoring Society at Dryer & Reinbold MINI in Indianapolis at about 1 pm for a late lunch. After eating, we will head on down the rest of the way as a larger group to the Kirkwood Inn in Mason Ohio.

I am also aware of a few other people leaving the Chicago area later in the afternoon.

The Windy City Morgan Owners Group has extended an invitation to our club to attend their Morgans Around Lake Michigan tour on July 7th thru July 10th.

Enjoy a scenic drive, tour the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, and attend a British Car Club event near Kalamazoo Michigan.

If you are interested, send an e-mail to Dan

Here is yet one more benefit of joining the Chicago MINI Motoring Club!!

Your membership gets you a $25 a day discount at the Phil Wicks Ultimate Driving Academy

Even better, Phil will be hosting classes at the new Autobahn Country Club track in Joliet on July 23rd and 24th

Time to get your driving skills tuned up to enjoy the most out of your MINI!!

We will be returning to Kane County Cougars on Labor Day Monday, September 5th for another game. Details will be posted soon

POST GAME WRAPUP: We had a smaller than expected crowd, but everyone who went had a great time. The threat of rain never happened, and it was beautiful weather for a ball game. We also got to see the public debut of the new Gabe-mobile.

HUGE thanks to Patrick MINI for taking the time to open up on a Sunday as well as for providing sandwiches, cookies and drinks and a great starting point for our event!!!

For those of you who missed this event (as well as those who were there), we will be having another Baseball event on Monday September 5th (Labor Day), so mark your calendars now.

Oh yeah, the Cougars won as well!!

UPDATE: 05/31/2005 We still have unsold tickets for Sundays game. If you are interested in attending, please send an e-mail to steve@chicagominiclub.com

Okay folks – we've got a great event coming up in early June for both club members and those interested in the club. We will be attending a Kane County Cougars game on Sunday June 5th where the Cougars will be battling with the Fort Wayne Wizards.

We've gone ahead and bought 100 tickets for the club. Now it's your turn to sign up and support the Chicago MINI Club while doing some motoring!

The Meeting Spot: We'll be meeting at Patrick MINI in Schaumburg.

When: Sunday June 5th. We will meet in Schaumburg at Patrick MINI at noon and head out for a group drive to Geneva at about 1:00 for the 2:00 game

How Much: Tickets are only $8 each. We have 100 tickets reserved but there is no limit to how many you can buy. These tickets are being offered to both club member and those interested in the club.

Order your tickets now!

You can order your tickets by printing THIS FORM and mailing it in to our Club PO box. There is free parking at the game, but no grilling (tailgating) in the parking lot. This will be a bit more family friendly than our previous events in Milwaukee.

Remember, order your tickets now!

I have heard new information that the Crystal Lake British Car Cruise night is back (or still) on!!

Here is the information I currently have:

American English will hold a free rooftop concert on Thursday, May 19, from about 6:00 to 8:00 PM.

Parking will be at Home State Bank 40 Grant Street. You will be able to pull out lawn chairs, and listen to the music.

UPDATE: 5/6/2005

The Minis In Northern Illinois Club has invited us to meet up with them at Historic Race Cars 915 Pingree Road Suite C in Crystal Lake at 5:15 to 5:30 to caravan in as a group

Historic Beatles Final Rooftop Concert at Raue Center for the Arts

One of the greatest spontaneous moments in rock music history will be re-created from the rooftop of Raue Center for the Arts on May 19th in Crystal Lake, IL. The Beatles final public appearance, indelibly stamped into the minds of rock music fans, first occurred from the rooftop of Apple Records studios in London in 1969. The re-creation will be authentically performed by American English, the best Beatles show of our time.
Even the atmosphere will get a historical makeover as British-made classic cars will cast their historic ambiance on the event. Downtown Crystal Lake/Main Street has obtained the cooperation of various British car clubs to populate the streets and parking lots surrounding the event. This is a perfect fit for the historic downtown of Crystal Lake. Just like a mop top hair cut, every hair on the head of this Beatles moment will hang in the perfect place as the music, the instrument and the costumes give you that ?I?m really there? moment.
The public can start their psychedelic flashback at 6:00 PM by previewing all of the classic cars on display. The first Fab Four guitar chord will launch from elevated amplifiers from the theatre?s rear rooftop at 7:00 PM. Raue Center for the Arts is located at 26 N. Williams St in Crystal Lake, IL. The event is free and is supported by the generous sponsorship of Gary Lang Auto Group. The event is organized by Downtown Crystal Lake/Main Street and Raue Center for the Arts. For information you can call 815-356-9212.
American English will also energize the weekend by performing two shows at the Raue Center For The Arts on Friday, May 20th at 7:30 PM and Saturday, May 21st at 7:30PM. Tickets are priced at $31 and $26 and can be purchased by the calling the Raue Center Box Office at 815-356-9212.

Sounds like a great time.. Please post here if you will be able to make it so the event organizers can have an idea how many British Cars will be showing up