MINI Takes the States 2010

Every two years MINIUSA puts on a giant party to celebrate MINI. This year there will be multiple starting points around the country and everyone will converge on Denver Colorado.

Chicago will be one of the starting cities!! The festivities will be starting all day Sunday August 8th and Monday morning August 9th will be the departure for the first leg of the trip to Indianapolis.

Photos by: Steve, Pat + Kathy | MINIUSA |

Details are just starting to come out.

The event is flexible.. You can choose which parts to attend, leave with a group or on your own, or you can meet the caravan in the middle of the route.

Add a comment below letting everyone know your plans and hopefully we can coordinate plans!!

Main MINI Takes the States Site

Day by day route map

Chicago Sunday and Monday event times and locations

Registration page

MTTS 2010 Flickr group

UPDATE 08/01/2010: PDF of Route details and more

UPDATE 08/02/2010: Anyone interested in participating in the BBQ in Indianapolis after the lap of the track, please RSVP to Shannon Grimm at: MINIGREETERS@DREYERREINBOLD.COM

Also keep an eye on Motoringfile for news and updates as they happen.

Cubs Brewers Game reminder

There are only a couple tickets remaining for the Cubs vs. Brewers baseball game up in Milwaukee on September 11th.

We will be doing a group drive from Chicagoland, meeting up with the Milwaukee club and tailgating in the parking lot before the game.

If you are interested, check out this link for all the info and get the registration form in the mail as soon as possible!!

If you already have tickets on your own and would still like to tailgate with us, e-mail steve@chicagominiclub.com for additional details.

Superdawg 5/21

MINI Cooper Superdawg

WRAPUP: A bit of early evening drizzle did not dampen the enthusiasm for hanging out at the worlds coolest Hot Dog place. 40 MINIs, Mini, Lotus, and a few other cars showed up over the evening from such faraway places as Madison, Milwaukee, and even New Jersey (plus a bunch of people from much closer). A really great evening to hang out and visit, look at cool cars, have some great food, and enjoy each others company.

Huge thanks to Arnie for making all the arrangements to provide for such a fun evening, even though he was unable to attend..

Please send links to photos to steve@chicagominiclub.com , and I’ll add them here.

Photos by: Steve |

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BMW/MINI Distribution Center

WRAPUP: Over 40 BMWs and MINIs met for a perfect Saturday Morning drive to the BMW/MINI Distribution Center in Minooka. We were treated to snacks and fruit, and a presentation of the workings of the Distribution Center. We then took a tour of the center with an in depth description of the workings of hoow the parts are brought in, stored, picked, and readied for delivery to over 30 area MINI and BMW dealerships. After a wonderfull lunch, there was a raffle for many gifts and we all lined up for a group photo. Huge thanks to Robert, Carla, and all the staff who volunteered their day to show us such a great time, and to Meg from the Windy City BMW Club for organizing the event and inviting the CMMC to participate!!

Send links to photos to steve@chicagominiclub.com and I will add them here.

Photos by: Steve and Peter| Meg (requires creating a free account) | Jeff |

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Axels Automotive 05/01

Axels Automotive

WRAPUP: 15 or so MINIs headed out for a beautiful morning drive up Sheridan Road. We reached our destination at Axels Automotive and were joined by another half dozen or so MINIs (and Mini). After some visiting and food we went into the Shop area and were treated to demos of a rear brake rotor and pad change, alignment and road force tire balancing. We were able to ask questions, and see all the details up close and in person. Nick and Axel even checked out a few other problems on peoples cars. They then fired up the grill and treated us to cheeseburgers, drinks and chips.

What a great chance to hang out and learn a bunch about our MINIs! Huge thanks to Axel, Nick and their entire crew for opening up their place to us, and taking such good care of our club.

E-mail links to photos to steve@chicagominiclub.com and I will add them here:

Photos by: Steve and Axel | Gary D. | Matt |

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Spring Drive April 17th

WRAPUP: Almost 70 MINIs from The Chicago MINI Motoring Club, Milwaukee MINIs, M.I.N.I. and Northwest Indiana MINIacs participated on an epic drive to the to the Jelly Belly factory and then on to Lake Geneva. The weather was cool but sunny. We explored many twisty curvy roads, and everybody got lost at least once on the drive (and a few people, more than once) but a great time was had by all. Lots of old MINI friends and new MINI friends made for a fun lunch hangout after we invaded most of the remaining empty parking spaces around Lake Geneva.Huge thanks to the many people who put in a great effort to make such a fun event.. Paul for the route (except for the wrong turn listed on the beginning directions, which was my contribution), Jenny for working on lunch arrangements, and Rose for bringing coffee and donuts for everyone in the morning. Tom reported a large success collecting items for the two hospitals!!Send links of your photos to steve@chicagominiclub.com and I will post them here..

Video by: Tom G. Part1 | Tom G. Part2 |

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