Chicago Auto Show

We are still working on plans for the Chicago Auto Show.

The tentative plans are for either Saturday or Sunday morning February 13th or 14th. 

We will again be doing a morning group drive down Sheridan road and Lake Shore Drive for anyone who is interested.

Stay tuned to this website for special information as soon as it comes through…

Kart Racing January 31

Indoor Kart Racing

Our Annual indoor kart racing event returns in 2010 with a new venue, new racing format, and new prices!!

WRAPUP:  36 people showed up ready to do battle at Melrose Park Indoor Grand Prix.  After an orientation we headed out to the track, and broke into 3 groups doing 4 races each on the large track.  Many people hung out afterwards for pizza, conversation and bench racing. 

Club Fast Guy awards go to Adam for turning in a blistering 32.67 lap, and Matt was a close second at 32.78

Huge thanks to Brett at Melrose Park Indoor Grand Prix for coming out on his day off to get us going, and for making this such a fun event. 

Please send links to photos or video to steve@chicagominiclub.com and I will add them here.

Photos and video by: Steve

Check it out..

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Starved Rock 11/22

WRAPUP: The 6th annual Starved Rock drive is in the books, and it was an amazing trip.  The late November weather turned out beautiful, and we wound up with 37 MINIs lining up at the beginning of the drive.  Our first stop was to the Minooka BMW/MINI Distribution Center where we were welcomed with open arms by many of the staff who came in on their day off, as well as the Mayor of Minooka!!  We were treated to donuts, cookies, fruit and drinks and given an overview of what the distribution center was all about.  There was a MINI quiz, with MINI caps awarded to the winners.  We then took a tour of the center to see where things were shipped, stocked, and packed.  It was impressive to see how clean and efficient everything was.  We then lined up our cars for a group photo opp, and were presented with a framed poster signed by all the distribution center employees (and we signed another poster that will be displayed at the center).  Next stop was a quick lunch at the Minooka Culvers where we took over the dining area and parking lot.  We then headed out on some quiet back roads to visit the Windmill farms near Marseilles for a quick photo stop and on to the final leg to Starved Rock State Park.

Huge thanks to Jeff and Broderick from MINIUSA and Robert, Carla and all the staff from the Distribution Center for treating our club so well and arranging such a fantastic visit, and to Gary for help with ideas and planning for the drive route!!

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

Photos by: TomSteve, Paul and Kim, Pat and Kathy  | Paul | Kevin and Carolyn | Jerry, Laurel & SarahSue | Kes | Francis |

Video by:  Tom part1 | part2 |

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Wisconsin Overnighter info

Here are some more new details for our Wisconsin overnight drive to New Glaris.Check out this post and this post for earlier information..

WRAPUP:  19 MINIs  met up at the Beloit rest stop on a cold and drizzly morning.  The weather alternated from sunny to cloudy to rainy, but the roads were 100% fantastic the whole time.  Lots of twists and turns, ups and downs and very little traffic.  We pulled into Monroe and filled up the top level of the parking garage, and then proceeded to enjoy the Chili festival and other area attractions.   After lunch and picking up a few more MINIs, we headed off to more twisty back roads.  A fun attraction on this portion was a herd of cows galloping around the field, excited to see a herd of MINIs zipping past.  Our end of the day stop was a tour of New Glarus Brewery.  The following morning we said goodbye to a few people spending the day in the area, and welcomed a few new MINIs along for the drive.  After a fun and twisty drive to Mount Horeb, we enjoyed another town festival for a while, and off for the final leg to Monroe and a stop at a cheese factory.

Huge thanks to Paul and Barbara for the tremendous amount of planning and organizing that he put in to make this such a fantastic event!!  It was great to have so may people involved from all the area MINI (and Mini) clubs.  Thanks for coming out for a really fun weekend!!

Please e-mail links of photos to steve@chicagominiclub.com and I will add them here.

Photos by: Steve,Kathy & Pat, Paul&Kim | Kes | Dan | Arnie & Lena | Kevin & Carolyn | Sarah, Jerry and Laurel

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