WRAPUP: 41 MINIs and a handful of others (BMWs, VW, and Ford) headed out to explore the back roads to Starved Rock. Lots of new people were out for their first drive with the club. The much anticipated Finnie Road stretch was unfortunately freshly covered in pea gravel so speeds were down, dust and debris were up. The weather was as good as it gets for this time of year. We were treated to VIP parking at the Grand Bear Resort and a breakfast buffet in a large dining hall. Afterwards, several people went out to explore Starved Rock, while others took off for parts unknown.

Thanks to IllinoisEuro for joining us on this drive, and a big thanks to Dustin for all the organizing and planning of this event!!

Please email me at steve@chicagominiclub.com with links to pictures, and I will add them here

Pictures by Dustin | Francis | MOE4Me | Eric | Dan | Steve | Jeffery |

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WRAPUP:

Here is a writeup of the Galena drive from Dustin:

Saturday started out great with 11 MINIs, great roads out to Galena area, we picked up one Iowa MINI along the way and found 3 at Chestnut Resort.

After a nice lunch and passing out the Event Stickers, designed by Paul R., most of us hit the Alpine Slide (something Dustin should have skipped LOL), great fun was had by all.

A few of us hit Irish Hollow Rd and headed to the Tower for the group photo.

At the Tower we had a dozen or more MINI’s. A few groups went to dinner together and enjoyed Galena for the night.

We had a MINI from Bloomington, Peoria, a few from Iowa and the rest of us from Chicagoland.

Sunday found some of us downtown Galena for shopping and lunch. At 1pm we had a dozen MINI’s for the Sunday routes.

Fun roads, light traffic and great weather.

We passed by a cow that had found her way across the fence, only to cross over the next hill and find a herd of goats breaking free across the road to “greener pastures”.

On the leg back to Rockford we found a big bald Eagle in flight.

A great event, great friends, and YES we are working on next years event and will post dates below ASAP.

Photos by: Rob & Lisa | More Rob & Lisa | Bruce & Becky |
Big thanks to Todd at Toddsmods.com for getting the stickers created on such short notice!!

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WRAPUP: Fantastic weather brought out over 2 dozen MNIS (plus a couple of really cool Minis). There were several new people out for their first event, and people from as far away as Madison, Wi and as far east as almost Indiana. We split up into a couple groups to enjoy fifty miles of empty back roads and entertaining curves. The faster group inadvertently split up into a couple smaller groups that “decided” to do some extra credit mileage.

We eventually all made it back to Blake’s place for burgers, dogs, chips, drinks and sweets as well as a chance to hang out and socialize.

Huge thanks to Dustin, Blake and all who helped plan, organize and test-run this event!!!

If you have links to pictures, send me an e-mail and I will put them here..

Photos by Steve | Francis | Michael | Tom |
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