July 25-27 MINI Takes The States Chicago

[Mr.BlueSky]

we found push-to-talk ear pieces for the radios at Gander Mtn.....yes, u have to push the little bottom pinned to your shirt, but a lot less obvious than using the radio itself...plus the bluetooth for the cell phone...chicago cops are ppiicckkyy about that, but stoked for tomorrow, see everyone at D&R or whatever stop you meet at.

-Chris-

[Professor Zoom]

What a neat drive (if I do say so myself) and fun event at the end. Some of my pictures have been posted on the MINICCI Flickr pool. (You know how I am with pictures. It great meeting everyone and seeing some new faces (and) MINIs. Thanks to those members of the Northwest Indiana Miniacs for dropping by to say "Hi" at Alabanese Confectionery and to Cliffy who helped lead the way through the "the Region."

[glmini]

Thanks to Prof. Zoom for putting on a great route and stops on the way to MTTS Friday Meet and Greet. We had a few new faces along for the ride.

The Meet and Greet had a great turnout and we the weather was perfect.

Although it was a long drive up to Road America, it was a great venue for the event. We had a couple of parade laps on the track with a couple of quick corners. The Blues Travelers put on a great show, although we did not stay for the whole show.

Good time.

[Professor Zoom]

After a slow start (thanks to Chicagoland traffic) We had a nice drive up to Road America and great time at the festival. It did seem like MINIUSA had learned a few things from the comments in Boston and Miami or it might have been that we ended up arriving later than initially planned so we didn't have much down time. Missed out on go-kart rides but did get a short drive of a JCW Factory MINI. Really enjoyed the concert (even picked up a copy on USB drive).

[brooksb]

I have to say that I was very disappointed in the MTTS Chicago, and was wondering if anyone has a Mini contact email that I can vent to. I went up with my usual navigator, my 9-year-old son. The route to Elkhart Lake could have been much more creative than construction-laden interstates. Once we got to Road America, I found out my son couldn't even ride with me on the Mini Cross, nor could he do the go-karts. We did the kiddie carnival activities after listening to the band Cyberus use the "f-word" in their second song, and split after about a half hour. The rallies in Indy are much better planned and much more family-friendly! If anyone out there has any contact email addresses or phone numbers, I'd be most appreciative.

Beth Brooks
2005 Astro Black (Stella)

[MINI Fireman]

Contact MINI Customer Relations at 1-866-ASK MINI.

[Mr.BlueSky]

My take was a pretty good time...I loved the Route planned up to Chicago with MINICCI, wonderful job...the farm was AWESOME, wonderful grilled cheese....gummy bears were great with what had to have been the world's largest fondu (spelling?)...as far as MINIUSA's route...well the "escort" out of Chicago was a joke..more of two crossing guards stopping traffic out of the zoo...at lambs far we took 41 back to the interstate, but got caught at lights and the MINIUSA people didnt wait for us, so we relyed on GPS...well GPS go us close but we didnt have an address....No signs letting us know were Gate 4 exactly was...could be planned better next time, but good time once we FINALLY got into Road America, good to meet new friends, and see neat cars.....next time, MTTS at a motorspeedway all 3 days, or at least in the same city

[jbkone]

Hello from Florida's Panhandle! I had to register just to say THANKS! ;D

What a trip. Agree with Chris... the ride into Chicago from Indy was fabulous... the ride from Chicago to Road America was not. Should have taken that left turn at... anywhere! The traffic was horrible.

Thanks guys for making our trip that much better! you're great MINI people and I'm glad to know ya. And even gave us a free radio! wow!
(mr zoom... i think dana was dropping your radio off at the dealer)

Saw Father and Son travelling South on our way up Sunday morning. Thanks for that brilliant ride on the track! Send me some video.

Have fun in LA... I won't make it, but I'll think of ya.


OH, and my pics are uploaded to: www.flickr.com/photos/28120397@N03/
You'll find my Miami MTTS 08 pics there too. enjoy. (camera wasn't focusing really well or I'd have gotten better ones)

[jbkone]

You guys recognize these cars? found on flickr ;D


from this guy's flickr photos:
www.flickr.com/photos/eric_n_carol/

[deucecoupe]

Had a fantastic time. Spent my Friday cleaning up the car and preparing for the event. Met up with some members in Chicago. Ended up leaving early to go home to sleep (only an hour away) an hour early still working on Indiana time. Did this several times through the event when my nephew started to remind me. My nephew, Mitch, was my navigator and a good thing too since traffic was well you were all there. With a combination of new iPhone and Garmin we survived 90/94 on Friday and at the rest stop on Saturday found a fast route around the traffic where we reconnected with the highway. We had a blast. He couldn't go on the track so he didn't get to ride with me when we had that stop and GOOOO fun (rung out third gear on one of them and several fun corners...would have liked a fully fast lap of the course). After that Mitch made the fastest lap on the kart course in the last hour and won the Griot's Garage car care kit thing they were handing out (I'm kind of jealous). The next day I nearly got black flagged because he and I were gonna try to repeat it. Aparently some slow pokes got on the track and were holding the few fast kart drivers up. After giving it several good shots (he had better accel because I'm big and fat...but I had a better line so it was a good shoot out) and having the black flag pointed at me I decided it was enough. We ran down and tried the autox corse. It turns out that was his favorite part of the weekend. Had lunch (just in time for that big crash as we were getting ready to leave). Down to RideMakerz (mine doesn't seem to be running properly) and home. Could have wished for some more events (would have been much better if they had actually used their brains when planning that drive up to the track). All in all can't wait for 2010

[Professor Zoom]

Finally back from MTTS: Chicago & L.A. Really think of the two the Chicago event was the best. Comparing the opening events I think L.A. was better- it was held at the Jillian's in Universal Citywalk (think Downtown Disney) which made it a more confined space, but with more to do. The drives in Chicago both up and back from Road America were amusing... I think MINIUSA did a great job once you arrived, but for a car company, getting there was an issue. After the traffic problems on Saturday they decided to avoid the city completely on Sunday, taking everyone out on backroads then to Rockford, fortunately we didn't follow the route entirely and arrived before the main group. As we heard some people say, when we were driving the backroads of Wisconsin, "This would have been a nice drive up avoiding all the traffic." We didn't participate in the drives in L.A. (being MINI-less) but it seemed that while a simple route, I heard some comments about clutches and hills. L.A. had more space but was just a parking lot. This didn't help the heat at all. Vendor wise different folks, but the majority of space in L.A. seemed to be taken up by Fireball Tim. Ridemakerz was there (the niece and nephew loved that) but they don't have a store in CA so guess what I now have on my list of things to do? The "autocross" was just that, but most L.A. drivers have no idea how to drive stick so by the end of Saturday all you could smell was burned out clutches. I did get my dad and brother into a MINI to try and did a lap of the autocross in a JCW with my dad which was... interesting. Most people left before sunset so Vertical Horizon played to a very small group and MINIUSA. Concert finished earlier than advertised and we headed off to the pub in our rental Chevy. Photos of both events are posted on my Flickr

[Professor Zoom]

Aug 2, 2008 18:13:51 GMT -5 deucecoupe said:

All in all can't wait for 2010

Why wait? MINI United in the U.K. 2009 celebrating 50 years of MINI. ;D