Let's plan an August Fun Run...

GonePostalWV · #1 07-25-2008, 02:38 AM

OK folks, let's put together a plan for us to hook up as a group in a couple of weeks.

My next long weekend is the weekend of August 8 & 9. Some folks had problems
with getting together on a Sunday earlier this year, so let's pick a day that works well
for the majority.

All we need is a plan <g>.

I'll open up the floor to suggestions. I'm thinking a run to the mountains, to get away
from some of the August heat... but I'm open to anybody's thoughts on the subject.

This will give us a couple of weeks to save up to afford a tank of gas for a run <g>,
and to get our ducks in a row. Pass the word to anyone you think might be interested.
If you can't find a copilot for the run... use this as an opportunity to show
off your MINI to a friend <g>.

Heck, I've often thought of MINI's as herd animals.... they need a chance to get out
among there own kind before summer is over.... let's make it happen <g>.

MUShadd · #2 07-25-2008, 11:51 AM

im good to go at anytime...just take me to a nice smooth,secluded curvy road.

wvphoto · #3 07-28-2008, 05:55 PM

i have to work saturday..wedding..

off on sunday

i am game.

highj11158 · #4 07-28-2008, 06:15 PM

We are new to the board and to the Mini. We just got ours about a month ago and it loves the road closing in on the 3000 mile mark. Spent Sunday in the mountains east of Elkins, which is a nice run, but would like to try other runs.

GonePostalWV · #5 07-29-2008, 05:19 AM

Gas prices are falling... we've seen the occasional rain free weekend,
and it's time for us to get this Club out of the summer doldrums <g>.

So far I've had 4 folks respond to the fun run idea, and only one had
a definate problem with a date.

WVPhoto is not available for Saturday. Other than that, most seem
flexible so far. I'd say Sunday it is , unless we run in to a majority
that wouldn't be able to join us that day.

Let's get a plan formulated this week. I'm suggesting heading out towards
Hawks nest and the gorge. Any other thoughts are welcome, of course.

I need to PM BCski , MIniESQ , and others and see what's up with them that weekend...
and if this is enough notice to get something worked out.

I'll make this post brief.. and try to use it as a jumping off point for the discussion.

Let the brainstorming begin <g>.

MUShadd · #6 07-29-2008, 08:56 PM

i sent you a pm, but like i said, im very much available on weekends. also, the new MINI owners i mentioned are also free about anytime.

MiniEsq · #7 07-30-2008, 03:19 PM

I think I'm available that day.....my boyfriend is supposed to be at autocross and I was supposed to go with him but I can skip out on this one. I'll need to check my calendar at work to make sure but I think that's a day I can go.

BTW, I was at Snowshoe last weekend and the roads were very curvy....and fun....except that my skills on the curves clearly are not where my car wants them to be.

robinitis · #8 07-30-2008, 05:02 PM

I am not sure, I am in the middle of buying a house so money is even tighter. I will try my best to get out that day.

wv-mini · #9 07-31-2008, 04:44 AM

I should be able to make it.

GonePostalWV · #10 07-31-2008, 06:01 AM

I'm glad to see we may have found a day that works for most of us.

Any thoughts as to destination? I figured we'd do the originally planned
Hawks Nest/ New river gorge area run that was discussed earlier this year.
(And attended by three members not afraid of a little rain <g>... sorry again
that I missed it <g>)

Of course, that's an easy run that doesn't take that much planning, but would
still be fun. I'm open to any and all other suggestions of course.

Main parts of that run that I like are the thoughts of a string of MINI's heading
down to the base of the bridge, and the photo ops that would possibly ensue.

I tried to call BCSki yesterday to see if he could be free that day, but no luck.
I'll try again today. We may want to pick a drive heading more over his way.

MINI Esq. Any thoughts for over that direction? Or are you more up for something
different since you were just over that way? Also, was your BF in Charleston yesterday ,
by any chance? Saw a TT with an SCCA sticker on a side window
parked on my mail route. Started to leave a note just in case, but thought he'd think
I was more than a little ignorant <g>... not that that's stopped me in the past <g>.

Ideas are welcome. We've got a little over a week. Let's brain storm a bit.

Oh, and before I forget, Congrats on the new house Robin. Maybe a good drive
will help you deal with the stress such a huge event can cause <g>. Worth a shot
anyways <g>.

robinitis · #11 07-31-2008, 08:09 AM

Inspection is today, so we will see how it goes.

MiniEsq · #12 07-31-2008, 09:05 AM

My boyfriend was in Charleston yesterday with his red TT but his car was being serviced and I don't think he has an SCCA sticker in the side window. Maybe he does....I know he has a Dragon sticker and a couple of track stickers in the side window but I'll have to ask about the SCCA sticker.

Hawks Nest is fine for a run. We mainly were just around Snowshoe so I haven't been up to Hawks Nest in awhile. It's an easy route to plan (although not too easy to drive) and an easy fun route to get to (without spending a couple of hours on I64 first).

Speaking of my trip to Snowshoe, I was able to briefly see BCSki (I actually have some pics of our cars together that I should post). He's had some work issues - lost a superintendent or something - so he's been extremely busy with work. It's difficult for him to even get a minute to let people know how busy he is. I doubt he'll be able to make the run (he couldn't find the time to make it to autocross that was at Snowshoe last Saturday) but keep trying.

And speaking of autocross, there is an SCCA autocross event at Riverside (?) High School on the same day (Aug. 10). If we head up to Hawks Nest, it will be in the same area if anyone is interested in watching (or, if you want, heading over earlier and trying it).

MiniEsq · #13 07-31-2008, 11:21 AM

GonePostal - Was the TT black? My BF informs me that he does not have a SCCA sticker in his side window - just the Dragon sticker and the track stickers. But his friend, who lives in Charleston and had his TT out and about yesterday, has a black TT with a SCCA sticker in the side window.

MUShadd · #14 07-31-2008, 11:30 AM

hawks nest sounds perfect. ive not driven there much... but like i said, as long as its two lanes, and curvy, im game. good photo ops too.

GonePostalWV · #15 07-31-2008, 06:31 PM

Yup, it was the black one. I wasn't sure of your BF's TT's color, so thought
it might have been his.

Meant to mention I've been having a rash of MINI sightings in my area lately.
I've been in traffic behind another blue one, and passed a red one within a
block of my house the past couple of days. Also waived at a nice blue one
with the brit flag on the roof heading west on 64 near Hurricane earlier today <g>.

(Seems like none of them have recieved the memo about the MINI Wave <g>.)

They just look at me like I'm ignorant when I hang half out the window saying
hello <g>.

I'm really looking forward to sunday a week. We'll figure out where to meet up
during the next few days. If the weather is good, we might want to hook up at
the capitol complex for a quick photo op....

wvphoto · #16 07-31-2008, 07:45 PM

another good road is go up to montgomery and take the back road ..'deepwatermountain' ? i think..
goes to oak hill

its pretty fun too.

GonePostalWV · #17 08-01-2008, 05:52 AM

Went to Mapquest Beta and entered in the route:
Montgomery - Oak Hill - Hawk's Nest - Montgomery
http://beta.mapquest.com/#a/maps/l::...1:::::f:EN:m/e

and came up with a 70 mile "loop", with an approx. 2 hour
drive time. This would give us a bit more variety... only
question would be which way to head... clockwise, or
counterclockwise ?

We could deviate to the gorge somewhere on the run,
if everyone wanted to.

Any thoughts' , folks?

MiniEsq · #18 08-01-2008, 09:48 AM

All of it sounds good to me....the area is nice with lots of great roads (my college roommate lived in Oak Hill so I've driven the area several times) and the loop distance and time sounds about right. Good job with the suggestions and planning.

Unfortunately, I got news this morning that I will be serving as local counsel for a trial the following week. I'm only local counsel (which, in lawyer-speak, means I'm not doing the trial alone) but as I know absolutely nothing about this case, I may be stuck prepping with the general counsel (the non-WV attorney in charge) all weekend. I'll keep everyone posted about whether or not I'll be making it.

Stupid work! Don't they know that I am missing valuable time with my sweet Mini?!?!

MUShadd · #19 08-01-2008, 02:03 PM

the gorge is a must...def. worth the trip out of the way....btw, when is bridge day? dont want to get stuck in that mess.

MiniEsq · #20 08-01-2008, 02:22 PM

I don't know exactly but I'm sure Bridge Day is later in the fall.

MiniEsq · #21 08-01-2008, 02:25 PM

I haven't seen the route on a map (and I'm terrible at remembering road names) but it shouldn't be too difficult to work the gorge in. The Bridge (and the overlook) isn't too far on the Oak Hill side of Hawks Nest. It will take a brief detour from curvy roads but not for too long and I agree that it's worth it.

bucky082642 · #22 08-01-2008, 03:40 PM

Count me in for the Aug. 10th. run. My MINI has been asking when we can go "play" on a curvy road again. My wife can take a pill and hang on. She's much more understanding since we did the Dragon.

MUShadd · #23 08-01-2008, 07:34 PM

hehe, way to break them in on the Dragon, thats what i did. Looking forward to meeting you. And MINIesq, the pics of you and bcski are really cool...please tell me you actually got to meet him, and didnt just roll up beside his car and start snappin pics lol

MiniEsq · #24 08-03-2008, 11:39 PM

I actually got to meet BCSki but only briefly - he was very busy at work when I stopped by. Here are some other pics of my weekend. Officially, I was there for an Audi TT gathering but I managed to snap a few pics of the Mini too.
http://public.fotki.com/DogDodger/ca.../tt-east-2008/

GonePostalWV · #25 08-04-2008, 06:15 AM

Figured a good jumping off point for the run would be the state capitol
complex. This would also be a good place for a "MINI" photo op for the
folks that might get there a bit early <g>.

I'm going to try to get permission for us to bring our MINI's to an area
behind the "dome" near the copy of the Liberty Bell.... I've always thought
this would be a great place for a pic of a few MINI's together....

Would a planned "heading up the mountain" time be good for say Noon?
We could meet up between 11 and 12, giving us a fairly wide window
for anyone running a bit late.

This would also give everyone a chance to catch a good breakfast
before the start of the day. We could plan for earlier, or later, whatever
works for the majority.

(The Huntington/Hurricane contingent could caravan from the rest area
near Hurricane if anyone would want to.... or just meet at the capitol.)

Any other thoughts on the meeting place or times are of course welcome.

(OH, and a side note... weather is supposed to be EXCELLENT Sunday <g>)
(Upper 70's and 10 percent chance of rain. SUNNY !!!!)