One of my fondest MINI-related memories is the very first drive I ever participated in with DCMM - it was the Spring Fling, created by Bruce (mty_mini), and organized with help from Jen (who was our event coordinator at the time). This all happened on Sunday, April 24, 2005... only 6 or 7 weeks after I picked up my brand new MINI. Alan (Scavenger), who was getting his first exposure to the MINI, came along as my co-pilot.

Meeting at 9:30am in the Sterling Wegmans parking lot (near MINI of Sterling), it was fun to meet a whole bunch of like-minded MINIacs all at once, for the first time. Little did I know just how much fun there was still to come... after grabbing some coffee and/or breakfast snacks from Wegmans.

The roads were beautiful and twisty, and was such an awesome experience to be in a long line of MINIs for the very first time. We stopped for lunch at Orlean Market Upperville, VA (in western Fauquier County), then continued on for wine tasting at Naked Mountain Vineyard & Winery after that, before heading all the way back to Wegmans.

It was a long day (128 miles or so!), but so nice. Needless to say, I am eager to do this run again. It's been 3 years, we're definitely overdue.

After much discussion and by popular demand, we're going to do this run twice! Once on Sunday, April 6 and again on Sunday, April 20. Here are the corresponding RSVP links:

Sunday, April 6 - Spring Fling 2008: Sunday Drive & Brunch (Rappa Edition)
Sunday, April 20 - Spring Fling 2008: Sunday Drive & Brunch (Naked Edition)

Everyone is welcome to attend both runs if they like - if so, be sure to RSVP for both!

WHERE TO MEET: Northeast corner of Sterling Wegmans parking lot (just down the street from MINI of Sterling)
WHEN TO MEET: 9:30am on the date of the run. Driver's meeting is at 9:50am, and we will be departing at 10am SHARP, so be on time!
WHAT TO BRING: Your MINI , a 2-way radio (configured for Channel 7, Sub 21), a full tank of gas, money for lunch (Griffin Tavern & Restaurant menu) & wine tasting (optional: $7.50 per person on the 6th, $4 per person on the 20th). Also, if you aren't a current DCMM member: $5 fee required per vehicle (why not join the club instead? )

Each driver will be required to sign a waiver - attached below (EDIT: waivers removed, post-event) - if you like, you can print it in advance and bring it already filled out. I will also bring blank ones on the day.

This will be my first time leading a DCMM run (not counting a drive to MOTD in 2006), but I have already done a couple of dry runs and plan on doing another one before the 6th. My plan is to follow the original route as closely as possible, although I've already determined we have to stop at a different place for lunch. I've also made some minor modifications to make the route longer and even more interesting.

For those interested or curious:

Original Spring Fling thread
Original route sheet - This is NOT the exact route we'll be driving this year, so it's just for information

Rappa Edition detailed RSVP list (including extra passengers & wine tasting preference) is in post #91 (here).
Naked Edition detailed RSVP list (including extra passengers & wine tasting preference) is in post #303 (here).

EDIT: Now that the event is over, I have attached the final route sheet document. Note that I made some minor edits to the Rappa Edition route after the event concluded - very small changes which we did adopt for the Naked Edition... if you want the exact route that we ran for the Rappa Edition, contact me.

 

Thanks for bring this event back to life.

I heard tons of good things about the run and would love to be able to join.

If interested, please have your name on the rsvp list.

RSVP

 

Chris - just be aware we might want to bump the date to the following weekend, depending on the response, whether I have enough time to prepare, and reservation availability for our large group at both establishments.

Also, I'm leaning towards doing it on a Sunday again. We have so many events on Saturdays, I think we should have some Sunday events too! (the original Spring Fling was on a Sunday, so it would be appropriate here)

 

The tentative date's been changed to Sun, April 6th.

 

I'm certainly looking forward to it! It was a great run from what I remember. I met a lot of nice folks that day and saw just what the MINI can do and how much fun it is.

 

LOTS of Sunday events please! The more of those we have the more I MIGHT be able to convince Jay and Soulfire out to join us!I am interested if I didn't have to WORK saturday night!

 

Will all depend on work schedule. Bruce put the route together. I was event coordinator at the time. We had a nice brunch that day....I ran out of clings.......

 

Sounds like a great event, and since it's in VA...even better. I'd also like to see a few Sunday events as well; only because i still have to work on Saturday's. (trying to change that however)

 

Yay! If it's a Sunday I'm In! (I work on Saturdays) April 6 works for me!

I would love to bring Buddha out for a GTG and prove to him he isn't the only MINI on the planet.

Although I am not (yet) a member, I would love to help plan the route. I know a LOT of nice roads out there since I work out that way. Edge, I have sent you a pm regarding this...

 

Hi Edge, sounds like you might even get to lead it in a MINI!

Sounds like a 'born again run' for Mr OEM!

 

I'm in if I can get in (the driver's seat).

Might be too soon following surgery to drive.

Will have to play it by knee.

I seventh the suggestion for more Sundays.

 

sounds like a plan..we need more runs in VA...if nothing else, to stop the bickering...

Perhaps we need 2 event co-ordinators..1 for MD, and 1 for VA

 

I nominate creseida for the VA coordinator.

*runs out of the room*

 

gotta be a member first...

 

Oops! Corrected in my first post.

OK, it's a done deal... this event will definitely be held on a Sunday.

Target date: Sunday, April 6
Alternate date: Sunday, April 20

Which date we end up with will depend largely on my ability (or those assisting) to do some dry runs, and to coordinate the lunch & winery stops with the respective establishments...

Oh, and the weather. If the weather looks really crappy leading up to the 6th, we might push it to the 20th anyway.

 

I think that's a good thought. The club is large enough and covers a large geographic area. I also think Sunday would be a good day for this run. Traffic might be lesser as well. I'm going to contribute to the route even if for some reason I'm unable to actually attend due to school workload... but, hopefully I can make it

 

We might be able to make this one. It would give us an opportunity to meet some of those strange Virginia people we've heard so much about.

 

We'll be there

 

A Possible

 

More "event co-ordinator" might not be the key. Actually, we need more "organizers" who live in VA.

Event co-ordinator can only do so much, but if there is no one step up to organize events. It's not gonna happen.

We have quite a few events happened in MD in the past couple of months because we have a lot of active members who live in MD and willing to organize the events. Thanks to them, we have such a busy winter.

Thanks to Haemish to step in and make this event happen.

If interested, please have your name on the list.

RSVP

 

Where do we send our contributions/suggestions for part of the route?

 

Why not? Come on, join us! Replied. Yours truly! Route changes will ONLY be made if there is a chance to try them out in a dry run and if they still make sense for the overall timing & destination.

 

I'm keeping an eye on this, though I'm not RSVPing too early. I seem to jinx myself when I do that.

If I do end up going I don't have 2-way radios though...

 

I'd say Skyline Drive, but since you have me on ignore, you won't see me post this

<runs from room>

 

Hi Everyone! I am new to NAM and have been reading a ton online and on DCMM about Mini's. My first (& brand new) mini should be here in about a week or two; making the big journey from Oxford. I would love to take part in an upcoming run in the VA/MD area. I live in MD now but not far from VA. The April 6th run date doesn't work for me. Can someone tell me any other dates for possible runs?
Thanks!