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Is it me, or do you think it is weird that no one has posted in this forum yet. MME 2007 is only a little ways away from "The Dragon", a little ways away from Dollywood, a little ways away from Virginia Beach AND it is during PRIME vacation season...........
I have tenative plans to go. I plan on not only seeing the local (above mentioned) sites but also want to hang out with other MINI owners. There is a rally, an autocross, show and shines, funkahana, banquets and the like............
I have been to two MINI meets so far and they are truely lots of fun.
I have my reservation made, and plan to make this my 3rd Mini Meet East. I put this on my calandar as soon as I knew it was in Dragon territory. I could not make it to MOTD because of other obligation, so I figured I could not miss this opportunity.
I'm already registered and have my room reserved. I've been to the last two MMEs and wouldn't miss this one for the world...especially since it is so near to another day at the Dragon.
I hope to see all you guys there!! I think I may be taking the whole week before the 4th off so we can do The Dragon, Dollywood and the other sites and finish up at MME on the weekend, then back to MI.
Crashton, I am with you. Hmmmm.....money for the track.....or money for MME.........well, I gotta tell ya, the autocross is pretty fun and so is the rally (it is AWESOME to show those "biased" "original" MINI owners what the new MINI's can do - sorta knocks that chip off their shoulder). Maybe you can just come for those few days to throw your car around? The concourse and vendor displays were a little boring for me because I would rather be driving, racing, etc then showing off how clean and pretty my car is. Though I wash it at least twice a week, mine is usually the dirtiest at any event. In fact, when I went to the "Italian Job Stunt Track" opening at Paramount, my car was the dirtiest in the lot and still had my racing numbers on the windows with shoe polish............everyone else got there early to wash their car, but BIG BEN was dirty, numbered, and proud of it!!!
Just remember that it was those "biased" Mini owners who helped to create the Mini craze in the first place. They were the ones to first promote the Mini at car shows and hit the tracks and do the rally thing, so, even though our "new" MINIs glisten with new colors and are more powerful, etc., I guess we shouldn't chortle just because what we are driving now is the "MINI of the future". All too soon, we will be the next generation of MINIs to be called "biased" by an even newer MINI generation.
Glad to see you all are coming. I live not to far from the site so I don't plan on staying at the hotel. Although I may have to make a few late night drives.
And don't worry Big Ben I want hold your biased comments against you, not all Mini owners are biased some of us are Biminiual. Hope too see you all in a couple of months!
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Thanks, Jim Stars and Stripes Gone but not forgotten!
Thanks minigma for refraining from commenting on my "biased comment" welchmenwillnotyeild mentioned. Maybe he took it the wrong way, but my words were intended to suggest that the newer mini owners were not as welcomed into the minifold by everyone at MME. My friends and I experienced some cold shoulders (at the MME in OH) as a result of us having NEW minis.
I however, am very pleased to see other mini's after mine, the more fans the car has, the better. I would be friendly to anyone who is a fan, old or new............
I did not take BigBen's comment the "wrong" way at all...was merely pointing out that today's MINI owes it ALL to yesteryear's Mini. Perhaps that in itself is the reason that some original Mini owners are biased. As for getting the cold shoulder at Ohio's MME due to owning a "new" MINI, again, you must realize that MME never welcomed the "new" MINI until awhile after it came onto the scene, but I think most Mini owners see us as equals who merely have newer cars. Sure, there are some people who will always try to make an issue out of our MINIs being made by BMW and not by Rover, Morris, Austin, British Leyland or whomever, but that's just the way it is. While I was at one Ohio BCD a few years ago, I even had one jerk call the officials over and try to DQ my "new" MINI, because of the BMW prefix.... He was politely told by them to "get over it"...that times change, and that we are STILL MINI.
We "new" MINI owners will probably continue to "get the look" by the purists in the Mini world and especially at carshows, but sooner or later even THEY will come around...or just die off.
We "new" MINI owners will probably continue to "get the look" by the purists in the Mini world and especially at carshows, but sooner or later even THEY will come around...or just die off.
Well said! I own a classsic by chance and Family. I desire to own a MINI also. Until I am able to afford to buy what I want. I will just desire what others have. I was at the Ohio Mini meet and realize what the classic mini owners were doing. We as organizers of the 07 MME are trying not to cause any tension but realize there will be those who cause it any way. I can probably name a few that will start it but I won't as I hope they may change their ways although I don't expect it. I will say that, the majority of organizers own both New and Old. The rest have the Biminiual spirit. We will NOT organize any classic only events but thats not to say that someone outside of our organization won't try to organize a classic only drive as happened recently at Spring Thing in Jacksonville Fl. in feb. I can only hope we can all find a way to get along.
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Thanks, Jim Stars and Stripes Gone but not forgotten!
Hmmm...you were at the Spring Thing, too, eh? I didn't bring my Cooper to that...brought the MCS, instead, to get some miles on it. Yeah, I remember the crap that guy pulled...organizing a fun rally ONLY for Classics and not allowing the "new" MINIs to participate. Oh well...that's HIS problem, although I understand it is one he seems to have had all his life! We ALL got along just fine last year at MME on the fun rally!
I'm looking forward to coming to MME in TN this year, but again, will bring the MCS and not the Cooper. The Cooper has REALLY done itself proud at the last two MMEs...2nd place in '05 [at Dublin, OH], and 1st place in '06 [at Frederick, MD]. It's time to give it a rest...at least for this year. I'll take my chances with thr MCS...may not win, but, heck, I'd rather spread the wealth and just enjoy myself with my friends and drive thru the great scenery and roads in the area...again!
I was not at Spring thing this year I was recovering from surgery so didn't get to go. I just got the low down from the other guy involved in that mess. I guess the only reason I get to go to MME this year is that we live here.
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Thanks, Jim Stars and Stripes Gone but not forgotten!
We were at MME in Dublin. Great event. We were there with a 2002 MCS and had a blast. No one gave us a hard time about having a new Mini. Classics still outnumber, but in time that may change. Rally was great. Many of the attendees are BiMinual but take the classic. Only a few are stuck up about it, and they are growing fewer (or quieter). I wouldn't worry about it.
This year we will have to skip it... don't have the vacation time and were just there last year for the international MG meet in Gatlinburg....1200 MGs.
Post pics when you get back so I can live vicarously through those lucky enough to be able to attened.
I sent in my registration today. Anybody else from Mid Ohio headed down? You know the road through the Smoky Mountains Nat'l Park isn't quite The Dragon, but it's a great drive. We'll be close!
I sent in my registration today. Anybody else from Mid Ohio headed down? You know the road through the Smoky Mountains Nat'l Park isn't quite The Dragon, but it's a great drive. We'll be close!
I'm in Piqua...wifey and I are headed down a day early, I think. We went to the Spring Thing in Jacksonville earlier this year and she really liked the old and new Minis. She'll enjoy this too, and I've even convinced her to ride the Dragon with me!
I missed the Dragon this weekend due to an accident at work (broken collar bone etc) which i'd been planning since last May,so i thought i'd make some of it up by going to this,never been.Whats it like? Anything like the Dragon as far as activities? Looked at website,really didn't see much except car show and links to Dragon and other areas in Tn.How far is the Dragon? I looked on map,it doesn't appear too far.Do people make the drive over to the Dragon that weekend? Sorry for all the questions,its just that i've been used to the Dragon and all it's activities the last 3 years and have gotten to love it and was looking for something similar.Thanks in advance.
Bill
__________________ [/SIGPIC]2003 MCS IB/W, AERO,ALL PKG,CRAVEN 15%,ALTA 2%,DDM CAI,ALTA INTERCOOLER AND DIVERTER,WILWOOD BBK,H-SPORT SPRINGS,CRAVEN POD W/BOOST/H2O TEMP,HELIX S/S,BORLA CATBACK(RACE) RED TOW HOOK,MSD COIL,MSD WIRES,IX PLUGS,GOODRIDGE S/S LINES,FALKEN RT 615'S ON DRAG DR-9's,REAR SEAT DELETE,19MM REAR BAR,H-SPORT REAR ARMS.
At the MME website is the organizer's contact info. I called him up to see what it would be like. He's a nice guy and was able to answer my questions.
No, the Dragon isn't "too far" from Alcoa. But as you know (from living in NC), sometimes there isn't an easy way to get from here to there. Also remember that there is almost always a "(insert motor vehicle here) on the Dragon" - sport bikes, porsches, vettes, you name it. I am planning on taking the trip across the Smoky Mountain National Park, starting at Sugarlands visitor center, and heading over to Cherokee, with a trip up to Clingman's Dome. I've done that trip on my bicycle and it's beautiful. There are all sorts of streams to wade in and picnic spots on the way. Plus there are lots of places to rent inner tubes and drift down a stream.
You can also just get a TN Gazeteer (book that has county roads) and find your own Dragon! Just remember to watch for gravel/dirt roads.
But...
...if you see a weird looking kid playing the banjo on the front porch of a run-down shack, just keep on driving! (Sorry, I couldn't resist the reference to Deliverance!)
Thanks,sounds like i'm headin' to Alcoa! Are there any activities like at the Dragon, swap meet,vendor installs,welcome dinner,music or group photo?Are they keeping track of how many are coming,registering and so on?
Bill
__________________ [/SIGPIC]2003 MCS IB/W, AERO,ALL PKG,CRAVEN 15%,ALTA 2%,DDM CAI,ALTA INTERCOOLER AND DIVERTER,WILWOOD BBK,H-SPORT SPRINGS,CRAVEN POD W/BOOST/H2O TEMP,HELIX S/S,BORLA CATBACK(RACE) RED TOW HOOK,MSD COIL,MSD WIRES,IX PLUGS,GOODRIDGE S/S LINES,FALKEN RT 615'S ON DRAG DR-9's,REAR SEAT DELETE,19MM REAR BAR,H-SPORT REAR ARMS.
In fact, when I went to the "Italian Job Stunt Track" opening at Paramount, my car was the dirtiest in the lot and still had my racing numbers on the windows with shoe polish............everyone else got there early to wash their car, but BIG BEN was dirty, numbered, and proud of it!!!
He was politely told by them to "get over it"...that times change, and that we are STILL MINI.
[/SIGPIC]2003 MCS IB/W, AERO,ALL PKG,CRAVEN 15%,ALTA 2%,DDM CAI,ALTA INTERCOOLER AND DIVERTER,WILWOOD BBK,H-SPORT SPRINGS,CRAVEN POD W/BOOST/H2O TEMP,HELIX S/S,BORLA CATBACK(RACE) RED TOW HOOK,MSD COIL,MSD WIRES,IX PLUGS,GOODRIDGE S/S LINES,FALKEN RT 615'S ON DRAG DR-9's,REAR SEAT DELETE,19MM REAR BAR,H-SPORT REAR ARMS.
