Denver to Dragon Caravan, III'd edition
 

Yes, the Denver to Dragon Caravan will happen again this year. Actually, this year it will be the

"Denver to Omaha to St Louis to Columbus (IN) to Maryville to Dragon Caravan and Roadfood Tasting Tour". We are making every effort to take as many back roads (better Motoring) and as few Interstates (boring Motoring) as possible, getting to the Dragon. Our agenda:

Saturday, April 28th - Leave Denver headed to Omaha. Arrive new MINI dealership in Omaha late that day. First stop Kearney, Nebraska Luke and Jake's for the Giant Stuffed Potato. Also Kaleb's Frozen Kustard in the same building. Then on down Hwy 30 to Omaha. That evening, GTG at the NEW Markel MINI Cooper Dealer (just opened March 3) with members of C.O.R.N. and anyone who wants to join the caravan.

Sunday, April 29th - Omaha to StL via backroads in Missouri. Southbound from Omaha, we will follow the river down towards KC and lunch at Arthur Bryant's World Famous BBQ (18th and Brooklyn) www.ArthurBryantsBBQ.com . Follow this by a short tour of the Jazz District in KC (just around the corner). Yes, this is the ORIGINAL location, not the new one out at KS Speedway. Then on to St Louis and dinner with StL MINIs. Of course...Italian Dinner on the Hill at Gino's on Hampton. Yum. Then of course, frozen yogurt at Ted Drewe's ( www.teddrewes.com ) at 6726 Chippewa. Then nighty night.

Monday, April 30th - Backroads only...StL to Columbus, IN via Indianapolis and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. Short Tour for MINIs and Minis then head down south. Dinner in rustic Nashville, IN. at the Story Inn, Indiana's oldest country inn. Reservations required so be sure to let us know if you are joining. Meetup with MINICCI members and DW from Ohio. Enjoy a leisurly dinner then back roads to Columbus (not far) and a nice evening rest.

Tuesday, May 1st - Columbus, IN to Knoxville area (Sevierville). Route today has us going south from Columbus, IN towards Madison, IN then westbound a bit towards Louisville and Churchhill Downs. Remember, this IS Derby Week and it will be all made up for us. www.KentuckyDerby.com . Maybe a stop at the Kentucky Derby Museum. They race, don't they? Southbound to the Natural Bridge State Park east of Lexington, then lunch in Corbin, KY at the ORIGINAL Colonel Sanders Cafe (yes, that of fried chicken fame) then on towards the Smoky Mountain area. Overnight and rest up in Sevierville, TN.

Wednesday, May 2nd - Tour d' Smokies and early arrival at Fontana Village. A few trips on the Dragon.
Thursday, May 2nd - Do the Dragon, Welcome Dinner, etc. The fun begins.

Friday and Saturday as prescribed by the Dragon agenda.

Sunday, May 5th - Melancholy farewells and head back to Denver, sadly via the Interstate.

Monday night, May 6th - Arrive Denver, late, tired, disorderly, and exhausted.

Wanna join us along the way? Let us know. Please post here or in the MINI5280 Forum, Dragon Caravan thread.

And, if you have suggestions for good Roadfood along our route, just let us know. And if it is a chain, we are not interested. We ARE out there is search of the holy grail of foods, the Pork Tenderloin Sandwich.

See you there, or along the way.

Jonathan Souza
Coordinator, MITM2 MINIs in the Mountains II aka CR2C Coopers Return to Copper. August 9-12, 2007 at Copper Mountain Resort, Colorado.

JPS

First stop Kearney, Nebraska Luke and Jake's I recomend the Giant Stuffed Potato. Also Kaleb's Frozen Kustard in the same building. Then on down Hwy 30 to Omaha.

Sunday, after dinner on the Hill in St Louis
 

there will be fro-yo at Ted Drewe's.....world famous in St. Louis.

JPS

Here is a link for Ted's

Post HERE if you will join us at Markel MINI
 

in Omaha, at the reception - on Saturday night, June 28th....on the way to the Dragon.

Jsouza Jonathan Souza
Pauhana Rick Gonzales
WWW Whitlow Wong
Zyamfier Jim Petersen
HotRodPilot Rich Tucker

YOUR NAME HERE....

JPS

Jonathan,
I got a call from Jeremy at Markel a couple of days ago wanting to know how many cars we would have at the dealership on Satuday. I don't know what to expect. Who knows what a new dealership will come up with. I told him at this point we had five but that # may grow. There have been a few phone calls lately several people are showing an interest in the trip locally.

How AWESOME! I'll be visiting my sister in Geneva NE at that time and would love to tag long through the backroads. I'm going to split off in St Loius though, because I want to stop by and see the Bowling Green, KY Corvette Museum and Plant tour. I'll be joining up on Saturday night at the new MINI dealership

+1 - Rich Tucker

Rich, you are welcome to join us
 

for any or all. Keep an eye on this thread, as well as our 'official' one in the MOTD forums.

Looks like we leave Denver on Saturday AM, via Hwy 34 or the Interstate to Minden, then the back roads to Omaha and the dealer reception. The next day, to StL (and a wonderful Italian dinner) via either Iowa or MO, have not totally decided.

Plan to see you somewhere along the way....and don't forget to order your own DRAGON license plate, available any moment now in the MOTD forums.....

JPS

I have the perfect place for that plate.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...the_Dragon.JPG
I knew that extra plate holder would come in handy someday!
Rich great to see another MINI wants to join us along the way. Like Jonathan said keep an eye out here for the route and contact info as time draws near.

The plastic plate itself is a bit thin
 

and is designed to go on the full frame on the front or back bumper. Therefore, save an old plate, we will just mount them back back and it will not suffer wind damage.

JPS

I had to make backer plates for the Nebraska plate as well. We used to have stamped plates then they switched to printed plates that are thin. So anyway I am ready for the plate.

OK looking at logistics,
In case you were not aware I made a trip to Denver this weekend. Took me exactly 5 hours from Minden to the end of I-76 That was with one fuel stop and a couple short stops.

Took off this morning on the way back and went this way:

I-70 > Byers > 36 > Norton, KS > 383 > Alma, NE > 183 > Holdrege > 6/34 > Minden

That route took just 5-1/2 hours. The road was great, smooth and little or no traffic (other than the pickup full of CORN stalks and mud:mad: ). So it is up to you guys what time you want to leave. Don't forget the hour time difference!

We have no problem
 

being on the road at 6 am, puts us in Minden at 12:30 ish with one gas stop. Then, how long to Omaha, including lunch? Again, we do not want a late night but then, the drive Sunday is not that long either, nor is Monday.

You can tell us what time to leave, it is not an issue here. Just 3 cars, we can do it.

JPS

Best meeting spot for me is just West of Minden on Hwy 34. There is a TV studio at that intersection with Hwy 44 North to Kearney. Maybe I can do a little promotional with the news staff. Then on to Kearney. Luke and Jakes is right on Hwy 30. It should not take us more than 45 minutes to eat. Then on to Omaha. Picking up possibly 2 at this time on the way as well as some that just want to go on a ride as a group to Omaha.
Also, I found out there it a place Called Beertopia in Omaha. B double E double R.....U N Beer run!

I am leaving Colo. Sprgs. on Saturday & picking up my son in Tulsa. We would like to meet up w/ the Denver group in St Louis Sunday PM.

Intercoolest

Hello Cool!
 

Glad to hear from you. Looks like you are a new poster. We are glad to have you join our caravan, in StL or anywhere you like. See Post #1 for details, and watch this thread. Feel free to POST here with questions you have - chances are we can answer them.

As of now, there are 3 cars leaving Denver on the 28th. Picking up Jim in Minden that day, we will pick up others in Omaha that night, then leave for KC and pick up some in KC on the 29th on the way to StL. Overnight in StL with Italian on the Hill as we did last year. Chances are we will have about 25 MINIs for dinner that night, then leave StL on Monday AM headed for Indiana with a dozen or more.

Feel free to stay in touch here. We love new company.

Thanks,

Jonathan

JPS

OK, time for 'official' Caravan attendees:
 

Please post in this thread if you will join us. Tell us where. We will add you to the list below:

1. Jonathan Souza, Hi Ho Silver - Caravan origination in Denver on Saturday 28th am. 3rd year.
2. Whitlow and Eleanor, WWW - Caravan origination in Denver, Saturday 28th am. Virgin.
3. Rick, Pauhana - Caravan origination in Denver, Saturday 28th am. Virgin
4. Jim, Zyamfier - joining in Minden, NE Saturday 28th Noon. 2nd year.
5. Rich Tucker - HotRodPilot, Geneva, NE thru StL. Virgin.
6. Mike Gleason - Intercoolest - Joining in StL on Sunday night then to the Dragon. Virgin.
7. Brian Gleason - BGDMax - Joining in StL on Sunday night from Oklahoma, then to the Dragon. Virgin.
8. Dan - BigFun04 - Joining east of StL on Monday AM on the way thru Illinois.
9. Frank, Frankies new MINI - Columbus, IN Monday, then to the Dragon. Dragon virgin.
10. Dave Werner, DW, Columbus, IN to the Dragon. 2nd year in a row.
11. Tim, Littleton, CO - iflyMINI - GP1292 Meetup at Fontana, return with the group

Let us know if you are in.

Jonathan

^^^^

See you there Rich. New dealership Hmmm could there be something special? You never know. Really I don't but my sources say maybe.

Those of you joining the Denver to Dragon Caravan
 

should get your orders in for the Dragon License Plates (Dragon Tags). Inexpensive and easy to mount...order here:

Dragon LIcense Plates!!

See you there! Order 5 or more for free S/H !!

Jonathan

Post # 1 update....
 

Details have now been added to Post #1. There is lots more going on that we originally thought. Here is some hotel / motel information:

Saturday, April 28th in Omaha - Markel MINI in Omaha - Time TBA

- Holiday Inn, 655 N 108th Ave, Omaha, NE 68146 - (972) 444-4900
- Comfort Inn-Omaha-West Dodge - 8736 W Dodge Rd, Omaha, NE 68114 - (402) 343-1000
- Super 8 Motel-Omaha-I-680 - 11610 W Dodge Rd Omaha, NE 68154 - (402) 492-8845
- Dinner at Brazenhead Pub www.brazenheadpub.com 319 N 78th, Omaha - 402-393-3731

Sunday, April 29th in St Louis

- Holiday Inn St. Louis - Forest Park - www.holidayinn.com/forestparkmo 314-645-0700
- Red Roof Inn, Wilson Avenue - www.redroof.com 314-645-0101

Monday, April 30th in Columbus, IN - see below for options, all at I-65 and Hwy 46:

• Holiday Inn Holidome - www.holidayinn.com 812-372-1541
• Ramada Inn - www.ramada.com 812-376-3051
• Red Roof Inn - www.redroof.com 812-526-9747
• Day's Inn - www.daysinn.com 812-376-9951
• Marriott Courtyard - www.marriott.com 812-342-8888

Tuesday, May 1st - Alcoa, TN

- Holiday Inn Express, 130 Associates Blvd., 865-981-9008
- Jameson Inn Alcoa, 206 Corporate Place., 865-984-6800
- MainStay Suites, 361 Fountain View Circle., 865-379-7799

Please watch this site.

JPS

Hot Rod Pilot!!
 

Seeing that you are going to the Corvette Museum, and we are going to the Indy 500 Speedway Museum, perhaps you want to meetup with the group again on Tuesday afternoon in Corbin, KY for a late lunch - home of the world famous Colonel Sanders Cafe. Due east of Lexington on I-75.

Just a thought....

Jonathan

www.chickenfestival.com/sanders.htm

Wish I could motor out with you from STL on Monday but cannot leave till Thur morning for the Dragon. Hopefully only 17 and 1/2 months till I retire and then I'm free to motor when ever. Dan

Thanks, I'll be there waiting with the Colonel

jsouz & everyone:

First, hello and I am really looking forward to this trip! My name is Brian and I am "Intercoolest's" son that lives in Tulsa,OK. At this point I am MINIless but hoping to change that:)

Second, I (we) have a few newb questions.
- About what time do you expect to arrive in St Louis and eat dinner? We will be joining from Tulsa and would like to meet up if possible.
- When the group arrives in Columbus, IN, you mentioned the need for reservations, is this for the restaurant?
- What is the communication method while on the road(2-way radios or ???)? Probably not a big deal but just curious with so many people joining in along the way and various possibilities with lodging as well.

At this point, we plan to motor with the group from St Louis to IN. On the way into KY we will split off to visit the Corvette Museum/Factory and then catch back up in Sevierville, TN.

Thanks and I look forward to meeting you all.

-BG