It looks like we need to top the Brits! Look at this on Motoringfile where 269 MINIs created a convoy to break the Guinness World Record attempt for the longest MINI convoy ever ... with all the cars going to MOTD I think we need to beat this!!!! If we do the whole Dragon we will beat the 2 mile mark as well!

So how do we get an official from Guinness to witness our convoy? Invite them to the BrewSwap?

 

Define "convoy". We'll have lots more than I'm sure...

 

This was mentioned on another thread, and a link to the Guinness World Record people listed the requirements. One was someone had to pay the expenses of the Record Judge to attend.

 

I think it would be a great idea, but there are some catches. Ideally, the traditional "Dragon Parade" on Friday morning (after the Traditional Dam(n) Photo). That would be the best place to start, I think.

The catch is, in order to qualify for the records, the convoy would probably need to be unbroken. That means ensuring that ONLY MINIs were in the line... nobody trying to pull out in the middle of the group. The stopsign at the intersection of 28 and 129 (i.e. Crossroads of Time) would be one such place that might happen, as well as all of the various pulloffs along both 28 and 129.

So it would probably require police presence at each of the intersections (the lower dam road pullout onto 28 is another), to stop ALL traffic so they didn't break the line.

It could be done... but it would require organization.

 

So if we all kick in $5 we should be able to pay for the Guinness people to attend and hire a police officer of two

 

No need for a police presence. Once the first MINI gets to the junction of US-129 and Hwy 28, someone blocks the road with their MINI.

 

I suppose that could work - unless someone gets impatient and drives around anyway. Many people aren't known for their patience, especially while driving... as it gets to the 100th, 200th and 300th MINI... not that many people would be willing to continue to sit and watch when they have someplace to be!

Don't get me wrong, I think it's a great idea and I'd love to participate... I just think we'd need to think it through properly, especially if we expect it to get "official" Guinness recognition.

 

Anyone looked into the requirements needed and to get a judge there? This sounded llike a lot of fun when we read about it.
I too agree that we need to best the brits on this one

 

maybe for next year? We're getting close, guys....

 

Besides, you don't want to miss the R56 expo...right!?!?!?!

As quoted in that thread: "Friday May 4th, right after the main Dragon Parade, which I'm guessing will end about 12-noon-ish:
A bunch of us newbie R56 owners are going to meet at the Fontana Village Laundromat parking lot [in the same building as the General Store and Ice Cream Parlor] This location is now confirmed to not be in conflict with other events!"

 

Most of the time the police prefer you to ask for their help in a situation like this and are very cooperative when asked. We once had a police escort through a town of about 60K with about 75 Porsches and it went off without a hitch. Granted it wasn't 300 MINIs, but when you're on the highway with a police stop at a couple of intersections I think this could be organized and done without too much problem on short notice.

Where does the Guinness Records judge need to brought in from? Is there a judge in a neighboring state that could maybe save money on travel expenses? I think all those involved would be willing to kick in the $5. Whatever is leftover (if any) after paying the judge's expenses could be kicked into whatever police agencies charity fund they might have. I bet not too many car or motorcycle clubs donate money to these funds. (ALL police agencies have charity funds of some kind!) And believe me that when a "car club" such as the NAM folks show up 375 MINIs strong on the Dragon, the police will take note as to how thankful and generous we all were for their help.

Just my 2 cents worth.

 

I think that this point is worthy of merit all by itself and should be seriously considered - if not for this year, then for future ones. Not as bribery, but as good will. Even if it is only $1 per person (or per car).

 

Heck, just set up a jar for donations to the local fire and police department. Would go a long way to make sure we are welcomed back year after year.

 

Hi All,
Hear Me Out. The Sears Tower took the title of world's tallest building from the World Trade Center (WTC) in 1974. This allowed the WTC to enjoy the title for only 1 year. The Sears Tower kept this title for approximately 24 years until the Petronas Towers (PT) in Kuala Lampur was "given" the title in 1998. The PT only held the record for (boowho) 6 years and gave up the title to Taipei 101 in 2004. Now, only after 5 years, this title is in danger is Burj Dubai delivers as promised in 2009. Are you getting my point?

Let's beat them quick, decisivly, and into oblivion! Last I saw we had 377 MINI/Mini's going to MOTD. The record is 265 going on for 2 miles. Imagine potentially 400 MINI/Mini's riding for 13 miles of the dragon (if only we could all have the patience). We may even get more participants that may have not made plans for the Dragon, but would come just to sock it to them!

At $5 a MINI/Mini...that should cover expenses (permits, police/fire escort). Hell I would be willing to put in $10. ANd imagine what new shirt designs and sales this would create!!

If there's anything we need to super-size, it's our imaginations...Dream BIG.

Thanks for reading, good night.

 

I did read that the convoy requires a minimum/maximum distance between cars and possibly a speed average as well as being uninterupted, if I recall the discussion on MINI2.
I thought about mentioning this here awhile back once I read the UK folks were trying looking into it, but didn't post the suggestion.
I thought it might be good form (as they say) to let them have their thunder for this years' record book and then next year we would woop their bums.

The county would love to boast about a Guinness World Record being set on the Dragon so getting cooperation on a Municipal level would seem to be absolutely painless. Maybe Guinness would like to take part in an official way in the brew swap. (sponsorship ? next year with matching corporate charity contributions) Just thinking out loud.
Still a great idea to contribute to a law enforcement charity regardless of when this happens.

 

I second the notion of a quick and decisive stomping.... but of course that could be my type A++++ personality and small competitive streak!

I realize it is last minute and I wish I could try to organize it but my job demands too much time (at work and off) to give this the attention it needs. Anyone want to try and get something going? Can it be done in 5 weeks?

 

Folks, there is NO WAY this could properly be pulled off with only 30 days to go until the event. There is serious coordination needed for this type of thing.

Not to mention the fact that if we were to do it and we actually broke the record, the group in Virginia planning theirs for June 10th could wipe ours out.

Let us work on this for next year and we'll see what we can pull off.

 

Although I made a battlecry, PassatDoTd makes a good point. Coordination of this nature requires time, time we do not have. Of course if someone were able to commit themselves (like a permit expeditor) full-time to the endeavor, it MAY be possible. But within 30 days is tough. Someone would have to do some major string pulling.

 

Like I said, maybe next year. The event starts in 30 days, and there's no chance that we could do it this year.

 

This year, next year. Doesn't matter. Let's just get the record. "Biggest" Tail on the Dragon. Got my $5 - $10 ready.

 

So breaking this record at MOTD is darn near impossible with all the planing required. I can accept that. But I had a thought for an official event that really makes this convoy record to be had in a big way.

On Memorial Day weekend, I will be riding my bicycle in "Bike the Drive" on Chicago's Lake Shore Drive (LSD), http://www.bikethedrive.org/ . Basically, LSD is closed, during the day, from the Museum of Science and Industry to Hollwood Ave., the northern end of LSD. This equals appx. 15 miles. LSD is shut down totally with no vehicles in the north and southbound lanes.



So imagine....15 miles of Lake Shore Drive, 4 lanes wide, closed for our use, with proper permitting of course. Does a convoy require a single line of vehicles? Or can we take advantage of all 4 lanes? Just a thought.

So why not? Chicago is virtually reachable by all. Accommodations are plentiful all around. LSD can accommodate. There are infinite piture ops. There are so many other things that can be rolled in to the event, just like at MOTD.

Ohh... another thought...if we do a round trip, that would be almost 30 miles ,TEMPTING!!!

We just need to get organized or maybe get local MINI people (Knauz, Patrick, Jacobs, MINI Clubs, etc.) to buy in to the idea and use their resources for planing.

 

269 Minis have made it into the Guiness book of Records for the longest cruise line. The event happened in Blackpool UK ..... gonna let them keep that record?

I thought not

Story here http://coolbrit.net/blog/2007/03/30/...cord/#more-417

I WISH I WAS GOING GGGGrrrrrrr

 

You beat me to the post... :P...

I am up for trying.. anyone else?

 

This thread has already been started with great enthusiasm.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=96818

 

Yep - threads merged.