Is anyone else aware of the Motoring Madness at MINI of Omaha?

We just came across this in the Saturday's Herald (in the "in gear" Events Calendar.) Here is what it says:

WHEN: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 26.
WHERE: MINI of Omaha, 102nd Street and West Dodge Road.
DETAILS: MINI of Omaha will celebrate the MINI Cooper's 50th birthday with a British car show, live music and barbecue from Famous Dave's. Other activities include a driving obstacle course, MINI test drives, an art competition and best MINI name contest. Flatwater British Car Club is the event coordinator.

There are contact information if anyone wants it. I didn't want to post the person's phone or email information. If anyone wants it, let me know and I can provide it.

I plan on attending. It would be nice if others are interested in attending if we could meet someplace before hand and show up in a convoy of MINI's all at one time.

Let me know if anyone is interested in this.

Mike...

 

Mike - I would be more than interested in attending the event. After doing a little digging, here is some more information: http://www.flatwater.org/events/09/Mini.pdf

 

Sounds like fun! I can probably be there.

 

Definitely interested. Looking to meet some other enthusiates in the area. Just returned from the East Meets West Event in Winona, MN and found everyone to be very friendly.

 

Sorry guys I knew about this. As of late I have been busy with work so making plans for this was a little out of the question.
However, I have managed to get that day off. I will be attending. This time I will be bringing the Dragon Wagon for show as well.

 

Here is the information I have.


Open to spectators & all things British!

FREE LIVE MUSIC & BBQ from Famous Dave’s
British Car Show- Featuring Mini’s new and classic
FunKhana- testing your driving & skills against an obstacle course
Test drives in new MINI’s- see what 50 years of development has done
Trivia Challenge- testing your Motoring Memory
Art Competition- for the best Mini drawing
Name your Mini Challenge- who has the best name for their Mini?

Club Contact: Bill Redinger 402-496-2006 or 402-541-6696 c wredinger@***.net

 

I was at Markel this morning, and Russ very enthusiastically (how else?) told me all about this. They're really working to make this a great day. They will move out all the BMWs to clear the entire Markel lot for the event. Lots of room for the obstacle course!

BTW, I had to laugh: Even though my Clubman was going to be in for only about an hour for a couple of minor things, Russ still insisted on getting me a loaner to tear around in. Beats waiting in the lounge area!

 

Looking forward to the event! I know Russ is really a great guy...always very friendly and helpful.

What does everyone think of motoring in together in a little "Mini Parade" for the event?

 

I spoke with Ken Mumm (Minimumm) this evening at the Kearney Cruise Night. We are planning on leaving from the Minden interchange at 8:30. That will put us in Omaha around 10:30.
So if everyone wants to parade into the dealership we need to find a place to meet up near the dealership so the parade does not get compromised by a rogue mommy van or traffic light.

 

How about meeting someplace on Pacific St. Like in the One Pacific Place. I know there are some restaurants right there at 103rd St or 101st St (South side of Pacific), just can't remember the names. But if we meet somewhere there so Pacific St is visible we should be able to all find each other. Then we can go straight up Regency Pkwy to Markel (or go up 680 so we have a procession down the interstate which would be more visible from Markel). If anyone knows a specific restaurant there or a good business with an open parking lot, speak up.

We could meet up at 10:30 and leave from there right at 11 (since it would only take a few minutes to get to Markel from there.

Mike...

 

I think it would be awesome to have a MINI-motorcade. But, for us out-of-towners we aren't as familiar with the area, so addresses would be helpful for our GPS's.

 

Envy you all that are gowing to this. I have not been on the forums for awhile I am deployed wright now for the army. So its hard to get to the computer. If you guys can post some good pics. I should have my wife take the mini of the stands and take it out to get her running its been alittle while, anyways have a good time everyone

 

If no one else comes up with a good address in that location, I stop by the area before the end of the week and pick a good location there. At the least you should be able to program in the intersection of 103rd St and Pacific St. (but I'll try to get something better).

 

This link is a Google map of the southwest corner of 103rd and Pacific. I've added place marks for three restaurants in the mall. We could meet in the parking lot. I know Wheatfields can get pretty busy on Sundays with the church crowd (their food is very good).

 

Thanks,

Matthew has offered up his office business parking lot at 114th and Dodge.

Can we get a vote of which one everyone might like better.

114th and Dodge we would drive down Dodge to Markel. 1 Pacific Place we would drive up Regency Parkway to get to Markel.

Less traffic on Regency but probably more visibility of the Minicade on Dodge. As far as traffic lights go, there are very few lights either way.

So put in your choice for the meeting spot.

Mike...

 

Hello all,
Thank goodness I have the gps in the Mini, Omaha is huge. I am game for the Mini parade. Just give me an address and i can be there at 1030 or so. I hope our Mini makes some new "Mini" friends for a playdate

Kevin

 

Just a thought: As a courtesy, it might be good to ask the Flatwater folks what they are planning for an entrance, as they are probably planning one, too.

[The following is nothing more than my opinion!] My preference is for One Pacific Place (103rd & Pacific), as Regency Parkway is a nice little drive, and it would be much easier to keep the pack together through the couple of traffic lights. We could drive past Markel, go up to the light at Nicholas (the back edge of Westroads Mall), and then make a left into the service road that goes to the dealership.

114th and Dodge could be much trickier, especially with a number of people unfamiliar with the area. Depending on which side of Dodge we begin on, we have to get onto Dodge (which is more difficult coming from the north), then merge with the express lanes, deal with people trying to get onto 680 while we cut across 4 lanes of traffic (much of it doing 50+ mph) to get to the loopy exit, and then get in the correct lane to get onto 102nd. (Past that light it's the same route as from Regency.) It's one thing if one drives in the 114th & Dodge area regularly, but for out-of-towners it might be confusing, and not much fun at all if one gets cut off from the rest of the group at a traffic light. On Regency Parkway it's really no problem to pull over into the right lane and wait for people to catch up; on Dodge that's pretty impossible, even on a Sunday morning.

On the other hand, the offer of a free place to gather has its advantages....

 

I vote for meeting at One Pacific Place. The drive sounds better and as one who has cursed the Omaha road system before, I really don't want to be all angrified on that day. Meeting at 10:30ish sounds pretty good, also.

 

Add me to the Pacific crowd. After driving 3 hours I don't want to get road rage in the last 3 miles.
I will contact JMike with up to the minute ETA of my arrival as I get closer to Omaha.
Jim

 

OK, it sounds like more are interested in the One Pacific Place meeting and the Kernel has spoken .

Matthew (MJCMini) thank you for the offer for your location but I also think the One Pacific Place has a lot less traffic.

I went by there today. For thoes that can do it, just plug in the intersection of Pacific St. and 103rd St. But if you need an address you can either use 10309 Pacific St which is the Scooters hut or 10387 Pacific St which is the Ruby Tuesday. We can meet in the parking lot between Scooters and Ruby Tuesday (there is a pretty wide open area there right along side Pacific St.). In reference to the link that kaddidle provide it's the northern edge of the large parking lot or another view of it is here Scooters is shown on the left and Ruby Tuesday is in the far distant right side of image.

We can start meeting around 10:30AM and plan on leaving around 10:55-11AM for Markel.

I was planning on wearing my CORN shirt, was anyone else going to wear theirs? Could be a way to promote the club for additional interest.

Mike...

 

I have a service appointment at Markel Friday morning; is there anything anyone wants me to check on while I'm there?

 

I will be there Saturday, if someone is going on a recon trip. And yes we are coming down on Sunday, too.

 

Count me in for 10:30 at 103rd and Pacific. Sounds like fun! I'll plan on being there around 10:15 so I don't miss the boat!

 

Yesterday I spoke with Russ about Sunday's event. He was happy to hear that we're planning a motorcade of maybe 8-10 cars (I guessed). He does not know what the Flatwater group is doing in terms of arrival. When I asked where he wanted us to park, he said there will be some spots down by the service area, a few up by the sales area, and otherwise people will be parking along the service road.

The way I read this is that there's really not going to be much in the way of showing our cars in an organized way, at least for us. (I don't know what the plan is for Flatwater.) We'll show up, park where we can, and then enjoy the MINI fellowship and the day's entertainment, which should be good. So if you were planning on doing a full detail in anticipation of an informal car show, you may rethink that. But then the weather today is perfect for babying the MINI, isn't it?

Looking forward to meeting everyone tomorrow!

 

Had a great time today meeting you all and driving in the motorcade. I'm looking forward to more Mini events, as it turned out to be a great day!