Hello Everyone...

I am a new member to the DC Metro Minis and I am looking forward to meeting some of you in Charlottesville.

FYI: I will be leaving at 12:00 noon from Lorton, VA going via I95 if anyone would like to join me.

I got the day off...

 

Woohoo, got my room and a co-pilot. I still don't see any information regarding festivities in Charlottesville. Am I missing something?

 

I wondered the same thing... but festivities or not, we can always make our own.

Who is your co-pilot? A fellow MINI owner who doesn't want to drive theirs? A prospective "future" MINI owner? MTTS is going to be interesting and fun... but I must admit I'm curious about people who aren't MINI nuts and tag along. They're going to be getting a very heavy dose!

 

Should we perhaps research some local restaurants / pubs in the area and arrange for a meet up Friday night in Charlottesvile?

Co-pilot is a non-Mini owner who is a friend of mine. Boy, nosey aren't we

 

The only thing I could find so far is a check in desk open from 1p - 3p for the MINIs coming in from West Virginia. So what's everyone going to do from 3p on?

We can definitely make our own fun, but I can't imagine nothing's being planned. I checked the Riverside City MINI site and didn't see anything discussed there, either.

 

What if we arrive in Charlottesville past 3?

I also find it odd that MTTS is not planning an event in Charlottesville. We could always take the lead and plan to meet at a restaurant in the area and spread the word.

 

There's another desk open in the morning, the "departure desk", open from 8a - 10a to get the daily packet and tip sheet.

For those of us going to KD, the parking lot there opens at 9a. MTTS VIP parking is $10, and (as has been discussed before) the first 500 people get free admission courtesy of Business 2.0 magazine.

 

Wow, they didn't even get a discount on parking? It is normally $10.

 

Sounds good - we should figure something out and call it "Plan B", in lieu of an "official" festivities event.Heh... I just found it curious. I too considered inviting a non-MINI-owning friend along for the trip, but realized that unless you're really "into" the MINI thing (even without owning one), that a whole bunch of driving and MINI-focused events may not be that much fun. A one day DCMM event is one thing, but an entire weekend may not be so exciting for them!I was thinking the same thing... OK, so this is "VIP" parking for the same price... big deal! Maybe it just means they'll let us all park together in a sectioned off area (and probably really close to the front gate).

 

If you want, you can motor down with us and Sallykat! Let me tell you, rte 29 is faster to Cville! You will be stuck on 95 alllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll day!

 

You maybe right. I forgot that this is going to be Labor Day weekend. I think both 95 and 66 are going to be packed.

Anyway, where is your departure point maybe we can link up in route?

 

We are coming from Germantown, Ssallykat is coming from Columbia. Haven't thought about a meet point for other people, since we both will probably meet up on the beltway. but I will look into it and post something up.
Anyone have any idears about a meeting point? I haven't been down that way for a while and can't remember the area too well.

 

I am belatedly starting to plan for this. Is there an actual caravan, or just a whole bunch of DCMMers planning to take the same road?

 

I still don't know when I'll be leaving.... I'll just keep in touch with everyone and tag along with whichever group I can....

 

I've adjusted my plans since the main group from WV is scheduled to arrive between 1p - 3p. So Skyline Drive is out for me, I think I'll caravan down with you guys. I'm in Arlington, just off I-66.

Maybe we should meet on Rt 29, just after it heads South off of I-66? I think there's a newish shopping center on the left there.

john

 

Well, there wasn't an actual caravan, but now that there are more people joining in, lets say that there is one! We can all meet up and motor down together!

MiniNurse
Ssallykat
Jen
RHinaHBMCSC?
Talon 07
Whovous
JustDandy
Scavenger?
Edge?
Xcaligali?

 

If you can find out and let us know, that sounds like a great place to meet up. I do not suggest flying the flags the entire way down though, I think we may be going to fast. but for those of us who have them, we can put them on right before we arrive!

 

I'm definitely going to need some assistance in figuring out how to secure them properly... and I'm still not clear on the additional "bending" required? Hmmm...

 

Depending on what time we leave I can meet up with you at 66 & 29.

 

Here's the suggestion:

Gainesville SuperTarget
13301 Gateway Center Dr, Gainesville, VA 20155-2984
Phone: (571) 261-5052

It's right off of I-66 exit 43A for Gainesville/Rt 29 South. You can see it from the road and it actually faces Rt 29. Hard to miss it.

Anyone from Lorton/Springfield/Ffx can just take the Fairfax County Parkway to I-66, head West and hit this exit pretty quickly. It seems like the lowest common denominator.

 

So, do we have a tentative time in mind? Is it still around 12p - 1p? Would we amend that to meeting at the Super Target at 1 - 1:30p?

I just spoke with a UVA law student who's been moving her stuff down to Charlottesville this week. From Falls Church, she said it took them about 2h 10m (with her mother driving). She said she easily saw 5 cars pulled over for speeding on Rt 29 on the way down and the way back.

 

Where is everyone staying in C'ville? I have reservations at the Omni for the night

 

I'll keep a master list here. If you don't mind me posting your name, put it in a post or send it to me by PM (if you put your name in a previous post, I'm assuming you don't mind it being public):

Omni:
HEMI MINI
Just Dandy (John)
kdgblue (Katie (is that right?))
Frankie323 (Karen & Jonathan)
CooperCops (Sue & Byron)
JustJay (Jaysen)
MiniNurse (Stacey)
Edge (Haemish)
ssallykat (Sally)
Talon7 (Jeff & Georgina)
CarlB (Carl & Faith)

Hampton Inn:
jrgaston (member, plus Janie)
RHinaHBMCSC (Wendy & Dale)
miniglenn
AskJoeMini (Joe)

Red Carpet Inn:
xcaligali

Doubletree:
Coen_fan (Erin)
mmatarella (Mark)

 

Red Carpet Inn representin'

 

We're staying at the Omni, but are driving the WV to Cville leg also.

Sue/Byron