Woo-Hoo!! Thanks to Dan for mentioning this, thanks to Robyn for organizing the Nutt's stop, thanks to Jacob, Adonis and whoever else helped lead into Jersey City...and thank you to you all for not getting upset about the change of route, u-turn, crazy traffic, etc etc! Makes me proud to be part of the MINI community. I loved going through New Hope even if it took forever...because everyone on the street had something to say, so positive and worthwile!!!

If anyone is ever up in the area (Lehigh Valley, Jersey) drop me a line and I'll show you all those awesome roads I promised but couldn't deliver on!!!

 

I'd like to say thanks to the folks who helped put this together and guide us around. We had a great time.

It was good to meet new people and nice to hang around with old friends. Wish I'd have gotten more peoples' names. <sigh>

No doubt in a few weeks some exec at MINI will be scratching their head trying to figure out a reason for a spike in orders from New Hope.

Thanks also to our small caravan getting back home. Good radio chatter to keep me awake.

I've posted some pics.

Hope to see you all again soon,

-James

 

James, those are some great pictures!

My family and friends have been asking me my fave part of the whole deal....and I don't really have one. I know New Hope and the people in the town were awesome...but I think one that is at the top, is when we were all pulled over after New Hope waiting to regroup, and as the cars went by, they were all honking and hooting. It definatly added to the excitement I already had! I also heard from a friend today who's father was in New Hope, saw all of us, took a pic and texted my friend "MINI's in New Hope...do you know these guys?"

I hope that even if MINIUSA never does anything like this again, that we can (at least on the east coast) plan something awesome like this!! I know I would be up for the challenge!!!

 

Man all those pics of new hope makes me homesick. I really wish I could have done the NJ leg of the trip. If they do it again I'm not missing the NJ leg. If
they go through NJ the next time.

 

I had a blast on the alternate route, even with the slow parade-style traffic through the towns and the unexpected U-turn... it just added to the variety! And Nutts was a great place to stop - awesome!

I do have two constructive suggestions for next time... first of all, 695 around Baltimore is MUCH slower than either staying on I-95 or using the I-895 harbor tunnel. The only downside is the $2 toll for those methods... but I think we would have saved a whole bunch of time (to be later used on fun NJ backroads) if we had avoided 695.

Secondly, ditch channel 5, subchannel 0, and use the defacto MINI standard of channel 7, subchannel 21. Besides being far more convenient for the majority of MINI people who already have their radios set to 7/21, it would have reduced some of the staticy interference we heard.

Case in point - after we split up into smaller groups to head directly to Jersey City, my group (about 6 or 7 MINIs) kept having more interference problems. I suggested switching back to 7/21, and presto, it was clear again.

Sure, some people out there may not have 2-way radios that are capable of subchannels, but if that's the case, it's time to upgrade! They are cheap... and it's always easy to justify when it's MINI-related.

In any case, I want to say that I plan on keeping Nutts in mind should I ever be in that area again. Good stuff.

NOTE: I don't mean my post to sound too negative... even with 695 and the occasional radio problems, I wouldn't hesitate to do it again!

 

Cool pics!

 

being from the baltimore area, i'll say 95 and the two tunnels can get kinda trafficy during the holidays. Usually backs up pretty bad around the tolls. So 695 is a good alternate to avoid the tunnel delay.

But you never know it coulda been clear. 695 is like an extra 15 to 20 min, not that bad.

 

I would normally agree, but this was the middle day of the long weekend, so I don't think the holiday traffic was a factor. Had it been on Friday, on Monday, or heck, even Saturday I guess... perhaps.

My caravan drove all the way back from CT to DC tonight (Monday night, when everyone was going home), and we took 895 to get past Baltimore... no delays whatsoever... although I suppose since it was around 10pm, it might not have mattered. It also helped that all 3 MINIs had EZ-Passes.

 

We headed over to Nutts yesterday while we were out on a nice backroads drive. Figured we'd get dinner while we were there but unfortunately, they had run out of propane so their entire kitchen was shut down. Thank goodness that didn't happen on Sunday!!!

Anyway, we spoke to the owner (Mike) and he said Sunday was great and that he would welcome a large group of MINIs back to It's Nutts anytime (with a little advance warning ).

 

I do appreciate your constructive criticism! There were really only 2 people involved in the planning of the alternate route and one had never lead a group before. We did what we thought was best....and felt that avoiding the toll in the tunnel was for the best. I think it worked out just fine and have not heard any complaints. And as for the radio....well....we all do have a different way of doing things! That was the beauty of the weekend and the entire MTTS. I'm sure if we would have been out west, it would have been different that it was with us.

Make ya a deal...you plan and lead next time. I'll be happy to follow!!

 

I'd like to thank everyone for making this trip so fun. We were expecting about 20-25 cars and we ended up with about 50 so I'd have to say it was a huge success! It was definitely a really impressive sight driving at the front and looking in my rearview mirror at close to 50 MINIs cruising down the highway. This was my first event that I've ever been to since I've owned a MINI and it will be hard to top. But I was really impressed by how friendly everyone was and I had a great time. I can't wait to do more things in the future so keep me posted as to what is going on and we'll have to put more things together both in DC and PA/NJ.

I'd also like to thank everyone for their patience and flexibility. It wasn't easy keeping so many cars together but Cooper Girl and others from NEMINI did a great job rounding everyone up and making our great lunch stop at Nutts a possibility. And I appreciate the constructive criticism. I'll keep those suggestions in mind in helping to plan future events. While this wasn't the first event that I've helped plan for a lot of people, it was the first with a lot of people AND their cars so I didn't quite know what to expect. There were some unexpected factors that affected our trip but everyone was really great about it. And some of those unexpected events were what made the trip so great (like our "parade" through New Hope! ).

Finally, everyone post your pictures! (Those are some great pics JDM!) I have some that I will hopefully get up in the next couple of days and my Dad took some of us all crossing the Washington Crossing bridge so I'll get those as well and put them up!

 

Check out some more pics posted by Gary Anderson of MC2 Magazine.

 

I don't need a shirt but if someone could just post a pic of one that would be great!

 

Thanks Alli, Dan, Robyn and everyone else that took part in planning this leg on the run. I had a great time all weekend and it was nice seeing some familiar faces and meeting new ones. It was kinda cool meeting up with a couple of different groups at the rest stop, hanging for a while and going our separate ways. It's nutts was fun and delicious but if I knew I was going to be eating burgers for the rest of the weekend then I would have order chicken. Robyn, Thanks for all the effort and generosity you put out for the tee shirts. You are too nice.
It's always fun driving through New Hope. My favorite quote of the day was the reference to a reverse parade where we are stopped and the spectators walked by.
Sorry I didn't get a chance to say good bye. I came back from the pier and you were already gone.

And Alli my friend really wanted to talk to you!

-Dan

 

We will talk soon Dan! And WTF was up with that guy? Did anyone bother to ask him? He was probably standing there just waiting for someone to talk to him....maybe he was giving away a free GP??

 

Will do! I'll try to get you a picture of the one I asked everyone to sign.

 

I'd be MORE than happy to help next time if the situation arises. The only problem with the "planning" is that I don't know the NJ roads, so the route itself would require local talent.

However, if there is a group run event of a similar nature in the future (i.e. DC to NJ), please don't hesitate to ask and I'll be happy to help with logistics!

 

Thanks! And thanks again for hosting all of us. I didn't get a chance to meet you but my parents live right across the river so when I'm up there next time I'll stop by and say hi!

 

Look forward to it.

I was the crazy woman with the black t-shirt and baseball cap waving my arms at everyone telling them where to park. How could you miss me?

 

James, you caught me & my Mini on film, it's kind of weird. Anyway it was a cool run, even the u-turn on Rt32.



one of my pics


The U-Turn

 

As requested, here are a couple pics of the Nutts shirt (I don't think everyone signed it but I did get quite a few)...

 

Awesome! Thanks Robyn!

 

Those are great! I especially like Baron's signature!

I really like Jahmills U-turn photo!

 

Nice shirt,

 

Alli, Dan every body who pitched in for the ride to NJ, thanks a lot. It was great. We had a great time, and the best was meeting you all. New Hope will never forget the day the Minis came to town and paraded for free, specially the cop on the bike, he just couldn't believe it.

I hope we can do it again some day, when the roads that Alli wanted to take us through are not closed.

P.S. I let some one borrow a radio but couldn't find the person again, white mini with VA tags.