The Saint Louis Mini Club invites you to the eighth annual run to the Louis P. Balducci Winery located in Augusta Missouri. This event is a fund raiser for BACKSTOPPERS, a local fund that supports the families of Police, Fire Fighters, and EMT Personnel killed in the line of duty. Last year we raised $1600.00 for this worthy cause.
This years run will start behind the Starbucks located at Highway K and Technology Drive, right across Highway from Quick Trip. The drivers meeting will be at 10:00 am, followed by an exciting drive out to the winery, where we will have reserved parking and our own covered picnic area, and 50% off your first bottle of wine. (21 and over). We hope to see you…..rain or shine.
Never been to this event before, then ask anyone who has attended and they will tell you it is a must do event. Last year 64 cars from all over the Midwest attended, we hope you will make it this year.
A few of the items in this year’s raffle are: MINI Roof Rack w/ touring Bike Holder, Dinan Cold Air Intake for R53, Model Cars, Mini Books, Dinner Certificates, Stay at the Ritz, Badge Holders, Key Racks, Coat Racks, T-Shirts,Miscellaneous Mini Motoring Gear, and of course a MINI Cuckoo Clock. This is just a few of the items, you won’t want to miss this raffle, there is something for everyone.
More information will follow.
Questions to: newsletter@stlmini.com

 

All, note that we have a spot reserved on the EIM Event Calendar for this event.

Miah and I can attest to the fact, based on our personal experiences from last year, that this is a superb event.

A couple of recommendations:

1. Take a map of the route with you and familiarize yourself with the route prior to the event. (Even though the large group of MINIs will be split up into smaller motoring groups, if one MINI in the middle of a group gets off track for some reason, it can easily draw the rest of the group off course. If the MINI in front of you takes a wrong turn, you'll be well prepared to not follow them into the boonies.)

2. Take a picnic lunch to have at the winery. (There is a take-away style bistro with really good food at the winery, but the numbers of MINI people last year seemed to quickly overwhelm the staff and resulted in long lines to order and extremely long wait times to get the orders filled. The line for wine tasting and purchasing seemed to move far quicker. )

Miah, any other suggestions from your perspective?

 

umm... the only other suggestion that I have is to GO! it is a BLAST!! Britney and I already have friday off and will be heading down on that day to go adventure around saint louis and will be staying there over night (friday and saturday). the map is a great idea. i wonder if there is any way we can get a copy e-mailed to use from doug so that, in the event of getting of track and (for gary's sake in the "sunday driver group") you can get out of that group. If anyone is interested, we should have our hotel rooms reserved by the end of this month, they can go down and adventure with us on friday. just let me know, and I hope a good group will show.

 

To help you locate our starting point for this year’s run, set your GPS to: Starbucks, 4581 Highway K, O’Fallon, MO 63366. This is just north of Highway 40/64 on Highway K. We will be in the lot behind Starbucks. Be ready to Motor!

 

I have just counted myself IN!!!

 

I just got done booking our rooms at the springhill suits in chesterfield. we will be ariving thursday night after i get off of work to spend all friday in st. louis.

 

Booked my room also but not at same hotel..no offense.
I'll arrive Friday night and leave Sunday.
Has anyone downloaded any maps?
Who's all going BTW?
It's just me on the Calendar Roster so far.

 

I would obviously be all over this event (as I was last year) but I will be helping my daughter get set up out in Boston for her first year of graduate school that weekend. While I consider SFAX to be part of the family, the two-legged members still must come first.

Whoever can make it to this event will not regret it. Doug and the boys put on a first class event, and it's likely you will not come home empty handed.

The St. Louis MINI club's thread for the Balducci Run is --> HERE <--- in case you want to follow their local preparatory discussion. Also you can probably PM American MINI Mates if you want advance copies of maps, itinerary, etc.

 

More info on this coming Saturday's Balducci Run:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-balducci.html

Right now the weather forecast for Augusta looks fabulous.

 

Rise & Shine Campers!!!
Just waiting to go hit the Breakfast Buffet. Then search out the nearest car wash. Then onto motoring fun and Prizes! I have my eyes set on the MINI Roof Rack System. Spotted 5 MINI's on the drive down....and the MINI wave ratio is 5/1 .
Pix too come later. C YA!!

 

we just arived at the starting point. Enjoying some coffee before the drive begins.

 

Wishin' I was there with you today...

 

You missed out Gary. It was a blast!

 

Arrgh! I messed up the pictures on flicker. Don't know if I can get them back. I'll see what I can do. Had a great time.
As Pink Floyd says "Wish you were here" (There)

 

Hope you get them back...we want pics.