Friends, hope you work it into your schedules to join us for our final, capstone Meet-n-Eat event for the 2010 EIM motoring year!

We'll need an accurate headcount to pass on to Mike Breitbach in advance, so please RSVP by either (1) replying to this post, and/or (2) clicking on the sign-up link in the EIM Event Calendar (<--link).

This event is a Meet-n-Eat for lunch at the renowned Breitbach's Restaurant in Balltown, IA on Saturday, November 13th. Lunchtime will be at 11:30 am, but you're encouraged to arrive 30 min early so we can command the good parking out in front of the building together for maximum visual impact.

This will be a great opportunity to reminisce about the fun times we've had together over the past year, and share some ideas for what we'd like to see on our 2011 event calendar. In addition, as we did last year we plan to present the 2010 EIM Recognition Awards, a chance to recognize folks who deserve our sincere thanks (or a bit of friendly jesting ). After lunch we plan to relocate our MINIs a couple hundred yards down the road at the Balltown scenic overlook for a few photo ops.

As always, half the fun is getting to Balltown and coming home! While there is no planned drive as part of this event, the area has some of the best motoring roads in the state. Depending on the direction you're coming from, consider including US-52 or C9Y in your route. Girl Scout Road between Peosta and Bankston is recommended if you're coming up from the south (thanks to 05MINI for finding it!). Haberkorn Road between Sherill and Old Balltown is a twisty alternative to a portion of C9Y. Tollgate Road between Holy Cross and North Buena Vista is always fun too. Ad hoc departure rendezvous with other MINIs near your home for companion motoring to Balltown is encouraged.

Looking forward to seeing you there.

The vista of the Mississippi River valley from the Balltown scenic overlook:

 

OK. so I plan on being at this event. We actually have a Stand-Up comedy show to go to that night in davenport (going to see the Fluffy Shop Tour at the adler).

 

Any Q.C.A Mini's want to make the Ball Town run togather

 

"I'll be your Huckleberry."
You pick the 'when' & 'where' & I'll be there!

 

Good to see we have a nice crowd signed up already.

 

Per the comment on the EIM Website, Mr. and Mrs. bsteig are joining us in Balltown too. Might be in one MINI; might be in two...

 

I actually will have to bow out of this one. I got a phone call from another dealership and they would like me to do an interview on that day. The dealer is not in this local but it is in this state. AND it may lead to me working with MINI's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That is all I can say at this time.

 

Sounds like a dream job to me...I'm sure it will work out for the best. We will miss seeing you and Brit at Breitbachs.

 

Good luck, good luck, good luck!!

 

If you're not already pumped for our last big EMI event of the 2010 motoring season, watching Gary direct MINI traffic might help you get in the spirit of things

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qxmd8rHr4Y4http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qxmd8rHr4Y4

 

Nice video

Looking forward to seeing everyone again!

 

Any other QCA Mini's that want to tag along with Jo and me

 

WE CAN MEET AT MCDONALDS IN DEWITT ABOUT 9:00 SHOULD GIVE US ENOUGHT TIME, BE THERE OR BE SQUARE

 

Dress accordingly (coats, gloves, etc.) ...the photo op at the overlook after lunch could be just a bit on the nippy side.

 

Just received word that JST2CUTE will be sauntering up from Dubuque in their '08 Clubman to join us tomorrow too. Looking forward to meeting them!

 

Here are a few pics from today -- mostly outdoor shots of the MINIs:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gmm57/s...210413/detail/

Hope everyone had a good time even with the "frost on the pumpkin" weather conditions. I know I did. We must all be crazy to stand out there in those elements taking snaps!

Holly and Chuck, so glad you could join us today and hope to see you both again soon.

Congrats to all of the awardees! (Edit: See the complete list over on the EIM Website )

 

Great pictures, Gary! We had a wonderful time, as usual We really appreciate our awards! Thank you, thank you!

 

Gary, you are the host with the most (of everything)! We all appreciate your hard work for us all year long! You keep us coming back for more!

Love that picture of Shadowfax alone on the windswept precipice. Very symbolic. All good stuff

 

The weather may not have been conducive to outdoor activities, but getting together with such a GREAT GROUP of people made it worth while.

Three cheers to Gary
MC (and sponsor) of the EIM Annual Recognition Awards

Thanks Gary!

And a big welcome to Holly & Chuck

 

It looks like it was a good time. I wish I could have been there, but I was at something that could turn out to be just as important.

 

It looks like it was a good time. I wish I could have been there, but I was at something that could turn out to be just as important. We will just have to set back and wait now.

 

What a fun time for me,seeing all the die hard Mini people seeing the new Mini's and most of all seeing my daughter, i had no clue she would show up. A big thanks to Gary for all the help makeing EIM a fun group.Mike

 

Another great MINI adventure! Thanks so much Gary for all your work and creativity. Thanks also for our awards. Always a fun time.