Please plan on joining your Iowa MINI friends once again for the 10th Annual MINI Cooper Iowa Fall Tour. The Tour this year will happen on Saturday, October 13th.

The fun begins at 11:00 am with a mini MINI Anniversary party at Thomas Park in Marion, where it all began 10 years ago. Bring your own picnic lunch. Pop and cake will be provided.

We’ll head out on our fall motoring adventure to explore the scenery and twisties of northeastern Iowa at 11:45 am. The route will include several Iowa Scenic Byways south of Elkader, views of the Mississippi River and bluffs near Guttenberg, great motoring roads along and near the Turkey River, and a pass through Backbone State Park. After an afternoon of MINI fun, an optional dinner stop in Independence will conclude the festivities.

Additional details, info links, route map, and RSVP link are available in the associated Event Calendar Entry (<--link)

If you'd like a commemorative button with a picture of your MINI, please send a PM to deanman with your email address -- he will reply with instructions on where to send your favorite MINI photo for your button.

Looking forward to seeing you there.

 

Alas, my son's soccer game overlaps with the start of this run, so I will have to miss it. Hopefully I'll be able to make more events in 2013!

 

It's on my calendar

 

Folks, if you recheck the link to the route map in the Event Calendar entry you'll notice that the route for the Fall Tour has been modified slightly from that originally advertised.

Our initial pre-drive brought our attention to a few roads in the original plan that are, sadly, in a bit of a state of disrepair. In the interest of everyone's strut towers and backbones, we did a second pre-drive and came up with a smoother--and much superior--route. The total distance and time are comparable. Of particular note, the middle third is a bit more twisty and considerably more scenic.

Besides, when motoring in a MINI how in the world could one pass up this road?



Let's hope for weather like we had today!

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Another update --

More details on the dinner menu at Bill's Pizza and Smokehouse have been added to the information in the Event Calendar Entry.

Please check it out. Thanks!

 

No longer attending: grandbabies-sitting.

 

Gotta have your priorities. Enjoy 'em as I'm sure you will...

..though I bet they'd have plenty of leg room in Molly2's back seat.

 

Me and my wife are going to try and make it, We'll be in SD for a few days and pass right by here on are way home

 

Outstanding...looking forward to meet you!

 

My wife I are looking forward to our first MINI adventure. Hope the forecast improves but planning on being there regardless. Perhaps your forecast is better than what we're looking at here in Des Moines!

Ric & Pam Johnson
All BRG 2009 Cooper S Hatch

 

We have a guy in our group who does the weather for NASA, so I'm certain he can do something about the weather for a MINI event

 

Kali and I are going to try to come. Look forward to seeing you EIM folks again.

 

Update:

Deanman and I just finished discussing plans for the drive. Despite the weather forecast on the telly, we agreed that the Fall Tour will go on as scheduled. Looks like the best chance of heavy rain will be overnight Friday/early Saturday morning; and later on Saturday evening with storms moving in, with a break (hopefully a good one) mid-day through Saturday afternoon.

See you in Marion!

 

Thank you for fixing the weather for us!!! We are looking forward to this-rain or shine!

 

Can't wait. Rain or shine, we'll be there!

 

Judy and I will be there. Cant break our streak of attending all 9 so far.

 

Jul and I will catch up somewhere in the middle.

 

Thanks to Deanman and Gil-galad for a great day. The weather did cooperate pretty well considering how much rain was forcasted.

Great to see all our EIM friends again!

 

REDMINI is in bad need of a bath (soon) but had a great time. Thanks to Daryl for the organization and goodies in the park. Thanks to both Daryl and Gary for leading us a slightly rainy/misty day of great roads, and yes still some colorful leaves.

Nice to see everyone again from our group and the CIMC group from Des Moines. Nice to have new friends from Chicago join us on their way back from the Black Hills.

Always a good time with MINI Cooper owners. Nice variety of cars and colors. Still need to figure out the ? in Gary's badge.

 

It really did turn out to be a great day, despite the wet start. Fantastic turnout, especially all of the folks who trekked over from distant points west (Des Moines and Omaha) and east (Chicago).

I can't shower Daryl with enough kudos -- he did all of the hard work arranging the picnic, cupcakes, poster, balloons, buttons, etc., and for allowing me to ride shotgun in LEO. Many, many thanks. (For my part, pre-driving roads during the fall season is more fun than work!) Sincere thanks also to Greg for linking up with Rob and getting him to join us at the park. Great addition. It was great seeing everyone--old timers and noobs!

Here are a few pictures to help you re-experience the fun...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gmm57/s...7631767360302/

See you for #11 next year!

 

Me and Chris had a wonderful time, want to thank everyone for the warm welcomes, look forward to making as many future events as possible

 

We had a great time, as always!

Here are a few pictures from me:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/3028273...7631771273807/

 

Thanks for putting these up on FB. Love the shot of Larry (I mean, Hercules).

 

We had a great time also. Nice to get together with old friends and meet new ones. Thanks Daryl, Gary and all for the planning, pictures, etc.

 

I'm going to post again when I have something more than this Precision Parking video

http://youtu.be/VAppNdbFLSg