Nothing is greater than having a parade to allow us to detail and show off our MINI's. Once again, our Annual Swamp Fox Parade in Marion is getting closer.

I have received our official entry in the mail, I am looking for all of you to go to your calendars, mark the day and sign up on the NAM Event Calendar Entry.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...=2013-9-7&c=21

Our friends at CIMC in Des Moines have also circulated the notification and have shown interest in joining us again this year.

Let's make this another great year.

 

Done, done, and done.

 

Can you give me a rough time schedule for that day??

 

Most of the times are listed in the Event Calendar Entry up through the parade start at 10:15 am. As I recall, the parade usually lasts about an hour.

Many of us will gather immediately afterward for food and refreshment.

 

Swamp Fox Parade – Marion, IA
Saturday, September 7, 2013


• Meet up at 8:30 AM (or earlier if you want to clean up your car) at the car wash across the street from a mini-mall at the intersection of South 11th Street and Grand Ave.

• Get there via highway 100 (Marion bypass), turn off at East Post Road, go North about 3 blocks. East Post turns into South 11th Street.

• Highway 100 is Collins Road from the West, and from the East it intersects highway 13/151.

• Staging point for the parade is two blocks from meet up point.

• Each car must be registered through me no later than August 17, 2012. I will submit all the registrations at the same time in insure that we will all be together.

• Our registration (group) will be assigned Entry Numbers, which is our position in the parade. I will pass them out at the meeting point.

• We must be in position no later than 9:30 AM.

• Parade starts at 10:15 AM.

• Candy is encouraged however they discourage throwing it from the entry because of the danger of children running among the entry to retrieve it.

• This year we escort “Miss Eastern Iowa MINI’s 2013” who will be riding in Steve & Bobbi’s Convertible. She is Rebecca Darling from Tipton, IA.


Larry Hoffman.
Marion, IA
huskerfanlarry@msn.com

 

We cordially invite everyone to our house after the Parade for Sloppy Joes, pies, and even some Growlers from Granite City. Please feel free to bring your favorite side. We're only about 3 miles over from Marion to north Cedar Rapids.

Steve and Bobbi and the Chariot (KOOLBLU)

 

That sounds like fun! Count us in

 

Thanks Steve & Bobbie -- I'll be there.

 

We have to, unfortunatly, withdraw invitation for the After-Parade Gathering at our home. Beacuse of some health issues over the Labor Day week-end, we have not been able to prepare as we would have liked.

Please accept our apologies.

Steve and Bobbi and the Chariot (KOOLBLU)

 

We are sorry you all weren't feeling well! Just concentrate on feeling better and we will enjoy your company at the parade

 

Fully understand, Steve...thanks for the update.

Our revised post-parade plans will be to park a couple of blocks south of the downtown square (hopefully in that church parking lot where we've been before). Then we'll walk back to the square and enjoy all that the festival has to offer (i.e., music, many food booths, crafts, and one of the largest selections of pie you'll find anywhere. )

 

Where we parked before isn't there anymore, however in that area is the city hall and the revised school parking lot. I'll get over there and scope out the area.

 

Larry or Pam, you guys would'nt happen to have the exact address of the car wash you mentioned above so we may place it in our GPS ?

Mike Ritchie

 

The Casey's General Store right next door is at 975 S. 11th St. The car wash is 50 ft. to the east.

 

Swamp Fox Parade is almost here. Weather should be fabulous. At last count there should be 14 to 15. Our position in the parade is even closer than last year, starting at #57. Not quite sure how many CIMC folks will be joining. Jerry & Chris will not be able to make it. Jim & Catherine will be coming.

Unfortunately Pam & I won't be able to be in the parade this year because our Son is getting married Saturday, as most of you know. This is our last to get married, and we welcome his new bride Shannon into our family.

 

Will there be a slot for me and my 73 Mini? I was uncertain as to how I was going to play at Swamp Fox, American Legion or MINI, but will bring the 73 if I can.
Mike Etzel

 

Hay Gary, thanks for a close address !

 

Here are a few photos from the parade today...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gmm57/s...7635421149591/

Good to see so many folks that we haven't seen in a while.

Great to meet you miniturns ... looking forward to having you join us for the Big Adventure!

Goodness, FiremanMike's Austin Mini is oh so nice!

---

 

Great pictures, Gary! We enjoyed seeing everyone

 

Would like to thank everyone for making us feel welcome at my first EIM event. My wife Sue wishes she could have made it. I am sure she will make up for it in Tennessee. Apologize for leaving early but my copilot for the day,Jon has MS and gets tired easily. Nice job with the pictures Gary. Looking forward to the Big Adventure, I am sure it is going to be a lot of fun.