Back in January there was a thread calling on all WV Mini owners to come forward...
and now that I'm officially on order I thought it would be a good time to update the list.

A customer on my mail route picked up his new Mini from Cincinnati this past weekend ,
and while talking to him about it he mentioned that we should look into forming a WV Mini "Club"...

This thread is to gauge any interest. If nothing else there were a few of us interested in getting
together for a football game in the January thread... maybe we could do something like that this spring...
and in the meanwhile try to network with the other Mini owners we see as we drive around the state.

(I'll be trying to get in touch with the folks I see on my route... they are an elusive bunch... Most of them
drive by while I'm walking on Kanawha Blvd. in Charleston <g>...)

If nothing else, we should be letting them know about NAM... if they are unaware and that as fun as the
twisties are to drive solo... they would be more fun when driven in a "pack" .

Any thoughts and suggestions? Does putting together a Mountain State Mini club sound like a good idea?

It could be as formal or informal as we would like... maybe just group up for drives at first... then go from there.

What do you all think?

 

Side note:
There are four Mini's in particular I'm trying to ID here in Charleston.

Maybe someone knows them... and can let them know about NAM.

A Lightning Blue/White with the plate "Mini Rev"
A MY/White MCS seen on Kanawha Blvd. in January
A Red MC parked at the State Capitol daily...
Lastly , a Mint Green MCS heading out Corridor G last week.

No, I'm not stalking them... Just hoping to say "Hi, and welcome, nice car "

 

Admit it - you're stalking them.

I'm definitely interested in a WV Mini Club. I know there is another Charleston area Mini here on NAM...and I'm in Huntington....but I think most of the other WV Minis were in the Clarksburg/Morgantown area or in the Eastern panhandle. Not that the distance should stop us from forming the club. There are a couple of other Minis around Huntington but I get a lot of blank looks when I wave. One who parks at the Red Cross waves back but she has Kentucky plates (not that I wouldn't let her join us if she wants).

So what do you have in mind for getting this started? I'm happy to help in any way that I can.

 

Well, so far we've got two attorneys, and one Postal worker lined up.

(That's probably an appropriate ratio <g>).

The fellow I mentioned in the earlier post is an attorney at one of the
eight or so law firms on my route. This is his second Mini... and is a
nice Pepper White/Black MCS.

I'm guessing we should concentrate on stal.. .I mean hunt.. er FIND
the other owners and let them know we're here <g>. Once we figure
out who's who... maybe pick a spot midway for everybody and meet up.

Possibly take a short drive... Preferably finding some twisties. Thinking
something along the lines of Rt. 60 to Hawks nest / New River Gorge.

This would be fairly centralized to the Charleston area, but would get us
to the mountains. Or wherever we'd decide on going. I'm not picky.

Only thing is ... that would have to be after sometime in April. That's when
I'll have my Mini <g>.

You might want to try to get in touch with the lady at the Red Cross for
starters. I've already dropped off a note to the owner of the Red Mini at
the state house this evening... maybe they will log on this weekend and
introduce themselves.

Not trying to be too long winded here... Just would like to try to get the
ball rolling if possible. Any thoughts or ideas???

 

I'll see if I can find some Minis around here. It would be probably be best to wait until April or May anyway - better chance of good weather. Hawks Nest is a good run....as is the New River Gorge. And both are just so perfectly West Virginia. My boyfriend does runs in his Audi down that way so I can check with him to see where might be fun too.

So, where does this attorney work? Just curious....I might know another Mini owner and not even know it.

OH, and I think we should name our little group Country Roads Minis.

 

My favorite road in WV is up near Seneca Rocks... but that's a pretty good haul for a fun run.
I've been looking around on some of the WV motorcycle based websites and there are good road options there as well.

Not sure if you were planning on making it to the Spring Game at Laidley Field in Charleston , I believe on April 12...
but if you do I might see you there. (Most likely will have to work that day, unless I'm still off recovering from knee surgery
thats scheduled for March 18. I will stop by for a little while even if I'm working. My routes right beside the Capitol.)

(Was told I'll be off 4 to 6 weeks, but told them I have to be healed enough to drive by the first week of April <g>...
at least enough to work the gas pedal of my new car , anyway.)

 

Sorry your knee surgery. Sounds painful. Just make sure you get fully healed - you have many years of motoring to be healthy for.

I'm not sure about the spring game, yet. It's a possibility but my work schedule has been so crazy that I haven't looked that far ahead.

I know some of the motorcycle routes are good for finding fun run routes. Seneca Rocks may be a little far out at least for the first one. I'm sure we'll find something good, though. There are plenty of twisty roads down that way.

 

I am originally from WV, but living in the Richmond VA area now. All my family still lives in WV (Charleston and Greenbrier County). I don't get there as often as I like, but I will probably be there in the next 2 months.

 

Keep us posted when you're going to be around. It would be great if you could come along for a fun run....or, if it's another weekend, maybe even just stop by and see some Minis.

 

Thanks for the offer. I know I will definitely be in Huntington in the fall. I want to come see Marshall football. Go Herd!!! Sorry if that offends the WV fans.

 

Well, I'm WV but I may as well be in another state because I'm in the Eastern Panhandle. Any runs with you guys would require a full blown road trip for me. Unless it's strategically scheduled to where I can make a weekend of it, I'd love to see more of this state. I do remember taking a really scary drive to Blackwater Falls which seemed like it was uphill... both ways! I wish I knew what road I took, I was in an SUV at the time and I think it would be a sweet drive in a MINI.

 

Definitely let me know when you're in Huntington....although I'm probably going to want a ride in the Clubman. I'm with you on the Go Herd! sentiments - I'm still hoping for a little Mini Marshall tailgate for a game.

We'd still love to have you if you can make it. The places we've thrown out as possible drive locations are really pretty....we'll let you know when we decide and maybe you could make a weekend out of it.

 

I think I've been on the uphill both ways road you mentioned myself <g>.

It might have been Rt. 33 south from Elkins. (Great road for a drive in your
neck of the woods. Recommend you head down I81 to Harrisonburg VA. ,
then follow Rt. 33 to Elkins WV.) 1 1/2 hours from Martinsburg, WV to Harrisonburg , VA
for reference., then 2 hours from Harrisonburg, VA to Elkins, WV.

Drove that way coming back from a Va Tech / Marshall game one year.
Would be a great road for a Mini .

Maybe you could find the Mini owners in your area ( Maybe some members
of the DC Club as well) and form a "chapter" up your way. )

We could possibly find a point somewhere scenic in the middle of the state
and have us all converge there for a Mini picnic or something this summer.

Would make for a fun day for all , I think.

 

Count me in... (Living and working at Snowshoe.) Weekends will be tough for me this summer due to running the golf operation up here, but can sneak out now and then for a drive.

If we can get a group that's up for a weekend in the area I will work on lodging discounts.

 

i'm in

blue with white top and mirrors..

i am in south charleston "work"
up for a run in the mountains..

and a meet of fellow mini drivers

 

Glad to have everyone coming aboard. We're spread out all over the state,
which in a way , can be a good thing.

(More experts in different areas. Might make for better runs / options.)

Bcski : Not sure about everyone else, but I'm not against a midweek run
sometime myself. I have a rotating schedule... so I'm off Sundays plus
one other day each week. Example, off Tue. this week, Wed, next.

WVPhoto : Glad to have another Kanawha Valley member online. Question
though. What's wrong with this picture ? Blue with White top sounds like
my Mini on order. Went to your gallery to see, and it's empty .

Minyuette: Good location in the Panhandle. Great roads up that way.

Mini Esq : Has the western part of the state covered. Also may know
Ohio pretty well. Fellow Herd fan is a plus .

Add in our visitors from out of state. Any others we can bring into the group, and we're off to a great start.

Now if I just had my Mini.. I'd feel a whole lot better about the situation .

(Side note to that : Just checked online and I've left "production" and am now awaiting transport !!! Yeah for me.)

 

It sounds like your Mini will arrive in time for the spring weather!!!!

 

Not sure how long it will take to get onboard a ship and to my dealer in Cincy,
but I'm guessing by the 15th of April. (Hopefully sooner).

Mentioned in a post earlier in this thread I'm having a knee worked on, it's
going to be nothing major, slightly torn meniscus needs cleaned out. I'm being
optimistic that I'll be healed up enough to drive my own car back from Ohio .

Worse case scenario I can use the help of modern pharmaceuticals. I've got
a pretty high pain threshold, and can take a Lortab or two if needed. Any more
and I'll just have a friend drive it, as much as that would kill me .

I'm hoping for good weather the weekend I bring it home. April can be iffy,
with luck I can get the rain to miss the area for a day or two.

 

If you Mini is done and ready for the boat, I'd expect you'll have it before April 15. In fact, I bet you have it by the end of March.....Cincy Mini is good about getting in Minis early but they're very willing to work with getting you in on a weekend for delivery. Who did you deal with at Cincy Mini?

I'm happy to see so many people so interested....and in enough areas that we can work together for some great variety on stuff. I'd have a difficult time doing mid-week drives too but....if you give me enough notice....I could take a few days off. Or maybe we all just need to plan and nice long Mini trip up to Snowshoe.

 

Purchased my Mini from Jay...
Great guy to deal with. Had originally placed a deposit with a dealership
on Long Island. Planned a flight up to get it and then a 9 hour drive home.

Only problem, the four days after my deposit I was unable to get the dealership
to return my calls. I can understand them being busy, but if I couldn't get a callback
during the first week, what kind of luck would I have if there was a problem?

Of course , they were able to deal on the price quite a bit. Jay called to
see if I had ordered elsewhere yet right about the time I was getting frustrated.
Long story short, we worked out a fair price and I changed my order...

Much better off working with Cincy Mini. Great people, and the valet
option in the event of repair is a big plus. Also , Cincy is a great little
road trip.

As far as a fun run goes , midweek or weekends are fine by me. Sundays
work best (since I'm always off) , but other days are possible.

I probably should start planning a "long cut" back from Cincinnati .
(Beings the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, I think I'll try a curvy one . )

 

I had Jay too....and I'm thrilled with Cincy Mini and with Jay! I took the easy way back from Cincinnati (the AA Highway) - fun but, as my boss pointed out, I probably would've had more fun coming back the "fun" way through Ohio.

BTW, I think we need to see some pics of all the great WV Minis on here!

 

I've joined the DC club, hoping to get in on some runs now that the weather is getting nicer. A few people wanted to get some routes planned out my way, my problem is that I don't know the area all too well, I'm from Philadelphia. So definitely keep me in mind, like I said I'd love to see more of the state!

Did that route have those "crash" areas for runaway trucks? I remember seeing lots of those. And there was a Walmart in the middle of nowhere, we got to the top of the mountain and after seeing almost no signs of life the retail giant was drawing people like moths to a flame! I was floored.

There was also a state park or just a point of interest I remember as I traveled west from like the Huntington area to Morgantown. It was a big rock overlook, for the life of me I can't remember the name of it or how to get there. Does this ring a bell with anyone? (Probably a longshot with my vague description.)

 

That sounds like Hawks nest state park. Did you overlook a river WAAAY down at the bottom? That would have been if you traveled Rt. 60 for some reason...

I'll try to figure it out. There's a ton of good roads near you... I'd suggest
you go to mapquest, pull up a map of elkins, zoom out and switch to Terrain mode. You'll be able to get a birds eye view, and if you notice the roads going up thru the mountain range have a ton of "twisties" to enjoy.

I'll check my bookmarks and find some websites that may do you some good too...

 

I don't remember it being big-time off the beaten path. But it was a while ago. But saying "you know.. that place... that overhangs that other place... off that road..." sure does narrow it down eh? I guess saying it was in the mountains doesn't help either, being the Mountain State and all. LOL! *hangs head in shame*

I'm intrigued by this Route 60 though.........

 

Route 60 is a lot of fun in the Hawks Nest neck of the woods.....