THIS ISN'T AN OFFICIAL MID-CAL MINIS THREAD, BUT IT WAS THE BEST PLACE TO POST IT-THIS PLACING GIVES PEOPLE A CHANCE TO GIVE FEEDBACK THEY CANNOT DO IN THE VENDORS THREAD. MODS, MOVE IT IF NEEDED! THANK YOU!
We are putting together a gathering of MINI Motoring Maniacs to have a fun day driving up and down Minarets road, near the EXACT center of California!! (at least that’s what the sign in North Fork says). We are arranging a group discount for rooms in the area, for those of us who live too great a distance to just drive over for the day, and we are looking into a dinner spot for Saturday night and Sunday breakfast. For those who have never driven Minarets road to Mammoth pools (don't be confused by the word Mammoth-it is the WESTERN side of Mammoth mountain) it is 45 miles each way of the most splendid, twisty, beautiful road to be found in California.
There will be an amateur photo contest, with very distinct rules, and the winners will get great motoring prizes like a CCC T shirt! Some accessories too! We will even have a grand prize, tbd later. This event was announced as the western sierras/bass lake tour in the calendar section of the latest issue of MC 2 magazine, but was listed as Oct 28th& 29th. Due to scheduling conflicts and unavailability of reasonably priced lodging around Bass lake, we decided to center it in Oakhurst on the first weekend of November.

If you would like to participate, send me an E Mail cccoopers@aol.com

Watch this space for ongoing updates concerning lodging, meeting spots and scheduling.


THE FINE PRINT

We assume that "you" won't sue us if you die, but your widow's sister's neighbor's gardener's brother is a lawyer
and we just aren't willing to deal with that nonsense.

With the map and route sheet we give you, it's easy to drive at your own pace without getting lost.
You DON'T have to follow the "host" leader if you don't want to.
If the leader is too slow for you, feel free to blitz past, as long as you drive by the rules (outlined below).
. If the pace is too fast, you can lag behind.

If you have to go faster than what is prudent and reasonable,or especially, SAFE, WITHIN YOUR ABILITIES, you're on the wrong run. Or stupid. Or both.

We don't care who's the fastest, bravest, bestest. We just like to drive/experience really cool roads. Particularly if they are filled with MINIs!!!

Hotel Info: we have a block of 16 rooms available at the Oakhurst Lodge. these are in a seperate building altogether, and the owners of the lodge are car/bike friendly, and do several car group functions a year. You must use the code term"MINIS on Minarets" for the reduced price. all rooms are double queens so they can be shared, and price is 67.95/night plus tax. Get your reservations in soon!!

Oakhurst Lodge
40302 Highway 41, Oakhurst, California (CA) 93644
Toll Free: 888-431-9907 ~ Phone: 559-242-1425

 

That is a fun road to drive. You will enjoy it. If youre looking for a great mexican place there is one in north fork. I can;t remember the name, but you can;t miss it if you drive up the main road through town to the western side.

Also, watch out for local drivers i their trucks on that road. They don't believe in obeying double yellow lines... I've almost been run off the road many times.

 

Since I live in Oakhurst on an acre+ anybody wanting to camp out can do so at my place. A possible breakfast spot is the Mountain House Restaurant and there are plenty of places for dinner including El Cid, the official MidCal MINIs mod day restaurant, where you can have margaritas that you won't want to drive on afterwards.

Steve

 

I have a tent :-D. Sounds interesting :-D. Maybe I'll dust it off and spend the night at your house. That way it will be a nice cheap trip :-D

 

That place is good. Now i feel like having some pancakes....

 

If I had a kitchen I could make breakfest. :-D

Maybe I'll make a batch of oatmeal chocolate chip with coconut cookies. If we had a BBQ, I could cook up some tri-tip...

 

There is also some limited space in the house, but it's torn apart and doesn't have much furniture and I think there are more spiders in the house then outside.

Steve

 

This is sounding like a FUNNER TRIP every second. Will be good to see you guys again. Haven't seen most of you since the trip to morro bay, that I got everyone lost on :-D

 

Your welcome to use the kitchen and the BBQ if you want to cook. The kitchen is the only really usable part of the house.

Steve

 

Hmmmm.... Might be kinda fun :-D. Cannot wait :-)

 

Just don't cook a poison duck, Brad wouldn't like that after his last experience.

Steve

 

Rofl... Nah, I'm pretty good at what I do . But a BBQ at night would sound like fun. I'll be meeting people on the 41 / 5 Interchange. Maybe we can meet up at the chevron or shell station there? I don't member exactly what's out there anymore.

 

That's the Kettleman City intersection and there is just about any brand of gas you want there. The Chevron is where I always fill up which is on the right as you go east.

Steve

 

I bet they don't have 93 or e85, though

 

This is California, need I say more? At least we don't have to put our MINIs away for the winter.

Steve

 

It just measn i have gas money for 3 months used as mod money, though. It also keeps the miles off my poor car :P

 

*laugh* SUCKER!!

 

Have you seen pics of my car since Morro Bay?

 

Sounds like a fun trip! it would be my first MINI outing if I can get the weekend off!

 

You're in for a treat. That is one of the best roads is central California. Sadly, i was only able to drive it in my MINI once before I moved... Its made even worse by the fact that i lived 20 minutes from it...

 

I can vouch for that!!
Sounds like a fun weekend....Maybe I will have Sat/Sun off by then???
Cheers,
Michele

 

would be fun to see you again too michele. You all need to take the weekend off and lets have a huge mini party up there :-D.

 

edit to original post with some basic rules/expectations, lots of interest so far, Hotel info coming by sunday.

 

The best western in OAKHURST is cheep and one of the best hotels up there. Indoor pool

 

AND FOR THE HIGHENDERS AND FOOD LOVERS THERE IS ERNAS ELDERBERRY HOUSE AND CHATEAU DU SUREAU. (559-683-6860) WWW.ELDERBERRYHOUSE.COM
IF YOU WANT ONE OF THE BEST DINING EXPERIENCES IN THE COUNTRY AND A FABULOUS B&B THIS PLACE ROCKS! PLUS THEY HAVE SPA SERVICES.