A couple of us came up with the idea of late winter/early spring drive to some of our favorite eating establishments around the northern part of the state (with some curvy roads thrown in for good measure). Unofficially the drive is being call "the Gut Buster". We've designed the route to be more segmented so people can join and drop out whenever they wish. The details are below. As usual you can get more more info at my site or by emailing me.

When: Saturday March 8th 8:00 - 2:00 (depending on where you start and end your drive)

Times: There are a couple starting points due to some of us living near the city and some of us living in the northern Suburbs. For those from outside the Chicago area email me directly for more specific directions.

Plaza De Lago in Wilmette: 8:00 (leaving at 8:30 / Krispy Kreme in Gurnee: 9:30 (leaving around 10) / Jelly Belly: around 10:30 (probably leave around 11:30) / The Spot in Kenosha: 12:30 to 1. These times are all estimates at this point but they should give you a general idea of the schedule.

Where: The starting point is for those coming from the city, near northside, or any who has to drive a ways north to get to Gurnee will be Plaza De Lago located on Sheridan Rd. in Wilmette. We will meet at 8:00 a.m. and leave around 8:30. Directions are as follows:
Go North from the city on the Edens (I94) and exit east on Lake Ave. Follow Lake Ave. for about 10 minutes - once you go over some railroad tracks you will be getting close. From there you go through a large 4 way intersection and then hit a traffic light. At the light you will turn left onto Sheridan Rd. From there you will drive about a .5 of a mile and hit another light. Take a left on this light (Westerfield Dr.) and make an immediate right into the parking lot. We will meet in the side of the parking lot that is closest too the intersection you just came from.

Here's a map of the Wilmette area. Here's a map of the drive from we'll take from Wilmette to Gurnee (we'll be going from south to north so you should start from the bottom of the page)

The starting point for those in the far northern suburbs or for those who want to get up later and just shoot straight up to Gurnee is the Krispy Kreme in Gurnee IL. I would assume those of us coming from Wilmette will arrive at the Gurnee Krispy Kreme around 9:30 a.m. so let shoot for that as the time to meet. Directions are as follows assuming your're coming from I94 either north or southbound: Exit onto 132 Eastbound. Shortly after you are on 132 you will turn left onto N. Dilley's Rd. Krispy Kreme will be on your left.

Here's a map of the Gurnee area

From there we will Hunt Club Rd to County Q/Route 165 to Green Bay Road. The Jelly Belly Factory is another 1/4 mile north of there. This map illustrates the route.

The Jelly Belly factory should be fairly easy to get to from there.

Finally after the Jelly Belly factory we'll head north into Kenosha for some lunch at the Spot. Here's the map of the route from Jelly Belly to the Spot

Who: Anyone is welcome to join us. If you have a new MINI, a Classic Mini, or are patiently awaiting your MINI that is currently on some ship crossing the Atlantic you're welcome to come out.<

The Details: This drive is a fairly long one so come prepared! Our initial meeting place (for those going to Wilmette) is a good place to gather as there's a Starbucks and Jewel right there in the plaza. If you want more information about Plaza de Lago
check out their website: www.plazadelago.com

Of course our second meeting place in Gurnee, Krispy Kreme, speaks for itself.

Things to Bring: FRS Radios, a full tank of gas, all your best Mini apparel, and a smile.

You'll want to check out my site for further details as the drive gets closer: bridger.us/mini

For those coming from outside the Chicago region feel free to email me directly for specific directions.

 

Anyone have an open passenger seat? I need a ride. Please see my other post: Click Here

Thanks,

James

 

gabe.
almost didn't know it was you without your "classic" sig....
see ya on saturday!

 

nfo, where will you be joining the group? The hubby and I are going to Plaza del Lago. Will we see you there?

 

>>gabe.
>>almost didn't know it was you without your "classic" sig....
>>see ya on saturday!

What do you think of the new sig? I've had that old one since April and I felt like a change. I might go back to it though.

see you saturday!

 

barky and gabe,
i'll see you at plaza del lago.
gonna be fun to chat with all of us chicago MCO'ers!
b.t.w. gabe the sig is classy, the old sig is classic!
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>>barky and gabe,
>>i'll see you at plaza del lago.
>>gonna be fun to chat with all of us chicago MCO'ers!
>>b.t.w. gabe the sig is classy, the old sig is classic!
>>_________________
>>
>>

See you all there. So far the forcast calls for upper 30's and cloudy - let's hope it doesn't change!

 

Got a ride!

With heated seats even.

Thanks to Thechandler81.

I'll see you all there Saturday!

James

 

hopefully the tribune isn't too accurate!


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From the National Weather Service: Saturday . Mostly cloudy. A chance of snow. Low near 30. High in the upper 30s.

 

MINI is fearless! Even if it does snow, they'll drive like little tanks.

 

Meenee.Coopah from MMMC will be there, complete with the better looking of the MC half, Amy. Looking forward to meeting all of our Chicago neighbors!

 

Until just a while ago I thought I would miss out on this one. But I am going to join in on the fun and food. I am looking forward to the ride!

See you all tomorrow!

 

Woohoo! Another terrific drive! Great big thanks to Gabe and Steve for organizing and keeping us all together. Also kudos to Jeeves for mapping out the Jelly Belly to The Spot portion of the drive.

It was great to see everyone and meet some new friends who are all afflicted with MINI fever!

I hope to have a couple pics posted here tomorrow, as well as post a linky to an Imagestation album.

Last time I photoshopped out the license plates, but I think I have too many pics to do that on all of them this time. However, if anyone doesn't want their plates shown, please let me know and I'll be glad to do a little touch up work on any photos with your vehicle. Feel free to PM me with your request.

 

I made it home on the "Performance " run-flats. I also completed my mission at the outlet mall, so I will be able to come out and play again sometime.

Barky,

The catalog I was talking to you about is from Finish line performance. They do not have their MINI products on line yet. The web site is at http://www.finishlineperformance.com

Thanks to you and Fred for the check on me and my snowmobile. I am looking forward to the pics.

It was great to meet everyone!


P.S. The rootbeer at the spot is the best I have tasted. I came home with a gallon in the boot.

 

So here's the pic with all 21 MINIs. The first one is with the original color/balance/contrast; the second is brightened up a bit. Many thanks to my hubby for doing all the Photoshop work to get two pics pasted together just right. :smile:





For a full-size version (3978 x 881) of the above,


click here.




For a full-size version (3978 x 881) of the above, click here.

 

WOW, that pic turned out great!, I was in my car for that one, nice and warm..hehe. Nice work!

 

Sweet! That looks like a nice signature pic as well
(mine's at the far left)

 

>>Sweet! That looks like a nice signature pic as well
>>(mine's at the far left)

And that's exactly what I intended to do with it!

Anyone else who'd like to use it, feel free!

By they way, Agent Cooper is second from the left.

 

Great pic! Barky has allowed me to use it as one of the daily rotating headers on my site [ bridger.us/mini ] so it should be up there sometime soon. I can't tell you when since I have the images set to randomly rotate daily.

My photos should be up on bridger.us/mini by this afternoon.



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My photo album is up at Imagestation.com. In order to view it, you must set up an account. Memberships are free, don't seem to create any spam, and allow you to view all kinds of photo albums. Plus you can create your own. Setting up an account takes only a couple of minutes.

While viewing the album, you can get the full-size version of any image just by clicking on it.

Enjoy!


Chicago MINI drive 3/8/03

 

All the images are on my site here: bridger.us/mini/march_drive_03/

Here are some highlights:







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and finally all of us (minus one that had to leave early)

 

sorry about having to leave early guys!
the pic's look great, looks like the rest of the drive was a lot of fun!

 

Super pics, Gabe! Just love the individual "glamour shots".

 

And a great time was had by all.
More picts in Gallery - Regional Events-Midwest, pages4,5,6.
Motor On. :smile: :smile: :smile:

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3087 Greg4MINI (LY/B Cooper, Sport Pkg, Sport Sus.+, Xenon,Cruise, Chrome.)