I've had my mini since august and only knew of a couple others in the area at that time. In the last couple of months I've seen at least half a dozen with lake county plates. Just to let you know, I am a DS/W MCS with Purdue plates and I live in Griffith. If I see you, I will wave.

I love my MINI and would like to know if there is are any fellow NAM members in the region. It would be great if we could get together and have a little Mini club of our own.

I started autocrossing as soon as my break-in was over, and I am hooked. If any of you are interested, we do have a local region. It is the Indiana Northwest Region http://www.INR-SCCA.org it is a great bunch of people. Not super competitve, mostly they are there for fun. So far I am the only new Mini, but there is an original mini that races in our region. If you don't want to race it is worth it to at least come and watch this little Mini go. He flys through the courses!

 

boilermini,
I live in Hobart and picked up my CR/W MCS in December. I've not seen too many Coopers driving around NWI other than on the expressway. No telling where they are from.

DS/W???? I would figure Gold/Black :smile: It would match your plate a lot better .

 

I consider myself a big Purdue fan, however, a gold/black Mini would be a little over the top for me.

 

Not from Indiana, but I visit the Hobart area often! '03 MSC DS/B. Are either of you guys going to the Tail of the Dragon Meet at the end of April?

 

I'm not too much into racing so I'm not going to the meet. Sumwon, were you in Hobart Thanksgiving? I saw a DS/B parked a block from my house that evening. I was still waiting on my MCS at the time and had to drive slow to show my wife how cool it was going to be when got mine. Now I have it, and it has turned out to be very cool .

 

The Dragon isn't about racing, its about enjoying a fun drive on a twisty road in a car that tears up the twisties! If you can, you should try to make it some time! Last I heart ~ 300 MINIs are showing up.

I started visiting Hobart in Jan of this year.

 

Hello! I am a new mini owner as of 1 week ago. I'm loving "her." I live in the La Porte, Indiana area. And travel to Hammond on a regular basis. I have not seen many coopers out this way at all, other than on the toll road. Once in a blue moon I'll see one driving by.

Would love to get a club together or just a meet up once a month would be fun.

04' PW/B MC :smile:

 

Congrats on the new MINI Dice-gal. You are going to love the car.

The Chicago MINI Motoring Club is a little bit of a drive for you, but that IS half the fun. We have several members who travel even farther for our events!!!

 

Hmm, I've noticed a new (still has the paper plate) PW MC in the parking lot where I work. I use to be the only Mini there . Dice-gal are you the one who usually parks under the tower?

 

>>Congrats on the new MINI Dice-gal. You are going to love the car.
>>
>>The Chicago MINI Motoring Club is a little bit of a drive for you, but that IS half the fun. We have several members who travel even farther for our events!!!

This is true. I drive over 1 1/2 hrs. to these events usually. They are fun and all the people in that club are nice and like to have fun while we're together. You should check it out!

 

:smile:

 

Busted indeed .

 

I will represent "us" and all Mini's everywhere to the best of my ability whilst you are away! Have a great week off!

I will also be on the prowl to see your mini parked in the lot when you return.

 

I am happy to see the NWI mini owners represent!! I saw a CR/? on my way home tonight. I was in Hammond on Calumet Ave around 6pm. Could that have been bolar?

Hey Dice-gal, are you interested in autocross? It would be great to see another female mini owner out on the track. Since you live in LaPorte you are in the middle of 2 great SCCA regionsm, South Bend region (www.sbrscca.org) and Indiana Northwest Region (www.INR-SCCA.org). The first race for the INR region is April 17th at Merrillville High School. This is a really nice laid back club. They love novices and they really love MINI's! There are 2 MINI's that race in this region, me and a vintage Austin MINI. We would love to see more. I get a lot of attention at our events. All of the veteran drivers want my car.

If any of you are interested in meeting, the race at Merrillville High School on April 17th might be a place to start at least. Even if you don't want to race, it is great fun to watch and meet other car/driving enthusiasts.

Drive on,
Boilermini
03 DS/W MCS

 

Hi Boilermini! Thanks for the post. It sounds like so much fun to do a rally. I looked up the SCCA website and that sounded fun. As for racing, I don't know about that. What exactly happens on the 17th? What time is it?

 

I just found out the Solo II event on 4/17 at Merrillville High School has been cancelled. As of right now it is not going to be rescheduled. :???: This puts the first race back to late May. So much for that idea!

 

boilermini,
Will the race in May be at the high school? I'm not really interested in racing but it might be neat to check out.

Oh by the way, nope that wasn't me the other night. I have heard of another red Mini motoring around the region but I haven't seen him. I did see a red Mini at Southlake Dodge on Rt. 30 for sale. It's sitting right up front. There very well could be a new Mini owner soon in the area .

 

Bolar,

There is a race scheduled may 23 at Merrillville High School. Definitely come check it out. If you want you can ride with me or my hubby. The guy with the vintage mini loves to gives rides also, and he is gooood! But, beware one ride and you might get hooked!

If you feel like a road trip in your mini, there is also a race on may 16 at the Tire Rack in south bend. This would be a much bigger event and there will probably be at least 3 mini's competing.

I'll try to keep you posted
Boilermini

 

NORTHWEST INDIANA SPOTTING...TWICE IN ONE DAY!!! I was heading west on the Indiana Toll Road this a.m. around 7:00 a.m. I saw a beautiful chili red mini heading East around the I65 exit. Later in the day around 3:30ish there was another Chili Red cooper by Target in Valpo. Could this have been the same cooper? Bolar? you? Nice Car!!

 

I was only one of those Minis you saw, the one on the toll road :smile: . I have been seeing two Minis west bound on the toll road in the morining, a BRG and occasionally a yellow one. Which one are you Tomgirl?

Dice-gal it is nice to put a face with the car. You looked like you were running a little behind this morining .

 

Hi Bolar! It's Dice-gal here! Tomgirl is my best friend and since she is on Nam right now I'm using her username. It was nice to finally put a face with the car. Nice ride by the way! You are not kidding when you say "I looked like I was running a little behind this morning". That is an understatement! First, I was running late, second, I get to Michigan City Toll Booth, bad accident on toll road near Valpo. Had to drive to 94 in City, a good 10 mins out of my way. Boy was I a racing this morn. I thought please, please, please...no cops. The mini pulled through and was a champion...I made it with 5 mins to spare!

 

Dice-gal and Bolar,

Where do you guys work? I work in Michigan City every Tuesday, but I usually take 94 not the toll road.

 

Dice-gal, I heard about that accident while I was leaving work that day, thought that might be the problem. From what I've read in "Mini Talk", Tomgirl is having problems getting a yellow Mini. If she can hold out she get the one she wants. It will be worth the wait .

 

Wow, Merrillville, Hammond, Michigan City, Purdue... all you folks are making me a tad homesick. I taught at Purdue in Creative Arts from 1989-1993, and had a small business for ten years out of Lafayette. Drove ALL over NW Hoosierland in a '73 Beetle. When not working I was covering the same flat ground on my bicycle.

Moved to Boulder, Colorado '93, then to Palo Alto, CA last year. My IB/W MCS arrives May 8th... hope to road trip to Indiana in the fall to show my new wife where I grew up (heh, RIGHT! she'd say). Born and raised in Boone County...

Can't wait to take her to the dunes for an evening, then to Michigan City for my favorite pasta dinner... hm, Chicago on this trip?

 

H&J,

Where do you get a good pasta dinner in Michigan City? BTW, you should come back for a visit. Your wife might be surprised by Indiana.