The granddaddy of all U.S. concours d'elegance is California's famous Pebble Beach show. Over the past several years Florida's Amelia Island event has become internationally known, the premier show on the east coast. The reputation of the Hilton Head concours, now in its third year, is rising quickly, partly because of the quality of the cars shown and partly because Hilton Head is a desirable destination.

Now you and your MINI have a chance to participate in the Hilton Head Concours d'Elegance, thanks to BMW, the event's presenting sponsor. BMW and MINIUSA have asked the MINI Motoring Club of the Carolinas to assemble a group of 25 MINIs to appear in the Hilton Head concours Saturday, November 6. We're one of several southeastern car clubs -- the only MINI club -- invited to display our cars in a low-key event that will feature modern, classic and vintage cars.

In addition to showing your car (it doesn't have to be a show car, just presentable), you'll be able to take in other show events, including the "Quest for Speed" exhibit: land speed record vehicles, Indy 500 and LeMans winners, stock cars, dragsters and even historic race cars from the early 1900s. You'll receive free parking passes and reduced-price admission tickets to Sunday's concours event.

For more details on the concours, go to http://hhiconcours.com/.

BMW and MINIUSA are arranging for m2c2 participants to stay at the host hotel, the Hilton Head Marriott Beach & Golf Resort, at reduced rates. We haven't yet heard what the room rates will be, but other off-island accommodations are also available.

Those who attended the club's annual meeting in August learned about this event first (a reward for attending the meeting!) and about half the alootted 25 m2c2 spots are already spoken for. Obviously, we need people who will commit to being there, not those who "might show up." If you want to attend, PM me and I'll put your name on the list. If you're not sure, check back regularly for more details on this opportunity.

Of course, you must be a m2c2 member to participate in the event. If you're not, sign up today at http://m2c2.org/join.php.

 

Hey Lee could you post a list of who is on the list already.

Thanks,
G.P.

 

Yes Please :smile:

 

I remember putting my name on something......

 

Any list yet?

 

Many of us in Western NC are just getting our power on and our lives back to normal after Ivan came through. I spoke with LJinNC and he's still without broadband connection. We will post a list as soon as possible.

Thanks for your patience.
Kevin

 

I remember signing a list. Hope it wasn't with invisible ink

 

Sorry for the delay, but Ivan took out my cable... and my Internet connection. It's finally back on and I'll have the list up very soon.

Lee

 

Please add me to the list :smile:. I am a member of M2C2 and participated in the driving school in Charlotte at Lowe's Motor Speedway last year.

- Mike A

 

The power's back on, the cable company finally got around to reconnecting my Internet link; sorry for the delay!

The list:

MiniNC
DebiW & Keith
Audioman
Eric S.
Mini03Tiger
Tweety's Mom
Julie
Louis A.
SoCarS
minicoopermike
Trainman
MiniMad
Loren K.
*****
[font=Arial]chrisfb1[/font]
LJinNC

We've got room for more cars, so let me know and I'll add your name to the list. If I somehow missed you, let me know.

Lee

 

I finally got the word on the room rate for the Hilton Head event. The rate for the Hilton Head Marriott Beach & Golf Resort, the host hotel, is $129 per night.

It's a pretty swanky hotel; check it out at http://marriott.com/property/propertyPage/HHHGR

If that rate seems too high, I understand there some off-island places that are less expensive. I've e-mailed the organizer for suggestions and possible group discount information, but if anyone here has any suggestions, please share them.

 

Thank you for the info. I appreciate all the effort you're putting into this.

 

The Hilton Head Marriott would be the center of activity, but ouch on the price (not ANOTHER Italian Job!) . It'd be nice if we all stayed at the same place.. :smile: Lee, keep us informed on what the organizers suggest as an alternative, and see if you can get a group rate worked out....

Oh yeah, when do we drive down and back? I saw the dates were the 5th thru the 7th. It's about a 4 hour drive..

It looks like nothing much is happening on the 5th (Friday) until evening, and the actual concours is on Sunday the 7th, and all the driving tours are on the 6th. So I suggest driving down Friday morning, and back on Sunday evening, and stay 2 nites. I can afford 2 nites at the Marriott, which is about the same price as an Italian dinner in Spartanburg...
I noticed on the Concours website, under accomodations, there's a Hilton just before you cross over onto the island for $75.00 a nite.

 

I agree with Trainman... OUCH especially that close to Christmas. I'm not opposed to motoring a few extra minutes to get to the events if it will save a few dollars.
It will be much more fun [and more financially prudent] to keep the group together in one hotel, too.

I won't be leaving Greenville until after 5 pm on Friday so perhaps we can have two caravans going down on Friday. Trainman can take the 'daytrippers' and I'll bring in the 'night owls'.

 

I would actually be planning on leaving around noonish.. The concours itself is being held at the Honey Horn plantation, so we'd have to drive there irregardless of where we stay. The Marriott is the center of activity, so to speak, but I could handle a motor to get there to save $50.

 

Okay, Ed, what's all this dredging up of the sordid past, the remarks about "The Italian Job" in Spartanburg, etc.?!!!

I got a reply from the event organizer, who agreed that the price quoted seemed a bit steep and said they have folks working on other packages. The lodging coordinator will be in touch with me, he said, and I'll post those deals as soon as I hear from her.

I'm figuring on two nights there, too, so any savings will be good. The Marriott looks like a nice hotel. Maybe not THAT nice, though.

 

I must have been using the pen with the invisible ink, cause I know I signed something.
Please put me on the list.
When are the triangle area people planning to motor down. It's about 6 hours from Raleigh.

 

I'm not sure what type of room that qoute is for, but on Marriot's own site, a standard room (without a view) goes for $119 for that Friday Night.
https://marriott.com/reservation/rateListMenu.mi

 

The Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites in Bluffton, S.C., was recommended as a reasonable place to stay. The web site is http://www.blufftonexpress.com/index.html. The hotel is about 10 minutes from the show grounds on Hilton Head Island and is in a complex with a Target and a Food Lion... what more could a discerning MINI owner want? Particularly at a room rate of $59/night.

And of course there is the Holiday Inn Oceanfront at http://www.hihiltonhead.com/ It is ocean front and on the island, and only a little more expensive than the Holiday Inn Express... though I'm not seeing any rooms available at the $75/night rate Trainman mentioned.

What do you folks think of these options? Is anyone familiar with Hilton Head and the hotels there?

 

bottom of the list at this location

http://www.hhiconcours.com/accommodations.html

Hilton Garden Inn

 

I've got this event penciled in but I honestly can't say that I'll make it. I'm going to have to wait until after Eurofest before I find out if the bank account can take another hit for a weekend trip.

 

Awww man, ya gotta be there!!

 

Trainman: I saw that $75 figure on the concours' web site, but not on the hotel's room rates. Maybe a special rate?

I've e-mailed MINI USA about the "discounted" rate at the Marriott and have asked a club member who lives on the island to help. Maybe we'll get something figured out quickly. It's always nice to know where you're going to rest your head.

 

What are our obligations to the event?
How long are we going to be without our MINI's while they are on display?

I'm concerned about going to and from hotel that is not at the event.

 

To each there own as far as the hotel goes, but I truly do believe that you get so much more of the experience by staying at the host hotel. Last year, Eurofest was a fine example. I went to the host hotel to pick-up my packet and had a few drinks compliments of the British car club, bid on some auction items, chatted with enthusiasts owning cars other then the Mini. There was a banquet there and much more. The lot was packed and was a car show in its self. I then went back to the Wingate with nothing going on. The Z3 Homecoming event in Spartanburg is another example--staying at the host hotel can be almost another event separate from the actual event. This year for Eurofest, I am absorbing it all in and staying at the host hotel.