OMAHA! Yes! Actually on the Iowa side is the new MidAmerica Motor Plex. it's said to be the best new roadcourse in the country that is design for clubs over professional racing. Over 2 miles long! I am from Omaha and could set up a fantastic navigational Ralliye through the bluffs between the Hotels in Omaha and Nebraska City along the Missouri River. We could keep costs down by making it totally non-profit. http://www.midamericamotorplex.com/

Omaha is in the center of the US making it easy from all directions. the down town area is home to one of the most unique night spots - The Old Market so I think we could have quite a memorable event. But most importantly I'm willing to bet we could get the track for a good price for a weekend and beat any other deal.. Anyone interested in this for 2004?
Ches

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This is a great idea! I am a member at Mid America Motorplex, so I could check in to the costs, etc. of having a weekend driving event at the track.

Zappa could set up a rally and we could do a one day track event at MAM.

I will have my BRG/B S by that time, taking it to the track is a must.

Omaha is centrally located, so no one will have to travel from one coast to the other. Just some decent motoring-no extreme travel (coast to coast). While not the biggest ciy in the world, Omaha does have some decent cuisine and beverage ingesting spots.

Plenty of hotel rooms and riverboat gambling just over the river.

 

Zappa, i'm in lincoln, if you need help, someone to scout around, or whatever, PM me, IM me, email me, or whatever; i'll be glad to help

 

this is such a cool idea! A mco get together would be so much fun. I'm in as long as cost isn't out of hand

 

If this is for real I think this cou;d become something really BIG!!!I have been to Daytona for Bike Week, Biketoberfest and Sturges for there annual bike rally's. Now if we could do something for the MINI's that would make my life complete!! One suggestion though is we need corporate sponsers to make it happen. You will need permission from the local city where it will be held and permits will be needed. This could become a big event and you want it done right. So if I were the one coordinating it I would try and contact MINIUSA and the local dealers and distributers that advertise here for help. I hope this becomes a reality for us all. If I can be of any help let me know. Good Luck

 

I think we could pull it off. I do know it takes a year to do this and about 20 dedicated people to get it rolling. I contacted MINICCA to see what their statis is. I post whetever comes back here. I do know it would help it it ends up being a non-profit organization, that way officers are voted in each year and the national club keeps their trust with the chapters. You can also have a convention committee to make it all happen. This works because not one person has a conflict of interest. All profits go to the host and national club. Of course it could go the other way too.. Either way, it don't hurt to start seeing if we could get a slot and what the rates for hotel would be.

I do know the City of Omaha would go all out for something like this. The downtown area is perfect for night gatherings and the area south, Nebraska City has a ton of new resort type hotels as well.. But the main point is the track. We did a similar event here in Ft. Worth at Motor Sports Ranch which is a private 1.7 mile course but it is not set up for a large # of participants and is totally private. At this event we were lucky to have for the first track day about 15+ instructors that rode with beginners. The 2nd day most of us were on our own.

I think the whole thing cost $145.00 and we had about 75 cars show up. Everything was broken up in 3's..
I would want this deal to be more family oriented, thus the rally. Well, I have some checking up to do... Let me know if any of you have any more ideas.

 

:smile: :smile:

Zappa,

I love this idea!! I've been hoping someone would suggest a good central location, and this sounds like IT! YAY!

I'll be happy to help in anyway I can. Do NOT hesitate to contact me for help with the organizing and planning. I'm looking forward to this!

Cheers!
Clover

 

Most of the driving school events at Mid America Motorplex have been around $300.00 for two days. That usually includes a t-shirt or other swag and a meal coupon for the track eatery.

I do know one of the biggest expenses is insurance for the track. This might be where the national club could help.

At track events, you must be a member of the participating club. For instance, I'm a member of the BMW club of america and I own a Honda del Sol (my MINI is coming soon). I'm pretty sure this is because of the insurance/tax exempt status of the organizing club.

Look forward to making this happen. Let me know if I can help.

 

Ok!
I contacted the track and as I forgot my notes at work, they would love to be the cornerstone for a 2004 Summer event.

First I was contacted by the MINICCA and they like the idea so I will keep doing some research. Being non[profit we have a good chance on keeping the costs down and insured properly. I would also appreciate some feedback and ideas from all of you. To pull this off it will take a minimum of 20 volunteers and preferably at least 6 from the Omaha/Lincoln area.

As for the track, there is enough paved area to stage an autocross as well!
For a road race, this is for everyone. I would like to make this part a 2 day deal where day one you are in the seat with qualified instructors - divided in 3 run groups. And a 2nd day for hot laps. Possibly there could be a spec race at the end of the first day??

The area has a good # of would be instructors - BMW, Porsche, and SCCA clubs so we should have luck with help there. Possibly some of you can also work as an instructor.

We will also have to come to agreement for the time of year but in the "Midlands" June averages a beautiful 75*F. There are plenty of open weekends at this point.

Convention Outline:
I would like to have the following events:
Road course
Autocross
Rally with several navigator classes
and car show - not sure to what extent.

As far as coordinators it would be nice to have a chair for each of the events, a person or two for registration, treasurer, hospitality, prizes and awards (possible banquet), advertising and sponsorship. From past experience the registration staff has the toughest job as they coordinate everything, help with travel suggestions, and sign people in... If the events works to be in that area - Nebraska - Personally I would like to handle the Rally with a local. I want to make it a memorable event.

As far as where to stay - the track has their own negotiated rate at a Marriot in West Omaha, but I want to check w/ Nebraska City and the Arbor Lodge and the DT Omaha Marriot which is right in the Old Market area with all the turn-of-the century restaurants, bars and other places to relax. (It was am old warehouse converted to a Hotel)
Also This will be a family event. I can encourage you to bring the whole lot as there is plenty to see if you don't want to hang at the track. There's the world famous zoo with the largest indoor dessert, Fontinelle Forest, and more...

What do you think?

 

Well, If we could manage to get our Cross Country Rally in place... and have it planned so that we arrive at that Track , It would be great.
So, SCMM, MiniCCA, all the Regional Mini Clubs and groups... Lets Talk.

Sponsors listening? Get your Decal on every Rally Mini... LA - NYC or MIAMI or BOTH! We would start in LA, Rally up to Vegas, where other West Coast Regions will Join.... And Run off from there after a day of Mini Fun and Excitement... Maybe a West Coast Track Day... We will then Take our Tour towards Omaha for that track Event, picking up other Mini's on the way...
Each Rally Stop will be hosted by that Regions Groups or Clubs...If there are any...
We could even work with Regional Dealerships that can Handle Hosting "the Swarm".

This is another Key Mark for potential Sponsors, for to be able to reach several active enthusiasts at once...

Mini Matt... not only do I think you're the obvious choice for this, but I think it'd be cool if you would produce the Rally Sponsor Decals and Gumballs... when we get the sponsors together.

Remember, A Rally Sponsor can be MINI related, but is not required to be...

Here is a list I think would be fitting..

Tire Rack
BMP
MOSS
PROMINI
MINIUSA
Red Bull
MiniMania
MonsterMini
Alta Mini
Pipercross
SuperSprint
Borla
Mini Cooper Motor Sport
Mini Madness
RSpeed
Synthetic Warehouse
MiniCooperParts.com
M&M's (hehehe)
Nitto
Toyo
Yokohama
You Name it, I'll accept it! The More Sponsors the more Entries... The bigger the events...and great prizes!

Sponsors contact send your proposals to me and I can get it all together. I have Sponsorship Package breakdowns, Logo placements and Sponsorship presence.

I will be Putting together a camera Crew to cover it, organizing the Cross Country Portions, and contacting Media.

And for it all to Reach Omaha for the National Event! Bring it on!

Clo, and The others at SCMM (local to me) contact me... I've already put a package together, I jumped the gun to soon last year... not enough Mini Owners...
Now we are strong!

-Doug


six13doug@yahoo.com