Hello Club Members and Mini Owners,

Karen and I are still planning out a tasty Wine Tour Cruise to make the drive up on Saturday morning more interesting

Here are the plans;

Saturday July 8th: Meetup at the Michigan Welcome Center at 10 am (CST) at Interstate 94 and the Michigan State line., New Buffalo Welcome Center Located on I-94 eastbound at the Michigan-Indiana state line; can only get to the welcome center traveling east

From there we will Tour our way to K-zoo for the night at a hotel.

1st stop Round Barn winery

2nd stop Lemon Creek winery

Stop somewhere for lunch.

3rd Stop Contessa wine cellars

4th stop Warner vineyards

5th stop in Kalamazoo if we have time, Peterson & Son

Sunday July 9th: Attend the Car Show, hang out and head home

THIS IS NOT A CLUB DRIVE OR EVENT!

Please post if you will be joining Karen and I for the drive, so I can print maps for us all.

Feel free to email me. And check back for my cell number posting friday July 7th.

 

The Family and I will at least start out with you..

I am hoping to make it to lunch before the kids get board, and we will probably shortcut the rest up to K-Zoo.

 

I am in as well.

 

We're in too x 3.

Let me know via PM if anyone is interested in the short track Saturday night or the ferry ride on Sunday.

 

Not sure about the track, will check with my friend and let you know soon.

 

Coming up Friday the 7th. Staying at the Clarion. Keeping an eye on the thread.

 

I never been on a drive with other minis...would love to make this my first.
What time are you guys leaving on Saturday? Would love to head out of Chicago (Downtown Here) with someone else.

gtshnzr: What's the ferry you are talking about?

 

Hi Charlie, with all of us driving from all over Chicago land, and with the Dan Ryan and now The Sky Way a mess. I have started this drive at the IN/MI stateline thinking it too much to try and meet and drive together in a real group from Chicago. I look forward to meeting you at the Welcome Center in MI. I'll post my cell here July 7th so you may call me for ETA and or local on drive to Welcome Center. Drive Safe.

 

check it out for the return trip:

http://www.lake-express.com/

and the short track Saturday night?

http://www.kalamazoospeedway.com/

 

We will probably be heading through the city somehow instead of looping around.. We can hook up as the date gets closer and figure out exactly where/when to meet.

 

Short track can probably be a "show up if you want to all drive over together" kind of thing, it holds 6,500 people. If we want to make it more, maybe they'll let our group take a "parade lap" around the track. It never hurts to ask as these places are usually hurting for entertainment. Note that Saturday nite is a "kidz nite" and autographs, so the drivers and their cars are usually staged around the track and people can go down and visit.

As for the ferry, the Lake Express will give us a group discount. We can go on the 4:45 pm from Muskegeon to Milwaukee on Sun 7/9 for $50 per car and $50 per adult passenger. That is roughly a 10-15% discount off the normal prices of $55 per person and $65 per car (figure 1 car + 3 people? $200 vs $230). And the quoted fares are "inclusive" of the potential "$6 per fare fuel surcharge." If enough people are intersted, I can firm up something with their res office (group name, etc.) and everyone can make their own reservations directly. They only need to know roughly how many spots to block off for us.

Please advise. Double posted in CMCC.

 

Hello Mini Owners, just over a month away, and the maps are ready.

We are going to have fun and bring your driving gloves.

Later Dustin

 

Just an FYI..I just spent the 8th and 9th in New Buffalo (just north of Michigan City) and did the wine country tour...

1. I took 90/94 (from dwntwn to make it easier) to the Dan Ryan and jumped off on the Skyway (90 toll) twds Detroit...It took about an hour an half to get to New Buffalo...The traffic on the DR is not too bad it seems to keep moving and there was no Skyway traffic or the rest of the way for that matter. We came back on Saturday after noon the same way and even with traffic on the DR, Blues fest, and a just before the Sox game we were in Berwyn in an Hour 10 minutes. So it really isnt that bad after all but that was one trip and Murphy always comes in to play.

2. The back roads for the wine tour were awesome..plenty of twistys but beware of some of the rough road surfaces...

3. Across the road from Lemon Creek there is another Vinard called Bierian (I think) that has plenty of parking for a big group (parking along the drive on the grass...turnaround area just to right of building).

4. Next to Warner there is another winery called St Julian...
5. If someone hasnt thought of it yet I would call some of the winerys to let them know how big of a group your bringing in so they can accomodate you.

Let me know if you have any other Questions...

Cheers and have fun on the twisties...I know I did. This trip also convinced my wife that Buster is a fun road trip car...Maybe I can finally get to go on some club events..

 

Thanks to Busters Driver for the heads up, will take into acct for the 8th.

One Goal is to hit the smaller winerys.

At this time, I think we'll have 6 cars.

Hope for more, Dustin

 

Change of plans, I'll see you all on Sunday, but will not be along for the winery tours...bummer :-(

 

Dustin, make that 4 cars ... we are going over on the boat Sat morning and will meet up with you guys at the Clarion after the MD&E rally on Saturday.

 

I am still in for the wine tour, but just till lunch, and then the kids will need some pool time..

 

UPDATE

At this time, I think based on review of posting here and on the club site, the following will be on the Sat Drive;
Karen and I
Ernesto and family for 1/2
Charlief1975
Chris
John
Lansing Mini

If you are listed above and are not going to make it, please post here.

If your not on the list, and WANT TO GO, please post here.

Be sure and check back for more details the Week of July 3rd.

 

Michigan Meetup info for Saturday evening..

We will be meeting up the the Michigan MINI club for Ice Cream at Bella Creamery 10098 Shaver Road in Portage Michigan at 7pm on Saturday July 8th..

The location is about 7 miles away from the Clarion hotel area

 

Not sure if I can make it. Will now this weekend.

 

Dustins Last Update for Drive of July 8th.

Hello Motor Heads, We are looking forward to a great drive on Sat and still have room for more. Please print the TOP posting for your files.

My cell is 312-388-4263, the last time I'll be able to look at forum is Friday afternoon. Feel Free to call me anytime for anything to do with this drive.

Everything is set and ready to roll, see you sat 10 am CST (ChicagoStandardTime) at the MI welcome center.

Dustin

 

Unless something bad happens, I plan to join in the fun for the winery tour. I live in Saint Joseph, MI. I have to join in, since you are coming through my back yard.

I won't be staying over night in Kalamazoo, nor will I be able to make the car show.

Eric

 

Another last minute thing. I would recommend "Keeler Keg" for lunch. It is just southest of Watervliet, which is minutes from the Contessa winery. It is one of those "hole in the wall" "off the beaten path" kind of places that the Harley guys love. A good burger joint or greasy spoon.

http://www.goswm.com/go_htm/southwes...eler/photo.htm

BTW, I have lived here for 8.5 years and never gone to the wineries. This is a good excuse to go!

 

Eric, would love to have you join us for the drive. See Ya Then, Dustin

 

WOW, we had so much fun, with so few. :(

Thanks to Steve and family, Chris and Lori, and Eric from MI for joining Karen and I for a great back road drive in SW MI, oh stopped at a few Vineyards too.

I mapped it out online, and got very lucky with some great fun twisty roads.

Plus Eric had traveled a few of them before and was a great lead driver and fun to play tag with.

I'll keep the maps and look forward to doing it next year and adding a few more turns.

Till Next Year, Dustin