Have you heard about the "MINI TAKES THE STATES?" It has just been announced on www.MINIUSA.com . The point in the route closest to Denver is Albuquerque, NM on August 24th (a Thursday). The journey, west to east, begins in Monterey, Calif on Aug. 21st and ends Sept 4 in Lakefille, Ct. It's a tour of MINI owners from all over the country, with events along the way. See www.MINITAKESTHESTATES.com

The announced route is Monterey (CA) 8/21, Santa Barbara, Las Vegas 8/22, Flagstaff 8/23, Albuquerque 8/24, Amarillo 8/25, Dallas 8/26, Memphis 8/27, Nashville 8/28, St Louis 8/29, Indianapolis 8/30, Charleston (WV) 8/31, Charlottesville (VA) 9/1, Washington DC/Baltimore 9/2, New York metro area 9/3, and finally Lakeville, CT 9/4. There will be festivities along the way (Albuquerque = Sandia MINI).

Several MINI owners from Colorado (MINI5280.org) have already expressed an interest in catching the "journey" in Albuquerque then driving with the tour to Amarillo, TX the next day. Post here and on NM MINI's NAM Club Forum if you're interested. MINI USA will announce more details in mid-May.

Sounds like fun to me! Are you in?
Rick

 

going down on Wed eve or Thursday, whatever, with Rick and Kendall.

I Frappred and put myself in the MINI5280 Calendar here in NAM.

Jonathan

 

If you think you might catch one leg of the ride, or just visit the headquarters (usually a specific hotel) at each overnight stop, you should register before it closes at noon (Eastern) on July 17th. See www.minitakesthestates.com for full route, activity and registration info. Then post here and on the MINI5280 Event Calendar (NAM Main Menu > Calendar. Then select MINI5280 Event Calendar at lower right) so that we can all drive together in several groups or whatever. Since Wired Magazine is part of the tour, they'll be providing wireless (ironic?) access along the way. I suppose MTTS'ers will be able to cruise the 'net and cruise the hiways at the same time (not recommended unless your co-pilot is helping). Anyway, look for daily updates via Internet.

I will be doing Day 5 (Albuquerque to Amarillo), along with almost 20 (as of now) Colorado MINIs!
Rick

 

i'm planning to run down there on wednesday. i get off work at 6:00a.m. and intend to start out after a couple of hours of sleep (hopefully no later than noon). let me know if you have a different start time in mind. still need to get hotel reservations though.

 

just booked a room at the blue hotel for wednesday and thursday nights in albuquerque, have an extra double bed if any body is interested. got a reservation into the ambassador in amarillo but did not get an extra bed, sorry about that, wasn't thinking. if anybody is interested i might be able to upgrade for an extra one.

 

Looks like my time off work has been approved!!! I will be leaving after work Thursday at either 3:30p or 4:30p if anyone is leaving around the same time and following eachother into Albuquerque. Unfortunately my navigator has to work, so I will be flying solo...

-Andy

 

Thursday AM early. Looks like they have posted addl details about the ALQX events on Thursday and Friday AM.

Jonathan

 

We will be leaving Denver Wed morning for Santa Fe and catch up with everyone in Albuquerque on Thursday. Are the CO drivers meeting somewhere in Albuquerque on Thursday or Friday morning before taking off to Amarillo?

Ingrid

 

as outlined in the MTTS agenda. Not sure if we are running (Heck, what is $10 anyway...) but it seems like that is where the activities are. If so, then I suspect we will be there too.

Jonathan

 

Ingrid,
The Sandia track on Thursday afternoon is probably the place to find us and most of the others from MINI5280. Several of us are staying at the host hotel, where I imagine the Friday ride will begin. I don't know our exact departure time right now. If you send a private message to me ("pauhana"), we can exchange cell #'s.
Rick

 

the ride Friday gathers at Sandia MINI on I-25 at 6:00 am for breakfast / snacks. Then, the ride leaves from there:

Sandia MINI starts Day 5 with coffee and donuts in their award-winning facilities where you can meet more locals, score some bling for your MINI, get an oil change, or just take time to wake up.

The group departs at 7:15 a.m. for a refreshing drive to the crest of the Sandia Mountains, topping out at 10,678 feet and offering a commanding view of the Middle Rio Grande Valley. Photo opps abound and this is sure to start your day off right since what lies ahead are miles and miles of plainsOptions from the crest drive are:
Back to I-40 and direct to Amarillo, or North to Santa Fe and Las Vegas, NM then back to I-40

For more information and details, go to www.nmmini.org or contact mini-info@nmmini.org

Jonathan

 

At present my wife and I are plannning to leave for Albuquerque around 10:00 a.m. on Thursday. Anyone else like to join us for the drive down? (I have the Orange S cabrio with blue top and hood stripes)

 

on Thursday and headed to the track there, where the festivities will be. We will not necessarily be going to drive the track, but to find more MINIs.

Feel free to copy my cell and call us when you arrive...we can check up and group up on Friday AM.

I am guessing that we WILL do the breakfast at Sandia MINI then the drive up the MTN on the way to Amarillo....

JPS

 

I'm going to leave Broomfield around 9:00am tomorrow. The channel everybody uses on the radio is 7-21 right? Maybe I'll see a few of you on the way down. If not see you guys in ABQ! Anybody else staying at The Hotel Blue?

 

(Forgive me for speaking for mucgirl, but time is short) You may see "mucgirl" who may or may not be going after all. She hit a something in the road and it tore a hole in the runflat near Walsenburg, Colo on I-25. She could not find a replacement locally, so she was forced to retreat to Denver in a tow truck. If her tire is replaced by Schomp in time and if she still decides to go, it would be Thursday morning close to your time. If you PM me in time, I will provide her cell number, just in case you two or three (Bob W) can driver together.
Rick

 

as we speak to

www.dragontales.smugmug.com

and my site.

Please be patient, but they will be there tonite. Pictures from Track Day and the MTTS Bus, etc. Plus some shots of Fireball Tim!!!

Jonathan

 

in Albuquerque

www.DragonTales.smugmug.com

JPS

 

My pics from MTTS Albuquerque to Amarillo leg, including last night, are posted at

www.DragonTales.smugmug.com

as we speak, Fireball Tim is drumming up business for his 405 whp dragster, right here.

Jonathan

 

the ALQ to Amarillo leg, including pics from last night at the movies in Palo Duro Canyon...

www.DragonTales.smugmug.com


Jonathan

 

http://www.mc2magazine.com/MC2_Magaz...ss_America.cfm


(Picture of Rick, Kendall, Dianne and Jonathan on top of Sandia Peak overlooking Albuquerque)

www.flickr.com/groups/mtts/

www.whiteroofradio.com

www.motoringfile.com



and of course here...

JPShttp://www.mc2magazine.com/MC2_Magazine_Motors_Across_America.cfm

 

 

but apparently he slept well...

JPS

 

Here are some of my pictures from the ABQ to Amarillo leg.

MINI Related:
http://flickr.com/photos/bluepail/se...7594252965795/

A few of the other things I saw along the way:
http://flickr.com/photos/bluepail/se...7594253427331/

 

and you should post your pics more often. I really enjoyed some of your perspectives - many very different - and it is always fun to see what others see that I miss.

Very nice posts.

JPS