MINIpalooza 2005


In 2005 come to beautiful Townsend Tennessee for four days
of great MINI/Mini fun!! A short (twisty) drive either direction can take you to the Dragon one way and Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge the other. At this point the planned dates are SEPTEMBER 8-11. This is the weekend after Labor Day 2005

Our events are still evolving but here is the tentative schedule we have planned so far

MINI Drive In Movie with the latest version and possibly the original
version of The Italian Job if the movie operator is able to get it.
The drive-in has a good grill with 4 kinds of burgers so you can eat
dinner there. Come on in by Thursday so we can have a lot full of
MINIs watching the movie.

RALLYE with the end point being the Nascar Speed Park in Pigeon
Forge. We will have a picnic lunch there and let the go-kart challenges
begin!! If karting is not your thing we could have a putt-putt tournament
at the Dragon Golf Putt Putt golf course.

MINI CAR SHOW with popular vote. We will park them in classes and vote
our favorites. Feel free to suggest some classes, i.e. themed car, best S
best Cooper, most original (least modified, haha), etc.

FUNKHANA gooffy, timed parking lot event to test your relationship with your navigator.

MINI/Mini SLOT CAR RACES four lanes wide. Test your skills against other MINI drivers
RC CAR RACES too!

PHOTO CONTEST We know you've got 'em because we seen them posted on the internet.
Dig out your best for us all to vote on.

MODEL CONTEST Have you customized a mini MINI?? Bring it along to share with the rest of us.

PANORAMIC PHOTO is a distinct possibility for this event but not confirmed .
These photos are close to 4 ft long to include all the participants.
A terrific souvenir of a very fun time.

AWARDS/FOOD EVENT of some type. This is still in evolution stage.
Awards will be made for rallye, funkhana, slots and rc car races, car show,
autocross, models and photo contest.

LATE EVENING DRIVE into Gatlinburg to show off. There
probably will be some traffic in Gatlinburg but it will give folks a chance to
admire us!!!

MINI autocross. Everyone try it!!

Hotel information coming soon.

 

Sign me up.......I'm penciling it on my calander right now.

 

Me too! Sounds great.

 

This sounds great!

Only worry is how it might conflict with next year's Dragon event?

Count me in though!

 

>>This sounds great!
>>
>>Only worry is how it might conflict with next year's Dragon event?
>>
>>Count me in though!

I wonder if next year's Dragon will take this into account and go off a week later?

 

If Deal's Gap is close to Townsend, could the Dragon and 'Palooza events be combined into the same weekend?

 

I wouldn't mind moving the Dragon event to the summer now that it is getting so big.

 

This sounds awesome.....count me in

 

>>I wouldn't mind moving the Dragon event to the summer now that it is getting so big.
>>

Yucca
don't we have our own summer & fall Dragon events, already

 

>>This sounds great!
>>
>>Only worry is how it might conflict with next year's Dragon event?
>>
>>Count me in though!
Our hope is for 2005 this will include the Dragon. On our schedule we have Thursday as free Dragon day to do on the Dragon as you wish then we end up at the drive in theatre to watch the Italian Job on the big screen. It will be nothing but MINIs at the drive in.
The Autocross we are working on for Sunday will be at 411 Speedway which will include their banked track with the infield. It should be like a Mini Daytona road course.
We hope to have more info at this years Dragon.

 

"Our hope is for 2005 this will include the Dragon."

I agree, plus I don't know how many people would do both since they are in the same area. With MINIpalooza you have the Dragon AND other fun stuff going on.

On another note, I hear that the traffic is bad in Gatlinberg. I don't know if that's true or not, just my two cents to the conversation!

 

This sounds great..count me in too!

:smile:

04'PW/B MC

 

EXCELLENT!

This will be my graduation present to myself! May 2005 will also be when I get my MINI back FULL TIME, as I am doing graduate school in Philly now, and have him staying with the in-laws... for his own safety. I missed out on the dragon last year and will again this yoear, so I CAN'T WAIT for 2005!!!!

 

Wonderful Planning!! I have just forwarded this to my parents who are getting ready to buy a Cooper at the wonderful age of 74 & 72. And my brother who is coming back over from England this October with an American sped'd Cooper S. I have also sent to two friends who are already joining me up in NC for this years's Dragon Run. Please forward any information that you can as this begins to formalize.

 

>>Our hope is for 2005 this will include the Dragon. On our schedule we have Thursday as free Dragon day to do on the Dragon as you wish

HotelCalif, from the looks of it the 2004 Dragon event is an entire event of its own, spanning many days. (Those invoved in it have are putting together an awesome event with great sub-events. It looks like this will outshine the 2004 Mini Vacation In Vegas in both quality and quantity.) However, that's not to say your MINIpalooza shouldn't include a trip to the Tail of the Dragon.

 

** bump **

Okay, I have only been home 1 day since the Dragon...is it too early to start the countdown for next year (which I guess will be MINIpalooza)? I can't wait !! :smile: :smile: :smile:

 

Please view first post. There is more info.

 

I'm in! WooHoo!

 

sounds like a plan....:smile:
this time i'll sign up a bit early 4achange :smile:

peace,
d

 

Hey... you know I was onboard with this months ago and CAN NOT WAIT until next year.. Coming home is always good! Can't wait for my brothers and sisters to come watch up parade through Gatlinburg..

Just as soon as we can make reservations and the dates are rock solid let us know!! I want one of those cabins!

Craig

 

>>>>I wouldn't mind moving the Dragon event to the summer now that it is getting so big.
>>>>
>>
>>Yucca
>>don't we have our own summer & fall Dragon events, already
>>

 

Sounds great! Count me in too!!!!

 

Nope, the Third Annual MINI's at the Dragon will not be hijacked and become "MINIpalooza", but will be a separate event and will continue with the tradition of scheduling it for the first weekend of May as we have done for the past 2 years.

Many people (inculding myself) may go to both events, but I am sure that those of us who have organized the Dragon event for the past 2 years would prefer that another large event not be scheduled so closely to an annual event that already has become a tradition in just 2 years. Later in the summer or early fall would be ideal for scheduling another large event in the area.

Heck, why not kick off MINIpalooza this October so we don't have to wait another year to get back to the Dragon?

 

I'm sticking with the Dragon Run. I've done it two years in a row and If you want a good meet every year you don't change dates. Just ask the Miata club about Miatas in the Gap. This event has been about the driving since the begining but if someone wants to set up a new event that will envolve other things to do, that's great ,but it seems rude to try and set up an event just a few miles away and just a few days from one that has already been going on for the last two years.

I'm sure a lot of johnny-come-latelys will jump all over this new event but I'm also sure the original crew from the first Dragon run will keep going back the first weekend in May, I know I will.

 

I LOVE the idea of MINIpalooza being held in October....my birthday month! Woo hooo!! And we could have Fall Foliage runs......awesome!!! :smile:


Clo/Wanda