Looks like we should be getting info soon - here's a pic from the MINI area at the Detroit show that opens this week:

http://shows.autospies.com/gallery/a...5&galleryId=68

I'm guessing from the sound of silence that nothing was announced in Detroit and the "MINI Takes The States" in the photo was about U.S. sales and not the event(s).

Ending in Bay Area would be nice. Especially with a track day in Laguna Seca (Mazda Raceway) or Sears Point (Infineon) or both!! Or if they could bring a UK MINI Challenge Race to Laguna Seca.

Nothing to contribute on the thread topic(Sorry!), but it's nice of the Lexus advertisement to show pics of MINIs.:thumbsup:

Now, back to your regular topic and discussion and thank you for allowing me to go off topic.:nod:

Turns out they were only showing video footage of the last MTTS - no new info.

There will be no MTTS.

MINIUSA will have four regional events. What a waste of a great opportunity as we already have regional events.

As far as I know, it will still be called MTTS. I agree with you about the format. I was hoping for another roadtrip. I missed all but two hours of the entire trip due to my grandmother's unexpected passing.

I could have sworn I saw something about one of the four locations being in California but now I can't find the exact city that was mentioned. Below is the most recent thin I have read about it -

From the MC2 forums:


Update on MINI Takes the States (MTTS). As of Friday, January 18, MINIUSA still does not have established venues for this year's MTTS. I spoke with execs at MINI and they confirmed that one event will most likely be on the west coast and they told me that no final decisions have been made, though in the next few weeks they expect to finalize the program. Seems like a last minute push, but MINIUSA is looking for ways to maximize their events, link them together, and possibly have MTTS compliment other MINI events happening throughout the summer. PeterD, MC2 Editor


It would really suck if they tried to tag onto the already established events (MOTD, AMVIV, etc.) rather than creating new options.

Just read the email that MINI USA sent out that mentions MTTS. Two things mentioned that I do like -

1. It appears the events are going to take place during the weekend so I won't have to use as much vacation time :thumbsup:
2. We should begin receiving info in March. Hopefully they make their deadline! It would be nice to have some advance notice this time around.

Well, here's a letter from Barry about MTTS 2008:

"Greetings everyone,

As we all need to plan our vacations this year, we at MC2 have been told by our friends that the dates for MTTS Part II are as follows:

Miami, FL. June 13-15.

Boston, MA. June 20-22

Chicago, IL. July 11-13

Los Angeles, CA. July 18-20

The Miami and Boston dates and locations are 100% locked down, but our info on Chicago and LA are not yet concrete, as MINI is still working on these times and locations. We feel they're secure enough to inform everyone at this time.

Just what they're planning at these locations, we don't know for sure, but we will get back to you ASAP when we know more. Until then, we cannot reveal anything greater than we write here.

We will be at all three events with staff and support team of writers, photographers and video team, so do let us see your classic and new mini if it's worth featuring in MC2.

MC2 staff"

This is a joke, right? Most people's vacation time has already had to be locked in place before now, and look at the cities! We have no desire to go near any of those cities with our Mini, or any other car related event. I know Barry is just passing along the info, but the planners at MiniUSA, frankly, are idiots.

Motoring File just posted the same info (cities and dates).

+1

This might be a rash judgement, but Chicago (closest city for me, but ditto on the other 3) hardly comes to mind as a great place to spend a weekend with a bunch of fellow MINI fanatics.

Yeah, Personally not too thrilled with this choice, I was looking fwd toward a true road trip where i could see the US with other MINIs in a short amount of time...like the 06 MTTS...

That Miami date is the same weekend as the planned Guinness World Record attempt in Virginia. Pretty rotten planning. :mad:

The whole thing is bollocks.

If they truly wanted to have a fun series of regionals, it needed to get locked in looong before now. And certainly better locations. They want regionals? Then how about Laguna Seca, Road America, Limerock, and Road Atlanta. Tracks and fun roads all around them.

Well I guess I'll make my own drive across the states. :lol:
I'll start out in Key West with some Rum Runners then make my way up to Miami for some Cuban coffee,
then up to Boston for some Labsta's and over to Chicago for Pizza then top it off with some Borritos in LA. :thumbsup:

Now all I have to do is take a month off from work. :)

Talk about the four corners of the Earth. That pretty much screws anyone in the middle of the country. The closest location to Memphis is almost 600 miles/9hrs away. The choices suck.

I feel sorry for the Texas groups...talk about a drive. They are looking at a minimum 17 hr drive to get to any of the locations.

Yeah this is what I was thinking, the closest to us is Chicago :no:
I was really looking forward for a cross country road trip, I bet the people that voted for the regional events didn't go to the first MTTS.
Oh well, I think Miami would be interesting, I doubt that anybody from Texas will drive that far, flying out is not the same.

Think it's bad for texas? What if you lived in the Seattle area?

Hey Suji! LTNS!

I just can't understand what they were thinking! Why big cities? They're the antithesis of driving enjoyment.

Like all major corporations they probably paid some marketing company millions of dollars to come up with this lame idea.:eek:

MTTS should have encompassed many MINI events throughout the US in a ZIG, ZAG and ZUG fasion from one coast to the other.
Maybe even incorporating some sort of Amazing Race type format.:thumbsup:

Well under its current format you can count me out.:no:

Ironic that I live just around the corner from the BMW plant in South Carolina and they couldn't think of having some sort of track day/event there.:roll:

I was chatting with SDMike, and he had a good point. It's probably all based on exposure and marketing for MiniUSA. Not a thought for the Mini owners.

I would be so there if they got Phil to host! :grin:

well, since I have to drive through chicago to get to any points south, it isn't too bad for me.

My guess is they tried to find cities with a high population density of MINIs. Not sure about the Miami pick, as somewhere like Charlotte or Atlanta would have been a LOT closer to a LOT of folks.

Remember that they did MINI United in Amsterdam, not exactly a rural location - although there is a world class racetrack there!

I'll give them the benefit of the doubt until I hear what the agenda for the event is.

I know Gromit...this was my first post in months, have been busy with work.

Yesterday I got 2 bad news, this whole MTTS event planned so far away from me and my favorite Hockey player being trade to Tampa...

Life isn't fair to me :cry:

Any Boston people care to speculate on the location? A stadium parking lot perhaps?

Don't sweat the MTTS locations being so far away. I honestly believe that some of the stuff closer to you will prove to be a LOT more fun, like AMVIV or MITM.

Hey, what were they thinking :confused: ???

I did the whole MTTS in 06', but why would I want to drive 1200 miles to LA???
For what?? I don't get it :no: .

Just my 2 cents,
Keith :grin:

ps... Hey, Shots, can't wait for Vegas, Baby :thumbsup: !!

Yeah, MINI blew it on this one. They left out 2/3 of the country with these cities.

It would seem the whole point of this, is marketing and advertising for MiniUSA. And anyone who participates is just giving their time away to MiniUSA for free. That's why those four cities were picked, and it has nothing to do with the number of Mini owners there. It has to do with media markets. These are "events" for MiniUSA... not us.

I disagree. They've picked cities where there are a high concentration of MINI owners, or urban centers that can attract many MINI owners.

Think about Chicago for instance. Pretty reasonable driving distance from the entire midwest. Could they have had it at Road America? Sure, except it adds 2 and a half hours to everyone's drive, and there aren't any hotels within an hour of the track, and NOTHING else to do up there.

Now LA. You get all the LA people, plus the San Diego people, and Pheonix and Vegas aren't far away either. Surely a greater number of MINI owners around LA than around Norcal.

Boston, same thing. The entire Northeast. I am puzzled a bit by Miami, as I think Atlanta would have been a better pick. But, then, wouldn't it be fun to go to Miami?

Owners voted for four individual events over a national event or a cross country drive. They had to pick four locations, those locations have to be able to get a lot of MINI owners to attend, and it has to appeal to more than just track junkies. I think they did pretty well. My guess is if the events are a success, the next time they do it (2010?) they'll do the pacific northwest, texas, the southeast (but not Miami) and somewhere like DC. Just think of it like a national car club convention. They usually move around from year to year.

I think these events will be great fun. I can't wait to go.

In the state of Florida, Orlando would have been a better choice for everyone concerned. :nod:
And if I'm not mistaken, there are more MINI owners in Central Florida and Georgia than South Florida. :confused:
For the Southeast it should have been at the BMW plant in South Carolina, at least there they have
a track and a very interesting museum with great driving access via I-85.
Well I have said more than I thought I would on this subject, I have no plans to go to any of the
MTTS events as they presently stand.
I will however go to MOTD and the Guinness World Record Challenge at Virginia Beach.:thumbsup:

Yeah we complain because we are far away from the events, I bet people around those cities will get exited and praise MINI USA for hosting them close.

As a NYer, I expected somewhere in the NY metro area would be a obvious choice. But Boston is fine with me.

Now that I think about it, if MINI USA picked the NY metro area, it wouldn't be much of a road trip. I probably could take public tranportation :lol: .

I wonder which event all the Mid-Atlantic people would attend.

Sorry, I am in complete disagreement. Maybe because I'm in a media related business. MiniUSA picked four of the five largest media markets for exposure. I can't really imagine what kind of fun events there will be for drivers, in big cities. Driving does not come to mind.

If they wanted a large number of Mini owners, then SF would have come before LA. You can't walk two blocks in SF without passing three Mini's. But LA is the second largest media market in the country, behind NY. But it's inconvenient for most of the western US as far as distance goes.

Chicago is not that convenient to the midwest. It's in the northern end of the midwest. Boston is tucked way up in the north east corner of the country, and Miami is all the way in the south east corner.

No, I don't buy it at all.

This time it is a media stunt, pure and simple.

I'm with Gromit801 on this one. :thumbsup:
These locations are NOT cruising friendly destinations but on the other hand News from all of these markets makes the national and sometimes world news.

Corporate Puppets :mad:

The choice of destinations seems more for maximizing attendance than providing exciting driving excursions. That having been said, I'll still more than likely attend the Chicago event, but I want to see what they have planned before committing.

wow with all this negativity! i think this works out a whole lot better for those of us who couldn't take their cars on long trips like 2006 - i missed out on a great opportunity presented to me the last time i posted in a MTTS thread, and i won't miss out on it this year.... its right smack in the middle of show and race season, but i'll pull out all the stops if i have to for MTTS 2008!!!

the vehicle that took home the 2007 NOPI Nationals 1st place award in the Elite European Custom class, beating out a $125,000 modified E46 M3 formerly owned by Craig Liberman (link to vehicle) will be attending the Miami event with other Sunshine MINI members.... sponsorship opportunities are still being accepted, more info and contact info can be found by visiting the following links:

MODS - www.MikeGarcia25.com/modslist
GALLERY - Building Process | Completed Pics
SPONSORSHIP - www.MikeGarcia25.com/sponsor

I know on the poll, Mini just asked if people wanted four regional events. I think if they had also stated WHERE they planned to put those events, the regional idea would have died an appropriate death.

There are TONS of MINIs and Minis in South Florida. Besides, "down here" in the flaccid penis of America, we often get neglected for events. E.g., bands often don't come south of Orlando because if they drive, it's just too far to justify what money they'd make.

We have a track, really hot women, and loads of MINIS. I think MINIUSA's decision is well-founded.

My wife and I will be attending Boston and Chitown, as well as MOT and MOTD. It's so much fun with both of us owning minis. =)

I was talking to a friend who lives in the Boston area about where such a event could take place in Boston and he suggested a decommisioned Naval airbase in Weymouth: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=e...,0.079823&z=14

I attened a Mazda Zoom Zoom Live event with him back in 2006 and it seems like the ideal location. Lots-o-open spaces for driving events and parking.