Yay for updates! (Copied and pasted from http://blog.minitakesthestates.com/2...s-aug-1-3.html)

Friday, August 1
6:30pm - 9:30pm
MINI Owner "Meet and Greet" party at Jillian's, Universal City, Ca

Saturday, August 2
9:00am - 12:00pm
Rise and Shine Rally (MINI Owners Only) to Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena, CA
Rally begins at UCLA Parking lot 36, corner of Wilshire and Veteran Ave, entrance on Kinross Ave
Breakfast from 9:00 am – 10:00 am on the road at 10:30 am

at the same time..

9:00am - 12:00pm
"Future MINI Owners" Adrenaline Drive at Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena, CA

12:00pm - 8:00pm
MINI Takes the States Festival at Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena, CA
Festival Events and Activities (Partners)
MINI Cross Course (Automobile / Motortrend / European Car)
Festival Fun Zone
Rock Climbing (National Geo Adventure)
Mountain Bike Stunt Show (Outside Magazine)
Free Massages (Playboy)
Eurobungee
MINI Market
Eco-friendly Car Wash (Good Magazine / LA Works)
Tree Musketeers
Boot Sale
Talk to MINI! Video Log Stop
Chalk Talk with Grassroots Motorsports
Festival Awards
Live Music on Rolling Stone Music Stage (Rolling Stone / Blender)

3:00pm - 5:00pm
John Cooper Works test drive

6:00pm
Headline Attraction: Vertical Horizon

8:00pm
Good night

Sunday, August 3
10:00am - 3:00pm
MINI Takes the States Festival Final Day at Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena, CA
Festival Events and Activities (Partners)
MINI Cross Course (Automobile / Autotrend / European Car)
MINI Market

10:30am - 12:00pm
MINI Rally

12:00pm - 2:00pm
MINI Takes the States Wrap Party

 

So you westsiders don't have to worry about traffic mess as much as those of east of the 605.

 

The 405N -> 101S on a Friday evening is still pretty bad.

I kindda wish they would've chosen Saddle Ranch instead of Jillian's.. but I guess mechanical bulls aren't exactly family-friendly.

 

Am I losing it, or did it say something about downloading a route for the rally with no link or map? Here's the page I found:

http://blog.minitakesthestates.com/s...-Los%20Angeles

Is there something obvious I've missed?
DOH!

 

I took it to mean that's something they would post later. Quite possibly after they figure out the route.

 

How great is it that the week before this I end up with car trouble, and an earthquake to extend the maintenance time. So I won't even know whats going on with the MINI until tomorrow. Which means I may end up rolling this event in a 3 Series instead of my MINI.

 

Here's the link for the Saturday morning owner's rally and drive:

http://blogfiles.minitakesthestates...._Rally_Map.pdf

 

Woo hoo!! I can't wait for the weekend!

 

And don't worry. That shaking going on yesterday was only the Mini folks hitting town. They're promising earth-shaking excitement over the weekend.

 

Oh man that should be some good driving, there are better roads up in those hills, but this one won't get people lost. Should be a lot of fun.

 

Just jinxed myself. It looks like I may be rolling solo.

If you see a BRG/W Cooper that looks lost and is going the wrong way, that's probably me.

 

I am new to manual transmission and have my MINI for a month. The last thing I need is rush hour friday night traffic.

I was thinking of taking the metro rail to the Friday night thing. Anyone has idea how safe is to walk the last mile from the station. If anyone is interested to carpool, it would be cool too.

I hope I don't mess up the Saturday rally. If anyone sees a stalling/jerking LiB/W MINI, please be kind

 

I'm already in Pasadena, at the Best Western Pasadena Inn. I"d be glad to take you with me. I'll send you a PM with my cell number.

There's two other Minis at the motel tonight; both are from New Jersey. Maybe I drove too far east. One is the first other Mellow Yellow I've seen since I picked up my car in April 2007.

 

Thanks.... this should be fun I will call tomorrow to check your schedule.

 

Sounds great. If anyone else is staying in Pasadena and wants to drive down together to Jillian's in Universal City, let me know either by posting here or by sending me a PM.

 

That may be half of us, so you shouldn't feel out of place.

 

Yeah but I'm from SoCal! I was born and raised here!!

 

I believe the press cars have New Jersey plates on them.. so it might be someone from MINI or a reporter out to cover MTTS?

 

That could well be. They both have a small, commercially produced number on the windshield, which would seem odd in a normal ownership setting.

I left my business card with my cell number on one of them, so maybe I'll hear back from them and find out for sure.

 

The ones with the numbers are the Corporate cars. We saw them loading onto the truck in Chicago to be transported out.

 

For those of you coming in to town for this welcome, and the rally really is pretty easy. The hardest part is getting to the parking lot to start the drive, and thats not hard. Basically PCH North to the Topenga light. Then follow that until you hit the 101. its that easy. Like I said above, not too difficult of a route and its a main road through the hills.

 

Anyone driving up from Long Beach area and want to caravan to jillians tonight?

 

motoring underground will be in full force.

 

hi .. is there a sign up to drive the john cooper works cars? i can't seem to find it. we've registered already, but i didn't see anything on the registration. how does that work? thanks!!!

 

I had signed up through South Bay MINI. Maybe you can give them a call.

Here's the info:
Amanda White
Motoring Advisor
South Bay MINI
office 310-939-7154