March 11, 2004:

MINIsOnTop auction for signed poster

On my recent visit to the John Cooper Works showroom in England, I talked with Mike Cooper about the MINIsOnTop event happening this summer. This event is a repeat of last years event which had 70 MINIs attending; this year we hope to top 100 MINIs.
Mike Cooper very kindly donated a rare signed poster - signed by Paddy Hopkirk and John Cooper as well as the artist:

We have decided to auction this poster on MINI2; anyone can bid but the winner must collect the poster at MINIsOnTop on June 19, 2004.
Proceeds raised will benefit children through the American Make A Wish and English Whizz Kidz charities, as well as being used to support the MINIsOnTop event.

Here is some background on MINIsOnTop for those who do not know:
Early 2003 on MINI2 the idea was suggested to organize a group of MINIs and drive the Mount Washington Auto-road. This road takes you almost a vertical mile up (in 8 miles of road), to a height of 6288′. The road is very narrow in some places, with a steep drop to one side - but since we had “bought” the road for MINIs only it was OK (no traffic coming the other way to worry about):

We had a total of 70 MINIs in New Hampshire for this event! We began by gathering at Loon Mountain (they graciously allowed use of their parking lot), then we drove the Kancamagus Highway, had picnic lunch at a spectacular overlook on the Bear Notch Road, then in the early evening gathered at the base of Mount Washington for a BBQ and speeches:

(Loon Mountain)

(Driving the Kancamagus Highway)

(Lunch stop on Bear Notch Road)

(At the base of Mount Washington for BBQ and speeches)
To end the day at the top of Mount Washington we were blessed with a fabulous sunset (as well as the friendship of fellow MINI fanatics):

MINIsOnTop is happening again this year! Organisation and planning continues on this MINI2 thread. If you cannot face wading through the 100+ pages of discussion, Theo has created this PDF information, Diane, Rick and others have created this flyer, and Aaron keeps the MINIsOnTop web site up to date.
MINIsOnTop has received gifts from many sponsors which will make the event even more fun for attendees - so consider joining us. You can find the registration form here. Costs are low, even after you buy the T shirt for yourself and the cling decal for your MINI!