March 7, 2009:

UPCOMING: MINIsOnTop 2009

Remember Summertime? When 200+ MINIs get together in the White Mountains region of New Hampshire, for a couple days of fun and camaraderie, some driving, and the chance to watch an amazing sunset from the top of Mount Washington!

NOTE: This sunset is not typical! It might be more like this – but it’s still spectacular fun!

For 2009 MINIsOnTop is back again, and registration is now open. The basic timeline is:
Friday 3pm-6pm: Meet & Greet at the Attitash Grand Summit, our new-for-2009 upscale event hotel (book your room soon, they’re running out!)
Friday 8pm-?: Sundae On Friday and Trivia game – teams of four, or a great spectator event
Saturday 8am-12: Drive to Loon Mountain and fill the lot with MINIs of every color & shape (the best part of the weekend?)
Saturday 12-3pm: Driving! The Kancamagus Highway and Bear Notch Road are scenic and twisty, or choose Franconia Notch or head off with MINI friends
OR!
Saturday 12-2pm: DSL! The Driving Skill (O)Lympics (in Loon Mountain parking lot) was new for 2008 and very successful; thanks to Ivan and his team it will return for 2009 – expect it to be very popular
Saturday 3pm-6pm: Meet at the base of Mount Washington for food & entertainment under the big tent; there’s food available, speeches, and maybe the chance to win great prizes!
Saturday 6:30pm approx: Ascend the Mount Washington Auto Road; 7.5 miles of twisty, scary, beautiful climbing 4,500ft at grades up to 22%!
Followed by: On Top Of Mount Washington, hopefully to see spectacular views and a sunset!

Later Saturday night, everyone descends the mountain, and meets back at the hotel (along with those who chose not to drive to the top); another evening of fun, food, drink and slideshows lets folks cement new and old friendships …
Sunday is unplanned, allowing participants to make their own plans to head home.

But perhaps a single weekend of MINI fun is not enough? How about driving with MINIs from June 18 to 27?
Tar Heel MINI Motoring Club has organized The Blue Ridge Parkway Tour starting in Cherokee, NC the evening of June 18. and driving the Blue Ridge Parkway to arrive near Staunton, VA on June 21.
Timing and location then allows you to join The Great Ice Cream Run 2, driving from Virginia to Maine over 4 days, taking you to Bar Harbor on June 25 – assuming you survive all the ice-cream!
From Bar Harbor, it’s easy to head over to Bartlett, NH to join MINIsOnTop on June 26.

This “MINI triple” is surely a never-to-be-repeated spectacle, rivalling the original MINI Takes The States – don’t miss it!

IMPORTANT LINKS:
The Blue Ridge Parkway Tour does not require registration, but it’s recommended to visit Tar Heel MINIs website and confirm attendance on the various parts of the trip.
The Great Ice Cream Run requires registration.
MINIsOnTop also requires registration.
(I play to attend, driving GPMINI up from Florida)