[daisygirl]

We have returned from AMVIV. For those that dont know AMVIV stands for "A MINI vacation in in Vegas" (as in Las Vegas, America) and was run for four days last weekend.

AMVIV is organised by the Sin City MINI club in Las Vegas and gets bigger and bigger every year. This was the fourth year it had been run. There is a six level parking garage and the top floor has vendors set up selling everything from t-shirts to heat shields to pulleys. Installs happen on the spot!! The next two levels down of the garage is just put aside specially for MINI parking. A third of the hotel rooms of the Palace Station Casino was for MINI guests.

There were over 400 MINIS registered of every colour imaginable (including two pink ones). The first run to Death Valley there were about 60 cars on Friday but then on Sunday there were nearly 200 cars to the Valley of the Fire. The sight of MINIs stretched as far in front and as far behind as you could see was amazing!!

Dinner on Saturday night was for over 500 people and other events included the first two rounds of the North America MINI challenge as well as the Phil Wicks driving academy. There were also poker runs, scavenger hunts, breakfast get togethers, mixer drinks and lots of good old socialising.

Obviously we could not take our car but us three Aussies were made to feel very welcome and always offered rides to the events we wanted to attend. We got to drive in GPs, R56s, Cooper S and Coopers and everyone we met was fantastic. Carolyn had only owned her GP for one month and let Bernard go for a drive around the car park!!

There was a drive of the Las Vegas strip on Friday night and four lanes of traffic were blocked while approx 270 MINIs drove onto the strip and then along the whole street with horns honking and people yelling. Bernard and I were each in a GP and the grin on our faces are still there!!

Thanks to all of our new American friends including DB and Todd from White Roof Radio and Alan, Steve, Todd, Jim, Wendee, Jennifer, Charlie and Pat, Danny and everyone else who shared their MINI was us.

For more info on AMVIV just visit www.amviv.com and if anyone is thinking of visiting put aside the last weekend in March 2008 for a fantastic time and hopefully more Aussies can visit AMVIV next year

[dukesantos]

We had a great time also. Thanks for coming. We should give a prize for longest distance travelled! Hope to see you next year.

[bigturtle]

Wow - we'd love to go some day! We were in Vegas for a few days last December and spent an hour or so at Las Vegas Mini. What a hoot it must have been to be there for such a big event!

Did you drive or fly into Vegas? The drive from LA to Vegas through the desert was one of the most beautiful drives I;ve ever done.

[daisygirl]

Quote: Originally Posted by bigturtle (original)

Did you drive or fly into Vegas? The drive from LA to Vegas through the desert was one of the most beautiful drives I;ve ever done.

We flew from Vancouver to Las Vegas after skiing in Canada for three weeks. Then today we flew from Vegas to San Francisco to Sydney to Brisbane. We have driven from Vegas to LA before though and it was a great trip. On Friday we drove out to Death Valley and on Saturday went to Valley of the Fire National Park which was beautiful with the red rocks.

[bigturtle]

Sounds like we had very similar holiday plans, daisygirl! LA (Disneyland) for us, then a few days in Vegas, then a flight to Vancouver and then interior BC for 6 weeks of skiing. I could turn around and do it all again in a heartbeat.

[snoopy]

Good to see you home. I never had a doubt that you would not enjoy yourself. They real do know how to throw a MINI event together over in the USA.

Just remember everyone the dragon is coming up the first week of May.....11 miles of road with 318 turns and doing it in a MINI.

[AprilWhine]

Heard you enjoyed the ride in GP 0101

[Smurfn]

Sounds like a great holiday, all those MINIs together would have been a fantastic sight

[85NIXMIN]

That sounds like real fun!!!

[daisygirl]

Quote: Originally Posted by AprilWhine (original)

Heard you enjoyed the ride in GP 0101

I love the GPs!! Pity we cant get one here. Now drooling over the R56 and those lounge leather seats might be the next best thing!!

[minigolf]

Thanks for your post daisygirl, glad you had a great time.



Cheers Liam

[jimskater]

Judy,

It was great meeting you & your "posse" in Vegas. The Aussie flag-holding koala is permanently affixed to my cup-holder. Hope the flight home wasn't too looooooooong. Say hello to Bernard for me.

Post up some of your pics from the cruise on the Vegas strip. I think I may be the only one who actually had all three of you in my car at one point or another.

Jim

[daisygirl]

Quote: Originally Posted by jimskater (original)

Judy,

It was great meeting you & your "posse" in Vegas. The Aussie flag-holding koala is permanently affixed to my cup-holder. Hope the flight home wasn't too looooooooong. Say hello to Bernard for me.

Post up some of your pics from the cruise on the Vegas strip. I think I may be the only one who actually had all three of you in my car at one point or another.

Jim

Hey Jim,

Now there is a claim to fame to having 3 Aussies in your car considering its a GP!!! Not too many of the photos of the strip worked too well but I will see what I can do. Just been away for 4 days of Easter camping in the outback with our 4wd and camper (so MINI stayed at home). Once I have a good hot shower and get the rid the dust will be ready to sit in front of the computer and work things out.

It was fantastic to meet you and thanks so much for the hospitality. Dont miss episode # 143 of White Roof Radio as the guys are still talking out us!!

Cheers

Judy (and Bernard)
Ken is still missing in action and not sure if he made it back to OZ!!!