[shputz]

Starting a new thread for our event....

MINI Enthusiasts in Hampton Roads,

The HR Club MINI is organizing a MINI drive on November 15th, starting at 9:00 from the Harbor Park (home of the Tides) parking lot. We can socialize and take pictures there, then start off around 9:30, proceeding by Waterside, Ghent, up Hampton Blvd, and east along Shore Drive. We can grab some lunch and more pics at the Duck Inn, off Lynnhaven inlet, then cruise the Oceanfront, scenic Pungo and rural Chesapeake, Old Town Portsmouth, and end up where we started, probably around 2-3 PM.
If people are interested, I'll make a reservation at the Duck Inn for us. I can make copies of the route. I've never done this before, but I love MINIs and cruising around the area! I'll be really fluid and open to ideas, flexible is far too rigid!! Let us know what you'd like to see and do!

Jim

[AprilWhine]

Count me in! There's no wrong way to run a MINI run, with the way you know the area it will be great!

[shputz]

I drove the southern leg this morning and made a few changes to eliminate some industrial waterfront and rougher areas of town. Here's the latest:

Hampton Roads MINI Rally – November 15, 2003

Norfolk

Meet at Harbor Park, Lot A (W side of stadium) at 9 AM for pictures and socializing
Leave at 9:30 AM, turn L on Park Avenue
Go straight, it turns into Water Street
L on Waterside Drive to Boush St (Town Point Park, Waterside, battleship Wisconsin)
L on Brambleton Avenue
R on Colley Avenue (Ghent)
L on 25th St
R on Hampton Blvd (ODU, Norfolk Yacht Club, Naval Station)
R on Taussig Blvd which turns into I-564 (NAS Norfolk)
I-564 to I-64 W
Take 15th View St exit (last one before HRBT) onto Shore Drive
Long drive on Shore Drive along Chesapeake Bay (enters Virginia Beach)

Virginia Beach

Shore Drive turns into Atlantic Avenue
Follow Atlantic Avenue south down the Virginia Beach Strip
R on 5th Street, take first left onto Pacific Avenue
Pacific Avenue turns into General Booth Blvd
L on Princess Anne Road (goes to downtown Pungo)
R on Indian River Road heading W
L on Elbow Road (nice MINI road, enters Chesapeake)

Chesapeake

R on Butts Station Road (short distance)
L on Clearfield Avenue
L on Kempsville Road, get in R lane (short distance)
R on Battlefield Blvd to Great Bridge Bypass (short distance)
Take Bypass to I-464 N
Take I-264W exit through Downtown Tunnel, get in R lane (you’re in Portsmouth now)

Portsmouth

Once through tunnel, take Exit 7 for Effingham Street
R on Effingham Street (takes you through Old Town Portsmouth)
R on High Street
L on Court Street
R on Crawford Parkway, get in L lane for I-264E/tunnel (once out of tunnel, merge R into 2nd lane from R for I-264E)
From L lane, take Tidewater Drive exit
Take 1st R to get back to Harbor Park where you started!

Jim

[AprilWhine]

Is anyone driving solo, and wouldn't mind some company? A friend is considering buying a MINI, and would like to ride along. He's around 60 and here on a temp assignment with the Army. He's a nice guy, and we like him too much to fold him into the back seat.

[shputz]

Quote: Originally Posted by AprilWhine

Is anyone driving solo, and wouldn't mind some company? A friend is considering buying a MINI, and would like to ride along. He's around 60 and here on a temp assignment with the Army. He's a nice guy, and we like him too much to fold him into the back seat.

Sorry, no room in mine because I'm bringing my wife and son (who's REALLY crazy about MINIs ) I'm sure someone will be happy to hook him up with MINIs and MINI culture!

Jim

[AprilWhine]

You may have noticed, I locked the other thread. That way, all replies will be here.

Usually about half the MINIs have single drivers, so someone may be willing to accept a rider.

I have some spare FRS radios I'm bringing.

[shputz]

Quote: Originally Posted by AprilWhine

You may have noticed, I locked the other thread. That way, all replies will be here.

Usually about half the MINIs have single drivers, so someone may be willing to accept a rider.

I have some spare FRS radios I'm bringing.

Sounds good - I'll also keep parallel posting on the HR Club MINI site. I'l bring my FRS radios as well, and the most important thing - my camera!! I got an e-mail from a MINI dad through the OL. His daughter is in the area and he's passing her the information.

Thinking of OL - I guess I should post the info there, huh? Gee - I should have thought of that earlier

Jim

[shputz]

I just posted the information in the MINI Owner's Lounge so hopefully we have enough online publicity!

Jim

[AprilWhine]

OL was a good idea. I don't think there's any need to cross post on MCO, I don't know of anyone from this area who only reads MCO. But posting on Roadfly would be good.

[shputz]

Quote: Originally Posted by AprilWhine

OL was a good idea. I don't think there's any need to cross post on MCO, I don't know of anyone from this area who only reads MCO. But posting on Roadfly would be good.

I'm familiar with MCO, but what is Roadfly? I've never heard of that

[AprilWhine]

Ha ha, it's also known in these parts as Road Kill. Here's the link:

Roadfly MINI forum

There are quite a few locals who only read Roadfly.

[Mugami]

now if only i had directions to Harbor Park =). Oh and April if you friend doesnt mind loud music or a loud exhaust. Sure ill be happy to have him ride along.

[AprilWhine]

Oh my, Tony, he's almost 60, I don't know if he could survive! But it would definitely be a thrill for him!

[shputz]

[quote=Mugami]now if only i had directions to Harbor Park =). /QUOTE]

Here are the directions to Harbor Park (link is http://norfolktides.com/ballpark/directions/):

From I-64 (East & West), North (Peninsula) and East (Virginia Beach):

Follow I-264 (West) toward Downtown Norfolk; take Exit 9 (Waterside Drive); At the traffic light at the bottom of the ramp take a right turn onto St. Paul's Boulevard; Take next (immediate) right turn onto Union Street and follow to stadium parking areas;
or
Follow I-264 (West) toward Downtown Norfolk; take Exit 11A (Brambleton Avenue); At the bottom of the ramp immediately get into left lane; Make left turn at first traffic light (Park Avenue); Follow Park Avenue to stadium parking areas.

or

Follow I-264 (West) toward Downtown Norfolk; take Exit 11B (Compostella); Ramp splits halfway down; Take left fork (Claiborne); Take right turn on to Claiborne at bottom of ramp; Take left on to Park Avenue at first stop sign; Follow Park Avenue to stadium parking areas.

From West (Suffolk, Smithfield, etc...) and I-664:

Follow I-264 (East) through Downtown Tunnel into Downtown Norfolk; Follow signs to Waterside Drive; At the traffic light at the bottom of the ramp take right turn onto St. Paul's Boulevard; Take next (immediate) right turn onto Union Street and follow to stadium parking areas.

From South (I-664):

Follow I-464 toward Downtown Norfolk; Follow signs to Waterside Drive; At the traffic light at the bottom of the ramp take right turn onto St. Paul's Boulevard; Take next (immediate) right turn onto Union Street and follow to stadium parking areas.

Jim

[AprilWhine]

Thanks Jim. I needed directions too, but was too proud to ask.

[obehave]

Quote: Originally Posted by AprilWhine

Thanks Jim. I needed directions too, but was too proud to ask.

Geez Live in Hampton 2 months and you forget everything about the Southside??

[shputz]

I just updated the route on here and HR Club MINI (had us going the wrong way down 26th street so I changed it to 25th street.)

I don't know enough about the various call signs/aliases/names between here and HR Club MINI to eliminate duplicates, but by my count we have about 7 MINIs lined up to go Granted, I'm not a mathematician, but I did marry one!!

Jim

[LuckyRVA]

You'll see me there.

EDIT: I may be bringing someone but I'm not sure as of right now.




-Jason

[Nbusch1128]

I'm in! It will be fun.

[AprilWhine]

Nicky, is your hubby coming too? Jim needs a head count for the restaurant.