MINIsOnTop June 28th, 2008

[GBMINI]

Yes, it's that time again

2008 will be the SIXTH year that MINIsOnTop has been staged, and just like previous years we hope to have many MINI owners enjoying themselves at the Town & Country Inn in Gorham, NH, and the Mount Washington Auto Road.


We have moved the event this year to later in June - the last weekend in fact! A few reasons for this, now mostly lost to history ... but it will mean that there is no running race at Mount Washington prior to our gathering, which might allow more flexibility at the base of the mountain on Saturday afternoon.


For those new to the event, or (like me) getting old and forgetful, here's a preliminary time plan based on the events of recent years:
Friday 27th evening gathering - we expect to have a large room. We expect a Trivia Contest too.
Saturday 28th morning - Loon Mountain Gathering, the best place to meet (and this year surely there will be Clubmans joining us!)
Saturday midday - the drive; there will again be a choice of routes; or gather with other MINI friends and do your own thing
Saturday afternoon - Mount Washington; gather at the base and eat & chat. Food arrangements will duplicate MOT2006 & MOT2007 with a separate tent to ease congestion
Saturday evening - ?


Pop over here to read about MOT2007, or here for MOT2006



MINIsOnTop requires registration
A registration form must be downloaded and filled out, including a waiver signature, and mailed to the address on the form - this form is available for download on the MINIsOnTop website by the end of February.
There are costs involved - at minimum there is a registration fee per car which covers the membership fee, and cost of registration pack sent out. T-shirts and other merchandise can also be ordered.

Food is available at the base of Mount Washington prior to the drive up the mountain - if required, food must be ordered / paid per person on the registration form.
The optional drive to the top of Mount Washinton culminates MINIsOnTop and is dramatic with steep drop-offs and, subject to weather, impressive views. There is a limited amount of space on top of the mountain for attendees, and a fee per person is required on the registration form.
On-the-day sign ups for food or the auto road drive is not possible.

LODGING:
If you haven't already booked your room, do so NOW!
See here for more information

GROUP DRIVE TO MINIsOnTop:
This years MINIS On Top will include the traditional Yankee Candle & Area 51 Caravans to Gorham, NH on Friday, June 27th.
The Yankee Candle contingent of MINIs (from points west) will meet at about 10:00 am at the Yankee Candle flagship store in South Deerfield, MA. The Area 51 MINIs (from eastern New England) will meet at 1:00pm at a rest area on I-93N located about 15 miles north of Concord, NH at Mile 51. Area 51 is where the Yankee Candle MINIs will merge with the eastern New England MINIs at 1:30pm and will leave from there for a group caravan to Gorham, NH for MINIs On Top.


I'll update this first post as more info becomes available ... maybe ... if I remember ...

[GBMINI]

Important: The MINIsOnTop organizers are worn out and need your help!


Firstly:
We need to decide on the logo color for MOT2008. Previous years have included red, green, blue, and yellow. The logo is included on various images but most importantly is printed on the MINIsOnTop Tshirts (see here for the MOT2007 design, yellow on black)
Also, we need ideas for the "modern" MOT2007 Tshirt design. In recent years there have been two Tshirt designs - the "classic" features just the logo in rectangular format (like this), while the "modern" design adds MINIs (see the 2007 design, or the 2006 design)
Please post your ideas here - now!


Secondly:
A number of previous years volunteers have had to take a step backwards, so we need some new volunteers!
We need help with attracting donations of "door prizes"
On the day, we need help "under the tent" (selling extra Tshirts/etc, explaining what it's all about to first-timers, etc)


Third:
On Saturday evening for MOT2007, we organized an end-of-event get-together where food & drink was available. This was an experiment and it cannot be repeated unchanged.
Ideas for Saturday evening please

[blalor]

I suppose this might count as volunteering of some sort, but on Sunday the auto road opens at 4am so that folks can go to the top to view the sunrise. I attempted to do this solo last year and failed: in July the visibility was zero and there was freezing fog. In August the weather was beautiful (there are pictures and video on the auto road's web site) but there was a conflicting event in Rhode Island that same day. Since we're going to already be at the T&C for the first date this summer that the road's open, Sarah and I are going to attempt to head up. Yes, this means leaving T&C at about 3:30am... I'm not sure this event needs any kind of organizing (mainly because I'm not sure we'll have much company in the first place) but it could be a sort of après-MoT thing.

What would need to change for the Saturday evening get-together? I only stuck around for part of last year's, but it seemed to go pretty well, I thought.

[GBMINI]

Brian,
That sunrise drive to the top could be an interesting event for some folks [not me!]

MOT2007 Saturday night required people (Margaret & me!) to sell wrist bands for the food, and others (Michael & Pam) to monitor that only those with wrist bands got the food ... after a full day of running MOT, we didn't want to be doing that.
Also, the food ran out too quickly - and the $10 wrist bands didn't fully cover the cost of the food.
So doing food again would need a new way to pay for more of it, and maybe people willing to coordinate it on Saturday evening (of course most folks would prefer to participate!)

We did the food in 2007 to ensure we had the room - maybe we can get the room for 2008 without having the food, just a place for folks to hang out and buy a few drinks after the trip to the top of Mount Washington ...

[MGB Boy]

Don't bother entering the trivia contest, folks. The Trojan Peeps will devour you.

-Ricardo

[m2smith]

I've heard rumors that this is a pretty fun time! Climbing mountains shrouded in fog, rain, sun, and wind in tiny cars seems like just the thing on an early summer day. Come one come all and remember volunteers get all the hot girls (or guys).

What makes MoT the best is the ultimate expression of democracy that it represents - If you are a rabid motorer and want to arrange a 3:30am drive to the top of said mountain just let Ian or one of his minions know so we can coordinate it within the rest of the hoopla.

Suggestions and indictments are all welcome - BUT VOLUNTEERS ARE A NECESSITY! Remember the woodwork is not better for having been crawled into...

[blalor]

Quote: Originally Posted by m2smith (original)

Remember the woodwork is not better for having been crawled into...

But it's so cozy here!

[Windshadow]

With my return to good health I am looking forward to doing it again this year. I had a fine time at the 04 event and even had my MINI turn up in photos of the event in the MINI magazine so with luck and the creeks don't rise I will be there and perhaps any starting from Maine might enjoy a pit stop in the mid coast I would be glad to offer said stop.

Cheers
Randolph

[pezboy]

Again?

[m2smith]

And we're going to keep on doing it until we get it right...

[senorsock3]

I'd like to volunteer this year. I planned to last year, but things were so busy I never got the chance.

My idea for Saturday night.. build a huge bon fire on the golf course next to the T&C and sacrifice a SUV to the MINI gods....... I think its time for bed..

[GBMINI]

Kevin, sounds like a great idea ... if you'd just like to follow up with Gorham golf club to make sure they're OK with it too

[Theo]

Also...

This years MINIS On Top will include the traditional Yankee Candle & Area 51 Caravans to Gorham, NH on Friday, June 27th.

The Yankee Candle contingent of MINIs (from points west) will meet at about 10:00 am at the Yankee Candle flagship store in South Deerfield, MA. The Area 51 MINIs (from eastern New England) will meet at 1:00pm at a rest area on I-93N located about 15 miles north of Concord, NH at Mile 51. Area 51 is where the Yankee Candle MINIs will merge with the eastern New England MINIs at 1:30pm and will leave from there for a group caravan to Gorham, NH for MINIs On Top.

Within a week or two, a sign-up thread will be established on MINI2. There will also be an update to the YC/A51 Website available from the MINIs On Top Website.

Please stay tuned...

Theo

[Venno]

LMAO
Had you told me around Halloween MAYBE i could'a saved my MINIs costume for the sacrificial offering...

Quote: Originally Posted by senorsock3 (original)

I'd like to volunteer this year. I planned to last year, but things were so busy I never got the chance.

My idea for Saturday night.. build a huge bon fire on the golf course next to the T&C and sacrifice a SUV to the MINI gods....... I think its time for bed..

[MINIRANDOLPH]

Quote: Originally Posted by GBMINI (original)

Brian,
That sunrise drive to the top could be an interesting event for some folks [not me!]

MOT2007 Saturday night required people (Margaret & me!) to sell wrist bands for the food, and others (Michael & Pam) to monitor that only those with wrist bands got the food ... after a full day of running MOT, we didn't want to be doing that.
Also, the food ran out too quickly - and the $10 wrist bands didn't fully cover the cost of the food.
So doing food again would need a new way to pay for more of it, and maybe people willing to coordinate it on Saturday evening (of course most folks would prefer to participate!)

We did the food in 2007 to ensure we had the room - maybe we can get the room for 2008 without having the food, just a place for folks to hang out and buy a few drinks after the trip to the top of Mount Washington ...

If we could get the room again maybe just have coffee and soft drinks and dessert for a lesser fee. Something light after the big dinner would be fine. Maybe attendees could bring sweets,cakes,cookies etc. potluck style.(Of course still have the cash bar for those interested.)