MINIsOnTop June 27, 2009

[Theo]

Random 2009 MINIsOnTop Info

CARAVANS to MOT
On Friday, June 26th, there will be two "official" caravans to MINIsOnTop. One will gather at Yankee Candle in South Deerfield, MA about 9:00 am and one will gather in/near Boston about 11:00 am. Both caravans will meet up at "Area 51", a rest stop near mile-marker 51 on NH I-93N about 15 miles north of Concord, NH. The combined caravan will leave Area 51 about 2:00 pm and will motor up I-93N toward Franconia Notch, then down Rt. 302 through the scenic Crawford Notch, and then arrive at Attitash about 4:30 pm. In the past, we have had 40-50 MINIs in the combined caravan! Of course, you do not need to join either "official" caravan to attend MOT!

More info about these caravans will be posted in the next month or so.

ATTITASH
A reminder that the Attitash Grand Summit Hotel is non-smoking and does not allow pets. The MINIsOnTop website has information about other hotels near Attitash. Don't forget New Country MINI's "Sundae of Friday" free ice cream sundae bar from 7:00 to 8:30 on Friday night. This will be followed by the Cape Cod MINIs' "Pub Trivia Challenge" at 9:00 pm; registration opens at 8:30 pm. There are also rumors of a free "Sunrise Suprise" breakfast buffet Saturday morning before the Loon Lot gathering...more on this as it develops. Remember that on Sunday there will be plenty to do at Attitash and there has already been talk of Alpine Slide challenges on Sunday morning!

LUNCH on SATURDAY
After the morning festivities at the Loon Lot wind-up around noon, there will be several caravan "drives" including the crowd-pleasing Kancamagus Drive. Those wishing to stay put at Loon can enter the MOT'lympics, a slow-speed gymkhana that tests the driving skill and sense of humor of every contestant. All these events happen over lunchtime, so you will want to pack/pre-purchase your lunch ahead of time. Many folks drive into Lincoln (the town in which Loon is located) and purchase sandwiches to-go and bring them back to the Loon lot to save for lunchtime.

50 Years of MINIs and Minis
Yes! It's the 50th anniversary of the Mini. A special invitation went out to NEMO in hopes that a number of classic Minis will be represented. Each year we seem to get a handful of them at MOT, but this year we'd love to see as many as possible!

[Halifax]

Quote: Originally Posted by m2smith (original)

I know when Pam and I went hiking in '07 we ran into people on the trails with skis on their backs. They said that in the shadows there are large patches of snow. This is a shot taken at Tuckerman's Ravine in mid-July!

Skied Tuckerman's Ravine on July 5th several years ago. A 3-mile hike to ski a 500' run .. over and over and over ...

Ain't gonna happen this year... spring has arrived with a vengeance, much to the dismay of the hardcore skier.

[m2smith]

I still haven't put the snowblower away and I can think of a few Aprils that added well over a foot of the white stuff after a March summer tease - Keep hope alive! (I'm just sayin')

[tedsmini]

I'm just all a gagga about MOT. I'm really hoping the stars come together and allow us to make it! The numerous other events sounds like it will round out a fantastic weekend. A little nice weather and there's no way we can lose!

I too am a little skeptical of this early spring business. We have a dusting of snow here this morning just to remind us not to get too cocky, I guess...

[DaveTinNY]

Just booked the Attitash Hotel and mailed in my MOT registration. We last went in 2006 (when the MINI was one year and three weeks old) and loved it. Looking forward!!
Driving up on Friday morning. Zoom!

[m2smith]

Quote: Originally Posted by tedsmini (original)

I too am a little skeptical of this early spring business. We have a dusting of snow here this morning just to remind us not to get too cocky, I guess...

Good plan - Today we had a little get together for some of the local MINI/MOT folks for an upcoming article in Worcester Magazine. People spiffed up their rides and pulled off the winter wheels and, what do you know, snow!

[pezboy]

I went to MOT on my winter steelies and snows one year...that was good.

[GBMINI]

LODGING UPDATE:

Attitash Grand Summit is full - for now at least.
They have about 135 rooms and we blocked about 100; they're working on getting more rooms over to us. Meanwhile, we'll talk with some nearby places to see what we can get - I'm sure it's nicer to put groups in a hotel, rather than one here, one there, etc.

Still can't figure why the rooms are full, but reg's are down!
Come on folks, get those reg forms mailed ... please?

[DaveTinNY]

GBMINI, (Ian, right?) my form was mailed on Saturday... you should have it today(?) or tomorrow... definitely this week anyway. I know of another guy (Jeff C) who just booked the hotel and mailed his form also which you should receive this week as well.
Regards,
Dave T in NY.

[m2smith]

Down loaded the form, printed it, filled it in - AND NOW YOU EXPECT ME TO MAIL IT?
Jeez Louise - That's an awful lot of effort...

[pezboy]

Baker, what are we doing on the 27th?

[GBMINI]

Quote: Originally Posted by pezboy (original)

Baker, what are we doing on the 27th?

He'll be driving his Honda ... tsch, non-MINI drivers

[miniblucabrio]

made my reservation at attitash will be mailing form this week.

[GBMINI]

Question ... for the old timers ...
Who has attended EVERY MINIsOnTop, 2003-2008 inclusive - and plans to attend MOT 2009 also?

I have, of course ... I think Pete / NHref has, and Richard / rfinprc. And Paul (but he's not online).
Jason / snid I think missed a year?
Steve / CapeCodMINI is skipping this year.

Anyone else?

[rfinprc]

Yep. Every one.