[THELPJOB]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I have a plan to stage the 1st Annual MINI rally and Fall “Mini” Break, bang smack in the middle of the Adirondack Park in upstate New York. The town is North Elba, the village Lake Placid. Rich with Olympic history and loved by all who visit, live and drive here. All roads and towns on the way to Lake Placid are yours to explore but I’d like some larger than mini fun while you are here.

Gather for a long weekend at peak time for leaves, mid to late September 2003. Those who can get here early have loads to do. I’m thinking……

- Friday afternoon MINI owner and guest scramble golf tournament, courses are beautiful. There is one in particular that’s a drive but, having driven a few hours or more, you may appreciate staying local for the views. Prizes, beer and wine.
- Saturday morning we’ll have a show in the speed skating oval where Eric Hyden picked up a not too shabby 5 Gold medals in 1980 and where Jack Shea began his family tradition. Awards for best in class and furthest traveled, most original, most wanted, you get the jist. I see vendors, dealers with test drive capabilities, mechanics for questions, on site decal fitting, The Italian Job playing at the movie theatre, driving tests, maybe scalextrix or remote control fun for kids.
- Saturday afternoon, there’s an option to go motoring or attend a Ski Jump and Freestyle competition with Blue Grass Bands (not my kind of music but the sports themselves you have to see). Show continues.
- A Saturday night of good food, beer, wine and dancing at a location to be chosen by you, you’re on your own basically.
- Sunday morning we’ll do the mountain climb. Whiteface Mountain to be exact, Veteran’s Memorial Highway. 7 miles up. Wonderful views.
- Sunday lunch over in Burlington, Vermont, to prove you can get there from here!
No fee envisaged, just an event t-shirt at $10 for the memories.

Here’s where you come in and not just in your Mini or MINI!
What would you like to see or do in addition or differently? I personally haven’t been on a car rally since I was one of two children in the back of a Ford Classic that smoked heavily when going up hill. There are three of us here in Lake Placid, all red with white roofs (I know it puzzled me when I found out) one plain, one striped, and me the Brit. We are all pretty resourceful and keen to bring a new event, you and yours to town.

Please feel free to post your suggestions and recommendations as you see necessary.
Thanks for your time reading and maybe posting a reply. Look forward to hearing from you if you’ll be in on the plan!

For those of you planning a “recky” before the event, the family motel is offering all Mini owners who arrive in their vehicle 10% discounted rates. www.wildwoodmotel.com or give us a call the office on 518 523 2624.

Happy Holidays and a Motoring New Year in 2003.

Stuart

[AprilWhine]

This could shape up to be the event of the year. I've wanted to see upstate NY in the fall.

[THELPJOB]

That's four of us and that's an excuse for a party!

I've sent the details to my dealer who has promised to send all 300 of his customers an invite...this could be fun.

[AprilWhine]

You probably have already done this, but don't forget to cross-post to MINICooperOnline and Roadfly.

[THELPJOB]

Dear A/W,

Thank you! I need that sort of info to spread the word. If you are the sort of person that has an on-going relationship with your dealer like my "Top Man" Rex at Keeler in Albany, try to sell the weekend to him or her and then have them contact there own customers of the new MINI. The more the merrier.

It's gonna be a blast. I'm going to speak to the powers that be in our town soon too and we'll paint the town Red, Blue, Black, Silver, British Racing Green, Yellow, White, ....!!!

[paddy]

a lot of fun. I will put it on my calendar and see how things go.

[THELPJOB]

Paddy,

Where did you get your grill badge? I haven't seen any of those since my dear old Grandad's AA membership and a Guernsey badge on his Triumph Hillman.

Could be a thought to design one for the rally, it's so much classier than any sticker.

Nice ride and your license plate is funny!

[THELPJOB]

just flicking through your gallery and saw the probable reason for your user name.

[paddy]

I got the grille badge from MossMini. Easy to put on, but while looking through Roadfly I came across what appears to be a better method. Here is a link to wainair's site . He did a great job on mounting his badge so that it is not resting on the chrome grille. The additional backing plate can also be purchased from MossMini. You can also check out a site called my ethnic pride they have all sorts of grille badges, prices appear to be the same at both sites.

Yes, I agree a badge would look better, but cost to produce becomes an issue with the small number that would be produced.

The license plate like ERIN is all fun. ERIN is my daily ride to work and anywhere else I can think of driving to. I picked her up on 4/16/02 and now have just over 17,000 miles of great fun. I am sure that you can figure out my given name and I am of IRISH ancestry.

paddy

[spadsept]

I always go once a year to hike Mt Marcy... I guess i could go there for fall... Could be funny to see all those mini in downtown Lake Placid!!!

[THELPJOB]

I did catch a glimpse of a mini similar to yours sitting outside the Brown Dog Deli.

D'you have contact or know of any of your active Canadian Mini Clubs? I'd love to help you bring a bunch down, the exchange crushes you but renting houses or smaller motels in the area might make it a little less expensive.

Porsche have a rally here which brings in about 40 cars, if I can't get that then I'm not working hard enough to make it worth to drive.

If you're thinking of really trying to make it, email me privately and I'll add you to a distribution list and keep you posted. Include your car details!

[GordonD]

Dont laugh but the Ford Cortina was actually driven down the bobsled run at Cortina. (no snow)

organize that and you will have every MINI in North America at the event.

i think it is a great idea and the timing in the Fall would be great. Just start kissing up to Smokie right now so we don't all face license suspensions.

I'm sure a bunch of people from the Toronto area would drive down.

keep us all posted.

[THELPJOB]

Do we have a volunteer driver with vehicle? The 1980 track runs summer bobsled rides and we have a suggestion....

I still work part time for the Olympic Region Development Authority who look after facility on behalf of the State. It could be a huge puller, TV, You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet... Oh my god!

[MGB Boy]

Sounds like a cool drive idea, I'll pencil it in. Can't "pen it in", September is a busy time for me, with the British Invasion in Stowe and the New Hampshire Highland Games (although I think they are the same weekend in 2003, grrrr). But if the timing is right, it sounds great.

-Ricardo

[MoonPie]

Golf game? gotta show this to MINIMiller, my much better half. oOoo upstate NY, sounds like a blast, wonder how much we'll need to cover the cost of this one? COuld be a nice birthday gift for moi.

are you going to block rooms in the hotel for this?

Do you need some definite rsvps?

will let you know...nice planning!

[THELPJOB]

Right now things are very much in the planning stage, waiting for an exact date for ski jump, soccer fixture for that weekend, and the return of an email to a friend at ILNY, our Visitors Bureau and dealer. Once all are commited or not I can spend some more time on a website and a route to take/make reservations or just confirm intentions to show your face and your mini.

Cost of rooms at that time because it's not "in season" can be as little as $58 for our motel which I hope to fill or you could probably go under that staying just outside of LP itself. So room Friday/Saturday with golf could run as little as $200 based on two people sharing. Not bad eh?

Am working on deals for golf with the town.

[paddy]

sounds great.....

Happy New Year.....

[jcsinnh]

Please forgive my ineptness with this forum stuff. I'm new to it but old in the brain. Fall Classic sounds terrific to me. I will tell my relatives (with MINI) @ St. Lawrence U. I have an '03 MCS yellow/black with bonnet stripes, all options except GPS, parking thing, and leather.

[THELPJOB]

Sounds like a cry for help doesn't it...

Well the only help we need is to get the SLU guys and girls down to Lake Placid (I know they love to visit) in their MINIs and we'll be away. I'm still waiting to hear back from my dealer to tie up loose ends on the dealership involvement. I want to give people without the best car we've ever driven the chance to test drive official vehicles.

Spread the word please sir!

[watkins]

Stuart,

We love Lake Placid. I came thru in Aug with my son for a "mini" vacation and even ate at the Brown Dog Deli. I agree that Rex from Keeler is great. Interested in Sep, let me know if I can help from down here. Saratoga Springs

thanks
Bob