Day 6: Grand Junction to MINIs in the Mountains

Today’s journey took us east on I-70 into the rockies toward Winter Park Colorado. I was leading about 15 MINIs on this day, and with an iron fist! Our first hour out we had to make a stop for bathrooms. That was the last one until we reached Frisco, CO, our Flickr photo stop for the day and a good spot to stop for lunch.

Lunch at a place called The Moosejaw. How could we not eat here, right?

We continued on, getting the chance to drive through the Eisenhower tunnel as we climbed higher and higher into the rockies before arriving in Winter Park just in time to check in to our hotels and head out for the evenings festivities. It was at about this time that a couple of realizations kicked in. First was one of the hotels in Winter Park was, we’ll say, scary. Second, I found out that high altitude and I really don’t get along too well. Sure, I had a hard time breathing, but not so bad I noticed. It was more like something didn’t feel right. Hard to explain. So, I took it easy for the rest of the day, called it an early night in preparation for tomorrow’s hour long trip to MTTS after a walk around MiTM.

Day 7: MINIs in the Mountains and MTTS Denver

If you’ve never been to MINIs in the Mountains before, it looked like a fantastic event. Lots of vendor and dealer particpation, lots of great looking MINIs and some brilliant scenery! I would like to try this event again and hope my coping with altitude improves.

After walking around, talking to friends and snapping some photos, it was time to motor east to Denver! It was a short hop over the mountain back to I-70. There I was met by Brian Black, giving me an escort and hoping I would take a run up Mt. Evans. Let’s take a minute to review the MINI I was driving again. 2010 R56 MC, Chili Red with Black roof. JCW Body kit. H/K stereo. Automatic transmission. One thing I did discover in the Rockies that this combination was less than ideal for any spirited motoring. I declined Brian’s invite and continued into town, got checked in at the host hotel and waited to meet up with the rest of the WRR Crew.

Day 7: MTTS!

Once Todd, Gabe and Chad arrived, it was time to consume a cocktail or 2 and catch up on what had happened during the week before heading to the owners party at the MTTS event site. This being the last party of MTTS, MINIUSA went crazy! Food, drinks, music, a wedding ( ! ) and all 5 R60 Countrymen. All there along with motorers that drove from the east and west to celebrate this brilliant little car. The party continued long into the night, even after the main party stopped!

Day 8: Final Day

Today started with a gathering at Red Rocks Ampitheater.

That was one of the largest gatherings of MINIs I have ever seen! It was amazing! Once in place, we were lead into the main ampitheater for a bit of a pep rally and some crazy dancers performed for us. It was pretty cool. Then, back up and out to our MINIs to set forth on the rally for the day; A drive up Mount Evans.

Imagine if you will going on a rally with 600 of your closests mates, through the mountains of the Rockies. Yes, it was exactly like that. Not that I would know since I peeled off early to rest up a bit and prepare for the event that night. Someone had to setup the WRR/Motoringfile booth!

Here we hung out, talked with fans and friends, sold badges and generally had a day of not too much driving. There was live music all day, finishing with a great performance by Blues Traveller!

For me, this event was definitely more about the drive than the destination. MTTS was very cool in Denver to be sure, but the experiences on the road beat it out 10:1. New friends, great roads and more me time than I’ve had in a while. It was truly amazing and I can’t wait to do it again! I think a trip to MiTM might be in my future, with a stop at Crown Burger in Salt Lake City on the way so I can have another one of these.

As a bonus to all that registered and attended MTTS 2010, MINIUSA had one final surprise and delight! A coupon good for $1,500 off any 2010 or 2011 MINI Cooper, and it’s good with other offers (read the small print)!

If you missed it, plan for 2012. It will happen again. You can also go back and check out the White Roof Radio coverage of the entire event, from both sides of the states!

Thanks again to MINIUSA for putting on such a kick ass event! Thanks to the Performance Group for pulling it off without a hitch! That’s to Michael for handling the back-end stuff while the rest of us were on the road. And thanks to Todd, Gabe and Chad for doing a pretty kick ass job themselves!

Next up? MINI United 2011! Who’s ready?

From Saturday, August 7th 2010 until Sunday, August 15th 2010, I drove on a little road rally called MINI Takes the States. If you look at the map above, you can see that we didn’t quite take the shortest route from San Diego to Denver. No sir! All told, We covered over 1,600 miles in those 9 days and it went a little something like this.

Day 1: SoCal MINI Dealer Poker Run, San Diego to Santa Anita

This day started bright and early at the newest MINI dealer in Southern California, MINI of San Diego. In fact, they are so new they weren’t even open when we started gathering. From there, we were led by members of West Coast MINIs on a twisty route to MINI of Escondido. From there, most of the pack did what we lovingly call the De Luz run to MINI of Ontario. After burgers and dogs, it was a very quick stop at MINI of Monrovia before ending at the start point for tomorrow, Santa Anita Raceway. Like all runs during this event, we collected MINIs as we motored. Starting with about 40 and ending with well over 100!

Tonight was also the night of the Southern California MTTS Owners Kick Off Party, held at the California Science Museum. Hosted bar, lots of food, Macy Gray spinning records and, the reason we were gathered in the first place, the MINI Countryman (aka R60). They had a couple of them there for the owners to gawk and ogle. Bonus, Gert Hildebrand and Vinnie Kung were on hand to answer questions and just talk MINI with anyone and everyone that wanted too. You will hear this quite a bit during my writing and it’s all true. MINI USA knows how to throw a party! Never a dry glass in the place, plenty of food, great music and great people. Calling it an early night in preparation for the drive tomorrow, I headed back to my downtown LA hotel and called it a night.

Day 2: SoCal to Scottsdale, Arizona and the Hotel Valley Ho Pool Party

Ready, set, go! All MINI owners were instructed to gather for bagels and coffee at Santa Anita for the great kick-off of what will end up being an epic roadtrip. Maps were handed out, instructions were given and the band played off what looked like over 100 MINIs!

This was to be one of our shorter drive days, covering just under 400 miles. Off we went across the California Desert, headed to warmer climes. MINIUSA, not wanting anyone to get too hot, decided what everyone would need about 1/2 way to Scottsdale was a popsicle stop in Chiraco Summit! Yes, that’s right, popsicles in the middle of the dessert, and everyone was treated. We stood in the sun and turned our mouths a rainbow of colours before continuing on to Blythe, into Arizona, thru Phoenix before arriving at the Valley Ho.

Once there and checked in, of course we had to catch up with our friends from Arizona and Nevada that were joining us, and no better place to do that than in the Valley Ho bar before they opened the gate to their legendary pool for a fantastic pool party! Again, music, drink, food and our good friends the Countryman were all on hand to enjoy the 2nd great party party of our trip. And, should you ever get to Scottsdale, Arizona, and want to see how the ‘pretty people’ play, definitely make a stop at the Valley Ho!

Day 3: Scottsdale to Vegas and the -5 Ice Lounge Party

Today started like the others. Bagels, coffee, route map, instructions and Kevin’s damned bullhorn. Oh, and about 100 MINIs tearing off through Scottsdale headed to Sin City. Funny thing happened this morning for me, however. Hectic morning, lost my iPod (later found) and other things delayed my leaving until about 20 minutes behind everyone else. No worries I think. I know where Palace Station is and have the GPS.

Now friends, before I continue, should you ever need to drive from the Valley Ho to Palace Station, do not depend on your nav to make that happen unless you like driving 30 miles in stop and go, road contructed traffic. Buy hey, I got to see Wickenberg and Sun City, so I had that going for me, which was nice.

Also, for future reference, if you are planning on driving to Las Vegas from I-40 and it’s a Sunday and the new bridge by-passing Hover Dam isn’t ready, skip Nevada Highway and motor on to SR95 through Laughlin instead. Don’t worry, you can thank me later.

Finally arrived at Palace station about an hour after everyone else, maybe a little cranky from the delays and traffic, so I got checked in and cooled down before heading down to meet up with whoever was going to the Ice Lounge. It was this night that I recruited Scotty Michalakakaka as my wingman (since Todd was driving from the east coast). He grabbed the right seat and off we went to freeze!

The Ice Lounge was (wait for it) very cool! I know, that’s lame, but it was, after all, -5 degrees. Cold enough we were issued coats and gloves. Cold enough that our cocktails were served in ice glasses that didn’t melt. Cold enough that every thing short of the floor, ceiling and walls was made of ice. Everything. We weren’t allowed to take tech in with us, so I don’t have any photos (yet). You will be seeing those as soon as I get them. Again, food, drink and the R60 on hand. Again, MINIUSA picked up the bill, along with Desert MINI.

And what is a WRR trip to Vegas without a trip into Jack’s Pub, right? I skipped the 6-pack in a glass Guinness this time and opted for a G&T or two instead. Not too much, since I had to save my strenght for the longest drive on deck, the 450+ mile trek to Salt Lake City.

Mobile users can grab the photos directly from Flickr stream.

Tech installed, gear locked and loaded and all of my batteries are charged. I’m hittin’ the road baby! Follow along at the other sites for the next week to keep up-to-date.

Oh, if you are wanting one of the limited edition MTTS Motoringbadges, I have a very limited supply. Since I am the only one selling them on the western leg of MTTS, you know they will go fast! Don’t worry AZ and Vegas, I’m hiding a few for you guys too!

Next stop, MINI of San Diego!

Just a few more days until the lads and I begin MTTS and we are pretty excited. You can see everything that we will be doing over at whiteroofradio.com. For me, I will be picking up a CR/B MCS with JCW Wheels this week and start my journey at San Diego MINI on Saturday morning for a huge poker run to Santa Anita Raceway park. The poker run will be stopping at Brecht and MINI of Ontario on the way, so if you are looking to join up, that’s where we will be. Fun starts at 9am.

Then starting Sunday it’s the road trip of the year, heading to Phoenix, Las Vegas and Salt Lake City, where we will be given the chance to drive on the salt. I’m more than a little excited about that!

I’m hoping to meet as many of you as I possibly can this week, so make sure to come over and say hi!

Keep an eye on the usual places (linked up above) to follow along if you aren’t able to make it.

Sure, a bunch of you are at the Dragon right now. But, for the rest of you you saw that we finally have MTTS route details, complete with dates, right?

Also, at the end of the month, Todd and I will be heading to Colorado to celebrate the grand opening of MINI of Loveland and would love to see as many of you MINI5280 folks as possible. The date is Thursday May 27th, from 6:00p to 9:00p.

Who’s planning on on doing any of the MTTS rally? Comments are open, lets hear it!

I’ve read tons of reviews about this car already, and the main thing that always comes up is torque steer.

And they are all correct. Holy. Crap.

Torque steer would be an understatement. More like unstable-when-shifting-into-2nd-under-power is more like it. From a dead stop, it’s barely noticeable. But then shift from first to second and get back on the gas and hold on tight! Completely unexpected.

My drive was short, around a very tight course and I only drove it once. I would like to get some more time either on the street or track, but if I had to say right now, this car is overkill. Sure it goes like a raped ape. Stops before the dime and handles better than a rollercoaster, but that’s a lot of power trying to escape through the front wheels and I think it might be a bit to much.

…Says the guy with the 110HP MINI Cooper with 193k miles on it.

From Saturday

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

From the Owner Party Friday night.

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

You can see all of my photos from MTTS LA here.

To help celebrate, MINIUSA and RA Events went out and got us a cake. Then, brought us on stage Saturday afternoon before Vertical Horizon to get everyone to sing happy birthday. It was very awesome!

Thanks to everyone for listening and staying with us! Here’s to 3 more years.

Watch for the last of our MTTS coverage coming up this week.

More coming very very soon.