MINIs on Top

Yes, it is time to put your name(s) in the hat!

The MOT Observatory Tour is a unique insider’s look at the world famous Mount Washington Observatory. Intrepid observers went out into the howling winds 77 years ago to get the anemometers working and recording the 231 mph winds, the fastest wind recorded on the surface of the Earth at a manned observatory.

The 1-hour tour takes 48 people (three groups of 16) into the working area, crew quarters, the turret (where you can really feel the full force of the wind or see for miles and miles in every direction) and the museum. Meet the observers who work there around the clock, in all kinds of weather, and ask all the questions and take all the photos you want. (Marty may agree to be photographed, but only if he thinks you’re worth it.)

(Some great pictures from a previous year’s observatory tour can be seen on Josh Wardell’s site)

Here is the deal:

The Obs Tour is too popular for the number of people who would like to go. Therefore, everyone who has not been on the tour before that expresses interest by June 9 gets his or her name put into a drawing. I then draw the winners and notify them.

The cost is $7.00 per person (12 years old and older; under 12 are free). The fee is in addition to your MOT registration, etc. Every penny of this fee goes directly to the Mount Washington Observatory. The fee is collected – in cash – on the Saturday of our drive to the Top.

We depart before the annual festivities under the tent have concluded so, yes, you will be able to see the sunset (unless clouds blowing by at 95 mph obscure the orb).

If you’re interested, send an email to NHRef@me.com with your name and the name of the others who will be riding in your MINI. Indicate which people are age 12 or over. One name is put into the hat but everyone in the MINI with that person goes on the Obs Tour. Please do NOT try to sign up by adding a comment to this post or replying to the email blast.

Due to the continued popularity of the Obs Tour, no one who has been on the tour before can enter this year’s drawing. (Sorry, but you can go almost anytime if you become a member of the Mount Washington Observatory)

Again, the deadline to enter this drawing is June 9. Hope to see you On Top! If you have any questions, please contact Pete via NHRef@me.com.

I hope you will join us just seven weeks from today when we kick off MOT2013 at “Sundaes on Friday” sponsored  by every MINI owner’s favorite garage, Greasy’s.  Pick your ice cream flavors, cover them in toppings, hang out with your fellow MINI owners and talk about the car mods you’re planning for 2013. If all goes according to plan (which it sometimes does at MOT)you’ll also have a chance to see photos from MOTs past on the big screen.

Greasy’s Garage has been a supporter of MOT for years – handing out water in the Loon parking lot and donating much-loved items to the raffle – but this is their first year sponsoring an event.  I hope you’ll join me in thanking them profusely. 

This event, like all other events in the MOTORoom at the Attitash Grand Summit, is open to all MOTers.

Thanks to our always-accommodating friends at Evergreen Graphics, we are keeping t-shirts orders open into early June this year.  However, if you want to be wearing your MOT2013 t-shirt as you cruise toward this year’s festivities, you must register for the event and order your t-shirts by the end of the day on Friday, May 3.  Any t-shirts ordered after that time will most likely need to be picked up at the event.   (Please note: pick-up times are TBD.)  Thank you.

While MINIs on Top is not a fundraising event – fun is our goal! – we’ve donated nearly $85,000 in event proceeds to charities over the last ten years.  Lots of those proceeds are from the sale of door prize tickets which can be purchased at the event for $1 each.  I’d like to take a moment to thank the individuals and companies who have generously donated items so far this year:

• MOT attendee Don Kindred donated a small collection of Swarovski crystal ducks and charms. Given how popular the Swarovski duck was last year, I’m sure this bundle will be a huge hit.
• Long-time MOT friends Bentley Publishers donated two books: a MINI Cooper Service Manual: 07-11 and the MINI Cooper Service Manual: 02-06. 
• Another long-time supporter Bavarian Autosport donated (1) $100 gift certificate and (2) $50 gift certificates.
• MOT volunteer Pete Basiliere has yet again donated (3) one-year Mt. Washington Observatory Family Memberships.
• The Mt. Washington Observatory (MWO) kindly donated a Seek-the-Peek backpack.

And this is just the beginning! As usual, the items will be bundled up into especially-appealing packages just before the event so we’re not stuck under the tent calling raffle numbers all night.  Keep an eye on this site for more items you may want to get your hands on.

I’d also like to thank Michael and Inge Drozd for kindly stepping up to run this portion of the 2013 event.  It is a big job and without them it may not have happened this year.  Please be sure to thank them for their efforts when you see them in June.

By the time we make it back to the Attitash Grand Summit on Saturday, June 22, we’ll have seen a spectacular sunset and/or experienced some epic weather at the top of Mt. Washington. There’s also a chance that some of us will need help releasing the grip-of-death from the steering wheel or door handle after the trips up and down the mountain.  Well, thanks to MINI Eastern Region, we’ll be able to gather in the MOTORoom, unwind, and share photos and stories from another MOT weekend while noshing on tasty hors d’oeuvres.  There will be a cash bar.  Doors will open at 9:00pm.  I’m looking forward to seeing you there.

Please join me in thanking MINI Eastern Region for sponsoring this party.  MOT wouldn’t be nearly as much fun without their generous support.

This event, like all other events in the MOTORoom at the Attitash Grand Summit, is open to all MOTers, not just those staying at the base hotel.