Archives for January 2007

Who are we?

There’s a new thread started on MINI2 recently, with pictures
& descriptions of MINIsOnTop attendees, attendees-to-be, and volunteers - head over there to meet everyone and introduce yourself!

29 January 2007 | MOT2007

CapeCodMINI Moose Hunt

Steve / CapeCodMINI, one time MINIsOnTop supremo, has decided to return to MINIdom and plans once again to lead a Moose Hunt at MINIsOnTop on Friday evening. Steve writes:
1. Gather at TandC entrance at 6:15 p.m. on Friday 6/15. No need to sign up. Just show up. If we have more than 25 cars we’ll do it in two flights about 15 minutes apart.
2. Depart TandC at 6:30 p.m.
3. Estimated time of return 8-8:30 p.m.
4. What to bring: Camera; big flash light or poacher’s spot light, insect repellant (in case you get out and walk near the swamps).
5. Mist or light rain is no problem. Heavy rain will cancel the hunt.
Rules:
1. No horns, no revving engines, no speeding, no passing unless you are directed to by the car in front of you or the car in front of you pulls off to the side.
2. Stay a respectable distance from Moose if you get out of your car. The only time you should get close to a moose on foot is if you are positive you can run at least 35 m.p.h. to outdistance the moose. FYI, the fastest male sprinter in the world can hit about 27 m.p.h and that’s only briefly during a 100 meter dash.
3. No tail gating please. Moose like to jump out of the woods right in front of you. If you are tailing someone and they have to hit the binders…..

The Route:
-Turn left out of TandC onto Route 2 West.
-Continue through Gorham. (note: in August, 2002 or 2003, dusk, I saw a black bear clear the fence at the cemetery right in downtown Gorham, race across the road and through a flower garden heading towards the rail road tracks.)
-Bear right at lights which is Route 16 North to Berlin.
-In Berlin continue on Rt. 16 North towards Milan. In a couple of miles there is a slight chance of moose spotting.
-At Milan continue on Rt. 16 North and watch for moose all the way to Errol. Certain motorers may note we are passing by the hamlet of Dummer, NH and feel a sense of home-coming.
-Stop at Errol MINI Mart/gas station at the junctions of Routes 16 and 26.
-Turn around and trace route back to TandC, driving slowly and being watchful. -Suggest stopping at various turn outs near marsh/swamps and scanning them for moose.

(moose information here)

23 January 2007 | MOT2007

Five years of MINIsOnTop

This year will be the fifth year of MINIsOnTop, growing from 70 MINIs (and one VW Beetle!) back in 2003 to 250 MINIs (and one subaru!) in 2006.
For 2007, the “modern” Tshirt design will commemorate five years by featuring a representative MINI from each year:





The vinyl cling decal design also acknowledges five years:

(this design will also be used for the “classic” logo only Tshirt)

23 January 2007 | MOT2007

The Great Ice Cream Run

If your pre-MOT schedule allows a unique merging of motoring events, may we suggest participating in The Great Ice Cream Run (June 9-15), followed by the Bar Harbor Invasion, and then the dash to MINIs On Top (June 16)!
Paraphrasing Robyn’s post on MINI2:

“Join us for The GREAT Ice Cream Run, a MINI event dedicated to owners who just can’t get enough… you guessed it… ice cream! The dates: 6/9/07 - 6/15/07 The place: Sanford, FL to Bar Harbor, ME Registration is now OPEN. Deadline for registering is March 30, 2007. You can download your registration form HERE.

We’ll travel from Sanford, FL to Bar Harbor, ME over the course of 7 days. Along the way we’ll hit as many ice cream shops as your stomach can handle, plus a few other interesting stops to be announced later. And as if that wasn’t enough, how about capping off the trip with MINIs on Top!

We’ll arrive in Bar Harbor the day before MOT 2007 so there will be plenty of time to make the drive over to NH for Friday/Saturday’s MOT festivities. For those in the northeast, consider taking Amtrak’s auto train from Lorton, VA down to Sanford, FL. The cost of the train works out to be a pretty good deal compared to the cost of hotel rooms and gas if you opted to drive down. Amtrak reservations are up to each participant. We will be working with Amtrak to get a group rate, so check the website to see the latest info. The run will be similar to MTTS. For each leg, registered participants will receive route sheets for a quick and easy interstate highway route, as well as a more back road (and hopefully more scenic) “alternate” route. Choose the route you prefer and travel at your own pace. Go in a group or go alone. The choice is entirely yours. And what could be better than a 7 day trek to stuff yourself full of ice cream? How about raising money for the Make a Wish Foundation too? Get your friends/family/co-workers to sponsor you on a per mile basis (or just with a flat donation amount). After the run, all the money will tallied, and divided up among the Make a Wish chapters in each of the states represented by the participants. Participation in this portion is entirely optional of course, but we hope you’ll consider helping out.

Due to the size and complexity of this event, official registration is required. A fee will be charged to cover the cost of ID badges, mailing out registration packets, and a few planned surprises, etc. Event T-shirts, decals, etc. are available for ordering at the time of registration as well. All forms must be received by March 30, 2007. This deadline gives us time to get shirts ordered, route sheets printed and packets mailed out to everyone before the run.

Note: Registration for MINIs on Top is entirely separate and it is your responsibility to make sure you are registered for both events. To stay up to date with all the latest info about ice cream shops, hotels, campgrounds, the route, the charity drive, etc., be sure to check out the event website: The Great Ice Cream Run Your “Cruise Directors” for this trip are:

Jerseygirl - route planning/website admin/Amtrak contact/treasurer
Bootsi - hotel/campground coordinator/special event coordinator
Htrout13 - charity coordinator/door prize coordinator/local dealership contact

Promo Video HERE“

22 January 2007 | MOT2007, Great Ice Cream Run

Yankee Candle & Area 51

This year we are again inviting all Minis and MINIs to join the Yankee Candle & Area 51 Caravan on Friday, June 15th, 2007 to MINIs on Top in New Hampshire. There are two meeting points at which people can join the caravan: Yankee Candle in South Deerfield, MA and Area 51 located on I-93 north of Concord, NH.

The Yankee Candle Factory Flagship Store is located just off Exit 24 of Interstate 91 North in Western Massachusetts, and is about 4 hours from New York City, about 1 hour from Hartford, CT and about 30 minutes from the intersection of the Massachusetts Turnpike (Exit 4) and Interstate 91 North. The YC location is a logical meeting point for MOT attendees coming from western MA, western CT, NY, NJ, and all other locations in the mid-Atlantic, southeast and Midwest areas of the US. The caravan is expected to depart Yankee Candle at 11:00 am.

Area 51 is a rest area at about Mile 51 on I-93, 15 miles north of Concord, NH. There you will find plenty of parking, grassy picnic areas, vending machines, and restrooms. This is an excellent meeting point for MOT attendees coming from central and eastern MA, RI, and eastern CT. The Yankee Candle Caravan will arrive at Area 51 to merge into one large group. The merged caravan is expected to depart Area 51 at 2:00 pm.

We will travel the beautiful backroads of MA and NH to the Town & Country Inn in Shelburne, NH. The exact route is in the planning stages and will be announced as we get closer to MOT 2007. We will be targeting our arrival time at the Town & Country at about 4:30 pm.

Please stay tuned for more details…

21 January 2007 | MOT2007, WNY/YC/A51

Rosie’s Place

The selected charity for MOT2007, selected by email vote-in from MOT2006 attendees, is Rosie’s Place:
Since 1974 poor and homeless women have found an oasis of hope and nourishment at Rosie’s Place. The mission of Rosie’s Place is to help women maintain their dignity, seek opportunity and find security in their lives. Many of the women we assist are working and in housing but simply can’t make ends meet. Some are newly homeless, while others women have been living on the streets for years. We serve women as young as 18 and as old as 80. Approximately one-third of our guests have children. Rosie’s Place serves guests from a wide variety of ethnic groups, with the majority being African American, Hispanic, Haitian, or White. Some of our guests are living with HIV/AIDS or have hidden disabilities such as addiction or mental illnesses that prevent them from effectively integrating into society.

With the help of people who believe change is possible and share our vision of justice, Rosie’s Place has accomplished amazing things, both big and small. Each year:

  • 74,000 nutritionally balanced meals are served in our warm and cheery dining room.
  • 800 women choose free non-perishable food items and fresh produce from our Groceries program each month.
  • More than 500 women find safety and nurturing in our emergency and short-term housing, while advocates work with them to find permanent homes and secure the services they need.

Please head over to Rosie’s Place to learn more, thank you.

14 January 2007 | MOT2007, Charity