2013 Drives

[Mel]

Who's ready for some summer sunshine and zippy motoring?
I know it's early in the year, but it seems like time flies when you're not paying attention.  I thought I'd bring up summer drives so the people who get extra busy in the summer have an idea of what we might schedule.

First of all.....is anyone interested in doing a drive/rally this year?  I know the Beartooth run tends to be a hit, and a fun day-long drive.  Bill and Russ have both organized some shorter drives in previous years. I've also mentioned before the possibility of doing something in Glacier.  As usual, I'm always open to suggestions or ideas of other drives.  I haven't done any kind of game/goal-oriented drives before, so if you would like to try something that, please feel free to share.

In any case, if there is interest, doing the Beartooth rally again this year is always a possibility.  In past years we settled on having the drive on a Saturday, generally in early August.  Without any kind of research, that gives us a couple of dates to toss around--August 3rd and 10th.
If you're new to the group (and there seems to be quite a few newly-registered profiles), the rally generally consists of meeting in Bozeman or Billings and joining up in Columbus--then a drive south to Red Lodge for a group lunch, and a chance to wander around and do some shopping.  We hit the road soon after and start the climb:  up, up, up, up, up and up.  Lots of twisties, lots and lots of gorgeous scenery.  Stop along the way a few times for group pictures, drive through the park and sometimes stop in Mammoth for an ice cream cone before heading north through Paradise Valley.  A few of us stop once more in Livingston for a bite to eat before heading to our respective homes.  People have been welcome to join in and peel off as they feel like.

If there's interest in shorter drives, locally I know of a few good roads.  Since people tend to be scattered near and far in this group--Montana definitely isn't small--if you know of a good jaunt near you, let us know!

Hope everyone is enjoying the mild weather right now.  :o)

Mel

[Tim Robertson]

Mel (everybody else),

We were able to make the Beartooth ride two years ago and had a blast.  Count us in on either date.  However, we are contemplating moving to a different model of soft-top sports car but would want to tag along sans-Mini.  Nothing against the Mini, as ours has been fantastic and we hate to let it go, but think I'm about ready to fulfill a life-long dream of owning that "other model" and Nadine swears we can't afford to each have a sports car.  In any case, we'd love to do it again this year.

We'd be in for the shorter rides, too, but the "commute" from Lewistown can get a bit lengthy.

Patiently awaiting top-down weather.

Tim and Nadine, Lewistown

Mel

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[Heather Miller]

Hi everyone, 

Count me in!  I finally moved back to Montana after a 3 year stint in Seattle and am sooooo happy to Motor with the group again.  I am actually getting a new Mini this year and I have a feeling that it will need to be taken out for a good motoring so I'm up for either the drive.  So far both weekends work for me because it's early enough for me to get it on my calendar.  Hooray!  

Take care, 

Heather and Sophie the Mini 

[Cindy]

Hi

I will be able to make it on the 10th of August.  I have not been able to go on a  drive yet so hopefully this works out for everyone.  Also I think the weekend of the 10th and 11th is the Jazz Festival here in Billings.

Cindy

[Russ Motoring]

Hi all,  Sounds like a good idea to start planning.  A sans-MINI would be welcome, of course.  And new registrants too, the more the merrier!  As always Betty and I want to take a drive everywhere!    

     We are in for the Aug 10th Bear Tooth run (or 3rd if the majority rule that way); with consideration for those interested in the Jazz Festival in Billings...something to end the drive with an event...something to research further.  Our little drive near Billings last fall with grape stomp was short but fun!   So, shorter less formal drives are good too.  We like the idea of exploring roads in the Bozeman area; combine it with an event?  

     And, the same for the Great Falls route suggested by Ron, it too is good; as over the years we have been on some of those same roads, and they are great!      And somehow that 8 hour drive just to get to Glacier is still an ultimate goal for us. (it like the Beartooth is outstanding for driving and scenery).    

     And to add to the list:  Mini Meet West 2013, Bend, Oregon,  June 18-20th, 2013 with website/registration:  www. minimeetwest2013.com;  lodging there www.riverhouse.com, call 1-800-547-3928 and get special rate by mentioning "Mini Meet West".   It is of course primarily a classic mini event, but lots of new MINIs are there too, with categories for both old and new.  Additionally, 

      So, let's start setting some dates, marking the calendars and continue the planning.  Let us know how we can help with that planning.  If we can find a way to get the Western Montana crowd over the continental divide that too is a goal.  And maybe Andy from Chicago area?

     See you on the Motoren, Motoring, Motorin... road,

         Russ & Betty

[Jan & Bob Miniac]

I'd love to do the Bear Tooth run.  As far as I know either Aug 3 or 10 would work for me.  My husband Bob and I were looking forward to motoring with you folks this summer, but he died suddenly in December so now it's just me.  I know that he'd want me to motor on.  We had traded in our 2009 MINI hardtop S for a 2012 Coupe S.  Her name is "De Ville" and she's sitting in the garage waiting for the snow to be gone.  I'd also be game for Glacier which is a lot closer for me.

Jan D.  Huson MT

[Beef]

It's good to hear that we are starting up the 2013 Mini year; as me and my wife, primarily, my wife, bought an additional Mini in 2012 and now we have 1 in the garage and regrettfully mine sits in the driveway.  I would love to join in on either date and any other drives in between now and then.  I have throughly enjoyed taking the drives and look forward to taking our MiniS out on the road for a drive.  Count me and my wife in. 

 

Stuart & Tiva Townsend

Billings

On Friday, February 8, 2013 1:07:18 PM UTC-7, Mel wrote:

[Martin Brenneke]

Count us in for either day. Martin Brenneke

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[Mel]

Well, it sounds like we've got quite a few people interested in the Beartooth rally again--very exciting!
I just looked at the Red Lodge community calendar for August and it looks like there's a couple of events happening there on the weekend of the 3rd.
Since that's the case, I'm going to tentatively suggest that we plan the rally for August 10th.  That way we won't have to compete for parking while there's stuff going on.

Jan, I'm very sorry to hear of your loss.  I hope you have many happy memories to comfort you. 

It looks like there's a possibility that all models will be represented this year--Cooper, Clubman, Coupe and Countryman--can't wait to see the "family" picture!

Mel

[Kristan Yadao]

I may not be able to make the Beartooth Run (It's really close to the Minis in the Mountains dates), but I'd be very interested to learn about any upcoming 2013 rides. I'm a part of the MINI5280 club in Colorado, but I make trips up to Montana a few times during the year to see my family. I was born in Great Falls and grew up in Cardwell, Whitehall, and Butte. It'd be really fun to be able to motor with some Montana MINIs this year. :)

[Kathryn Engel]

Welcome Kristan!  Chuck Maybee, ex-Prez of 5280, has motored with us in the past and we have made it to MITMs almost every year since we brought "PJ" home.  We are a spread out bunch, but no less enthusiastic about our MINIs!

Kathy, Craig & "PJ" Engel

Sent from my iPhone

On Feb 12, 2013, at 15:42, "Kristan Yadao" <ditt...@gmail.com> wrote:

I may not be able to make the Beartooth Run (It's really close to the Minis in the Mountains dates), but I'd be very interested to learn about any upcoming 2013 rides. I'm a part of the MINI5280 club in Colorado, but I make trips up to Montana a few times during the year to see my family. I was born in Great Falls and grew up in Cardwell, Whitehall, and Butte. It'd be really fun to be able to motor with some Montana MINIs this year. :)

--

[Kristan Yadao]

Oh, awesome! I may have met you guys at MITM 2012. I spoke with two different MINI owners with Montana plates. You don't see many MT MINIs, so they stick out for me. :) I'm the current MINI5280 Secretary so I'm very involved with the club. If I ever move back to Montana someday, I'm sure you guys will be seeing a lot of me! Are there any known MINIacs in the Butte area?

[Mel]

Kristan,

I'm not sure about Butte--I've seen a couple MINI's there when we've been in town, but not as many as we see around Bozeman or Billings.
At the rallies in the past, we've had more people coming from central Montana than western, but maybe this year we'll see some new faces from that part of the state.  :o)

Mel

[Russ Motoring]

I know of one classic mini owner in Butte.  I'm wondering if he ever got the clutch problem fixed.

On Wednesday, February 13, 2013 10:19:55 AM UTC-7, Kristan Yadao wrote:

[Russ Motoring]

Hi again Mel,  Andy indicates the website is ready for updating.  Shall we decide an August date?  Was the 10th of August the concensus?  And get it posted?
     And I'll plan for a late Sept or Oct Billings Grape Stomp drive, date to be determined.
     And any possibility of a drive later this April somewhere?
Russ

On Friday, February 8, 2013 1:07:18 PM UTC-7, Mel wrote:

[Russ Motoring]

Hi all again.  Got reply from Stuart & Tiva who are game for some events.  Betty & I talked to one MINI owner who visited the web site but had not been to this forum; thus the need to set some dates and places for website postings.   There have been private discussions about short rallies in areas like Bozeman, Helena, Great Falls, even Lewistown.  I'd suggest first come first serve kind of idea?  if you have a short rally in mind, maybe 50 to 100 mile,  on a Sat or Sun and would set a date, time, location to meet ....?  The drive could be with or without an attraction or happening associated.  Of course if it isn't local there could be a 2 to 4 hour drive just to get to the starting point.   Anyone want to "post" a proposal for April? Someone else for May?  etc.... June?  July? Aug?  thanks

Russ



On Friday, February 8, 2013 1:07:18 PM UTC-7, Mel wrote:

[Kristan Yadao]

There is a MINI5280 group drive that will be starting in Denver and going up to Seattle the first week of June. We will be going through Billings, Bozeman, Butte, and Missoula to get there and we are looking for MINI clubs to join in! Motor with us part of the way, the whole way, or anything in-between. From Seattle, we plan to follow the Oregon coast South a ways, taking in scenery and any events we might discovery. The ride is still in the planning stages, but it'd be great if we can make this a multi-club drive! 

[Russ Motoring]

Hi Kristan,
Thanks for the headsup.  Keep us posted here.  Dates and locations when you can. We can put info up on our website!    Let's see if we can get some takers!   Personally, we will see what can develop, between your event, MiniMeetWest 2013 in Bend, Oregon June 18-20, a local (Billings) car show at the winery June 29th, and who knows what else.  HO, boy, here comes summer!   :)

[Kristan Yadao]

Okay everyone, the dates and locations are in for the NW MINI Road Trip 2013! There are lots of miles to be covered, but everything is optional including the paths you take and the places you stay. Therefore, not everyone is taking the same route, but for the most part the group will stick together and will be staying in the same hotels. Here's a breakdown of the trip:

June 1st: Denver group will head out from Denver. Our first stop is in Billings to stay for the night. We will travel 558 miles.

June 2nd: Leaving Billings and stopping in Butte for lunch. From there we pass through the Missoula area and continue on to Spokane, WA for the night. Miles are 546.

June 3rd: From Spokane, we will motor to Seattle for some sight-seeing, including the Space Needle. We will stay the night in Olympia. 341 miles.

June 4th: From Olympia, we travel to Astoria. Much of this part of the trip will take us along the Oregon Coast for a scenic drive. We will stay in Astoria. 117 miles.

June 5th: From Astoria, we go to Florence. Again, we are traveling the coast. We will stay in Florence for the night. 184 miles.

June 6th: The next stop from Florence is is Coos Bay and from there we go to Eugene, Oregon for the night. 167 miles.

June 7th: From Eugene we travel to Boise, Idaho. Now we begin traveling back home. Many of the group will split in different directions here. 444 miles.

June 8th: The remainder of the group travels from Boise to Salt Lake City, Utah. 340 miles.

June 9th: The final stretch is from Salt Lake City back to Denver, Colorado, the end of a fantastic trip! 535 miles.

I myself will be bypassing Billings on the first leg of the trip and staying in Butte. From there, I'll pick up some family members who are going to be joining us from Montana and meet back up with the main group when they stop in Butte for lunch. From there, we will be going to Seattle and the Oregon coast as planned. (My four year old niece will be seeing the ocean for the first time.) I'll stay with the group until Boise, where I will split off and head back to Montana to drop my passengers back off before I head home to Denver. If anyone would like to join me in that much smaller circle from Montana and back, you are welcome to do so! My MINI is friendly. :)

We'd love to know how many of you plan on joining us for part of the trip! We have hotel locations set up, so please contact us if you plan to join in and we will help you to make reservations. This is going to be a fun trip and we are looking for MINIacs to meet with along the way! If you would like to coming along, please let me know and I'll make sure you start receiving the latest information on the trip. We have set up a text message group as well as an email group to keep in contact with one another. You can email me at ditt...@yahoo.com with any questions or to let us know you're planning to come along! We'd love to have you and are anxiously awaiting this trip! (Oh and we are getting magnetic badges made to commemorate the trip, so let us know if you are coming and want to get one! We need a count on these!)

~Kristan (MINI5280 Secretary)

[Russ Motoring]

Mel, and group, l've got a count of about 11 or 12 people and about 7-9 cars?  Should be a great drive.  I'll contact the Bridge Creek Back Country Kitchen restaurant in Red Lodge, for a table for the 11:30 meal time.  Last time we got to use the very back main floor room/table area, which I thought worked out great for a similar size group.  I'll suggest that for this year, unless someone has an another idea we should pursue.  The Bridge Creek folks have typically been pretty flexible.  

Russ

On Friday, February 8, 2013 1:07:18 PM UTC-7, Mel wrote: