Greetings,
The 2nd annual Helen, GA Charity Event is rapidly approaching; the February 27 – March 1, 2009 event is expected to be much bigger than last year’s by several fold. In 2008, we had 30-40 MINIs in attendance which was an excellent showing for an essentially impromptu gathering of MINI owners, at an untested venue, enjoying a wonderful weekend in the picturesque “German hamlet” of Helen, GA. Last year we had great support from MINI vendors; this year we are looking to establish the event as “Helenblitz 2009” and kick-off the Mini/MINI Golden Jubilee year to a great start as this will be the first MINI event of 2009.
Last year was a great success and again we are seeking donations that can be auctioned and/or raffled off in order to help raise money for the Speedway Children’s Charities (
http://speedwaycharities.org/). We will also incorporate some fun activities, such as a car show, to also raise funds; as well as promoting local businesses by having tours of the Habersham Winery and Nora Grist Mill and getting involvement from the Helen Chamber of Commerce. Most of all, we are looking to you for support to help kick-off the MINI/Mini Golden Jubilee with a bang!
We are organizing the MINI and Classic Mini Clubs throughout the Southeast United States and beyond. We will be making the event open to all MINI and Mini owners nationwide who wish to attend. We are extremely pleased and fortunate to have recruited the help of Phil Wicks, who was there in the beginning of the Mini’s birth and has been involved with Minis/MINIs for 50 years, to be our guest speaker at the event. We believe that Phil Wicks is the perfect candidate given his involvement in the marque’s promotion and continues to work as an ambassador for Mini/MINI safety through the Phil Wicks MINI Driving Academy (
http://www.minidriving.com).
Just as last year, we are expecting support from the following MINI clubs: MINI Motoring Club of the Carolinas (M2C2), Middle Georgia MINIs, Lowcountry MINIs of Charleston, Coastal MINIs, Atlanta MINIs, and are expecting a good showing from Mid Tennessee MINIs, Smoky Mountain MINIs, Birmingham Area MINI Association (BAMA), Scenic City MINIs, and Tar Heel MINIs. We will be communicating with Sunshine MINIs, Panhandle MINIs, Bay County MINIs, Metroplex MINIs, and hope to have the support of Hampton Roads MINIs as well. We have also posted the event on MINI USA, North American Motoring, and Atlanta MINIs in the anticipation we will have MINI/Mini owners from all over the US join us.
The event is being covered by MC2 Magazine and the NAM Alliance Magazine as well. NAM Alliance is going to run the article of the 2008 Helen Charity Event in their next issue to get everyone caught up on what the event is about. The Helenblitz 2009 Charity Event will be bigger with an estimated 150 - 200 Minis and MINIs expected to show.
We hope your club will be able to participate and be a part of Mini/MINI history.
More to come!
Forum 
