Hampton Roads Club Mini

(This event conflicts with Tar Heels Bull Frog Run)

Edge
DCMM Secretary
   
Request Reminder for this Event
04-09-2011 09:30 AM to 04:30 PM
*The times shown may change, depending on DST settings
It's that time of the year again! Spring is in the air, old man Winter is running off to hide, and the trees are starting to blossom!

Just like I did in previous years, I'm organizing the Spring Fling run again, this time on Saturday, April 9. Generally speaking, I prefer to organize this event for the weekend following tax day... but this year I have to do it earlier for these reasons:

    * The IRS has extended the tax deadline to Monday, April 18
    * The weekend following that (April 23/24) is immediately prior to MOTD, which would make things difficult for many people.

So... save the date for Saturday, April 9! Even if you haven't finished your taxes by then, you'll still have 9 more days after that to do them!

WHERE TO MEET: Sterling Wegmans parking lot (North-East corner)
WHEN: Saturday, April 9 @ 9:30am. Driver's meeting at 9:50am. We depart at 10am sharp! Don't be late!
WHAT TO BRING: Full tank of gas, 2-way radio, money to buy lunch (cash please - makes it easier for the check), sweater/raincoat/umbrella (if necessary, depending on weather) and a fun-loving attitude!

A quick refresher:

One of my fondest MINI-related memories is the very first drive I ever participated in with DCMM - it was the Spring Fling, created by Bruce Pancoast (mty_mini), and organized with help from Jen Oakes (Jen) (who was our event coordinator at the time). This all happened on Sunday, April 24, 2005... only 6 or 7 weeks after I picked up my brand new MINI. Alan (Scavenger), who was getting his first exposure to the MINI, came along as my co-pilot.

Meeting in the Sterling Wegmans parking lot (near MINI of Sterling), it was fun to meet a whole bunch of like-minded MINIacs all at once, for the first time. Little did I know just how much fun there was still to come... after grabbing some coffee and/or breakfast snacks from Wegmans.

The roads were beautiful and twisty, and was such an awesome experience to be in a long line of MINIs for the very first time. We stopped for lunch at Orlean Market in Upperville, VA (in western Fauquier County), then continued on for wine tasting at Naked Mountain Vineyard & Winery after that, before heading all the way back to Wegmans.

It was a long day (128 miles or so!), but so nice. Needless to say, I was eager to do this run again.

Our lunch stop will be again be at Griffin Tavern (menu), since Orlean Market closed down several years ago.

I know this is quite a ride for HR residents, but I have plenty of space for those that would maybe wanna over-night it. I have 2 guest rooms, and a crap load of floor space. Mi casa es su casa, just be sure to give me heads up. Plenty of places w/in walking distance to post game/unwind too.

Ya know, it wasn't really that bad when we came up for the first Lap of the Beltway. We left HR about 6AM and we were in DC by 8:30. Really hit no traffic, so doing a one day event isn't horrible. Besides, what do we do best? MOTOR!!!!

Sorry, I won't be able to make this run.  I will be doing something with my train hobby.