Hampton Roads Club Mini

Okay, we all know how busy the car hobby gets in the warmer months. But we all get kinda cabin fever when the temps go down and we can't get out as much. So I have an idea. Okay, I stole an idea. Central Iowa MINI Club did a Shortest Distance rally.

Basically, we'll give you a list of locations. To verify you were actually there, we'll give you a question about something you can only answer by being there. We'll get your odometer reading when you leave and when you get back. Your route is up to you. The order you visit the stops is up to you. Speed isn't a factor. A GPS might help you, but a map would be more helpful. I'm thinking locations on both sides of the water. I won't prerun the course, because that doesn't matter. It's all about the lowest odo reading. Our slowest driver has as good of a chance of winning as the fastest. A little Just Cooper could whip the knickers off the baddest JCW out there.

When the temps start falling, the excitement will heat up..........stay tuned!

tuned ...

we had a similar event in Raleigh a few years ago .. but it wasn't the shortest distance, it was the distance closet to the miles on the odo of the event organizer. ie driving from the mall to the Farmer's Market one could take about 8 different routes .. it was anybody's guess which one the organizer had taken .. but in these days of high gas prices and conservation, there's an added incentive to the fewest miles*! Sounds like fun!

(*OK, never mind the 150+ miles I'll put on the MINI just to get to the likely starting point!  )

To make it more challenging, I'd suggest banning the use of GPS, since they are usually programmed for the shortest distance between given points. For that matter, ban laptops and smart phones as well to eliminate the use of mapquest or other on-line mapping services. Make the navigators WORK for their accolades.

My evil little mind has this all planned out (for the most part). Once it's too cold for outside ventures, look for the shortest distance rally!

I have 5 places you'll need to visit and get an answer. You'll need to get out of your MINI at least twice. The answers are all easy to find, that's not the point of this rally. Getting from the starting point and back to the finish point (which both have yet to be determined) with the shortest mileage is the key. You can have a GPS, smart phone, hell, even bring your laptop or iPad. It won't help you much. Yea, it might get you to the destinations in question, but you'll likely still wander around a bit to find the correct answer. It won't be tricky or devious, it just won't be out in the open. Even the order in which you visit the locations could make a difference in your mileage. Because the order in which you get them will be random. It's up to YOU to decide which you'll visit first.

Working on some door prizes at the moment as well.

OH, and did I mention this will be AT NIGHT????