TGGRRR (Ali)

Last year we did a Time Speed and Distance Rally and it was fun. This year we're doing a Gimmick Rally. It too will be a lot of fun and will test your skills of cunning and observation. We also have a prize for the best rally themed car!!! The start will be in the parking lot near the Ruby Tuesday in Gateway Center in Gainesville, VA. We'll be ending inside the beltway. The route promises to be challenging, adventurous and a lot of fun. Here's a link to the starting point http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Ruby+Tuesday,+Iron+Bar+Lane,+Gainesville,+VA&hl=en&sll=29.797005,112.818555&sspn=27.503239,34.145508&doflg=ptm&t=h&z=16 If you're coming from inside the beltway take 66 West exit at 43A route 29 south merge in to 29 south, get left take a left at the first light onto Linton Hall Rd left at the first light onto Gateway Center Drive 1st left onto Iron Bar, we're meeting in the lot to the left by the Liberty Mutual. We'll also be raising funds for the Melanoma Research Foundation. They're a great organization that has funded many grants to forward research into treatments, education and hopefully a cure for Melanoma. Melanoma is the most deadly form of skin cancer with a very low survival rate. We're working hard to change that!!! How this rally works Cars will leave in intervals You should have at least 2 people in your MINI (not limited to MINIs). This rally works best with a driver and a navigator, if you have a third person it could be even better. You will be provided with a set of directions, the directions will be very clear. Within the directions will be questions based on sites along the route. A question could be answered by the name of a cross street, or an image on a sign. You may need to pull off the edge of the road to find an answer, but you do not need to leave the route. You will be told if a question requires leaving the car to find the answer. All directions and questions are in the order that you will find them. For example, if we have you on street A and then you turn onto street B, the next questions would be about the stretch of Street B that you're on, there will not be a question about Street A. Questions will also be in order. A sample question could be "What color is the tiger's sweater?". It could come between direction 10 and 11, so between that stretch you are looking for a sign or statue that has a tiger wearing a sweater. It will be very clear when you find the right answer. You do not get points based off of your time and you will be given ample time to complete the route, stop for a snack etc. They say the first person in is never the winner. Ties are determined by mileage, you tell me your mileage, you can give your exact mileage or just tell me what you think it should have been. If there's a tie, it goes to the person that is closest without going under. Like last year I am working on getting some good sponsors to provide some fun prizes to the participants. We will also be raffling off some prizes. I have received confirmation from Go Badges and Prima products that they are sending raffle prizes. Registration cost: $25 per car (tax deductible) Registration time: 9:30 - 10:00 Start time: 10:30 You can prepay on our event page by making a minimum $25 donation here http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/CAWilliams/2ndannualminisrallyagainstmelanoma2011/event Things to bring A clipboard and a pen A map either on your smart phone or on paper. It helps if you get off track, to get you back on track. Checks are made out to MRF (Melanoma Research Foundation) GOODIE BAGS we have em!! For up to 30 cars. The Melanoma Research Foundation hooked us up. I have sunscreen, sun sticks, sun detection wrist strips, black cancer bracelets, black ribbon magnets and a few other goodies. Passport MINI also hooked us up with some fun MINI swag! Sponsors Prima Car care Target Go Badges Cravenspeed

Craig and Lona get double credit :congrats: :congrats:

Thanks to the DCMM members that made it out to the blood drive. It was great seeing you guys. I had both helpers and donors! What more could I ask for. And we made goal too :congrats:

We'll see you Friday!

No wonder I was confused when I looked at the pic...

I'm pretty sure it was a pepper white, we waved on Little River Tpk as we waited at the intersection of Braddock. Still nice Countryman! Welcome to the club! :wavey:

The Lebanese Taverna restaurant and Sun and Moon Yoga have donated gift certificates that we'll be raffling off to all donors. There are still a lot of appointments between 8:00 - 10:00 and from 11:30 - 12:30 still open We even have some hot soups th

Yes Happy New Year, twisty roads for all!!! :motor:

Here's some pics of the night http://web.me.com/alidrew/Site/Midnight_car_wash_DCMM_Dec_2010.html

Mark didn't see it and thought I was confused so I made him Catch up and there it was ;-)

I just spied my first Countryman in the wild. We were in Max so I waved wildly and gave a thumbs up. They waves back I had my trusty Holga with me so snapped a quick shot out the window.

I spoke to the bartender and the drink special will be something with grapefruit. He also uses no mixes at all, everything he makes is with fresh ingredients. They don't have the January menu up yet, when they do I'll post a link to it. They serve food

I'd love to hear it just because I love hearing engine sounds. Tigger has the 15% pulley, I really like it Ali

Hey old fart where you last night for the big car wash party?

Yes, I suspect we'll have the early birds cabin at the Dragon. You saw me at the Fall Colors run. That was as wild as I get these days. It was zany fun doing the middle of the night carwash run.

I'm exhausted, feel like I was out partying and it was a car wash and some iced tea. Geesh I'm a light weight. I had a blast, so did Max in the car wash I love some impromptu MINI fun

I'm heading out now, was just going to bring some micro fibers to dry it.

I know you would have joined us if you still lived here Tim

Max is pretty dirty after all the snow in Williamsburg

I just got a Holga medium format camera, took some pics of Tigger while he was getting washed last week. I love the red framing http://web.me.com/alidrew/Site/Holga_roll_2.html#19 http://web.me.com/alidrew/Site/Holga_roll_2.html#17 Once again, I can't figure out how to embed the pics.

Fancy!

I just found this Flicker site for people to upload pics of MINIs / Minis that they've found. http://www.flickr.com/groups/87742867@N00/ There's some cool shots

WHAT???? That's Fairfax, right? I had no idea we had one of those places anywhere around here. We should all go there sometime to wash and wax our MINIs. I'm so excited! Wash Bays!!!!! It's like Christmas or something. :marshmellow: Today I went to the Exxon and the hose was fixed. I went to wash Tigger and I almost slipped in the ice. The guy behind me waiting on the hose insisted on washing Tigger. So I let him, since I was sure I was about to kill myself on the ice. I ran in and bought him a token to wash his own car. Still a bay is so nice, you can wash and wax and everything in there. I tried to hit that Shell earlier today, but it was a mad house. Mark tried to use the Exxon later in the day after me but there was a crazy line. Luckily our hose had defrosted so he was able to wash Max.

That doesn't seem right. Tigger warms up for me pretty quickly and I never pre-warm. I get in, I drive and the car is warm in a few minutes. Mark said that Max is the same (figured I could compare a more similar model). Neither one of us warm up the cars in the parking lot. We just get in and drive. Mark said that warming up in the parking lot won't warm up the heat because the rpm's don't get very high. Ali

That's close, is it near 7 Corners?