Widdie

Event Title: HSB to Elder Pine Brewing & Blending Company Event Date: 07/26/2026 12:00 AM Event Address: Join our drive leader, Eli, on Sunday 7/26 for our July Hop, Skip, & Brew. On this spirited drive we'll travel some of the best twisties in Montgomery County as we make our way to Elder Pine Brewery and Blending Company in Gaithersburg, MD. Elder Pine does not serve food, but they do have a food truck on site. *Elder Pine is dog friendly indoors & out DATE: July 26 START: 19645 Fisher Ave, Poolesville, MD 20837 DRIVER'S MEETING: 10:45 WHEELS UP: 11:00 END TIME: 12:00 END: 4200 Sundown RD, Gaithersburg MD 20882 RSVP on the event here:

I will set it up for you later tonight. Thanks for doing a drive!

As most of you know MINI Takes the States 2026 is a three-part series that is being held in California, New York, and Florida. Is there any interest in people wanting to caravan to any of these locations? There has been some discussion during the last few runs and most have said they will be attending the New York event. This does not mean that others are not planning on attending either Florida or California. Caravaning is leaving as a group, driving as a group to the location, and arriving as a group. So, we would leave from an agreed-on location in Maryland, DC, or Virginia and drive there together. Simple enough. Further details on caravaning will be discussed if there is any interest. Caravaning could include driving directly there, taking two days, stopping at interesting stops along the way, Interstates, back road highways, returning together, Auto Train, etc. So, initially we would like folks to choice which location(s) they are planning on attending, and if they would be interested in caravaning to the location. This does not lock you into anything. We just want to see if there is any interest. We look forward to reading your responses. Event Information: https://www.minitakesthestates.com/ 02 – 04 OCT26 – California – Monterey to Sonoma to Lake Tahoe 23 – 25OCT26 – New York – Buffalo to Syracuse to Lake Placid 13 – 15NOV26 – Florida – Fort Myers to Miami to Key West What is MINI Takes the States? What began in 2006 as a cross-country journey to commemorate the launch of the MINI GP, has continued for 20 years as a celebration of the MINI Community. We have covered a lot of territory over the years, mixing up the format, exploring new locations, and revisiting some fan favorites. This year's event offers three (3) long-weekend road trips in California, New York, and Florida with roughly three weeks between each event. You can join just one or go all in and attend all three. After a morning Rise & Rally, where you can check out hundreds of modified MINI's and grab a light breakfast, we rally together on scenic roads to the next city stop. Drive days are typically 4-5 hours with time for you to stop and explore along the way. Lunch is on own. But don't worry, no matter where you go; there will be a mob of MINIs in the mix. Each evening, we meet up to share some refreshments and stories from the road. This is the 10th edition of MTTS, and it's sure to be another epic experience.

Sounds great and yes, Autocross is not scheduled for that weekend. I will put you down for the 19th as a TBD Open Run. Let me know if you will be updating the calendar or want me to. Thank you for scheduling a run!

We need run leaders for our Hop, Skip, and a Brew for AUG and an Open Run Leader for JUL/SEP. If you have never been a run leader, let us know you want to do one and we can help you set it all up. You can also talk to us during one of our scheduled runs coming up. There is also a Runs repository where you can select a route of your choice at: https://dcmetrominis.org/forum/forum/28-run-route-repository/ Remember, runs don't happen without all our participation. It isn't hard to do, and others will pitch in during the drive. It's a lot of fun having many MINIs in your review mirror. Just drop us a line. You won't be disappointed.

I added the event on the calendar. Look it over and let me know if anything needs to change.

Event Title: HSB to Prospect Point Brewing Event Date: 06/28/2026 10:30 AM Event Address: For your June Hop, Skip, & a Brew, we will meet for a 1 hour drive through some great Maryland twisties ending at a local brewery (Prospect Point Brewery) for lunch. This run is focused on the driving experience of your MINI, so please take this into account when deciding to attend this event. We will be starting in Maryland at the Cars and Coffee Poolesville. Your run leader will be Laura (Green Cactus) and will be limited to 10 MINIs. Start point: Whalen Commons, 19633 Fisher Avenue, Poolesville, MD 20837 End Point: Prospect Point Brewery, 5000a Jefferson Pike, Frederick MD, 21703 Schedule of events: 10:30AM Arrive 10:45AM: Driver’s meeting 11:00AM: Run Starts 12:00PM: Run Ends at Prospect Point Brewery Prospect Point is primarily an outside venue, though there is some indoor and covered seating in the event of rain. They will have a food truck (Sabor de Cuba) and are kid and leashed dog friendly! RSVP on the event here:

That sounds great. I will add the event on the calendar if you would like me to. Thank you for leading a run.

To the place I belong We have a full group of MINIacs for tomorrow’s Run to Old Town Winchester. Weather looks decent and the twisties are calling our names. We are looking forward to meeting some new folks in the group as well. I have attached the GPX file in case you want to make sure I don’t miss a turn. See you tomorrow. Country roads, take me home DCMM - Winchester Run.gpx

Jill and I plan to participate in the New York events. California is too far for us for "three days”, and Florida roads tend to be straight. With that said, Jill and I had plans for the MTTS being in July, so we are creating our own WTTS (Widdie's Take The States). We are heading down to the Back of the Dragon, then continue with twisties to Lexington, KY. We will then head west of Chicago and north into Wisconsin for some relaxing time at a resort on Lake Michigan. After that we will be taking the S.S. Badger Ferry into Michigan, then heading back towards Virginia. We figured, why be disappointed? You can always have fun with just one MINI. More would be better, but …

Event Title: March Run to Old Town Winchester Event Date: 03/15/2026 12:00 AM Event Address: Drivin' down the road, I get a feelin' Please join us for a Sunday drive through Virginia’s rolling countryside. Our drive will begin at the Cars & Coffee in Leesburg and we will head south and west through some of the prettiest scenery in Virginia. This run will be limited to 15 MINIs and will be focused on enjoying the countryside in a controlled driving experience. We will pass along two meandering rivers (makes for nice twisties), cruise by many of Virginia’s horse farms, make a quick pit stop in Marshall, pop over the Blue Ridge Mountains, skim the Shenandoah River twice (if you put your hand out it will get wet), and eventually arrive in Old Town Winchester (https://oldtownwinchesterva.com). Our final destination will be at Vibrissa Beer and Kitchen where we will have lunch and discuss our Little Virginia Journey (LVJ). If you haven’t been to Old Town Winchester before, we are only two blocks from the Walking Mall which has unique shops, ice cream, restaurants and three breweries (an extra one is only one a block away). So, if you like quick twisties, beautiful scenery and relaxing old town charm, you won’t want to miss this Little Virginia Journey. Start Point: Leesburg Safeway, 437 S King St, Leesburg, VA 20175 End Point: Vibrissa Beer and Kitchen – 10 N Kent St, Winchester, VA 22601 (vibrissabeer.com) Schedule of events: 10:00: Driver’s meeting 10:15: Run Starts 11:45: Pit Stop (Food Lion, Marshall, VA) 12:00: Leave Marshall, VA 13:30: Arrive Vibrissa Beer and Kitchen Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River RSVP on the event here: