Edge Posted March 12, 2017 Report Posted March 12, 2017 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 22. WHERE TO MEET: Target Sterling West parking lot (South-East corner). The address is 45130 Columbia Place, Sterling, VA 20166 WHEN: Saturday, April 22 @ 9:00am. Driver's meeting at 9:50am. We depart at 10am sharp! Don't be late! RUN DISTANCE: 69.6 miles (morning) + 68.0 miles (afternoon) = 137.6 miles total. Easy "early exits" available in afternoon at 88.7 miles (Rt 66), 105.7 miles (Rt 50) and 123.9 miles (Rt 50). RUN TIME: Approx 6.5 hours - we will return to the Target parking lot at approx. 4:30pm, if you decide to complete the full run. 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! :top: 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 7 1/2 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, since Orlean Market closed down many years ago. NOTE: The plan is to have 1 check per table, so to make things easier to sort out, please bring sufficient CA$H to cover your portion of the check. Their April 2017 lunch menu is here: For those interested or curious: Original Spring Fling thread (2005) Spring Fling 2008 thread Spring Fling 2009 thread Spring Fling 2010 thread Spring Fling 2010 Morning Route on Google Maps Spring Fling 2010 Afternoon Route on Google Maps Spring Fling 2011 thread Spring Fling 2012 thread Spring Fling 2013 thread Spring Fling 2014 thread Spring Fling 2015 thread Spring Fling 2016 thread Due to severe size limitations from the local wineries, we do not participate in wine tasting any more. However, you are welcome to order yourself a glass of wine with lunch at Griffin Tavern. Hope to see many of you out there again! RSVPs are OPEN! Please note that our lunch stop (Griffin Tavern) has given us a hard cap of 48 people, so if we reach that number, RSVPs will be closed. If possible, please have your final RSVP in by Thursday, April 20, so I can give the restaurant a close headcount. "Mr. OEM" - 05 JCW (TK, GPIC, SS, GPTA, R56 RSB, StBr, R56 BBK, GPWhls, SV, RS, R56 GSI, IES, StrWhl, GK, HG, LBIT) MCS, HB/HB, Packs: 1, 2, 3 & 4. LSD, Rear FL, LB/PB upholstery (inc. LB SB & HB), HB Int, Anth. HL, PDC, Nav. OEM: DPSM+Aux, SIRIUS, BT, RV Cam, Aux gauges, ILK, Alarm, AK, PFM, DL, SpLnk, CFD, CSL, BIW, R52 diag rods, EuroTL, EuroWT, EPS, EASM. AM: IanCullAUC, Intravee+KCA420i, SchrothR4, MM-STR. License Plate: SUV2BIG MotoringID: CARVE129
TGGRRR (Ali) Posted March 12, 2017 Report Posted March 12, 2017 Yay!!!!! :motor::motor::motor::motor: :eating::eating::eating::eating: :motor::motor::motor::motor::motor::motor: Tigger 2006 the cabrio and Riversong the 2014 Countryman
TGGRRR (Ali) Posted March 13, 2017 Report Posted March 13, 2017 Wahhhhhhhh :banghead: :bawling: Just went to enter this in my calendar and saw that I'm flying home from Orlando that day. I won't make it That's two years in a row, I'm sad Tigger 2006 the cabrio and Riversong the 2014 Countryman
Gearhead60 Posted April 4, 2017 Report Posted April 4, 2017 How fast does this fill up....I'll be on the road when registration opens....:wavey: 2017 F54 ALL4 Clubman S "Beer Wagon" Digital Blue Sport Package w/ LEDs & cornering lights, Premium Package, Cold Weather Package, Stealth Mode, 6-Spd. Manual Trans, Vegan Leather, Cravenspeed Short Shifter w/ Yoda Shift Cap, NM Engineering 25mm GT rear Swaybar & End Links, Chassis Bones Braces, Mirrors that fold w/ the push of a button, Spare Tire.
GreenCactus Posted April 4, 2017 Report Posted April 4, 2017 How fast does this fill up....I'll be on the road when registration opens....:wavey: I'm pretty sure we've only hit the limit once and that was a few years ago. Even then, I don't think we had to turn anyone away.
Gearhead60 Posted April 4, 2017 Report Posted April 4, 2017 Thanks....I'll register later in the day once I have access to a PC. 2017 F54 ALL4 Clubman S "Beer Wagon" Digital Blue Sport Package w/ LEDs & cornering lights, Premium Package, Cold Weather Package, Stealth Mode, 6-Spd. Manual Trans, Vegan Leather, Cravenspeed Short Shifter w/ Yoda Shift Cap, NM Engineering 25mm GT rear Swaybar & End Links, Chassis Bones Braces, Mirrors that fold w/ the push of a button, Spare Tire.
1975_mini Posted April 4, 2017 Report Posted April 4, 2017 Burning fossil fuels in honor of earth day, I like where your head is at. Wish I could make it. 1975 Mini 1000, 998cc A+ w/ K&N air filter, 10" Mamba wheels
Edge Posted April 4, 2017 Author Report Posted April 4, 2017 Burning fossil fuels in honor of earth day, I like where your head is at. Wish I could make it.Pure coincidence, dictated by the restaurant's schedule. "Mr. OEM" - 05 JCW (TK, GPIC, SS, GPTA, R56 RSB, StBr, R56 BBK, GPWhls, SV, RS, R56 GSI, IES, StrWhl, GK, HG, LBIT) MCS, HB/HB, Packs: 1, 2, 3 & 4. LSD, Rear FL, LB/PB upholstery (inc. LB SB & HB), HB Int, Anth. HL, PDC, Nav. OEM: DPSM+Aux, SIRIUS, BT, RV Cam, Aux gauges, ILK, Alarm, AK, PFM, DL, SpLnk, CFD, CSL, BIW, R52 diag rods, EuroTL, EuroWT, EPS, EASM. AM: IanCullAUC, Intravee+KCA420i, SchrothR4, MM-STR. License Plate: SUV2BIG MotoringID: CARVE129
MELO-R56 Posted April 9, 2017 Report Posted April 9, 2017 RSVP opening today? 2009 Mellow Yellow MCS, JCW Aero Package, JCW intake, JCW Steering Wheel, NM Engineering strut tower brace, Nvidia Q300 Cat Back Exhaust, ST XTA Coilovers, Madness Motorworks 22mm Adjustable Rear Sway Bar, GP2 Rear Diffuser, Powerflex front control arm bushings, R112 Black Challenge Wheels, Bridgestone Potenza Tires
Edge Posted April 9, 2017 Author Report Posted April 9, 2017 (edited) RSVP opening today?Yep - RSVPs are OPEN! Susan and I did the practice run yesterday, and it was a beautiful day for it. The roads are mostly in great shape - there's even new paving on most of Snickersville Turnpike, which makes for a very smooth ride. There are a few other roads on the route where the road isn't in top shape, but no gravel roads. Attached below is a copy of the April lunch menu at Griffin Tavern, our lunch stop. I highly recommend the Shepherd's Pie - absolutely delicious! :eating: Looking forward to seeing a bunch of you at the event in less than 2 weeks! :motor: Edited April 9, 2017 by Edge Added Griffin Tavern menu "Mr. OEM" - 05 JCW (TK, GPIC, SS, GPTA, R56 RSB, StBr, R56 BBK, GPWhls, SV, RS, R56 GSI, IES, StrWhl, GK, HG, LBIT) MCS, HB/HB, Packs: 1, 2, 3 & 4. LSD, Rear FL, LB/PB upholstery (inc. LB SB & HB), HB Int, Anth. HL, PDC, Nav. OEM: DPSM+Aux, SIRIUS, BT, RV Cam, Aux gauges, ILK, Alarm, AK, PFM, DL, SpLnk, CFD, CSL, BIW, R52 diag rods, EuroTL, EuroWT, EPS, EASM. AM: IanCullAUC, Intravee+KCA420i, SchrothR4, MM-STR. License Plate: SUV2BIG MotoringID: CARVE129
Edge Posted April 9, 2017 Author Report Posted April 9, 2017 I was digging around in some of my pictures the other day and I found these images from the original Spring Fling, 12 years ago! This is the one that was led by Bruce Pancoast (mty_mini), and organized with Jen Oakes (Jen). My co-pilot was Alan (Scavenger), who didn't have a MINI yet, but bought one a year after I did. "Mr. OEM" - 05 JCW (TK, GPIC, SS, GPTA, R56 RSB, StBr, R56 BBK, GPWhls, SV, RS, R56 GSI, IES, StrWhl, GK, HG, LBIT) MCS, HB/HB, Packs: 1, 2, 3 & 4. LSD, Rear FL, LB/PB upholstery (inc. LB SB & HB), HB Int, Anth. HL, PDC, Nav. OEM: DPSM+Aux, SIRIUS, BT, RV Cam, Aux gauges, ILK, Alarm, AK, PFM, DL, SpLnk, CFD, CSL, BIW, R52 diag rods, EuroTL, EuroWT, EPS, EASM. AM: IanCullAUC, Intravee+KCA420i, SchrothR4, MM-STR. License Plate: SUV2BIG MotoringID: CARVE129
CHILLIN Posted April 16, 2017 Report Posted April 16, 2017 I'll have shirt orders with me if anyone still needs to pick theirs up
TATTRAT Posted April 17, 2017 Report Posted April 17, 2017 (edited) I am confirmed with my +1 driver, so 3 all together. *EDIT* 4 all day here. Edited April 20, 2017 by TATTRAT flickr
Edge Posted April 18, 2017 Author Report Posted April 18, 2017 4 more days to the Spring Fling! Looking forward to seeing you all out there! :motor: "Mr. OEM" - 05 JCW (TK, GPIC, SS, GPTA, R56 RSB, StBr, R56 BBK, GPWhls, SV, RS, R56 GSI, IES, StrWhl, GK, HG, LBIT) MCS, HB/HB, Packs: 1, 2, 3 & 4. LSD, Rear FL, LB/PB upholstery (inc. LB SB & HB), HB Int, Anth. HL, PDC, Nav. OEM: DPSM+Aux, SIRIUS, BT, RV Cam, Aux gauges, ILK, Alarm, AK, PFM, DL, SpLnk, CFD, CSL, BIW, R52 diag rods, EuroTL, EuroWT, EPS, EASM. AM: IanCullAUC, Intravee+KCA420i, SchrothR4, MM-STR. License Plate: SUV2BIG MotoringID: CARVE129
NYRican MC40 Posted April 18, 2017 Report Posted April 18, 2017 I'll have shirt orders with me if anyone still needs to pick theirs up :itsme:
Edge Posted April 21, 2017 Author Report Posted April 21, 2017 The route sheets are printed, and we're ready! Keep in mind that the run is still on, rain or shine. We've started this run in the pouring rain before, and it turned out to be a nice day in the end. Weather reports (from the National Weather Service) for the endpoints of the run tomorrow: Start & Finish (Sterling, VA): Chance of rain. Cloudy, with a high near 61. North wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50% Lunch Stop (Flint Hill, VA): Showers likely after 11am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 64. East wind 3 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. So tonight: Fill up your gas tank Charge your 2-way radios (If you don't have one, I will lend you an extra one) Ensure you have cash for lunch Pack an umbrella, just in case, and a sweater (if 60s makes you cold) See you all tomorrow morning! "Mr. OEM" - 05 JCW (TK, GPIC, SS, GPTA, R56 RSB, StBr, R56 BBK, GPWhls, SV, RS, R56 GSI, IES, StrWhl, GK, HG, LBIT) MCS, HB/HB, Packs: 1, 2, 3 & 4. LSD, Rear FL, LB/PB upholstery (inc. LB SB & HB), HB Int, Anth. HL, PDC, Nav. OEM: DPSM+Aux, SIRIUS, BT, RV Cam, Aux gauges, ILK, Alarm, AK, PFM, DL, SpLnk, CFD, CSL, BIW, R52 diag rods, EuroTL, EuroWT, EPS, EASM. AM: IanCullAUC, Intravee+KCA420i, SchrothR4, MM-STR. License Plate: SUV2BIG MotoringID: CARVE129
MELO-R56 Posted April 22, 2017 Report Posted April 22, 2017 Raining. I'm out. See you next time. 2009 Mellow Yellow MCS, JCW Aero Package, JCW intake, JCW Steering Wheel, NM Engineering strut tower brace, Nvidia Q300 Cat Back Exhaust, ST XTA Coilovers, Madness Motorworks 22mm Adjustable Rear Sway Bar, GP2 Rear Diffuser, Powerflex front control arm bushings, R112 Black Challenge Wheels, Bridgestone Potenza Tires
splat Posted April 22, 2017 Report Posted April 22, 2017 Thanks for setting this up! It was too bad that it was raining - but it was great seeing everyone! The restaurant really went out of their way to decorate the room for us - which was very sweet of them :-). 2011 Spice Orange Cabrio - embracing the chrome!
Gearhead60 Posted April 22, 2017 Report Posted April 22, 2017 Had a great time...here's a couple of pre-run pics.... 2017 F54 ALL4 Clubman S "Beer Wagon" Digital Blue Sport Package w/ LEDs & cornering lights, Premium Package, Cold Weather Package, Stealth Mode, 6-Spd. Manual Trans, Vegan Leather, Cravenspeed Short Shifter w/ Yoda Shift Cap, NM Engineering 25mm GT rear Swaybar & End Links, Chassis Bones Braces, Mirrors that fold w/ the push of a button, Spare Tire.
TATTRAT Posted April 23, 2017 Report Posted April 23, 2017 Despite the far from ideal weather, it was a great time, and was a real treat to see folks, and meet some new ones! Scott and Doreen had a blast as well! I didn't catch his name, but if anyone can link me to the guy with the awesome little daughter that was high fiving everyone, I have a few candid pics he might like. Lunch was great, as expected! The really do a great job out there at the Griffin Tavern! The very few pics I got, can be seen HERE. If anyone wants non marked photos, let me know, 'm happy to pass the files along. flickr
Gearhead60 Posted April 23, 2017 Report Posted April 23, 2017 Despite the far from ideal weather, it was a great time, and was a real treat to see folks, and meet some new ones! Scott and Doreen had a blast as well! I didn't catch his name, but if anyone can link me to the guy with the awesome little daughter that was high fiving everyone, I have a few candid pics he might like. Lunch was great, as expected! The really do a great job out there at the Griffin Tavern! The very few pics I got, can be seen HERE. If anyone wants non marked photos, let me know, 'm happy to pass the files along. Nice shots! I liked everyone you took except the one of Lilli..... 2017 F54 ALL4 Clubman S "Beer Wagon" Digital Blue Sport Package w/ LEDs & cornering lights, Premium Package, Cold Weather Package, Stealth Mode, 6-Spd. Manual Trans, Vegan Leather, Cravenspeed Short Shifter w/ Yoda Shift Cap, NM Engineering 25mm GT rear Swaybar & End Links, Chassis Bones Braces, Mirrors that fold w/ the push of a button, Spare Tire.
TATTRAT Posted April 23, 2017 Report Posted April 23, 2017 Nice shots! I liked everyone you took except the one of Lilli..... Next time, for sure! I have a couple, just a little soft for my liking, I'm happy to send you the raw files. Today was a day of digital gremlins, my cell, camera and watch were all wonky. flickr
Gearhead60 Posted April 23, 2017 Report Posted April 23, 2017 Next time, for sure! I have a couple, just a little soft for my liking, I'm happy to send you the raw files. Today was a day of digital gremlins, my cell, camera and watch were all wonky. LOL. I understand perfectly about the Gremlins. That's why when I vacation, I shoot thousands of shots. Everyone thinks I only shoot good pics because they never see the bad ones.....LOL. Crap....the secrets out. 2017 F54 ALL4 Clubman S "Beer Wagon" Digital Blue Sport Package w/ LEDs & cornering lights, Premium Package, Cold Weather Package, Stealth Mode, 6-Spd. Manual Trans, Vegan Leather, Cravenspeed Short Shifter w/ Yoda Shift Cap, NM Engineering 25mm GT rear Swaybar & End Links, Chassis Bones Braces, Mirrors that fold w/ the push of a button, Spare Tire.
