|
|
|
|
2007 Wrap Up and Photos for A Mini Vacation In Vegas 4by Andrew RossA Quick OverviewGrowing bigger yet again, AMVIV4 had just under 500 MINIs and Minis at Palace Station over the weekend. There were also a few cars at the track that never made it to Palace.There were all-day group drives to Oatman and Death Valley (returning via the track to watch the North American MINI Cooper Challenge race). There were half day runs to the Valley of Fire, Sandy Valley, as well as the traditional Las Vegas Strip Cruise. We had a sold out (630 tickets) banquet dinner where DB, Todd and Gabe from WhiteRoofRadio gave away over 100 prizes. M7 sponsored the "Meet the Miniacs Mixer", this year with enough room to get everyone who wanted to attend into the room. There was a MINI only driving school at the Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch in Pahrump, in conjunction with MC˛ Magazine's "Dynamic Showcase". We led people to the Shelby Museum and factory, the Pinball Hall of Fame and the Ethel M Chocolate Factory, for anyone who wanted somethi0ng different from the usual Vegas of MINI fare. The farewell breakfast in the parking garage on Sunday morning was a great way to see off new and old friends until next time, as well as a tasty and filling breakfast before the drive home. All in all, the year was the biggest and best AMVIV so far, with fun things to do the entire weekend, and no pressure for those who just wanted to hang out with friends or gamble a bit. For more details and pictures, our good friend Melissa put her experience at AMVIV4 online at MotorTrend.  Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada Photo by Agro
The HotelPalace Station now knows and loves AMVIV, and kept the hotel rates almost the same as 2006, even though they had spent several million dollars upgrading the rooms. They took great care of us with catering, rooms, security and general MINI love.  Palace Station put us on the static marquee this year Photo by Suzann
The Boot and Bonnet Show - Friday and Saturday, all dayThe Boot and Bonnet Show is the showcase for all of our wonderful MINI vendors. It's where the attendees get to walk around looking at all the different MINIs. And they certainly were different. This time around, I don't think I saw 2 identical cars.During the BnB, vendors were selling and installing merchandise and MINI upgrades. All up, we had over 30 vendors here at Palace, plus several who couldn't physically make it to Vegas, but who sent goodies for us to give away to the attendees.  SCMC / AMVIV mascot, Mr. Cone, displaying the event shirt and hat Photo by Agro  All MINI Clubs are always welcome to be part of AMVIV Photo by Amoeba  Nothin' but MINIs and Minis. Fantastic! Photo by Beken  There were a couple of non-stock MINIs there. This one is fairly tame. Photo by Carey  Motoring Underground brought some of the most distinctive MINIs Photo by CoolDaddy  Under the floodlights, the MINIs really shine. Photo by Irieman  The BnB in full swing Photo by Rick Dusek  It didn't stop when the sun went down Photo by WickedGolf
Get Your Kicks on Route 66 - Thursday all dayThursday morning, an intrepid group set off for historic Oatman, CA where you can feed the burros that wander around the town's streets and "Main Street USA", the Mother Road, Route 66.The plan was to stop for lunch in Kingman, AZ and maybe meet up with some of the SoCal people heading to Vegas, and the run finished up with about 30 cars.  Even the interstates are relatively fun. Photo by Ladd Pagan  Scenic Oatman. Photo by Ladd Pagan  Mine tours, dirt parking areas, low speed limits - welcome to Oatman! Photo by Leti  MINIs covering Main Street in Oatman Photo by XSMini  We LOVE these signs! Photo by Ladd Pagan  A mess of MINIs. Photo by Ladd Pagan  Crossing Hoover Dam on the way home can be a pain though. Photo by Ladd Pagan
The Cheat Death Valley Run - Friday all dayThe Death Valley Run left Palace Station early Friday morning, heading north past the Nevada Test Site then west and south into Death Valley. After a stop for lunch at Furnace Creek, the motorers had 2 choices. Back to Vegas along the twisty roller-coaster that is Badwater Road, or the more direct route straight to Pahrump to arrive in time to watch the North American MINI Cooper Challenge race. At the regroup point, MINIs as far as the camera can see! Photo by Wicked Golf  I guess you just have to get further away. Photo by Ladd Pagan  There will be a short waitr for the bathroom Photo by Ladd Pagan  Heading down into Death Valley, what a view. Photo by Amoeba  You have to love roads like this. Photo by Ladd Pagan  100 years ago, if you saw this, you might not have seen anything else again Photo by Amoeba  Stopping for lunch at Furnace Creek. 200 feet below sea level. Photo by Amoeba  Badwater is the lowest ground you can stand on in the US. Photo by Ladd Pagan
Phil Wicks Driving Academy and the North American MINI Cooper Challenge - Friday all dayThis year, the driving school and NAMCC moved to the Spring Mountain MotorSports Ranch out in Pahrump, Nevada. It is a great track with lots of turns and is a favorite of the Nevada road racers. Also at the track, MC˛ Magazine put on a mobile showcase where 10 variously warmed up MINIs were run in timed laps of the track, with bragging rights going to the fastest car. The results were in the April/May edition of MC˛.About half of the cars returning from Death Valley stopped at the track to watch the NAMCC race, and everyone I talked to said it was well worth the trip out to the track.  Weaving through the corners is good training and lots of fun. Photo by Amoeba  Some of the AMVIV vendors were out at the track providing tech support Photo by Amoeba  Competing for bragging rights. Photo by JimZ  Learning to drive smooth, cause "smooth is quick" Photo by JimZ  It takes 4 guys to change a tire? Photo by CoolDaddy  Oh those corners look FUN!!! Photo by Irieman  There were a few MINIs out there I guess. Photo by Ladd Pagan  Waylen's car while it was still pretty. Photo by WickedGolf
Meet The MINIacs Mixer - Friday late afternoonStarting at 5:30pm, M7 and the Sin City MINI Club hosted a mixer event in one of the medium sized conference rooms at Palace Station. M7 provided cheese and veggie platters, and there was a cash bar in the room. Everyone I spoke to seemed to be having a good time. This year there was enough space to hold everyone who turned up.In conjunction with the mixer, we held the 1st Annual AMVIV Photography Show. A number of the shutterbugs in the MINI community brought pictures that they are proud of, which were mounted on foamboard and displayed around the room. There were no prizes other than attendees asking "how did you get such a cool shot", but it seemed to be a great success.  The crowd seemed to have a good time Photo by Amoeba  One of the photo show entries Photo by Amoeba
The Las Vegas Strip Cruise - Friday eveningAfter the mixer was done, and people had time to grab some dinner, MINIs and their owners left Palace Station to do the traditional and now famous Strip Cruise.Once the 274 MINIs and Minis were in the dead-end street we were using for a staging area, 4 Chili Red & White Sin City MINI Club MINIs stopped the 4 lanes of northbound traffic on the Strip and we waved all the MINIs out onto Las Vegas Boulevard. It was a blast! MINIs honking their horns. Motorists waving at the non-MINI tourists. You had to be there, and if you weren't, you HAVE to be here next year!  In the staging area, waiting for more MINIs Photo by Amoeba  At the corner in the staging area, waiting for to head out onto the Strip Photo by Scottoman  In the staging area, watching MINIs arrive Photo by Sin MINI  Bunches of MINIs out on the Strip Photo by Amoeba  MINIs and some landmarks Photo by Ladd Pagan  As is traditional, Mr Cone did the Strip Cruise Photo by Conny Pagan  The "official" Strip Cruise photographer. This guy was also in a plane on some other runs Photo by Special Ed  This is what the official photographer saw Photo by Ladd Pagan  MINIs. Casinos. Fun! Photo by Ladd Pagan  Agro's MINI finally made it on a run! Photo by Ladd Pagan  MINIs with graphics, waiting for the green light (at the MGM Grand) Photo by Amoeba  Cruising the Las Vegas Strip! Photo by Conny Pagan  A mess o' MINIs, rolling past the Paris Photo by Amoeba  Las Vegas is all about topless fun Photo by Agro  We LOVE classic Minis and they draw so much attention Photo by Amoeba  Almost time to turn around, or head back to Palace for beer Photo by Kurt89A  A 200+hp classic Mini heading back to Palace. Scary fast car! Photo by Ladd Pagan
The Sandy Valley Spin - Saturday morningThis shortish run back towards the California border had a good turnout, including an airplane that followed the group, taking pictures and video all the way.The trip to Goodsprings is somewhat uneventful, being mostly Interstate, but the road from Goodsprings to Sandy Valley is phenominal!  Stopped for pictures at the regroup point Photo by Conny Pagan  A fun road with an interesting destination Photo by Ladd Pagan  The Pioneer is virtually unchanged since it opened in 1913 Photo by Conny Pagan
Brave The Valley Of Fire - Saturday afternoonThe road from I15 to the park entrance is a fun, roller-coaster type road with many dips and turns. We had set up a prepay thing with the park so that the pre-registered cars could also prepay for their Valley of Fire park entry. The final count for Valley of Fire park entries was 180. The park rangers were amazed that the entire parking area near the visitor center was covered with MINIs. The speedway people were annoyed we didn't warn them we were using their road for regrouping. Photo by Suzann  Heading up I15 to the turnoff Photo by Larry Ciscon  Waiting to get into the park. That's a LOT of MINIs! Photo by Ladd Pagan  Waiting to get into the park. Would have taken a lot longer without the prepays. Photo by Suzann  Love those "roller coaster" roads! Photo by Conny Pagan  Filling up Photo by Ladd Pagan  MINIs packing the Visitors Center parking lot Photo by Brendan Coughlin  Doesn't it look like a smile? Photo by Suzann  Almost too many to count! Photo by YZDJ  If only the speed limit was higher! Or tickets were cheaper. Photo by Conny Pagan  Mmmm...scenic! Photo by Ross Dillon  Probably the biggest group of GPs since MTTS ended. Photo by Conny Pagan
The Banquet at The Palace - Saturday nightThe evening event of the weekend was always going to be the banquet dinner at Palace Station. That was where we drew the lucky winners of all the prizes donated by our wonderful AMVIV vendors. It was the one place where most of the attendees got together over the whole weekend. We ran out of space at just under 600 attendees.This year, we had all three of the WhiteRoofRadio principals (DB, Todd and Gabe) emceeing the evening. They did a good job, considering the room was too full and it took too long to get everyone fed, and many people had trouble hearing them. Things will be changed for AMVIV5, but the emcees are invited back.  Your emcees, Toss, Gabe and DB Photo by Irieman  Yes, it was crowded Photo by Ladd Pagan  It will be less crowded in 2008 Photo by Ladd Pagan  A lot of people told me they had a good time though Photo by Ladd Pagan  No tickets available in Vegas Photo by Ladd Pagan
The whole thingIt was fun and tiring and totally worth it. Through running AMVIV the last few years (well, through being the figurehead) I've met so many great people. And it seems like everybody knows me, which I find to be surprising and very cool.If you have met and talked to me for more than a couple of words, when I see you in March of 08, I'll probably remember you. I promise I'll try, at least. And I love meeting new friends, so please come up and say hi. I'm the furry, XXL Australian, probably wearing either an orange shirt or a Sin City MINI Club shirt (or an orange SCMC shirt). Agro.  I'm the one in the yellow shirt Photo by Ladd Pagan |
|
|
