I know it is early, but I'm putting this out here now to start gauging interest. Dave raised the question in another thread.
What would be folks interest in doing another Texas Hill Country drive session this coming spring (2020)? Something like late March or early April?
Same general area as the last one. Probably some of the same roads, perhaps some different ones as well. (I will have to review the routes I passed along to Brad for that event and look at others I have in my "library".)
Provided I'm not working I'd pop down.
I guess the first question to ask is for people to look at a calendar and suggest possible dates.
My initial suggestion is to look at options in late March or early April.
Would not be available March 27 thru April 12.
When does it start getting hot down there? I'd be in for late April, early May unless it's in the 90's by then.
Temps in late April can vary a lot. Heck, the vary like crazy anytime of the year. We have been known to have 100*F days in Feb and freezing the next week.
That said, if weather is fairly normal, late April to early May should still be nice - not getting too hot yet.
I would tend to go for late April in that case as early May is when the big "all British" (and European) car show is in the DFW area. That is the one usually sponsored by Kip Motors.
How many days of driving would we like to plan for?
Hey Michael, since I live in the area now let me know how I can help.
Hi Bruce,
I will do that. First step is determining dates. I have not heard much input beyond ruling out late March to early April.
The discussion of dates seems to have stopped at the late April or early May stage.
Do folks want a "full week" arrangement like last time?
Considering it's a 2 day drive down and back, I think 3 days of driving down there is plenty for me...that's a week for me.
Quote from: MiniDave on November 22, 2019, 09:12:22 PM
Considering it's a 2 day drive down and back, I think 3 days of driving down there is plenty for me...that's a week for me.
Same here. The others that only have one travel day could add a fun driving day on either side of the 3 fun days.
How about April 19-26 as a tentative date?
April 19 to 26 should work for me.
I will target the "official" drive days being the Tuesday-Thursday of that week. That gives flex days on either side for those traveling longer distances and ad-hoc driving for those closer.
Next detail to begin working out: what town to base out of. Is basing out of Kerrville again okay or do folks want to try another town? (Note: Kerrville will let us easily hit the Cowboy Steakhouse for dinner one night.)
I'm fine with Kerrville, but not the Econo-lodge again...Don said his room had roaches.
Don has work that week and can't come, he's checking the weeks before and after to see if those will work for him.
Kerrville is fine. Dave knows where a machine shop is there if needed.
;D ;D ;D ;D 77.gif
Assuming he's still in business, it was a bit of a back yard garage sort of operation...got the job done tho!
Okay, I think I missed the "machine shop" story from the last time.
Would someone mind telling me that story?
Justin was driving my old Clubman Estate, and went over one of the deep cattle grates at speed, and bent one of the aluminum rods for the high lows in the rear. I found a machine shop that was still open at 4 pm and he made a pair out of steel for him for $100. We put them in and I'll bet they'll last longer than the car!
Quote from: MiniDave on November 23, 2019, 11:20:20 AM
I'm fine with Kerrville, but not the Econo-lodge again...Don said his room had roaches.
That particular Econo-lodge is now gone. It got replaced by a Hobby-Lobby store.
Any updates from folks on preferred dates? Are the tentative dates of April 19 - 26 still good for folks interested in attending?
Soon after the new year, I will need to firm up the dates and start getting a tentative head-count for seeing about lodging arrangements.
Works for me....
When you say April 19 to 26 you are figuring two days of driving to and from. Then the fun driving days would be 21,22 & 23? I am all in for that and really looking forward to it. The mini should be going to the body shop early Jan. so it will be ready.
it's a 2 day drive each way for me for sure....
Quote from: Willie_B on December 23, 2019, 07:30:21 PM
When you say April 19 to 26 you are figuring two days of driving to and from. Then the fun driving days would be 21,22 & 23?
That is correct.
Those dates are good for me.
The tentative list of attendees so far:
Bruce Kennedy
Dave Craven
Brad (Willie_B)
Dan (94touring)
Michael Playle
Susan
Tiffany Holt
Any others to add or want on the list?
Again, I know it is quite a way out, but just attempting to get a starting ballpark idea of how many to plan for.
(Edited to add more names)
I messaged a couple of more peeps, give me a day or so to hear back....
Susan says she's in.
Tiffany Holt will come from Dallas too.
I'm asking some more friends if they would like to join us.
Oh, John Styers is coming too....
Updated list of possible attendees:
(Reposting since it dropped to the next page)
Bruce Kennedy
Dave Craven
Brad (Willie_B)
Dan (94touring)
Michael Playle
Susan
Tiffany Holt
John Styers
More are always welcome. I will start checking out possible motels in Kerrville after the New Year. It looks like I should try to get a block of about 10 rooms held if I can. I will try to find one that has plenty of parking space for potential trailers as well as reasonable rates.
I will also go through my various drive notes and come up with a selection of routes. If anyone from last time has a specific request for a "repeat", let me know as well.
Tiffany says she knows some folks from the Austin area she's going to contact too.....
Hey Michael (and everyone else too), what do you think about inviting the Mini club from San Antonio, the Mini Dashpots to this event? I met Brad W. from Mini Dashpots recently at Cars & Coffee and Michael I think you know many of the other Dashpot guys too. Even if they can't make the whole event, perhaps they could attend one run or something? Whadda you think?
Absolutely, the more the more better! 4.gif
I'll "ping" my contact with that group and see.
A brief update and information request:
I am beginning to look at routes for drives on the various days. I will also soon be exploring hotel/motel options in Kerrville.
I am going to try planning out 5 runs: the three main days (Tues, Wed, Thurs) and two optional days (Mon, Fri).
I know some of the folks that went on the last set of drives will likely want to repeat some of the roads, but also try some new ones.
Thus the information request: It seems I did not retain a copy of the drive packets for myself when I gave the stuff to Brad to take over for me due to my mom being in the hospital. If someone has a set of the drive details from three years ago they would be willing to send me as reference materials, I would appreciate it greatly.
Contact me with a PM through the forum for my mailing address.
Props to ya'll for putting a grassroots gathering together!
Envious!
A bit of a "teaser": The link below should take you to page 8 of the thread from three years ago where the pictures from that year's drive begin and are interspersed on pages 8, 9, & 10.
http://www.restorationmini.com/forum/index.php?topic=1154.175 (http://www.restorationmini.com/forum/index.php?topic=1154.175)
I met with Bruce Kennedy today to get some extra input and discuss route options. It was a beneficial meeting as I got good feedback on the basic ideas I had and some fresh input as well.
The result is I now have 5 routes picked out and mapped (one for each day: Mon - Fri). I will do a "teaser" of the routes a bit closer to the event.
We also went over the options I found for possible accommodations. I have narrowed it to three options. I would like to open it for group input before I visit them in person to try and arrange a possible group rate and/or a block of rooms for reservation opportunities.
Possible places: (Online prices ranged from $76/night to $99/night)
a) Best Western
b) Super 8
c) La Quinta
Input needed for further narrowing:
- Will anyone need trailer space? (I know some will be flat-towing, so only regular parking required there.)
- Any special preferences or requirements?
If I am able to make it I'll need a spot for my trailer.
Looking at reviews on Tripadvisor it looks like Super 8 would be the first choice, Best Western second with LaQuinta third.
I'm ok with any of them......I will be flat towing.
Oops.....I'm out. That turns out to be the same weekend my granddaughter graduates from college in Redlands.
Sorry guys, I just got the invite today with the dates and I simply cannot miss it.
Quote from: MiniDave on February 04, 2020, 09:48:13 PM
Oops.....I'm out. That turns out to be the same weekend my granddaughter graduates from college in Redlands.
Sorry guys, I just got the invite today with the dates and I simply cannot miss it.
Bummer, we are going to miss you.
Yeah, I will miss not going, I was looking forward to it.....but college graduation is a big deal..... I just need to be there.
We will miss you there Dave.
I echo the sentiments of Bruce and Brad. You will be missed.
Hopefully your absence will not affect the other coming from your area.
Monday I will get in touch with the "group reservations" contact at the Super 8 in Kerrville to see what they can do for us.
Meanwhile, here is the route "teaser". Attached are the Google-Maps of the 5 selected routes. Some are roads likely repeated from last time, others are going to be a new experience.
That Kerrville to Kerrville run looks interesting! ;D ;D ;D ;D
I wondered if someone would notice that. :D
Below are the details I got from the Super 8 in Kerrville, Texas. Their direct number is 830-896-1511. We should be able to begin making reservations Thursday evening (Feb 13). They will hold the 10 rooms for us until April 1, 2020.
When making reservations, indicate you are with the Restoration Mini group.
Copied email content:
Mr. Playle, the following is the information for your group of 10 rooms at the Super 8 in Kerrville starting 04/19/2020 checking out 04/26/2020:
5 double queen non smoking rooms at the following price per room:
1 – 2 people 85.00 plus tax
2 – 3 people 90.00 plus tax
3 – 4 people 95.00 plus tax
Rates are per night.
5 Single king non smoking rooms:
1 – 2 people 85.00 plus tax
Rates are per night.
As we discussed, your drop dates for any rooms your guests have not picked up will be auto dropped midnight of the 1st of April 2020, after which anyone wishing to book will have to do so at current market rate. And your guests will have a 24 hour cancel policy in place, if something happens and they will not be able to attend as long as they call and cancel the reservations BEFORE 4/18/2020 by 6 pm local they will not be charged, after which they will be liable for the first nights rate plus taxes.
If this is agreeable to you as event lead, email me back to confirm and I will place it in the computer by Thursday morning and your group can start booking by that evening.
We appreciate your business and look forward to your visit.
I can officially confirm our reservation block is now active! You may start making your hotel reservations now.
Super 8 hotel in Kerrville. Call the hotel direct: 830-896-1511.
Group name is Restoration Mini.
I have my room reserved.
4.gif 62.gif
Hey, right next door to Harbor Freight! 77.gif
Made my reservations today. Making a to do list so the car will be ready to GO.
Gents... I may or may not have a mini to drive, but would love to come down one of two days to meet you all. I would also like to get video of the mini caravan...,
Out of your 3 Minis, none of them run yet? Not even that light blue one? 8.gif
You'd absolutely be welcome to come by and join up!
Thanks Dave. My cylinder head is at the shop currently on the blue mini. I should have it all back together by then, but??
Definitely welcome to come along. I am solo, so will have room for passengers. I will be driving "Miss Ruby" - a 1991 Saloon.
Okay.. Ladies and Gents.. are you all from kid free homes? It's not easy for me to get away during the week.
The one gent, Craig H., moving to Texas will not be here until August.. LOL... welcome to the heat.. I'm not able to come down for a 2-3 day event, but I would like to do my best to come down for 1 day at least. With that said and realizing your route may be in limbo, I would ask if someone can guess the most scenic route and day you might drive it? Then with all of your permission, I would like to film you guys/gals. At least for parts of the route, I will need to run out ahead of you all to capture you in route.. then yes Dave, perhaps if I could take you up on the offer of riding with you for a portion...
Anybody in the SaT area going to the Cars & Coffee in March 14 at six flags fiesta
https://www.facebook.com/groups/sanantoniocarsandcoffee/?ref=share
I cannot speak for everyone about the "kid free" aspect, but most do seem to be (or can at least get away for several days). Kids are welcome, although the routes are mostly about the driving.
I did originally ask about dates in March to try for matching to "Spring Break" for folks with kids, but received several requests to look more to mid-April.
I have different drives "planned" for each of 5 days: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday being the main drives with optional drives Monday and Friday for those staying longer.
All the drives are on smaller, scenic roads. The maps for each route were in an earlier post to this thread. They are actually in order on that post.
Since you are coming from the Waco area and have limited "away time", might I suggest taking the Friday off and coming down Thursday after work? You could head back again after the drive Friday or Saturday.
Quote from: Lone Star Mini on March 03, 2020, 03:26:56 PM
Anybody in the SaT area going to the Cars & Coffee in March 14 at six flags fiesta
https://www.facebook.com/groups/sanantoniocarsandcoffee/?ref=share
I might. I was at the Feb one with the Mini Marcos.
Quote from: MPlayle on March 03, 2020, 03:40:27 PM
Quote from: Lone Star Mini on March 03, 2020, 03:26:56 PM
Anybody in the SaT area going to the Cars & Coffee in March 14 at six flags fiesta
https://www.facebook.com/groups/sanantoniocarsandcoffee/?ref=share
I might. I was at the Feb one with the Mini Marcos.
I'm planning on going. It would be great to see you again there Randy. Should be a good number of local Minis there.
Mine and the girls favorite Italian restaurant is down in SAT so it won't be hard to convince them to go on March 14.. If you guys are going, I'm will find a way.. I would be good to see you again Bruce and possibly meet others for the first time..
Quote from: Lone Star Mini on March 03, 2020, 04:34:47 PM
Mine and the girls favorite Italian restaurant is down in SAT so it won't be hard to convince them to go on March 14.. If you guys are going, I'm will find a way.. I would be good to see you again Bruce and possibly meet others for the first time..
Here's the local Mini group.
https://www.facebook.com/TX-Mini-Dashpots-217407745666007/
Quote from: BruceK on March 03, 2020, 04:08:45 PM
Quote from: MPlayle on March 03, 2020, 03:40:27 PM
Quote from: Lone Star Mini on March 03, 2020, 03:26:56 PM
Anybody in the SaT area going to the Cars & Coffee in March 14 at six flags fiesta
https://www.facebook.com/groups/sanantoniocarsandcoffee/?ref=share
I might. I was at the Feb one with the Mini Marcos.
I'm planning on going. It would be great to see you again there Randy. Should be a good number of local Minis there.
Bruce,
Let me know if you want to meet before the C&C (and if you hear from the Dashpots about it as well). I just have to figure out whether to bring the Marcos again or "Miss Ruby".
Quote from: Lone Star Mini on March 03, 2020, 04:34:47 PM
Mine and the girls favorite Italian restaurant is down in SAT so it won't be hard to convince them to go on March 14.. If you guys are going, I'm will find a way.. I would be good to see you again Bruce and possibly meet others for the first time..
What is the Italian restaurant?
Quote from: BruceK on March 03, 2020, 04:43:45 PM
Here's the local Mini group.
https://www.facebook.com/TX-Mini-Dashpots-217407745666007/
Thanks Bruce
Quote from: MPlayle on March 03, 2020, 03:40:27 PM
I might. I was at the Feb one with the Mini Marcos.
I'm planning on going. It would be great to see you again there Randy. Should be a good number of local Minis there.
[/quote]
What is the Italian restaurant?
[/quote]
La Focaccia's Italian Grill down near the needle, but off the tourist path/ radar
Quote from: MPlayle on March 02, 2020, 11:51:13 AM
Definitely welcome to come along. I am solo, so will have room for passengers. I will be driving "Miss Ruby" - a 1991 Saloon.
Oops it was Michael with possible room in his mini (not Dave)
If more minis will be there during the week, I would prefer to come down one day when everybody be is there. I think I read in one of the posts that some may leave earlier than others
The main driving days are the Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday set. Those are the days we expect most to be present.
Since I am "local" (and the drive "leader") I will be present for all 5 drives. I will be arriving in Kerrville before the Monday drive and returning to San Antonio after the Friday drive.
The Monday drive will probably have the fewest cars as it is intended to be a short run to a slightly later lunch in Fredricksburg and return to the hotel to "Meet & Greet" folks arriving Monday.
I am anticipating most will actually stay for the Friday drive.
Bringing forward the current "head count" for the event:
- Bruce Kennedy
- Brad (Willie_B)
- Dan (94touring)
- Michael Playle
- Susan
- Tiffany Holt
- John Styers
Dave Craven had to drop out due to a conflict with a family event that came up.
So as of my last know count, we have 7 cars coming to the event.
If there are any others coming not on the list, let me know.
I was hoping to bring my mini pickup as it was suppose to arrive on April 16. I just learned today that my ship was changed and now won't arrive until later in April or beginning of May. If however I can get my cylinder head back, I may be coming in a mini...
I know I will have room for a passenger/co-driver.
guys.. I would love to ride with one of you (Brad or Michael) gents for a short run if possible. Not sure which day I'll be coming down though.. I will know as time gets closer
Wow.. you guys/gals are serious!! I expected your daily drives to be quick 30 minute to an hour type drive.. no... if I read the various maps correctly, ya'll are going for 3-4 hour drives.. geez. This was unexpected. Is this the norm?
This tends to be the norm for the drives I lead, though most past drives (for MOT) have only been a one day thing.
According to conversations with Dave, it is also the norm for many of the other drives he has attended that led to this drive week.
77.gif
That seems normal to me.
Most of the Classic Minis United drives are in the 150 to 200 mile range over a 3 to 4 day period but it is usually easy enough to find a route back and cut off if you want to get back earlier.
Ok, I may have misinterpreted the maps incorrectly. I thought each map was for a different day in that there was a 3-4 hr drive each day.
You interpreted the maps correctly: each map is for a separate day AND each route is for several hours of driving.
The "Monday" map is the shortest (about 1.5 hours driving), the "Wednesday" map is the longest (about 4.5 hours driving).
There will also be "stops" along the way, some planned (lunch, gas) and some unplanned (photo ops, scenic views, leg stretch, just because, etc.).
Unless I hear a sudden flurry from the small list of attendees, I am expecting this event to go on as planned.
I am going to be there no matter what the doomsayers say.
Quote from: Willie_B on March 10, 2020, 02:13:43 PM
I am going to be there no matter what the doomsayers say.
Coronavirus and all!
Hey Dan,
Do you know your April schedule yet? Are you going to try to attend any/all of the drives?
I still don't know. Until I I finish the training footprint sometime the 1st week of April, they won't publish my next step.
Reading about the CDC recommendations on limits to gathering sizes, our Spring Drive remains under the size limit.
At this point I am still keeping it on the calendar.
Our hotel block of rooms remains active until April 1st. We can cancel as late as April 18 with zero concerns about cancel fees on hotel reservations as those require 24 hour notice from your individual check in date.
If folks do decide to cancel, please let me know.
I won't be making this one. Looks like I'll have the days off but I'm cutting off all discretionary spending till things stabilize. My BFF and her mother that she takes care of live in my rental condo. She's out of a job now. I'm not going to be putting them on the streets so I'll be picking up the tab on that one. Airline industry is in shambles and Jen's new job in the financial world as you can imagine isn't great either.
You're awesome Dan!! I'm not part of y'alls mini group, but was hoping to finally meet some of you. To date, I have only met Dan and Bruce briefly. I will keep the Mini run on the calendar, however it's not looking good. My girls are now out of school until first week of April, but the school board is talking all year (through May). We are now doing our part as a family in helping to flatten the Bell-curve of the virus by remaining isolated for the most part. We shall see what happens come late April...
As the semi-official "drive sponsor", I am keeping my fingers crossed at keeping this event alive.
I would greatly appreciate everyone keeping me appraised as time goes along so we can determine whether to maintain the event or cancel as the actual date approaches.
Based on Dan's post about the travel quarantine for certain states coming to Texas and an update from my contact in Kerrville, I am officially cancelling the Spring Drive in the best interests of everyone.
San Antonio has been in "lock-down" for a bit - set to expire April 9. I do not know if it will be extended.
Statewide, all bars are closed and restaurants are on carry-out/drive-through service only with an unknown end date.
I want to notify everyone sufficiently far in advance to be able to cancel any reservations already made without penalty.
I will keep the planned routes on file for hopefully rescheduling the event sometime in the future.
Thank you for your understanding.
Yeah I haven't been able to go to a restaurant anywhere going on a couple weeks now. All pickup, drive through, or delivery.
Thanks for all your work on this Michael. Looking forward to whenever it can be rescheduled.
Gents.. thanks for setting it all up and making the plans. I will.. eventually.. meet some of you guys. Our School boards have already been in discussion about keeping the schools closed for the remainder of the year (thru May) and I doubt all will be ended by mid to late April. So this is a good call on cancellation. You folks take care and spend the isolated time at home cleaning up your minis...