If you are on the Facebook, Please rsvp for Gila Rally on May 20th HERE. Otherwise, shoot us an email (epminis@gmail.com) or comment on the post.
Our Route Planner has let me know that everything is a go. Maps will be provided at the Starbucks on Sunday Morning. Please be on time as we have a lot of roads to rip that day! For meet location, time, agenda and route information, please read the previous post HERE
Remember, Fuel Up, Air up and get ready for a great drive!
Meet at Starbucks IH-10 @ Redd Rd 8:00. Depart 9:00 AM.
Las Cruces participants can join us at I-H 25 Scenic Overlook Mile Marker 27 just past the Border Patrol Checkpoint. We should arrive there around 10:00.
Multiple routes and route lengths for the casual cruiser to the manic motorers, there is something for everyone!
This is an all day Rally to Hillsboro, NM, Silver City, NM, lunch break, then circling Lake Roberts back to Silver City, and then back to El Paso via Deming, NM on I-H 10
Suggested 1/2 Day and 3/4 Day routes are also provided for those who don’t want to spend the entire day. The ALL DAY trip (Platinum Route) should get us home by dark, or shortly after.
NOTE:
GAS is scarce in the Gila. Fill up before arrival at Starbucks.
Cell phone reception is not available in most of the Gila wilderness. Signal is lost before Hillsboro and regained near Silver City.
LUNCH : Bring picnic items to the park on US 180 in heart of Silver City or dine on your own and meet back at Rally Point # 4 (Wal-Mart.) KFC, Sonic and other fast food available nearby.
AGENDA:
Meet at Starbucks, I-10 @ Redd Road (Desert Dr. North)
Depart PROMPTLY at 9:00 AM.
1/2 Day Silver Route – Approx. 4 hours round trip from EP:
From Starbucks take I-10 West, bear right to I-H 25 south of Las Cruces. Stay right on I-H 25 through Las Cruces to Border Patrol Check Point at I-H 25 Mile Marker (MM) 26. Beyond check point 1 mile stop at Scenic View Overlook.
RALLY POINT #1 — Scenic Overlook I-H 25 MM 27. (No facilities)
Proceed North on I-H 25 to MM 63 NM HWY 152. Exit 59 turn right 1/4 mile to
RALLY POINT #2 MM 0 NM 152— Lake View RV Park & General Store. (Restroom, GAS, snacks) Approximate drive time from Starbucks I hour 15 minutes.
Proceed west on NM HWY 152 to Hilsboro, NM MM 12.5 @ intersection of NM Hwy 27 to
RALLY POINT # 3 MM 12.5 NM 152 — in” downtown” Hillsboro at public park across from Black Range Museum. Public Rest rooms. NO GAS. Local dining and attractions for those returning to EP.
Those on the 1/2 day Silver Route can eat in Hillsboro and return to El Paso via NM 27 to Hatch & 1-25 or by back-tracking on Hwy 152 to I-H 25.
3/4 Day Gold Route: Approx. 6 hours round trip from EP:
From Hillsboro continue west on NM 152 to Kingston, Emory Pass, past Mimbres, NM to Bayard, NM (approx. 40 miles/ 1+ hour drive.) Turn right (north) on US HWY 180 at MM 121. Proceed to
RALLY POINT # 4 — MM 115 US 180 at Silver City Wal-Mart on the right as you enter Silver City. Gas, KFC Restrooms.
We will then cruise through Silver City, eat where you want – picnic @ park on US 180 near Sonic- and meet back at Wal-Mart Rally Point #4 at agreed time for the loop around Lake Roberts. Those on 3/4 day route can return to El Paso by back tracking to Hillsboro or continuing south on US 180 to Deming and then to El Paso via I-10.
ALL DAY PLATINUM ROUTE: Approx. 9 hours round trip from EP:
GET GAS IN SILVER CITY. After lunch, meet at Wal-Mart Rally Point # 4 MM 115 on US 180. Proceed south on US 180 to MM 121, turn left to NM 152, follow signs to NM Hwy 35 through Mimbres, NM to Lake Roberts General Store
RALLY POINT # 5 — MM 22 NM Hwy 35. Lower Lake Roberts Camp Ground — Public Restrooms, NO GAS. Proceed past Lake Roberts to MM 27 Jct HWY 15 at Breathe Inn (Closed). Turn left (west) on NM Hwy 15 towards Silver City to
RALLY POINT #6 — at Overlook MM 27 NM Hwy 15. NO Restrooms. NO Gas. Proceed west on NM Hwy 15 to 32nd St Bypass in Silver City then to US 180. Turn left on US 180 to
RALLY POINT #7 — MM 115 US 180 – Wal-Mart for final contact before heading home. Take US 180 south to Deming, NM then Left on I-H 10 to El Paso. (Drive time Silver City- El Paso, approx. 2.5 hours.)
NOTE: This 2 hour drive on Hwy 35 around Lake Roberts and Hwy 15 back to Silver City is the most spectacular scenery on the trip. It will be the most Mini Cooper challenging and fun. An 18 mile stretch on HW 15 has no center stripe and is almost all switch-back curving, hilly road. This is the GRADUATE COURSE for MINI lovers.
For more details: Kenktx@aol.com or contact Ken Kenyon 915 490-6672 (cell) or Vince Diaz 915 929-3042 and let us know if you will be attending or not, and which route you intend to follow : Silver, Gold or Platinum. This should be the best El Paso Mini Rally yet. Make plans to attend and enjoy.
On Sunday May 20th we will make our epMINIs anniversary run through the Gila. Plan on an early start and an all day adventure. Details are being ironed out and we’ll get the info up soon!
Sunday, May 6th
The Humane Society of El Paso will be holding the “23rd Annual Classic K-9 Walk for Animals” At Album Park from 8:30am to 2pm.
One of our fellow “epMINIons”, Judy Ann Ruiz, has asked if anyone would be taking their dog and their MINI to the event! Judy will be the point of contact for this event and she can be reached at jazzydo@hotmail.com or 915-525-6125. I know a lot of you love your dogs as much as you love your MINI, so this ought to be a great time for all!
Saturday, April 28th, 2012
The British Motor Car Club of Southern NM will be hosting their 20th annual British Car Days in the old Mesilla Plaza. The spectator event will go until about 1 pm that day.
If you would like to cruise up Saturday morning, we’ll be meeting up at the first parking lot at the Outlet Shoppes of El Paso on Woodrow Bean/Trans Mt. Meet Time will be between 9 and 9:30 am on Saturday Morning. We’ll leave by 10 am. Our route will take us up through Highway 28 straight into Mesilla.
Meet Point from 9 to 9:30 am Saturday April 28th 2012
Once in Mesilla, we will have to wing it for parking. There may be some lots just north of the plaza but we’ll just have to see what the situation is like once we get there.
Tuesday, April 24th 2012
MINI of El Paso Hosts the MINI Test Drive Takedown event. Most of you already have a MINI, but maybe you were considering a trade-up? Or you know how your friends are always asking about your car and constantly saying “I want one too!” Well now’s the time! Anyone who attends the Takedown and registers at the event will be eligible for $750 off the purchase of any new MINI in stock. The $750 is in addition to all other incentives.
MINI will bring in some “competitors” cars for the test drive takedown! This will give your friends the opportunity to experience MINI takedown the competition for themselves! There will be live music, food and fun! 1pm to 7pm (mas o menos)
Saturday, April 28th, 2012
The British Motor Car Club of Southern NM will be hosting their 20th annual British Car Days in the old Mesilla Plaza. The spectator event will go until about 1 pm that day.
If you would like to cruise up Saturday morning, we’ll be meeting up at the first parking lot at the Outlet Shoppes of El Paso on Woodrow Bean/Trans Mt. Meet Time will be between 9 and 9:30 am on Saturday Morning. We’ll leave by 10 am. Our route will take us up through Highway 28 straight into Mesilla.
Meet Point from 9 to 9:30 am Saturday April 28th 2012
Once in Mesilla, we will have to wing it for parking. There may be some lots just north of the plaza but we’ll just have to see what the situation is like once we get there.
Also, I would appreciate a volunteer to set up lunch reservation for our group. Lets guess at around 20 people for right now. If you’d like to volunteer, let me know!
Sunday, May 6th
The Humane Society of El Paso will be holding the “23rd Annual Classic K-9 Walk for Animals” At Album Park from 8:30am to 2pm.
One of our fellow “epMINIons”, Judy Ann Ruiz, has asked if anyone would be taking their dog and their MINI to the event! Judy will be the point of contact for this event and she can be reached at jazzydo@hotmail.com or 915-525-6125. I know a lot of you love your dogs as much as you love your MINI, so this ought to be a great time for all!
Sunday, May 20th
Gila Run! ….. this will be awesome. ….. details to come …….
First I want to thank all of those who submitted their registration online. There is still a few slots left if you would like to have your MINI or classic Mini in the show on Saturday. You can sign up HERE (http://www.epminis.com/Reg)
MEETUP
For those of you that are registered to show your car at the fair, we are going to go ahead and meet up ahead of time at MINI of El Paso.
On Saturday, April 21st, please arrive at MINI of El Paso between 3:00 PM and 3:30 PM. We will head to the Chamizal as a group at around 3:45pm. This should give us a chance to get to our reserved show area within the setup time. The Cancer Awareness Fair starts at 5:00pm and the Beatles Tribute Concert follows at 7:00 PM.
Stop By and VISIT!
For everyone else, please feel free to come by and support your fellow “epMINIons” at the Fair from 5 to 7 pm
For those of you that are going to participate in the MINI Car Show during the Cancer awareness fair next Saturday, please take a moment to fill out this online registration: HERE (http://www.epminis.com/Reg/)
We want to have an accurate count of participants to be sure we have the right amount of space for everyone.
Event details can be found HERE (http://www.epminis.com/2012/04/11/need-10-cars-for-mini-car-show-on-april-21st/)
On Saturday April 21st The Rio Grande Cancer Foundation and the Green House will be holding a Beatles Tribute concert benefit. Proceeds of the Sgt. Pepper’s Wonderous Wigorium concert ticket sales will benefit the Four Season Beauty Program.
New MINIs, Classic Minis, any MINI will do. Your MINI can be stock or custom. All we ask is that you shine it and show it!
The show will be held prior to the concert from 5 pm to 7 pm. Please contact us if you are interested. We will be coordinating with the event sponsors to get more details.
Cars at MTTS 2010, a set on Flickr.
This is a sample of the photos we took during the last MINI Takes the states in August of 2010.Via Flickr:Mini Takes the States 2010, Denver Colorado, MTTS 2010, MINI
Registration is “OPEN” as in MINI USA launched the Website this morning. However, the servers are being SLAMMED so you will need to check it out later. The image below will take you to the site when its functional again! (www.minitakesthestates.com) The interest in this is very HIGH so I imagine this is going to be one heck of a road trip!
I’m still thinking our group can make July 12th the travel date to ABQ NM. We can join the rest of the group there as we make our way to Phoenix and LA. MINI USA has host hotels with group discounts available. Judging from the server traffic, you will probably need to decide a lot sooner than later if you are going to go on this trip and be able to take advantage of the deals.
More details to come!
