Last month I was lucky (thanks MINI) to be invited to attend MINI TAKES THE STATES 2016 as a journalist. I wasn’t able to do the entire tour but managed to join the drive for eight days from Atlanta to Minneapolis. Along the way I learned a few things about MINI drivers, their cars, and the places we motored through.
4,477: participants in MTTS 2016 4,397: miles from track to track 400: MINIs went all the way from Track to Track 67,500: city button badges distributed...
After having driven 4,397 miles through 15 cities and 18 US states, having provided almost 1.1 million meals for families in need and braved heatwave temperatures of up to 119 degrees F, over 600 MINIs and around 1,300 motorers cruised triumphantly into the city of Palm Springs, CA, at the conclusion of an unforgettable road trip across the country.
The Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas has witnessed all kinds of marriage ceremonies since the 1950s, including those of the rich and famous, but it has probably never seen anything like the visit to the famous Vegas chapel of a huge crowd of motorers from MINI TAKES THE STATES 2016.
Over 600 MINIs rolled into Las Vegas on MINI TAKES THE STATES 2016, determined to enjoy a short stay in Sin City during the penultimate stop of their epic road trip across the USA.
When MINI TAKES THE STATES 2016 departed from Atlanta, GA on July 9, the participants vowed that they would be motoring with a purpose throughout every mile of the epic cross-country rally by supporting this year’s charity partner, Feeding America.
Chris and Lisa Chappell were preparing for their wedding followed by a dream honeymoon cruise in Alaska when they heard some news that led to them cancelling their cruise and joining MINI TAKES THE STATES 2016 for what they described as their ‘MINImoon’ instead.
As the tenth anniversary MINI TAKES THE STATES neared the end of its 4,400-mile journey through 15 cities and 19 US states, four-times MTTS stalwart Pat McKenna, of MINI USA, reflected on the growing success of the epic cross-country rally.
It was something that started out in 1923 as an idea to entice sightseers to a remote part of South Dakota, and 93 years later, it successfully attracted hundreds of MINI enthusiasts to view one of America’s most iconic tourist attractions.
For the 900+ motorers who are driving the entire route of MINI TAKES THE STATES 2016 from Atlanta, GA, to Palm Springs, CA, the successful completion of the 4,400-mile cross-country rally is only part of the challenge.
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