Helenblitz 2009 Charity Event

[queenB]

Here's a not too far away event that looks like it is shaping up pretty nicely if anyone is interested.

Helenblitz 2009 Charity Event

Well, we are furiously planning the "Helenblitz 2009 Charity Event which will be February 27 - March 1, 2009 and is a fundraiser for the Speedway Children's Charities. This will be the first event of the Mini/MINI 50th Anniversary/Golden Jubilee. I have sent out notices to the other clubs and have begun making requests of the various Mini and MINI vendors (35 so far) for donations and participation in the event. I have been contacted by Redline Accessories (www.redlinegoods.com), which is a European company. So I guess in a way Helenblitz is an internationally sponsored event!

We will be getting great coverage from our fantastic friends at MC2 Magazine and the NAM Alliance Magazine, NAM Alliance will be running a story on the Helen 2008 event to get interest going ahead of the Helenblitz 2009. As usual, our friends at M2C2 (MINI Motoring Club of the Carolinas) are working some majic at their end as well.

MINI USA is also helping out by unveiling the 2009 MINI R57 Cabrio at the event as well as providing freebies to attendees.

Our host hotel, Best Western, has really been great to work with. The General Manager, Carol Powell has arranged for a rate of $59.00/night for us. We have the entire hotel reserved for Helenblitz 2009 attendees with overflow going to the sister hotel, Super 8. I have visited this hotel and it is very nice, go to their website at: www.helen-georgia-hotels.com to see more. To make your reservations, call [phone] and let the friendly person taking your reservation know you are with the MINI Cooper Group.

In addition to giving us a great rate, Ms. Powell is calling in some local favors and is trying to get some media coverage for us with the local FOX station in Helen. She is also helping me with points of contact in the local community; this means a lot having a referral from someone in the local community. I will be headed up there on Monday, 22 December to see what else I can work out with the local businesses, so definitely more to come on that.

We have many sponsors, one of which tells me they are going to provide trophies for the MINI car show, so be sure to bring your cleaning supplies. There will be a nominal entry fee (to be determined) for the car show which will go to helping raise money for the Speedway Children’s Charities and offset minor costs (very minor).

We will have freebies and door prizes (still in work, part of why I am headed up there on Monday) for attendees. I know MINI USA will be providing some freebies as is Out Motoring, so no one should leave empty-handed.

Look for there to be items for sale as well.


This is the schedule of events thus far:

Friday, 27 Feb 09: Meet and Greet
Unveiling of the New 2009 R57 Cabrio
Dutch Treat Dinner
Drinks at the Troll Tavern

Saturday, 28 Feb 09: Car Show
Scavenger Hunt
Drives (2 routes; 1 that is 45 minutes, the other is 1 ½ hours)
RC MINI Car Race (BYORCM-Bring Your Own RC MINI)
Silent Auction (all day)
Car Show Trophy Awards
Guest Speaker: Phil Wicks
Dutch Treat Dinner
Drinks at the Troll Tavern

Sunday, 01 Mar 09: Dutch Treat Breakfast (Possibly the Breakfast Buffet at the Unicoi Lodge)
Final Drives and Farewells

Helen is a great community as evident with the generosity given by Best Western. I encourage everyone to at some point during their stay in Helen, to patronize the local establishments. Let’s make the first event of the MINI/Mini Golden Jubilee year one that will be hard to beat.

Definitely more to come!

[queenB]

I'm going to do a day run on February 28th to Helen, GA to participate in some MINI fun at this first annual charity event. I will start early, 7:30am, to arrive there around 10. Email me or respond on the message board if you would like to join me.

[Travellering]

Would definitely like to join you. Obviously this will depend on my work situation at the time, but hope to see you there.

[Djo]

Looks like I will be able to join everyone on this drive. Jennie has a big test that Monday and she will probably want me out of the house anyways. As long as I bring her back a souvenir!

[inspector]

I'm interested in driving down to Helen with you. I sent you an email to let me know the details.

[queenB]

Uh oh...I guess that means I should figure out how to get there, huh? ;D ;D ;D

Shortest route....129......quickest route....129. Looks like we'll run the Dragon....again <sigh>

[Djo]

Guess thats a good reason for me to go ahead and order new tires if I'm going to run the Dragon, or maybe that will be my fairwell to my stock runflats

[Djo]

Donna, have you decided where you want to have a meeting spot so we can get moving by 7:30?

[Travellering]

Unless something radical changes, we won't be able to make it this time. Dadburned housebuying...
Oh well, at least I'll have a garage to get my mini ready for the next drive or event...

[queenB]

Feb 25, 2009 10:58:42 GMT -5 Djo said:

Donna, have you decided where you want to have a meeting spot so we can get moving by 7:30?

I'm thinking Weigels on 129 on the south side of Maryville. Address shows as 1920 W Broadway Ave, Maryville, TNý. Weather is showing rain so we likely will be moving a bit slower.

[queenB]

Wet, but rainy good time yesterday.

Very surreal Dragon run on the return trip from Helen. I'd never been to Helen and laughed out loud when mapping both the quickest and shortest routes from Knoxville. Both routes said it's Dragon time. It was a wet three hour drive down with schmutz on the road. We spent the day enjoying the company of our MINI friends out in the rain and then headed home on our own.

By the time we reached Robbinsville the clouds were hanging low over the mountains with intermittant light rain. At Deal's Gap fog surrounded us as dusk approached. Cooper was playing music from Silent Hill and the sound from the speakers added to the eerie feeling. We never saw another soul from the time we passed Tapoco Lodge. At the overlook we couldn't see much of anything past the guardrail. As we continued downward to the end of the run we dropped out of the fog. To my left, as the fog lifted, there were two deer running alongside of us. After what seemed like an eternity they dropped off the roadside into the ravine.

It was unbelievably awesome. I wish I could do it again.

[mellowyellow]

Boy that sounds nice. Looking to the south from south MAryville, I would say you could enjoy the same type of day today. with a few snow flurries throuwn in to make it more interesting.

Must be year of the deer. On the way to Toronto, I had a close look at a young busk, standing on the side of the road debating the merrits of running in front of me. Fortunately, he choose not to do it. One other incident in Torontl area. In New Mexico, you worried about all the 4 legged animals, the elk was running in front of us gave us real worries once.

Sorry I did not get back in tome to enjoy the ride or the last meeting. Who is pres, VP, etc.?

[Travellering]

I was jumping the gun to make sure folks showed up to the meeting. The march meeting at Littons will be the nominations, and as far as I know, we elect peeps in April.

BTW, Donna, that sounds like an awesome drive. However, I couldn't help but notice you didn't list anyone joining you. Does that mean you had to tame the Dragon twice on your own?

[queenB]

Bill.....the president is Obama and vice president is Biden.

David W and Terry the Inspector joined me on the way down to Helen but we returned on our own.

[mellowyellow]

Donna
I have been gone a while, but not that long. But Obama is the one with ALL of the answers right. Poor guy, I watch in Canada as the US goes into the crapper. Their economy is tied to OIL more than ours. But auto industry going down in flames there as well.

I did make it to the Toronto auto show. Tried to sell a few Minis while there. I really want one of the new ones. Made really nice. I also heard that Mini dropped 800 employees at the factory.