Mini USA Plans Nationwide Rally

10,000 people celebrating something, is a pretty big deal. 10,000 people gathering to celebrate a car, is an even bigger deal. And that’s exactly what will happen August 13-15, with a nationwide celebration of all things Mini.

The event, known as Mini Takes The States, kicks off in five cities across the country, Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco. From there, caravans of Coopers, Camdens, Sidewalks, and every other Mini iteration will proceed to Denver, Colorado, where a weekend-long party will be take place. Mini USA is planning concerts, driving challenges, and road rallies. Attendees will be able to pick up all manner of Mini gear from the Vendor Village, where aftermarket shops will be peddling their wares.

Mini USA is working with two different charities, so that attendees will be able to give back to those in need. The American Red Cross is hosting blood drives in Denver and the starting cities. The other charity is called Ryan’s Mini Adventure, named for a Mini enthusiast who lost her battle with Lymphoblastic Leukemia in 2007, Mini USA is donating a portion of all registration proceeds to the charity.

Please scroll down for the official Mini press release.

MINI TAKES THE STATES 2010 – THE RALLY IS ON: The MINI Community Takes MINI Fun On the Road, Across the U.S.

12.05.2010 | Press Release

• Weekend festival in Denver confirmed for August 13-15, 2010
• MINI drivers can choose to start the rally from one of five kickoff cities
• Customers can meet the all-new MINI Countryman at stops along each of the routes

Woodcliff Lake, NJ – May 12, 2010… MINI USA has confirmed that “MINI TAKES THE STATES” (MTTS) is officially on for August 2010. The MINI community is invited to celebrate owning a MINI with thousands of their fellow enthusiasts by joining a caravan across the U.S. to Denver, Colorado, where they will enjoy a weekend-long festival of MINI activities. MTTS 2010 will drive through a total of 19 states, covering more than 8,000 miles of road and is expected to bring together as many as 10,000 participants.

All MINI owners are invited to register at www.minitakesthestates.com (beginning on May 18) to drive with the MINI team to Denver from one of five kickoff cities: Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York or San Francisco. Owners may also join the caravans as they make their way across the map; or they can spend a few hours at one of the many designated stops along the routes to mingle with drivers, enjoy parties and meet the newest addition to the MINI family – MINI Countryman.

“MINI owners have much more than just a car,” said Jim McDowell, Vice President, MINI USA. “When they join the MINI family, owners become part of a passionate community that offers camaraderie and fun driving experiences that have become a core part of the MINI brand.”
On August 13, all of the caravans will arrive in Denver, where MTTS participants will enjoy three days of MINI fun, including a music festival, MINI-Cross driving challenges, a road rally in and around Denver, games for the family and a vendor village where participants can stock up on MINI gear for themselves and their vehicle.

The MINI community as a whole is dedicated to giving back. In addition to the cross-country drive and the festival in Denver, two key charitable efforts will be part of this year’s program. First, blood drives for the American Red Cross will be hosted in Denver as well as each of the kickoff cities. Plus, a portion of every registration fee will be donated to the Leukemia Society in the name of Ryan Marie Boykin, a passionate young MINI enthusiast who lost her battle with Lymphoblastic Leukemia in 2007, but whose adventurous spirit lives on through the project known as “Ryan’s MINI Adventure”
(http://www.ryansminiadventure.com/RYANS_STORY.html).