Date/Time
Date(s) - Wednesday, June 26, 2024
10:30 am - 3:15 pm
Location
Ingles Flat Rock - 220 North Highland Lake Road
220 North Highland Lake Road
Flat Rock, NC
Everyone loves a classic Mini. The design, essentially unchanged for over 40 years, is utilitarian yet surprisingly attractive. Because it is often described as (oh no, here it comes) ‘cute’ due to its small size, it is easy to forget the revolutionary engineering that made the car possible. The transverse-mounted front-engine, front-wheel drive platform with no space wasted making it possible for a family of 4 to go on holiday in a car that is barely 10 feet long. In fact, an early BMC promotional film shows just that. The video fails to show the two hours of failed attempts at cramming everything into the tiny car but that’s how marketing works.
Launched in 1959, the Mini was an immediate success. Amazingly, by 1964, a Mini won the Monte Carlo Rally. A feat that was repeated several times. 2024 marks the 65th anniversary of the launch of this iconic car. The Ultimate Driving Museum, operated by the BMW Car Club of America Foundation, marks the anniversary with an exhibit titled Minis to the Max: 65 Years of Spirited Adventures. (Note: This is not the museum at the BMW Zentrum.)
The museum describes the exhibit: 30 inspirational examples of the history of MINI will be on display and will walk you through the Heritage years, Motorsports versions, quirky and unusual examples and even the newest vehicles from MINI USA. Museum Admission: $10 per person for groups of 10 or more.
Our day will begin at the Ingles in Flat Rock, from which we will proceed, via Rte 176, to Southside Smokehouse in Landrum for lunch, arriving by 11:30. Following lunch, we will drive to the museum in Greer, arriving by 1:45. 1 1/2 to 2 hours will be sufficient to tour the exhibit. Afterward, we can watch John Houtman purchase mass quantities of Mini memorabilia in the museum shop.
Date & Time: Wednesday June 26, meet at 10:30 for a 10:45 departure.
Start: Ingles, 220 North Highland Rd, Flat Rock
Lunch: Southside Smokehouse, 726 S Howard Ave, Landrum
Museum: Ultimate Driving Museum, 190 Manatee Ct, Greer
Hosted by: David Mathias
Maps:
Ingles to Southside Smokehouse
Southside Smokehouse to Museum
Bookings
# of Spaces Booked
12Who's Going (does not show attendees guests)
- David Mathias
- John Houtman
- Laura Converse
- Wendy Haner
- Gene Carter
- Terry Ramsey