Recently we heard from a source that MINI is currently planning the 50th Anniversary of the brand to coincide with a large event at Silverstone Racetrack in the UK. Based on what we’ve known for awhile about MINI’s event schedule, we’d guess that this event will likely be MINI United 2009 and that it will take place in late May of 2009.
We’re still trying to confirm much of this but the information appears quite credible at this point. So for those thinking of doing MINI United 2009 - you may want to pencil it in early.
We arrived in Miami on Friday ready and rarin’ to go! First stop was Bicentennial Park for some meeting, some greeting and a viewing a National Treasure 2. I heard that Nicholas Cage might have been at the park that night, but didn’t see him myself. We did see, however, Rauno Aaltonen and The Stig’s fat cousin as you have seen and heard. The fat cousin guy is actually a great chap by the name of Ian that tells a great joke!
Saturday started again at Bicentennial Park with a breakfast and even more MINIs! The MINIs of Miami club and Sunshine MINIs were almost all in attendance. Once all of the MINIs were there (I didn’t get an exact count, but I think it was almost 400!) and lined up, Florida’s Finest gave us a police escort from the park all the way out of the downtown area! It was like a parade of MINIs!
After a short popsicle stop, we all continued to Homestead International Raceway to get things underway!
I finally had a chance to throw something together that documents the first few days of my trip to MINI United last summer. This video is a look at the first three days in Germany and features the Nurburgring, the Autobahn and somebody named Sabine.
Due to Youtube, quality is a step down from the original HD source video, but I think it does a decent job in capturing the feel of those first few days.
Look for Part 2 to feature MINI United itself. In the meantime you can see photos of my day at the ‘Ring below:
Special Events Magazine, the official and premier magazine of the special events industry in North America, nominates events and companies to receive the Gala Award.
Daunting challenges, amazing results: This describes the work of the Gala Award nominees listed below. Members of the Special Events Magazine Advisory Board spent hours poring over hundreds of entries before selecting these companies. Watch for our January issue, which will include profiles of all our nominees; the Gala Award winners will be named Jan. 18 at The Special Event 2008 in Atlanta. See you there! - The Editors
We mention this today because nominated for Best Fair/Festival is MINI United!
As mentioned above, winners will be announced at a special event in January. I wouldn’t be surprised to see MINI United actually pull off the win. It was a great event!
Sure we already did our wrap-up show, but this was our wrap-up from MINI United, in our R56 being driven by our new friend Oliver.
This is the last bit of MINI United Audio we have! In case you missed any of it, you can find all of the WRR MINI United 2007 posts here, all of the Motoringfile coverage here, all of the pictures here and the MINI United Blog here.
Just 3 Americans, cruising in an R56 from Amsterdam to Zandvoort, Netherlands talking about MINI United.
We had just finished cruising the canals of Amsterdam with MINIUSA and were heading back to MINI United. Talking about cars, MINIs and, of course, MINI United. We never did get a chance for the karting, but all of us got some seat time on the track, so we were good.
Our recap of MINI United. Not a bad outing since Todd was only sorta here.
We noticed some interesting things about driving in Europe like the number of bicycles. They were everywhere!
Todd and I toured the MINI factory, Gabe drove on the ‘Ring plus we got to talk all those great people you already heard interviews of! It was a great event to be sure and if I were you, I’d start saving up for MINI United 2009 now! It will be worth it.
MotoringFile has learned that MINI is currently looking at location options for MINI United 2009 in England. The idea is that the event should take place in the UK to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Mini itself. And while it’s strictly a rumor at this point, we believe MINI will make the 2009 MINI United more new product focused with the debut of a new offering of some kind. The current odds-on favorite is a MINI Challenge based factory JCW car with the most power ever offered by the brand - potentially also brought out as way to celebrate the 50th anniversary.
There is no one MINI event that better personifies the brand than MINI United. Over three days and two nights 6000+ MINI owners and enthusiasts come together to celebrate the car, meet new people and live the spirit of the MINI brand. This year’s MINI United took place at Circuit Zandvoort (a former F1 and current FIA sanctioned track) just outside of Amsterdam in the Netherlands and seconds from the ocean. To say the 2007 event was a success would be a disservice to it. Despite a little rain on the last day of the event, MINI United was simply the biggest and best MINI event yet.
This year’s MU (they are on pace to happen every other year) took place at the Circuit Zandvoort just outside of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. The location was ideal for such a festival – just meters away from the ocean, a gorgeous beach and one of the most beautiful and challenging circuits in all of Europe. The design of the event layout was also exceptional in that it allowed for easy access to every aspect of the event.
For those of you that didn’t hear, Southern California resident Robert Apon really wanted to attended MINI United 2007, but in his MINI. Countless hours and a lot of money later, Robert had the only MINI at Zandvoort with California plates!
Robert is currently working his way across Europe, visiting family and friends. Naturally, he is blogging his adventure.
For those who may have missed some of our MINI United coverage over the past couple of weeks, here’s a quick way to get it all. Check out our MINI United Category page below:
Official MINI Press Release: Putting in a perfect performance, Jeroen Bleekemolen (Aerdenhout/NL, Team ProSieben) rounded off his guest appearance in the MINI CHALLENGE being held this weekend as part of the MINI United Festival in Zandvoort (NL). After his win in yesterday’s race, the local Dutch hero and former DTM pro came out top in today’s heat too. “Being part of the MINI CHALLENGE has been a great experience. It was amazing fun,” said the victor. “To win today was enormously difficult. I had to fight forward five places,” Bleekemolen said - he had started in sixth place.
A arrange a quick interview with the current German MINI Challenge point leader in the paddock just after the first practice session. Listen for Todd while he gives he best Peter Windsor impression.
In this latest MINI United interview we get an exclusive sit down with Dr. Kay Segler, MINI brand vice president. We talk MINI United. Motorsport, and the new MINI Challenge race car among other things. The latter will be the big take-away for many of you. Listen closely as Dr. Segler talks about the “new heart” of the MINI that will debut with the MINI Challenge car and that will eventually make it’s way to a new JCW product. All fascinating stuff for those of us who follow the brand.
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Sections: MINI United Jul 8th, 2008 18 Comments 
