OK, you’re just going to have to indulge me with this post. This was SO MUCH FUN!
It all began innocently enough at our local brewery (shout-out to Witch’s Hat) while I was scrolling through my email and came across one from MiniUSA. No, I guess it really began last October when I traded in my first Mini Cooper for my second Mini Cooper and ended up on the company email list. Anyway, I got an email about this event called Mini on the Mack, an attempt to break the world record for the most Mini Coopers in parade formation, crossing Michigan’s own Mackinac Bridge.
By the time I received the email, the event was just a week away. I looked up and asked Justin if he wanted to do it. He did. So I sat there, sipped my beer, registered my Mini for the event, and booked us a hotel in Mackinaw City for the following weekend.
One week later, we found ourselves in St. Ignace in the Upper Peninsula in a huge line of Minis, all on our way to the rally. It was the friendliest and funnest traffic I’ve ever been stuck in!
Justin hopped out and grabbed a shot of the line. My Mini is the fifth one from the right.
Minis traveled from 32 states and three provinces to participate, and we all eagerly awaited the call to start our engines.
When they announced it was time to go, we all hopped in and hit our horns. I had that goofy grin pasted on my face all day!
As late arrivers, we waited a whole hour before it was our turn to take off, but we had a blast watching the parade of Minis go by!
Finally, it was our turn! I let Justin take over as driver so I could get some shots with my DSLR, and wave to all the people watching the parade from the roadside.
The course called for us to cross the Mackinac Bridge twice, so we encountered some other Minis on the way. I got a huge kick out of seeing some original Minis cruising along with the modern Minis! When we arrived back in St. Ignace, a checkered flag waved us into a “Minis Only” lane at the toll booth.
We parked again to await the announcement of the official count. There were hundreds and hundreds of Minis, and they all were unique!
Everyone listened anxiously to learn if we had set a new world record. But alas, they broke our collective hearts when they told us we didn’t break the record.
The official count for Mini on the Mack 2017 was 1,328, well short of the world record of 1,450.
While I was disappointed that we didn’t break the record, I recovered quickly when they announced that we’d have another chance in two years. So, Mini on the Mack, see you in 2019!
tresamusantephoto.com 