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Avenue of the Giants Weekend Run - Sat. March 23, 2024

Saturday will be a very full day of cruising from Novato up through the Avenue of the Giants and ending at Eel River Brewing in Fortuna. Sun...

Delta Hwy. 160 Run - Sat. January 20, 2024

Our first run of 2024 is more about the scenery than the driving. We will be touring through the Sacramento River Delta from Oakley to Sacramento.

Antioch Bridge


Your Host for the Event:

Mary Wolgamot


Route:



Register for the Event on MotorSport Registry:



Meetup Time / Departure Time:

9:30 AM / 10:00 AM


Meetup Location:

Carl's Jr. parking lot
915 Main Street
Oakley, CA 94561




Run Details:

This run is more about the scenery along the route, than about the driving. Our first run of 2024 will be a scenic tour through the Sacramento River Delta from Oakley to Sacramento, following and crossing the river's natural meanders, not the artificially straight deep water ship channel that cuts up to the docks of Sacramento a bit to the West of our route. 




After leaving our meetup location in Oakley, the run will scale the amazing Antioch Bridge (a $7 toll crossing using Fastrak or photo billing via your license plate) across the wide San Joaquin River. From there, our route follows along the Sacramento River levee roads for the length of Highway 160, paralleling and crossing over the Sacramento River via draw bridges. We'll pass farmland and wetlands along the way. This historic route served a significant role in transportation on the river and alongside it as our state became the economic power it is today. The end of our run will be at a British Pub-themed restaurant (The Streets of London) in West Sacramento.

One of several drawbridges



The Streets of London Pub (2200 Lake Washington Blvd., West Sacramento, CA 95691) is a large restaurant with British pub décor and British pub food (including bangers and mash, fish and chips, and scotch eggs). Along with the food and décor, the restaurant features various beers on tap and three pool tables. If the weather is cooperative, there is outside seating. If the weather is being British too, there are plenty of warm, dry tables inside.

Our lunch destination

Additional Run Details:

Please bring your radio, fully charged, turned on, and tuned to Channel 7, Subchannel 21 CTCSS before you arrive at the start. If you don’t have a radio, ask for a loaner at the driver’s meeting. For radio recommendations, please see https://www.facebook.com/legacy/notes/728353274556164/.

Be sure to turn the “VOX” voice-activated setting OFF, or we will hear the wind from your AC, your conversations, and any noise in your car broadcasting to everyone.

Make a pit stop before the drivers' briefing. We will be driving for a while through the delta without any suitable rest stop, so plan ahead.

California backroads can be rough, especially after winter storms spawn new and bigger potholes. We will call out cyclists and oncoming traffic on the radios. Most of the route is fairly smooth with a few backroad sections that may be a bit bumpier than others.

There are stretches where local wildlife may be seen on each side of the road. At some point, these animals may decide to cross the road, so please watch out for deer, wild turkeys, etc. trying to get from one side to the other right in front of your car.

We ask that you turn on low-beam headlights - not Auto - to make us more visible to other vehicles either ahead or behind us, including your fellow MINI drivers.




Headlight Switch: Full Manual On

Willow Glen Holiday Lights Cruise - Saturday, December 16, 2023

Join host and Club President Pat Lewis on December 16 for an evening cruise through the holiday lights of the Willow Glen neighborhood in San Jose. 



Your Host for the Event:

Pat Lewis


Register for the Event via MotorSport Registry:

https://www.motorsportreg.com/events/willow-glen-holiday-lights-cruise-norcal-minis-461605


Meetup Time / Departure Time:

7:30 PM / 8:00 PM


Meetup Location:

Starbucks
2306 Almaden Road (not Almaden Expressway!)
San Jose, CA  95125





The Willow Glen neighborhood of San Jose is known for larger homes and lots that predate the post-war mass-produced subdivisions that grew the city into the 3rd largest in California. The neighborhood has been cherished and maintained by its residents through the decades with a community spirit demonstrated every Halloween and Christmas. It is a popular destination for drivers and pedestrians looking at the seasonal decorations.

Click through this link to read an article reviewing what you can expect to see on this leisurely cruise through the holiday lights of this historic neighborhood.

Prior to arriving at the meetup location in front of Starbucks, you may wish to eat dinner at one of the many restaurants on Lincoln Avenue in Willow Glen. Yelp has listings and reviews at this link. Cruise host, Pat, will be dining at John's of Willow Glen restaurant (1238 Lincoln Ave, San Jose, CA 95125) before setting up the club banner at the meetup location several blocks away.




Additional Run Details:

Please bring your radio, fully charged, turned on, and tuned to Channel 7, Subchannel 21 CTCSS before you arrive at the start. If you don’t have a radio, ask for a loaner at the driver’s meeting. For radio recommendations, please see https://www.facebook.com/legacy/notes/728353274556164/.

Be sure to turn the “VOX” voice-activated setting OFF, or we will hear the wind from your AC, your conversations, and any noise in your car broadcasting to everyone.

Paso Robles Christmas Parade Weekend - Sat. & Sun., December 2 & 3, 2023

Back by popular demand, we will cruise down to Paso Robles, decorate our MINIs, and join the town's annual Christmas parade. Last year's participants had a blast despite the rain, and we won best car club entry along the way.

The Kraken decked out for the 2022 parade.


Your Host(s) for the Event:

Tina and Steve Sandke


Route:


https://maps.app.goo.gl/qbU2Eqt5ZCNEEPmx6

Download the map for off-line use - we will likely lose cell coverage.


Register via MotorSport Registry:

https://www.motorsportreg.com/events/paso-robles-christmas-parade-weekend-run-norcal-minis-875012

Check out our 2023 Run Calendar for a complete list of events for the remainder of this year.

Meet-up Time/Departure Time:

8:30 am / 9:00 am, sharp

Meet-up Location:

Peet's Coffee - Morgan Hill
755 Cochrane Rd Suite 100,
Morgan Hill, CA 95037


2022 Meet-up @ Peet's in Morgan Hill


Run Details:

This year’s Paso Robles Christmas Parade run is a reprise of last year’s, but the forecast is without the unrelenting rain we had last year.

We’ll drive down 101, pick up some folks along the road near Salinas, stopping in Greenfield for a quick bathroom break (Starbucks at 367 Walnut Ave., Greenfield). We’ll hop back on 101 for a few miles toward King City then switch to backroads. We’ll drive through Fort Hunter Liggett and on out to Mission San Antonio (1 Mission Creek Rd., Jolon), the most remote of the California Missions. We'll take a 30 to 45 minute stop at the mission, allowing those who wish to pay the nominal fee to tour the grounds. More backroads from the mission will land us in Paso Robles around lunchtime. Folks are free to gather for lunch as they please; there is no group lunch, but we’ll call out ideas as we get into town. Coordinating groups for lunch is highly encouraged.

2022 Mission San Antonio Stop

After lunch, you’re on your own until the parade. You can check into your hotel, explore downtown Paso Robles, go wine tasting, or something else. Please note that we are limited to 15 cars for entry in the parade, so the first 15 cars to register on MSR will be entered in the parade. Others are invited to view the parade and cheer on our club's MINIs from the parade sidelines. Parade Meetup:

544 Pine Street
Paso Robles

Meet: 4 PM
Depart for Parade Staging: 4:30 PM
Parade Start: 6 PM

Folks participating in the parade MUST meet up with the group at 4 PM to decorate our cars for the parade. We’ll drive over to our staging spot at 4:30 PM, as the organizers want us in place early this year. We can continue decorating in the staging area.

The parade itself was about 45 minutes last year, though that timing will depend on our place in the parade. Last year we were quite close to the front, so if we’re farther back this year, the parade experience will take longer. After we finish the route, we’ll return to our meeting spot and undecorate our cars. We’ll have an optional gathering afterward at Firestone Walker Brewing Company's taproom restaurant (1400 Ramada Dr. Paso Robles, CA 93446).

Sunday Run Details:

9:30 am meet-up, 10:00 am departure

Starbucks (2429 Golden Hill Rd, Paso Robles, CA 93446) off of Highway 46 near Lowes east of downtown.

Sunday AM Route Map:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/htABhMJWbGM999Hc9

Sunday morning breakfast is on your own, and then we’ll gather for a short run before folks head back home. We’ll head out for a short but spirited run through backroads east of Paso Robles, ending in Santa Margarita well before lunchtime, and folks are free to head back home or enjoy other sights on their own.

Paso Robles Downtown


Additional Run Details:

Please bring your radio, fully charged, turned on, and tuned to Channel 7, Subchannel 21 CTCSS before you arrive at the start. If you don’t have a radio, ask for a loaner at the driver’s meeting. For radio recommendations, please see https://www.facebook.com/legacy/notes/728353274556164/.

Be sure to turn the “VOX” voice-activated setting OFF, or we will hear the wind from your AC, your conversations, and any noise in your car broadcasting to everyone.

Make a pit stop before the drivers' briefing. We will be driving for a while through twisty hills before our rest stop, so plan ahead.

Hilly California backroads can be rough, especially after winter storms spawn new and bigger potholes. We will call out cyclists and oncoming traffic on the radios. Most of the route is fairly smooth with a few backroad sections that may be a bit bumpier than others.

There are stretches where local wildlife may be seen on each side of the road. At some point, these animals may decide to cross the road, so please watch out for deer, wild turkeys, etc. trying to get from one side to the other right in front of your car.

We ask that you turn on low-beam headlights - not Auto - to make us more visible to other vehicles either ahead or behind us, including your fellow MINI drivers.




Napa/Sonoma Run - Saturday November 18, 2023

No whining on this run, but you may choose to do a little wining after this run is over because we will be cruising through the wooded hills and vineyard valleys of scenic Napa and Sonoma!

Wine Country Roads


Your Host(s) for the Event:

Paige Lane with co-host Duane Caldwell


Route:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/QbyJcRA3zw6ErhfC7

Download the map for off-line use - we will likely lose cell coverage.


Register via MotorSport Registry:


Check out our 2023 Run Calendar for a complete list of events for the remainder of this year.


2022 Start @ Solano Community College


Meet-up Time/Departure Time:

9:00 am / 9:30 am, sharp

Meet-up Location:

Solano Community College

400 Student Services

Fairfield, CA 94534 (South Parking lot near Admissions & Records)

Please Note: There are NO services at this location! Please arrive with a full tank of gas, morning coffee in hand, and fresh from a restroom stop. We won't stop at restrooms for the next hour-and-a-half, so plan ahead.
We recommend stopping in Cordelia (Exit 41 from both  I-80 E & W), 5 minutes away from our meetup location before joining us for the Meet-Up and drivers' briefing. The addresses are all technically in Fairfield, but many of the road signs here identify it as Cordelia, so don't get confused, just follow your navigation system to the addresses
.


Suggested fuel/coffee/restroom stops before arriving at Solano Community College:

  • COSTCO Gas Station 5101 Business Center Dr, Fairfield, CA 94534
  • ARCO 134 Pittman Rd, Fairfield, CA 94534
  • Chevron 4470 Central Way, Fairfield, CA 94534
  • Shell 4450 Central Way, Fairfield, CA 94534
  • Starbuck's 4490 Central Way, Fairfield, CA 94534

(Solano Community College Parking Lot)

(SCC Sign at street as seen from parking lot)



Run Details:

Enjoy your morning zipping over twisty, two-lane roads connecting Fairfield to Napa. For part two, we will climb out of Napa Valley's famous Wine Country along narrow, twisty mountain passes to skirt around the southern limits of Santa Rosa in Sonoma County.


Though our departure is timed to miss morning lake boat traffic, if we encounter trucks pulling trailers, we will collectively enjoy the scenery as there are few passing lanes.


Group Pace:  We will monitor registration to determine if we will have enough registered Minis to add a spirited group to lead off.


Comfort Break (roughly halfway through the run):

Park N Ride (2000 Redwood Road, Napa). After about an hour-and-a-half, we’ll break here for 20 minutes at most, so we can arrive at our destination before the lunch rush. There are restrooms in nearby gas stations and restaurants. This is your last chance for restrooms for the next hour.


After we descend from the mountain passes into Sonoma County, we will end our run at the Lagunitas Taproom in Petaluma  (1280 N McDowell Blvd Petaluma) around 12:45 pm where we can grab lunch and share stories. The taproom at Lagunitas can get busy on weekends, so be prepared for a bit of a wait to be seated, or enjoy one of the many other fine restaurants in the wine country. Please note that the outdoor seating area at Lagunitas is covered, has heaters, and is very dog-friendly.


Lagunitas Taproom


Additional Run Details:

Please bring your radio, fully charged, turned on, and tuned to Channel 7, Subchannel 21 CTCSS before you arrive at the start. If you don’t have a radio, ask for a loaner at the driver’s meeting. For radio recommendations, please see https://www.facebook.com/legacy/notes/728353274556164/.

Be sure to turn the “VOX” voice-activated setting OFF, or we will hear the wind from your AC, your conversations, and any noise in your car broadcasting to everyone.

Make a pit stop before the drivers' briefing. We will be driving for a while through twisty hills before our rest stop, so plan ahead.

Hilly California backroads can be rough, especially after winter storms spawn new and bigger potholes. We will call out cyclists and oncoming traffic on the radios. Most of the route is fairly smooth with a few backroad sections that may be a bit bumpier than others.

There are stretches where local wildlife may be seen on each side of the road. At some point, these animals may decide to cross the road, so please watch out for deer, wild turkeys, etc. trying to get from one side to the other right in front of your car.

We ask that you turn on low-beam headlights - not Auto - to make us more visible to other vehicles either ahead or behind us, including your fellow MINI drivers.



Pumpkin Run - Saturday October 28, 2023

Over the mountain, through the woods, and up the coast we go to Bob's Vegetable Stand & Pumpkin Farm. Come along with the club to get some pumpkins then an optional lunch at Cameron's Pub.


Bob's Vegetable Stand & Pumpkin Farm



Your Host(s) for the Event:

Tasha Hudick


Route:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/q9yQuGkxTaStvaoEA


Register via MotorSport Registry:

https://www.motorsportreg.com/events/pumpkin-run-norcal-minis-867022

Check out our 2023 Run Calendar for a complete list of events for the remainder of this year.


Run Details:

Join your fellow Mini enthusiasts for a spirited drive through the mountains and woods from San Mateo to the coast. If you joined us last year, the route takes a bit of a detour, bypassing washed-out roads, but it will still be high on the fun factor. We'll drive up through San Mateo Creek and under the Doran Memorial Bridge, cruise world-famous driving roads, towering redwoods, and breathtaking coastal cliffs ending with a visit to a sprawling pumpkin and vegetable stand south of Half Moon Bay. There are lots of places to get into high gear and a splash of the twisties on our way down to the coast.

Along Crystal Springs
(pic by Tasha Hudick)

We will meet in the Jacks Restaurant parking lot in San Mateo, there is a Starbucks across the way! Following a popular bike route, we'll make our way up a scenic backway to Highway 92. Sweeping ocean and bay views will be our guide as we shift to high gear and enjoy Skyline Boulevard to meet Highway 84. The route will take us down Highway 84, taking a turn onto twistie Pescadero Creek Road where towering redwoods and Memorial Park will envelop us in a lush temperate rainforest. Redwoods give way to rolling farmlands once we reach Pescadero.

View to Pacific from Skyline

A speedy jaunt along Highway 1 and the beautiful coastal cliffs, a view that never gets old, will bring us to Bob's Pumpkin Farm and Vegetable Stand, for that last minute pumpkin. Don't need any more pumpkins, Bob's has a cute little farm and fresh coastal veggies to fill your boot with! An optional lunch at Cameron’s Pub and Restaurant will be a great gathering spot after our run and pumpkin collecting.

Pumpkins at Bob's


Meet-up Time/Departure Time:

9:00 am / 9:30 am


Meet-up Location:

Jack's Restaurant 1750 S El Camino Real San Mateo, CA 94402

There is a Starbucks at 17th Ave. on the other side of El Camino Real. Please be sure to gas up and use the restroom before our driver's briefing in front of Jack's!


Additional Run Details:

Please bring your radio, fully charged, turned on, and tuned to Channel 7, Subchannel 21 CTCSS before you arrive at the start. If you don’t have a radio, ask for a loaner at the driver’s meeting. For radio recommendations, please see https://www.facebook.com/legacy/notes/728353274556164/.

Be sure to turn the “VOX” voice-activated setting OFF, or we will hear the wind from your AC, your conversations, and any noise in your car broadcasting to everyone.

Make a pit stop before the drivers' briefing. We will be driving for a while through twisty hills before our rest stop up in the mountains, so plan ahead.

Hilly California backroads can be rough, especially after winter storms spawn new and bigger potholes. We will call out cyclists and oncoming traffic on the radios. Most of the route is fairly smooth with a few backroad sections that may be a bit bumpier than others.

There are stretches where local wildlife may be seen on each side of the road. At some point, these animals may decide to cross the road, so please watch out for deer, wild turkeys, etc. trying to get from one side to the other right in front of your car.


Dunsmuir Railroad Park Weekend - Oct. 13-15, 2023

Come join us for an amazing weekend up in the mountains. We have an awe-inspiring run planned for Saturday that will include beautiful sights and plenty of twisties!

Your Hosts for the Weekend:

Patrick / Michelle Lewis, and Paige Lane


Register at MotorSport Registry:

https://www.motorsportreg.com/events/dunsmuir-railroad-park-weekend-norcal-minis-330176


Run Overview:

Please note that this is not a typical one-day club run. 

This is a 3-day overnight run with social events on the first two evenings. If you still need to book your lodging, there are a limited number of cabins and cabooses available. 

GO TO THE RAILROAD PARK RESORT website to book (and more info below)

https://www.rrpark.com/

Milky Way over the Cabooses

Run Details:

Friday, October 13 Run 1 (Bay Area to Dunsmuir Railroad Park):

Pat will lead the group from the Bay Area up to Dunsmuir. There will be TWO meet-up points.

 

Meet Up Location: This location is right off of Highway 680 - Bernal Ave exit

Safeway parking lot

6790 Bernal Ave.

Pleasanton, 94566

 

Meet Up Time/Departure Time

10:00am/10:30am

 

Meet Up Location #2

Exit 554 off of Interstate 5, in the Starbucks Parking Lot 

(Street Address: 30016 Rd 8, Dunnigan, CA 95695)

 

Meet Up Time/Departure Time

12:00 Noon/1:00pm (Lunch near this location)

Route:

(Friday Pleasanton to Dunsmuir)

https://goo.gl/maps/vmdLH47nJrFMqp838

Note: to prevent bladders from bursting, we’ll be stopping at the I-5 Rest-stop near Red Bluff for a bio break; the run lead will call it out ahead of time.

 

Friday Evening Details:

NOTE: We are having a POTLUCK at the park. 

Though optional, if you use the link below to share what you intend to bring, we avoid duplications.

Potluck LINK
https://www.punchbowl.com/parties/c3c929f317f6cc959348



LOCATION

Between Cabooses 26 and 27. The Lewis and Tildesley cabooses. All attendees have received an email with details. 

DINNER AT 6:30PM

 

or

 

Dinner on your own: 

The restaurant at the park has a great menu; otherwise, there are plenty of choices in Dunsmuir and Shasta nearby.

 

Friday Night AFTER Dinner:

Bring your own drinks, snacks, chairs, blankets, etc., and join us outdoors by the Tildesley and Lewis cabooses #26 & #27.


2022 Potluck
(pic by Simon Tildesley)


Saturday, October 14 Day 2 (Panther Meadows / Town of Mt Shasta / Castle Lake):

Breakfast

You are on your own. There are plenty of places nearby! And the restaurant at the park is NOW OPEN on Saturday and Sunday at 9am. 

 

Run: Panther Meadows / Town of Mt Shasta / Castle Lake

Meet Up Time/Departure Time

10:15am/11:00am

Meet at the near cabooses #26 and #27 in the Railroad Park

 

Route Day 2 RUN #1:

https://goo.gl/maps/wrxQMfy7WLNf7Gmm6

 

Detail of Day 2 RUN #1:

We’ll line up between the Cabooses to take photos of individual driver teams with their cars, then depart as a group towards the town of Mt Shasta (North on I-5). 


Once through the scenic small town of Mt. Shasta, we begin a twisty, scenic drive up to Panther Meadow. Popular with the locals, our pace will be determined by sedans heading to the hiking trails. 


As we near the end of the road, we will call out the restrooms.  Continue up the mountain to rejoin the group at the second from the last parking lot, if you had to stop for the restrooms. Group photo will be taken in the parking lot. We’ll remain here for about 40 minutes. Panther Meadows is the end of the first run. 

 

Lunch

Some may choose to picnic at Panther Meadows, while others will drive back to the town of Mt Shasta. Lots of great places to have lunch. 

 

Lunch break will be one hour, then we're back on the road for Run #2.

 

Route Day 2 RUN #2

https://goo.gl/maps/CWpzqqd47qBMQkCQ8 


Details of RUN #2:
 

We will depart from the O’Reilly Auto Parts Parking lot at 2:15pm (Address: 124 Morgan Way, Mt. Shasta) and drive West of I-5, heading past Lake Siskiyou and up the mountain to Castle Lake. There is a vault toilet at Castle Lakes. Parking will be “competitive”.  For those who are inclined to hike, there are wonderful hiking trails around the lake.  A short, moderately strenuous hike takes one up to Heart Lake.  The parking lot at Castle Lake is the end of Run 2. To return to the Railroad Park, simply return the way you came (back down I-5 South). 

 

2022 Day 2 Run Start
(pic by Simon Tildesley)



Dinner

We will have a group dinner in the Dining Car Restaurant in the park on Saturday night. It's important as part of your RSVP to let us know if you're interested in this option. Some may choose to do dinner on their own or get take-out from the dining car. 


Important Note: We have booked the Railroad Park restaurant for us for dinner at 7pm. Yes or No will be part of the RSVP we will be sending out soon.

 

Saturday Night After Dinner:

Return to cabooses #26 & #27 again. Be sure to bring your own drinks, snacks, chairs, blankets, etc.

DRRP Dining Car


Sunday, October 15 Day 3 (Return Home):

Meet in the courtyard for a people and pets group photo before everyone heads home on their own. Be there at 9am.




Important Run Information:


 

About Dunsmuir Railroad Park

Dunsmuir Railroad Park is a very unique place where you can sleep in a caboose. If you'd like more information on the Dunsmuir, check out their website: https://rrpark.com//

 

Reservation Details:

Your reservation can be made online. If you want to, they also have camping options. Your credit card won't be charged until you arrive. It is pet-friendly.

 

To Reserve your caboose, cabin, or camping spot:

  1. Click on the "Check Availability" button at: https://rrpark.com//
  2. Set the dates for arrival Friday, October 13th thru October 15th
  3. Click "Search" this will then set the results to show you what's still available

 

If you decide not to come up on Friday, you will most likely miss out on the morning Saturday event.

 

CANCELLATION POLICY

 

MUST cancel 48 HOURS prior to arrival or you credit card will be charged for 1 night.

 

LODGING UNITS

 

· CHECK IN 3PM

 

· CHECK OUT 11AM

 

· Base rates include 2 people, each additional person is $10 plus tax.

 

· NO SMOKING Smoking in lodging units will incur a $250 cleaning fee added to credit card.

 

This is a run for PAID NorCal MINI members only.  

 

Join Today! Create your MotorSportReg Account to become a PAID Club Member, use the link below:

NorCal MINIs Membership

 

Instructions for joining MotorSportReg and joining NorCal MINIs can be found in the following document:  Instructions

Check out our 2023 Run Calendar for a complete list of events for the remainder of this year.


Please bring your radio, fully charged, turned on, and tuned to Channel 7, Subchannel 21 CTCSS before you arrive at the start. If you don’t have a radio, ask for a loaner at the driver’s meeting. For radio recommendations, please see https://www.facebook.com/legacy/notes/728353274556164/.

Be sure to turn the “VOX” voice-activated setting OFF, or we will hear the wind from your AC, your conversations, and any noise in your car broadcasting to everyone.

Make a pit stop before the drivers' briefing. We will be driving for a while through twisty hills before our rest stop up in the mountains, so plan ahead.