About this event
The Tar Heel MINI Motoring Club will be conducting the Blue Ridge Parkway Tour 2012 on June 14th - 17th. This year's BRP Tour, the fifth annual event, will start at the southern end of the BRP (near Cherokee, NC) with an opening get-together meal on Thursday evening. We'll depart early Friday morning heading north on the BRP. Along the way we'll stop at different overlooks and other points of interest.
Our first overnight stop will be Friday evening in Marion, NC. The second overnight stop will be in the Roanoke, VA area on Saturday evening. On Sunday morning we'll hit the BRP for the final leg to the northern terminus of the BRP in the Waynseboro, VA area. That should be about lunch time and everyone will go their separate ways with a ton of memories and stories!!
Please note that participants are not required to pay for registration. The BRP Tour is open to any MINI owner who shows up. But really now, who would want to go to an event like this and not leave without a t-shirt, some stickers, a grille badge and other goodies? Plus, part of the proceeds will be donated to charity and wouldn't your MINI heart feel better knowing you've helped out? We do ask that if you are planning to attend you register to help the organizers and volunteers prepare.
Event requirements
Thank you for your interest in the Blue Ridge Parkway Tour 2012. We appreciate you taking your time to register. Some information to help you with the process:
NEW FOR THIS YEAR - GROUPS!!!
With the growth of the BRP Tour events, we have reached the point where lining up 70+ MINIs to tackle the BRP as one long caravan is not really viable. It creates some frustration for those attending and increases the potential for safety issues to come up. This year we are going to try something different - groups. Groups will be formed of about 15 MINIs. We do plan to work in some times when all groups will be together at once. Depending on interest, multiple groups of the same type may be formed. The groups can be described as:
Bear Group - this group will travel the BRP at a leisurely pace with plenty of stops to take in the scenery. Expect minimal excursions off the BRP. But lots of time in fellowship with other MINI owners. The plan is to be unrushed and take in the beauty of the BRP.
Eagle Group - this group will be taveling at a good clip as there is an interest in getting to the end destinations as quickly as possible to enjoy fellowship and (probably) beverages. The group will probably stop at major overlooks or those that make good photo ops. Any off-BRP runs are likely to be done after the final destinations are reached for each evening. (Sorry, too few registering for this option. Maybe next year?)
Wolf Group - this group will have a mix of everything. Stops for scenery, some spirited runs, some leisurely stretches, some off-BRP add-ons. This group is for those more interested in the experience than in sticking to a schedule or seeing any particular place. Be ready for the unexpected and willing to roll with changes.
Otter Group - this group will really focus on the twisties. This means there will likely be several off-BRP add-ons, possibly at the expense of some overlooks and maybe even missing a mile or two of the BRP. It is anticipated that most runs, especially stuff off the BRP, will be done in a spirited manner.
In addition to the groups, the registration form will let you enter up to three fellow participants you'd like to run with (assuming you all select the same type group). We'll do our best to accommodate (but guarantee nothing).
You do not have to buy anything or pay a registration fee
A registration package is planned to include the following items:
- Magnet
- Decal
- Vinyl Sticker
- Antenna Topper
- Lanyard
- Nametag
If you have a passenger(s) and the only extra things you want for them are lanyards with nametags, you can get a passenger package that only includes a lanyard and a nametag.
Please note that you can select one of two packages for passengers. They can get a full package which means you will end up with multiple badges, stickers, etc., or just a passenger package which only includes the lanyard and nametag.
T-shirts are now being handled as a separate item. So if you order a registration package, don't forget to add a t-shirt. There are additional fees for XXL and XXXL sizes. New for this year - long sleeve and ladies cut options! Here is a picture of the t-shirts for this year:
There is a section on the registration form that asks about your plans to attend different meals (lunch, dinner). These are not firm commitments, but we would appreciate you indicating whether you think you will attend as part of the group or not so the organizers can work with the restaurants to make sure they can handle a party of our size.
A final note - you are welcome to join or leave the tour at any point. It is up to you to figure out where and when we may be passing through somewhere that will enable you to get hooked up with us.
Detailed information can be found on the THMMC web site in the BRP Tour 2012 Forum.
Summary information is posted on occassion at www.blueridgeparkwaytour.org.
Again, thank you for your interest in the BRP Tour 2012. We look forward to seeing you on the twisties!!