Northern Ireland MINI dealer tour Mon 29th Dec 2008

[AndySimpson]

Nice map Andy but one small problem, where's Cork?

About 5 hours south of Omagh

I drove to Bandon in 1997 for the Imm, its a long run

Thanks for the map Andy, I'm sure it will be invaluable to us on our travels on the day . P.S. I'm from Bandon!!!

If you have a helicopter the map is perfect

You may have spotted me at the IMM, back in 1997, I was the one driving the Mini

[1lightningd]

Was that you? Small world!

[AndySimpson]

Here is the list so far:


1. Herbert Austin - MINI2
2. Nylo - MINI2
3. Darthbladerni - MINI2
4. Step_7 - MINI2
5. Deano - MINI2
6. Hugo - MINI2
7. SportspackMark (maybe depends on his boss) - MINI2
8. JpMcC - MINI2
9. miniman36 - MINI2
10. bennyx_o (hopefully) - MINI2
11. simon4563 (hopefully) - MINI2
12. Luverly Lesley ( depends on work) - MINI2
13. Darren C - MINI2
14. thetope - MINI2
15. 1lightningd - MCOI
16. irlmin - MCOI
17. swampette (possible) - MCOI
18. Derfinn (possible) - MCOI
19. oliver (possible) - MCOI

[MiniMpi]

Working I'm afraid!!

[AndySimpson]

Working I'm afraid!!

Thats a nasty cough you have, sounds like you may need a day of work soon

[1lightningd]

I told him already Andy, that I would get a cert. for him.


You can also add Kevin Ring an Timmydamini to your list. Oh and while your at it, throw your own name down too!

[AndySimpson]

I'm there already, just to cause confusion I have a different user name on MINI2

1. Herbert Austin - Me
2. Nylo - MINI2
3. Darthbladerni - MINI2
4. Step_7 - MINI2
5. Deano - MINI2
6. Hugo - MINI2
7. SportspackMark (maybe depends on his boss) - MINI2
8. JpMcC - MINI2
9. miniman36 - MINI2
10. bennyx_o (hopefully) - MINI2
11. simon4563 (hopefully) - MINI2
12. Luverly Lesley ( depends on work) - MINI2
13. Darren C - MINI2
14. thetope - MINI2
15. 1lightningd - MCOI
16. irlmin - MCOI
17. swampette (possible) - MCOI
18. Derfinn (possible) - MCOI
19. oliver (possible) - MCOI
20. Maverick (maybe) - MLNI
21. Philsom (maybe) -MLNI
22. Kevin Ring - MCOI
23. Timmydamini - MCOI

[Step_7]

The list is filling up nicely - are the MCOI thinking of coming up the night before or staying the night after the run or both? You could be in need of "refreshments" after such a long drive.....

[irlmin]

I will probably stay one of the nights , must have a look at dates times etc .
G

[DerekJ]

This trip out is developing into a right good can't miss




N.B. - check diary !!

[oliver]

It is looking like I will be able to make this run. Can't wait.

[AndySimpson]

All I can say is wow

1. Herbert Austin - MINI2
2. Nylo - MINI2
3. Darthbladerni - MINI2
4. Step_7 - MINI2
5. Deano - MINI2
6. Hugo - MINI2
7. SportspackMark (maybe depends on his boss) - MINI2
8. JpMcC - MINI2
9. miniman36 - MINI2
10. bennyx_o (hopefully) - MINI2
11. simon4563 (hopefully) - MINI2
12. Luverly Lesley ( depends on work) - MINI2
13. Darren C - MINI2
14. thetope - MINI2
15. 1lightningd - MCOI
16. irlmin - MCOI
17. swampette (possible) - MCOI
18. Derfinn (possible) - MCOI
19. oliver (possible) - MCOI
20. Maverick (maybe) - MLNI
21. Philsom (maybe) -MLNI
22. Kevin Ring - MCOI
23. Timmydamini - MCOI
24. mrsrossi - MLNI
25. bigpupcooper - MINI2
26. Gav008 - MINI2
27. dannyg2325 - Ni-MINIS
28. DerekJ - MCOI
29. oliver - MCOI

[AndySimpson]

We were out today testing the route for the MINI dealer run, on 29th December.

We stopped around halfway of our overall journey and I realised how dirty the roads were

You can just makeout the dirty on the back bumper, above the exhaust, that was bubbling!
The clean spot was where I tested to make sure it was only the dirt and not the paint under neath

[IMG:160:107]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v42/Andysimpson/th_dirtymini001.jpg[/img]

We did another 100 miles after that, so its even worse

I better was it tomorrow before some little *** writes in the dirt

[AndySimpson]

Edwina & I did a test run today.

It was a long run, we left the house around 11:00, weren't home till 7:00 and our stops would have been less than 30 mins in total

The important bit:

David Prentice MINI Omagh.

We travelled 44.7 miles & it took us 50 Mins

David Prentice MINI Portadown

We travelled 24.8 miles & it took us 55 Mins

Bavarian MINI Belfast

We travelled 31 miles & it took us 50 Mins

The Country Garage MINI Kells/Ballymena

We travelled 72.1 miles & it took us 1hr 50 Mins

JKC MINI Coleraine

Total miles 172.6


So if we arrive at Omagh for 10:00am, leave at 10:30 and spend approx 20 mins in each location we should arrive at JKC for 3:55pm.

Due to these times I would be keen to hold of having a group meal (for those interested) until the run was finished.
Charlies in Coleraine is very close to the end of the run, it has a good sized car park and the foods good.
What about booking a table/s for 5:30pm?


I have tried to keep motorway and dual carriageway running to a minimum, but due to the distance we need to cover, the time constraints, trying to avoid driving in the dark and location of the dealers it was impossible not to have some.

If we kept to dual carriageways and motorways I am sure we could cut 2 hours of the run, but where would the fun be in that

I feel we have a good mix and we found it an enjoyable run today

We made a set of run notes which I will type up and print copies for everyone.
They show cumulative miles, with directions at junctions and identifiable features along the route so you are sure you are going the correct way (if the convoy of MINIs infront and behind you is not sufficient )

[DerekJ]

We were out today testing the route for the MINI dealer run, on 29th December.

We stopped around halfway of our overall journey and I realised how dirty the roads were

You can just makeout the dirty on the back bumper, above the exhaust, that was bubbling!
The clean spot was where I tested to make sure it was only the dirt and not the paint under neath

[IMG:160:107]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v42/Andysimpson/th_dirtymini001.jpg[/img]

We did another 100 miles after that, so its even worse

I better was it tomorrow before some little *** writes in the dirt

Try the roads over here
[img:640:360]http://www.mini2.com/galleries/data/2709/IMG_3789_Small_.JPG[/img]