August 21, 2006:

MTTS day 1 - Beach party then South on California Highway 1

The MINI Takes The States beach party kicked off MTTS this morning, followed by 5-6 hours drive south, much of it on fabulous twisty California Highway 1; see the Gallery for pics … here’s some highlights:

Sand MINI:

Hula Hoop Challenge:

Limbo Challenge:

Speech from Jim McDowell, with Quack Quack Jack listening:

Oh Goody!

South on Highway One:

A couple of minor issues on the day - I don’t like sand so I’d have preferred a pebble beach! The for sale merchandise was apparently more popular than MINI anticipated, with long queues as a result - and it closed during the speeches leaving people that had queued a long time with nothing! Hopefully MINI will put more staff on later legs …

Also, many MINIs arrived well before any of the organisation staff, and were lost trying to find the non-yet-existing meeting place! I think they need to send a car ahead of the pack.

(lots more in the Gallery)