AMVIV8 – The Ocho

It’s that time of year again. In a few short weeks the Mini community will be gathering for the infamous AMVIV event in Las Vegas.  Last year was the first opportunity I had to attend, and I can’t see ever missing it.  I leave Tuesday the 17th and return to the Mile High City on May 22nd.  I’ll bring a few MotoringShirts along with some of LostCoffee’s MotoringBlend coffee.

If you head over before May 10th use the coupon code AMVIV.  This will get you 20% off every bag of MotoringBlend you buy.  We’ll also bring it with us to AMVIV8.  This will save you the shipping costs too.  Get your orders in now.  Remember to choose whole bean or ground when you order.

Here is some more info about AMVIV and a link to register.

A MINI Vacation in Vegas (AMVIV for short) is an annual club-run event hosted by the Sin City MINI Club for MINI and Mini Cooper enthusiasts. It’s a chance for folks to take time out of their busy schedules to head out to the desert and schmooze with fellow Miniacs.

If your dream is to rally through the streets in and around Las Vegas with a bunch of MINIs and Minis, we do that. If your goal is to drool over the latest and greatest mods and accessories for your trusty “steed”, we can help you. If your wish is simply to share a meal or some drinks and compare rally stories until the wee hours of the night, we definitely have you covered.

We’re gathering back at Palace Station the weekend before Memorial Day in 2011, and we’re hoping you’ll make the trek out to join us. To refresh your memory, or stir your fantasies, we’ve put together a little mosaic below with some snippets from past AMVIVs. If you click the photo, you’ll be taken to our AMVIV photoset on Flickr which contains hundreds of fun photos. We can’t wait to add some more next year!

Join the forum discussion on this post

Hello fellow Miniacs and MINIacs!

I wanted to thank you all for your participation with our survey. Planning for AMVIV8 has begun and we are working to incorporate some of your suggestions into next year’s event.

We are still  considering proposals for the venue for next year, so we’re not quite sure yet where we’ll end up. We have however decided on the dates and there is a change to what was released at AMVIV7.

The new dates for AMVIV8 are May 19 – May 22, 2011. We’re hoping to catch some better weather that weekend

Mark your calendars – We’ll see you there!!!

Jules – SCMC President

http://www.sincityminiclub.com

Happy Motoring!

<link to Jim’s YouTube Channel>

Check out Mini5280′s very own Kim Stone getting interviewed by Kurt on KNUS 1510.   Are you thinking about registering?  Better get it done before 6:37pm on July 25th.

Click here to listen to Kim’ Interview

Loveland gave privy to the Ghia’s first showing at a Euroberge GTG.  My wife did not want to spend 4 hours in the sun so she drove the Mini Clubman as the chase vehicle.

The 5280driver garage had a visitor this weekend.  Todd Pearson, from WhiteRoofRadio, spent a few nights at our place in Castle Rock.  Having Todd at our home for a few nights was a lot like having the President stay with us.  His staff makes sure the visit is not leaked.  We knew a few days in advance, but couldn’t say anything due to security concerns.  After the WRR secret service combed the garage for explosives and “tested” ALL the white Oreo’s for flavor he was allowed on the premises.

Todd was in town for the opening of the newest Mini dealership in Colorado, Mini of Loveland.  DB, the “talent” portion of the team, helped host the Grand Opening event on Friday night.  The dealership put on a bash like I have never seen before.  Understand people I spent 15 years in the car business.  I know a good dealership party when I see one, this one was great.

The morning after the event Todd made his way down to Castle Rock.  I have to tell you how dedicated I was to his visit.  Folks…I postponed the pain and birth of a fairly large kidney stone just to see that he was comfortable.  Let my dedication to visitors of this caliber not go unnoticed.  In fact I am still holding out the birth until the end of this update.

After a quaint dinner, where I might add, everyone was served promptly with an evenly cooked meal, we enjoyed some conversation.  The next morning the master began his work.  Mini after Mini was hauled into the garage…he slaved away like a shoemaker, carving his craft.  Ok, he really just stuck some sticky stuff on a few cars and drank a lot of my diet coke.  Soon after he finished he dragged my wife kicking and screaming to The Coach store where he forced me to buy her something nice.  At the liquor store that followed, he began educating my 11 year old on the finer points of whiskey…yeah he’s 11!

We finally got rid of the guy the next morning.

<removing tongue from cheek>  Todd was a wonderful guest.  It was a wonderful time with a great friend…and he confirmed we did get the smell out of the mattress we bought at the local police auction.

This year the Mini In The Mountains (MITMS) team is mixing things up.  The venue has been changed to Winter Park Resort.  This venue is going to be incredible.  Monday night I saw some Summer time pictures of the resort.  The drive to get there is thrill on it’s own.  It’s 20 miles of tight hairpins.

Look for more information from the promotions team.  Oh yeah, I’ve been recruited for that team so you’ll see a ton of updates here.

Today Jacob, my oldest son, and I had the pleasure of running through Denver today with about 10-12 other Minis.  We started out at the old Detailer’s Paradise location on South Broadway.  The group started by working our way through some residential streets in the DU area.  Next was the Washington Park area, then by the Denver Zoo.  After working our way through Five Points and downtown Denver we headed for the final destination, Pasquini’s on South Broadway.

This was our first time attending this event.  The Mini5280.org crowd is always up for a good time, and today was no exception.

When they get posted, I will link some of the pictures that OTHER people took.  I left my camera battery on the charger.

[Thanks Teena for the pictures link]

Here is a link to the pictures from Friday.  In there you’ll find a video of a sweet sounding BMW.  Another video that’ll tease you with a movie from my new car mounted camera.  That’s gonna be a toy I’ll be using a lot.

I saw some more celebs, some more booth babes and some epic cars.

– “Very Steve McQueen” db

Other than being hung, Thursday was pretty awesome.  I spent the day with the guys from White Roof Radio.  We saw new products, Minis, old friends, new friends, and of course booth babes.  If you don’t know about White Roof Radio click on over to iTunes.  In the podcast catagory “Automobile”…their show is consistently top 10 in the US.  Todd and db(Don Burnside) are great down to earth dudes.

The three of us spent the day meandered our way through North Hall, Central Hall, and Wheels and Tires.  <placing tongue in cheek> The booth babes were clamoring Todd all day.  “Todd can I have a picture with you?”  Todd was a good guy about it, but I could tell by the end of the day it was wearing on him.  Folks, celebrity status is not all it cracked up to be.  db on the other hand did a nice job of “dressing himself down”.  A few recognized him, and he was gracious to those fans.

Seriously fellas thanks for hangin with me.  I feel like I made some life long friends yesterday.

I am uploading some more pictures now. Some of the photos are of Todd Pearson from “White Roof Radio”. Consistently in the top 10 inf the Auto category in iTunes.  He has a thing about pictures with the booth babes.  You guys don’t mind, right?

I’ll be reviewing a new product just released this week called GoPro. Full 1080P resolution sport camera. LINK There are some pictures in my photo galleries. That thing is almost as cool as boobies.