Thu, Jun 12 - Sun, Jun 15, 2014

BRP Tour 2014

Blue Ridge Parkway Tour

About this event

BRP Tour T-shirt

The Tar Heel MINI Motoring Club will be conducting the Blue Ridge Parkway Tour 2014 on June 12th - 15th, 2014.  This year's BRP Tour, the seventh annual running, will start at the northern end of the BRP (near Waynesboro, VA) with an opening get-together meal on Thursday evening.  We'll depart early Friday morning heading south on the BRP.  Along the way we'll stop at different overlooks and other points of interest.

We are still working on the location for the Friday night stopover, but it will be somewhere close to the VA/NC border.  The second overnight stop will be in Asheville, NC on Saturday evening.  On Sunday morning we'll hit the BRP for the final leg to the southern terminus of the BRP near Cherokee, NC.  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 2014.  We appreciate you taking your time to register.  Some information to help you with the process:

To conduct an effective event, we try to break the participants down into groups based on the type of motoring they are interested in. You will be asked as part of the registration process to select a group, so we provide the descriptions below to help you with that. If you need to change groups, even during the event, just let one of the organizers know.

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.

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.

For this year's BRP Tour, we are planning two additional options (these are tentative):

1. Skyline Drive pre-BRP Tour Event - We (the leaders of the Otter group) are planning a pre-BRPT run to start at the north end of the Skyline Drive at 3:00 pm and head south on Thursday, June 12th to arrive in Staunton in time for the opening BRP Tour dinner. If you have the time and want to get in an extra day of motoring, you may want to sign up for this pre-event. All drivers will head (via speed routes probably) to Front Royal, VA to have lunch (venue TBD) at around 2:00 pm on Thursday. This pre-run is to get our shoes warmed up for the Blue Ridge Parkway Tour. Note: you don't have to sign up to be in the Otter group to drive this pre-run. See y'all there!

2. Pure BRP - Jeff Causey is planning to run a parallel group to the regular BRP Tour. The goal of this group is to stay on or within sight of the BRP the whole time. The only instances when the group may get off of the BRP will be for a gas stop and to attend the Saturday evening event. The group will be trying to get ahead of some of the other groups to get some pics/vids of MINIs on the BRP and stop at more overlooks and other locations. This group is expected to be limited to only 6-10 MINIs and is dependent on lodging being available (which means it may not even happen). This group is not recommended for first time participants or those who feel a need to stick to a schedule.

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.  The deadline for t-shirt orders will be May 7, 2014. There are additional fees sizes larger than XL. We have both long-sleeve and short-sleeve shirts available. Here is a picture of the t-shirts for this year:

T-shirt mock-up

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 2014 Forum.

Summary information is posted on occassion at www.blueridgeparkwaytour.org.

Again, thank you for your interest  in the BRP Tour 2014.  We look forward to seeing you on the twisties!!

Blue Ridge Parkway Tour

Winston-Salem, NC

Organizer

Fun Run/Tour organized by

Tar Heel MINI Motoring Club

Event over!