Kansas City MINI Enthusiasts

We will be having an unofficial meeting at Ameristar Casino on Saturday May 2nd at 11am in the buffet to discuss motoring routes, destinations, sight-seeing spots etc. If you have never been to the buffet, they have a HUGE selection of good food. Especially a chocolate fountain (Marlow's fave!)
Everyone is welcome to attend, even if you're not going on the trip
Price is around $15 a person + drink
Hope to see you there!

Wish I could come but I have plans already that day......

Do we have good maps for the areas?

Anyone belong to AAA that could get us some of their maps? They're the best I've found.

I have a 2009 Rand Map book too.....

When I get Davester and Monty's phone numbers I'll publish the list back to those who sent their numbers to me.

Minidave wrote:Do we have good maps for the areas?

Marlow and I have travel guides that we sent away for. They're pretty inclusive of everything within the area.

From a South Dakota Tourism email:

( The weekend of the rally there will be free parking at the state parks based on certain entrances:

Experience South Dakota:
The Faces of Mount Rushmore Part 3: Theodore Roosevelt

The third face on Mount Rushmore National Memorial is that of our 26th President, Theodore Roosevelt. Teddy Roosevelt was one of the nation’s most powerful advocates for protecting and developing our country’s natural resources. During his presidency, Roosevelt signed legislation establishing five national parks, including Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota. He also signed into law the Antiquities Act of 1906. This gave the President authority to establish national monuments, which protected historic landmarks, structures and other objects of historic or scientific interest from destruction or excavation.

It was because of Roosevelt’s passion for conservation and his leadership during a time of economic expansion that Gutzon Borglum chose Theodore Roosevelt as the third face on the mountain. Learn more about the faces of Mount Rushmore with a vacation to South Dakota.


Notice of Correction:

In our in April edition of Travelsmart, we mistakenly wrote that Thomas Jefferson was the author of the Constitution. That information was incorrect; however, Jefferson was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence. We strive to make sure all our information is correct and apologize for this error. Thank you to all our loyal Travelsmart readers.


Celebrate 100 Years of South Dakota Parks with a Free Weekend


In 1909, South Dakota established the Department of Game, Fish and Parks (GF&P) to help manage, protect and enhance the state’s natural resources and wildlife. A century later, GF&P manages more than 54 parks and recreation areas including Custer State Park—South Dakota’s first and largest park. You can discover all the facilities across the state during the Free Open House Weekend, May 15-17, 2009. There will be free park entrances and free fishing. Plus, there will be special activities and celebrations.

we would like to join the travelers for lunch at the Ameristar. see y'all there---

Todays brunch / SD Motoring trip planning session was fun! There will be lots to do and see over four/five days

With only 11/12 days (depending on departure date) the excitement is building and as we finalize our packing plans, routes, ect... I thought I would post some info on car washes around the Hill City area so we can keep our MINIs shiny and tidy .

( It's a sickness) Remember to pack your favorite products and a few towels

Custer Car & Pet Wash
932 Mount Rushmore Rd
Custer, SD 57730
(605) 673-4007

info based on recorded message:
• Open 24 hours or there is 6 am to 10 pm option

Graffitti's Car Wash
2335 W Main St
Rapid City, SD 57702
(605) 394-9611

• full service tunnel type wash ranging in price from $7.25 - $12.25 for exterior only packages. Interior option also available.

Hours Mon – Sat 8:00 am to 6:00 pm (til & 7:00 pm after school is out)


Mt View Car Wash
502 Mountain View Rd
Rapid City, SD 57702
(605) 342-9753

No answer or recorded message when called

Parkway Car Wash
206 E Blvd N
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 343-4637

• Automatic car wash with cloth heads starting at $6.75
• Self service with wands starting at $2.00

Hours Mon – Sat 8:00 am to 7:00 pm

Classic Car Wash
3306 W Chicago St
Rapid City, SD 57702

No answer or recorded message when called

Update on the group picture at Carhenge from Jonathan:

The Denver group should be there even before 5 pm but we will stay and wait for anyone else who may arrive. If there is a
group even earlier in the day that is great, we will check to see if anyone was there. In any case, we need group pictures as we are
submitting an article and pics to MC2 for this event.

We could certainly get there earlier in the day if needed, since we'll be overnighting only 3 hours or so from Carhenge......

It will be great seeing all of you. So many MINIs headed through Nebraska, people on I-80 are not going to know what to think.
I will be traveling with Doug and Dan from St. Louis when they arrive in this part of the state so I hope some of you are with them on Thursday.
Till then Motor On Dudes!

As everyone is finalizing their packing, be sure toss in a fleece or something warm, since it will be cool with isolated showers in South Dakota.

Fresh in from the weather channel:

Wednesday high 54/low 35
Thursday high 69/low 47
Friday high 63/low 39
Saturday high 62/low 42
Sunday high 73/low 46
Monday high 75/low 49


Motor safely! We will see you Thursday.

"Ms Bales"

We're going to get a little bit of a late start on Wed what with taking the Mini-poopers to Pete and Mac's and Rose's night schedule so Davester, Blugoose and Monty are going to go on ahead, but we'll catch up to everyone in N.Platte and be with you from there........

Just one more day of us. Saturn and I plan on hitting the road by 4:00 am Thursday.

To everyone motoring on Wednesday, please, please, please have a safe trip and we'll be catchin' up with ya!

The street address for car hinge is:
2141 County Rd 59
Alliance,NE 69301

Be safe but have fun-------- Will see y'all there !

We're halfway there!

Today we motored from Kansas City to North Platte, Ne. Davester and the Blugoose left a couple of hours before Rose and I, and in doing so missed all the rain that we hit in northern Missouri but had a close encounter of their own with a truck full of pigs! A trip to the car wash was the first order of business for them when they arrived at our overnight hotel!

Tomorrow we rendesvous with Marlow Main, Saturn and a whole bunch of other folks for a group photo at Carhenge, just outside Alliance, Ne. Then we'll motor on up thru the twisites to Hill City to begine our weekend. Weather is promising if not perfect and I hope to have some great photos by Sunday night.

George, Tom, Ted and Abe, up close and personal........

Play the 5 tones, please............

We had such a blast!

Some photo's of the wonderful journey:
MINIs Invade Carhenge


We got inspired and did a "Marlow-Henge"


Devil's Tower



Cousteau and Mamma-Mia at Mt. Rushmore


Mamma-Mia, Cousteau, and Stubby


At the Badlands




Random





John afraid to touch my car (I trained him well!)

John won the honor of gathering the most rocks--- at least 100 lbs.
We had a wonderful time going to all of the parks and seeing all kinds of animals from rabbits to bison. Even a white buffalo--
The food was pretty good as well as the Fat Tire beer at the Bumpin Buffalo.

Davester wrote:John won the honor of gathering the most rocks--- at least 100 lbs.

LOL, and that's why we only averaged 28.6 mpg on the way back as compared to 32.1 the way there!

Here is a link to some of our pictures.

http://s312.photobucket.com/albums/ll33 ... =slideshow

So Perty!

Who didn't get to go!

More pictures from the Black Hills

http://s277.photobucket.com/albums/kk54 ... =slideshow

Unfortunately I posted everything on Photobucket. Look at what you want---