The List #1 – Factories to Tour (Europe)
Posted by Keith | Filed under Posts, The List
- Ferrari Factory and Museum (Italy)
- Ducati Factory and Museum (Italy)
- BMW Factory, Welt and Museum (Germany)
- Porsche Factory and Museum (Germany)
- Mini Factory (England)
You can check out the US factories and museums we have visited at our Photo Gallery.
Tags: BMW, Ducati, Factory, Ferrari, Mini, museum, Porsche
AMVIV 2008
Posted by Keith | Filed under Mini, Posts, Shows/Events
A Mini Vacation in Vegas, is in its fifth year. This west coast event draws several hundred Minis to the desert in the early spring each year. This year we decided that it was well worth the couple hundred mile drive to see a large collection of Minis and have some fun in Sin City. The host hotel for the event was the Palace Station hotel/casino; the hotel even closed?the top couple of floors in the parking garage for reserved parking.

The organizers have mastered the planning and check-in process. At check-in we were greeted by “Elvis-Cone”; I saw him at several events but have no idea how he got there. I had visions of him crammed in the rear of a Mini with the hatch up or perhaps in a Clubman with the doors tied together with a piece of rope. There was no shortage of activities this weekend, driving schools, tours, dinners and vendors.

We had plans to participate in a couple of the drives but a nasty cold awaited us on the 2nd day of the trip. We did the best we could but in the end we left a day early missing the big banquet on Saturday night. The reservation materials included the routes for the drives–we may make the trip another time to hit the roads that we missed.

And now for the money shot, nothing dirty here just a $400 jackpot from a round of Bingo. During the trip we hit the local Harley dealer and Ducati dealer with the thoughts that a big jackpot could get us both a new toy to take home. Alas, that was not to be. In the end the jackpot bought us a couple of small upgrades and a nice meal.
Visit to the Photo Gallery to see more photos from the event.
Tags: AMVIV, Ducati, Elvis, Harley, Las Vegas, Mini, mini cooper, Palace Station, photos