Mini Takes The States (MTTS) is the legendary cross-country touring rally for any and all Mini owners, hosted every other year by Mini USA. Previous MTTS rallies involved driving from one side of the country to the other, with stops and celebrations, events at cities and tracks across the U.S. For 2018, Mini USA, in the always-have-fun-doing-the-unexpected spirit embodied by Mini cars, has split the rally into two routes, each starting from one side of the U.S. and ending in the beautiful Rocky Mountains.
The 2018 Mini Takes The States will start on July 14 and run through July 22. The dual starting points are almost as far apart as two cities can be in the continental U.S: Portland, Oregon and Orlando, Florida. The ultimate destination for both routes is the Keystone Resort in Keystone, Colorado, just over an hour west of Denver on I-70, (although there are more interesting ways to get from Denver to Keystone than I-70).
Getting to Keystone is not the end of the event, however. Festivities will continue through the weekend. Attendees will have opportunities for curated mountain drives, showing off their Minis, supporting the MTTS charity partner, and other fun activities planned by Mini USA.
This year's Mini Takes The States will be the seventh iteration of the epic biennial road trip that started in 2006. Mini owners can expect to travel the country's scenic byways and back roads, sharing the adventure with hundreds and even thousands of like-minded Mini nuts. Rather that tool along the interstate highways, MTTS 2018 will concentrate on state and county roads. It sounds like a blast.
“Mini Takes The States is the ultimate road trip and we’re excited to share this adventure with Mini owners from all over the U.S.,” said Thomas Felbermair, Vice President Mini Americas Region. “This will be my second MTTS adventure and although I can only be on one route I am looking forward to meeting up with the rest of the Mini community when we gather to celebrate our MTTS experience in Keystone.”
The eastern MTTS route will begin in Orlando and make stops in Tallahassee, Florida and New Orleans, Louisiana on the Gulf Coast before turning north to Little Rock, Arkansas and on to Dallas, Texas. Then it's north again, out of the Lone Star State to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Dodge City, Kansas before pulling in to the Keystone Resort.
Mini drivers starting from out west will leave Portland, Oregon en route to Ashland, Oregon, then into California with stops in Sacramento and Los Angeles. The rally then turns east to Flagstaff, Arizona and Santa Fe, New Mexico. Durango, Colorado is the next stop before heading to Keystone.
Two years ago, a record 4,000 Mini owners participated in the rally, with more than 900 going "all the way" from Atlanta to Palm Springs. In the process, they raised enough money for the MTTS charity partner Feeding America to provide more than 1,000,000 meals to people facing hunger. The 2018 MTTS charity partner will be named as the event draws closer.
Registration for the 2018 Mini Takes The States will begin in April. To receive the latest MTTS news, opt in at MiniTakesTheStates.com. —Scott Blazey
[Photos courtesy of BMW AG.]
