It was a valiant effort and it set a continental record, but the world record was narrowly out of reach—this time.
The world record for the largest parade of Mini automobiles is still held by the London & Surrey Mini Owner’s Club in England. In 2009, they gathered 1,450 Minis at the historic two-mile race track around London’s Crystal Palace Park. A tremendous effort by North American Mini drivers to capture the record happened on the 1st of August 2015, as 1,319 Mini drivers rallied across the 500-foot high, five-mile long Mackinac Bridge across the Straits of Mackinac that connect Lake Huron with Lake Michigan. Sadly, the attempt was short by 132 of the little cars.
The biennial Mini rally across the bridge was organized by Mini of Grand Rapids and Mini USA, and is officially the largest gathering of Minis ever in the United States, and probably all of North America.
Even though this year’s rally fell short of the world record, it represented a whopping 471 more Mini automobiles than the 2013 event, which saw the first record attempt over the Mackinac Bridge.
“While we didn’t break the world record at this year’s event we were thrilled to see a record number of Mini owners from all over the country motor to northern Michigan just to be a part of this celebration of the Mini community,” said David Duncan, Vice President Mini of the Americas. “We’d like to thank all the owners out there who motored from 38 states and parts of Canada just to be there, as well as the team at Mini of Grand Rapids and St. Ignace Events Committee.”
Mini owners now have a little less than a year to rest up for the next great Mini event: Mini Takes the States 2016. Mini USA recently announced that the biennial cross-country owners rally will kick off on Saturday, July 9, 2016, and finish on Saturday, July 23, 2016. Mini USA has not yet announced the route, but if the 2014 rally was any indication, it will be fun and exciting—and fun.
Because if it involves Minis, it has to be fun.—Scott Blazey
[Photos courtesy of Mini USA.]
