On August 1, 2015, Mini owners from all over the country—and perhaps the continent—will gather in Michigan to attempt to set the world record for the longest parade of Mini Cooper cars ever as they traverse the longest suspension bridge between anchorages in the Western Hemisphere: the Mackinac Bridge.
Mini USA and Mini of Grand Rapids has put out the call to all Mini owners to assemble in St. Ignace, Michigan this summer for a second attempt at the world record of 1,450 Minis that was set in London, England in 2009 by the London & Surrey Mini Owners Clubs. The first attempt was in 2013 and was sponsored by Mini of Grand Rapids. “We knew pretty quickly that we had built something special as soon as we started seeing Minis with license plates from all over the country motoring through our city,” said George Sharpe Jr., CFO for The Sharpe Collection, owner of Mini of Grand Rapids. “This year, with the help of Mini USA, we hope to break that record and solidify a place in the Mini history books…that maybe we can break again someday!”
At 10:30 am on August 1st, the first of what will surely be a mass of Minis will head north from Mackinaw City, Michigan up Interstate 75 and across the Mackinac Bridge, which spans the Mackinac Straits between Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. After crossing the bridge, the cars will be counted and then the Mini drivers—we hope the world record-setting Mini drivers—will assemble in St. Ignace for lunch, entertainment, and prizes at the St. Ignace Bear East Arena. Following lunch, the Mini mega-party can continue with the Bayside Music Festival in downtown St. Ignace, and then celebrate with fireworks at dusk.
Registration is now open at http://www.MiniONTHEMACK.com.
The registration fee of $25 for adults and $15 for children will cover the bridge crossing toll, event set-up, mementos, lunch, music, shuttle service in St. Ignace, and entrance to the Bayside Music Festival.
“Last summer thousands of Mini owners joined us for an epic 5,000-mile rally across the U.S. during Mini Takes the States, so we are really excited to see how many owners and friends join us this summer for Mini on the Mack,” said David Duncan, Vice President Mini of the Americas. “We anticipate the Mini community will gather in full force to once again cross the iconic Mackinac Bridge and try to break the world record!”
For those who haven't driven the Mackinac Bridge, it is an adventure and an awesome experience, and we don't toss around the word awesome lightly. If you drive a Mini, and you've always wanted to be part of a world record in the Guinness World Records book, you may never have a better chance.—Scott Blazey
[Photos courtesy of MiniUSA.]
