Press release

Signing off: MINI TAKES THE STATES 2010

By Tamara Warren

MINI TAKES THE STATES 2010 is drawing to a close. Last night, the entire gang of MINI owners parked their cars at the final stop at Infinity Park in Denver and relaxed under the Colorado night sky. Children played. Friends danced to the music. Couples held hands. Roads stories were shared and became the stuff of legend. People complained of belly aches from all the good laughter.



Blues Traveler played a set of their hits with meandering guitar rhythms and a few special cover songs. Lead singer, John Popper, had the crowd chuckling with his off-kilter MINI jokes, thanking the crowd for their "cooper-ation" at one point. Ha, ha. The Princeton, New Jersey natives had people on their feet for their biggest smash "Run Around" which reached #4 on the Billboard charts when it was first released in 1995 and they played a long satisfying set for their fans. They are no strangers to MINI owners. They also performed at MINI TAKES THE STATES 2008.



For many of the owners, the closing night was bittersweet. Next year, the major MINI rally will take place in Europe in an event called MINI UNITED. (However, I bet several of these fervent owners will have their cars shipped on a freighter to get in on the Euro-action.) MINI USA Chief Jim McDowell spoke to the crowd and expressed his hope that MINI would come together again in 2012. (Always a good sign when the head honcho is a big supporter!)



Today they will gather for one final breakfast before they hit the road for the long solo drive home. Many will drive straight through to make it back for work on Monday morning. MINI owners are serious about motoring. And they wouldn't have missed the 2010 festivities for the world. That's right, MINI took the states.