Magical Mystery Mini Tour 2008 - San Francisco

Overview

This event will be a gathering of MINI/Mini Cooper enthusiasts from the west coast and some from overseas, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and others. We expect to have nearly 500 Minis. This will be a three-day event, starting on Friday and ending on Sunday evening.

Our event will be headquartered on the Great Lawn on Treasure Island in the San Francisco Bay. There will be Port-O-Lets/washing stations, tenting, dumpsters, fencing, tables, food vendors, and Mini vendors. We will have parking along the Great Lawn. Each participant will have a wrist band and their Mini will have a windshield sticker. This will provide identification and access to the Great Lawn and other events during the weekend. There will be security & parking attendants.

The Great Lawn on Treasure Island offers one the most spectacular views of San Francisco, especially in the evening with the San Francisco skyline on the background. The centerpiece of the event will be a Saturday Night sunset BBQ dinner on Treasure Island, followed by a live concert playing into the evening.

There will be daily Mini runs into outlying areas, including the Golden Gate Bridge, the Marin Headlands, Mount Tamalpias, Stinson Beach, the Napa & Sonoma wine country, the Santa Cruz Mountains, and a Sunday morning sunrise bonfire and breakfast followed by a drive through the streets of San Francisco.

Non-Driving activities will include shopping and sightseeing to such favorites as the Golden Gate Bridge, Angel Island, Alcatraz, a Dinner Bay Cruise, a ride across San Francisco bay on the Golden Gate Ferry, cable cars rides, visits to Fisherman’s' Wharf, Ghirardelli Square, watching Sea Lions, Pier 39, Russian Hill, a visit to the Cliff House, Beach Blanket Babylon Show, the De Young Museum, the Exploratorium, The Metreon Theater at Moscone Center, Palace of Fine Arts, Golden Gate Park, China Town, Japan Center, Muir Woods, and the Haight-Ashbury district, shopping on Union Square.

Schedule:

Friday:

Friday morning we will begin gathering at the Great Lawn on Treasure Island. This will the time for people to register, check into hotels, and get acquainted with the events, programs, maps, and give time for some tourist sightseeing and shopping in San Francisco.

Friday evening we will have a DJ for 4 hours 6-10PM to provide music and entertainment.

There will also be a Giants baseball game that evening (7:15PM) for those that wish to visit AT&T Park (Pac Bell Park), one of the “gems” of Major League Baseball.

Saturday:

Saturday morning we will have a Mini run across the Golden Gate Bridge, then up to the Marin Headlands, Point Bonita Lighthouse and the retired Nike Missile Site, up Mount Tamalpias and Stinson Beach.

Also for those that wish we will have Mini Cooper Day at Infineon Raceway (Sears Point). For the entry fee of $20 we will be able to enjoy the “Pinks ALL-Out” drag races which will be telecast on SPEED TV. Infineon will provide a MINI only corral and perhaps (time permitting) some parade laps around the picturesque 12-turn 2.2 mile racetrack.

The racetrack is located right at the gate to the Napa/Sonoma wine country. For those that wish to visit the lush Northern California wine country and stop by and sample some of the finest wines in the world, we will provide maps with locations and routes.

Saturday Evening will start at 5:00PM with a catered sunset BBQ dinner, followed by a live concert at 7:00PM featuring “Waterloo” – Northern California’s Premier Abba Tribute Band. Music will play until 10:00PM. Dinner will be prepaid and dinner tickets will be provided in the registration packets. These tickets will be required to get your dinner. Again there will be security, parking attendants, and a paramedic and fire marshal on duty.

The 10:00PM end to activities will allow those who wish to experience the San Francisco nightlife to return to the City by the Bay. We will of course be providing a list of hot spots & nightclubs for your entertainment. BUT beware…..

Sunday morning will arrive early. We have a sunrise beach bonfire and breakfast planned to get you started before the “Steve McQueen Memorial Run” begins through the streets of San Francisco. This run will include visits to Lombard Street, Coit Tower, Ocean Beach, the Broadway Tunnel, Twin Peaks, amongst many other San Francisco Landmarks.

On Sunday afternoon we will hold our Santa Cruz Mountain Run. This will wind us through the twisty “roller coaster” roads in the South Bay. There will be a Giants/Pirates Game at AT&T Park for those who wish to go.