Go Forth. Go West. Go MINI. MINI TAKES THE STATES 2012 Confirmed To Kick Off July 4, 2012

The biggest official MINI road rally is scheduled to take place again this summer. The bi-annual MINI Takes the States (MTTS) rally will kick off on the east coast Wednesday, July 4th and will make the cross-country trek to the Pacific Ocean concluding on Sunday, July 15th.

“MTTS is perhaps the brand’s greatest demonstration of our commitment to the MINI community,” Jim McDowell, VP of MINI USA told Miniology, “During MTTS, MINI USA acts on its promise to deliver a motoring experience unlike any other brand, engaging owners and their families and ensuring they enjoy their MINI to the fullest extent possible.”

As MINI celebrates its 10-year anniversary this year in the US, thousands of MINI owners and enthusiasts will join the cross-country rally, or a leg of it, dotting the horizon with a gleaming caravan of MINIs.

Along the way, MINI USA will provide its loyal owners and enthusiasts with genuine, once-in-a-lifetime motoring experiences.

The 2010 event included a run on the Bonneville Salt Flats and laps on the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway, in addition to other engaging daily activities.

MTTS 2012 route details and adventures are still being finalized; full details will be provided in the coming weeks.

Some of the stuff you can bet Miniology will be covering:

- Sneak peeks and early test drives of all-new MINI vehicles and technologies.

- Interviews with MINI executives and owners for unique feature stories
Autocross experiences demonstrating MINI’s performance and handling.

- Immersion in the festive, cheeky MINI culture and the lifestyle the brand offers interaction with the charity partner chosen to receive net proceeds from the registration fee.

Participant registration begins in April, but owners and enthusiasts can sign up now to receive updates at www.miniusa.com/mtts.

Will Keith’s RedBull hold out for the drive home?

Who knows! But you can watch his last video, plus review any that you missed along the way, at his official site http://keithsminis.com/

And for some of Keith during the 2006 MTTS, be sure to check out StarLord’s YouTube Channel, Episode 8, where Keith is seen driving his Classic Mini (yep, he did MTTS in a Classic back then, before he bought the bumblebee hehe)

Denise and Laura report from MTTS Denver…

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Kat and Brent tie the knot at Mini Takes The States! Congrats to both! May you enjoy a lifetime together!

Here is Keith’s run over the famous salt flats (you can see Miniology reporterettes Denise and Kat in his video!)

Denise uploads this quick one from Denver as the Blues Travelers take the stage at MTTS!

Denise Mueller files this wicked report.

Alternately, click HERE to watch or download from dotmac/mobileme, or subscribe in iTunes!

Our friend Keith is also doing a video diary of his MTTS adventures and you can see them on YouTube. Here is his latest:

Screenshot of the moment..

Here are a few fresh pix Denise has uploaded from her continuing adventures with Mini Takes The States. We are also in receipt of some hot new video that we will be sending down the iTunes pipeline later today.

Here is Denise’s report for today:

MTTS started in San Diego California on Saturday August 7th at 7am with a Poker run to LA for me and several of my West Coast MINI club friends. We ended in LA for the official MTTS LA Launch and MINIcross driving event & new MINI Countryman Launch party.

Sunday 8/8 was LA to Phoenix AZ for a MTTS Pool party at the host hotel.

Monday 8/9 was Phoenix AZ to Las Vegas via Route 66 and Oatman to say “Hi” to the Donkey’s. Party at Mandalay’s “MINUS 5″ lounge in Vegas that evening. When 3 of us pulled into Vegas, we did a full video interview for MINI USA about the trip so far and our MINIs.

Tuesday 8/10 was Vegas to Salt Lake City. Another opportunity to get in front of the camera was offered (and I relunctantly … lol … abliged). I had a couple video cameras attached to Diablita, and a videographer in the car as we drove down the Vegas Strip! Sooooo awesome! A long day of driving after that, and a small party at MINI of Murray in Salt Lake City before hitting the hotel for the night.

Wednesday 8/11 was Salt Lake City to Grand Junction Colorado. By far the BEST day for me, as we did a jaunt to the Bonnelville Salt Flats for a run on the salt. Did 110mph on the run with the top down and full of luggage! Tooooo fun!!! Car wash, lunch, then a beautiful drive to Grand Junction to get a good nights sleep!!!

Today, Tuesday 8/12 we are heading to Winterpark Colorado to start MINIs in the Mountains (another MINI event) along our route to the final destination of DENVER for MINI Takes the States! What a trip this has been!!!!

Denise will be reporting all along the way through MTTS and Mini’s In The Mountains as she reaches Denver.

Watch for her video on Miniology TV, being released later today.