Saturday October 12, 9:00 AM at HyVee, 1005 E. Hickman Road, Waukee

Join us at 9am at the Waukee Hy-Vee parking lot. We will drive to Drew’s Chocolates, down White Pole road , stop for lunch to be determined (Oinkers or Weitzel’s) then off to the Villisca murder house

The Villisca axe murders occurred between the evening of June 10, 1912, and the early morning of June 11, 1912, in the town of Villisca in southwestern Iowa. The six members of the Moore family and two house guests were found bludgeoned in the Moore residence. All eight victims, including four children, had severe head wounds from an axe. A lengthy investigation yielded several suspects, one of whom was tried twice. The first trial ended in a hung jury and the second ended in an acquittal. The crime remains unsolved. Many believe the house is still haunted by the ghosts of the victims.

On Sunday September 29 the Central Iowa MINI Club has been invited to tour Skunk River Restorations in Ames. Steve Myers, the owner, has offered to have our club visit and view his amazing collection of vehicles and his business. Steve started out with British cars, and he has many, but he also has many other types of cars too. I don’t think I would be incorrect if I said he has at least 100 vehicles.

Address is 709 Airport Road in Ames for those that want to meet us at 3:30.

We will meet at the Fareway store parking lot at 2:45 pm which is on the north edge of Ankeny. Address is 3205 N Ankeny Blvd, aka highway 69. If you come into Ankeny from I35, take the 36th St exit and go west. We’ll depart from there for a group drive to Ames for the tour.

Around 5pm, or after the tour, we will then depart for the Mucky Duck Pub for supper. (NOTE THE CHANGE. Was previously planned for Hickory Park, now the Mucky Duck).

Mark your calendar for Sunday September 29 and we hope to see you there.

Sunday September 22

Jud Stover and the lady Helen will be leading us on a drive to West Bend to view the incredible Grotto of the Redemption. After West Bend we’ll be stopping in Ames for lunch at the Mucky Duck Pub, a British themed eating and drinking establishment. The Mucky Duck is especially noted for their excellent fish and chips and other British fare and also have a shop with a variety of products from across the pond.

We’ll leave MINI of Des Moines at 8 am. After visiting the Grotto we will return through Ames and gather at the Mucky Duck at about 2pm. FYI the Grotto is free but they do encourage donations.

Be sure and bring your fully charged walkies and RSVP by midnight Tuesday, Sept 17th, with the number in your party.

Monday August 26 will mark our third annual visit to this iconic Des Moines Drive In but more important than that it’s Mini’s 60th Birthday! On August 26, 1959 the world had its first introduction to one of the most influential cars in history, the Mini!

The Chili King has been a Des Moines staple since 1952 and is the last remaining classic car hop drive-in in the metro. In the 50’s and 60’s it was the epicenter of the hot rod scene in Des Moines and more recently was featured on the Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” with host Guy Fieri getting one on one with George himself.  You can view the episode at http://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/diners-drive-ins-and-dives/episodes/oldies-but-goodies . We’ll gather at 6:30 PM and plan on filling the drive in slots with MINIs! If you can only make one event this year please try to join us for this one! This should be a fun evening for socializing and basking in the vintage vibe. We won’t need the radios, just drop in, but please RSVP via Facebook or email to Laura no later than Midnight, Saturday, August 24th so we can give George a “heads up”.

Saturday April 27 – 9:00 AM – MINI of Des Moines – 9900 Hickman

Here’s your Spring opportunity to clean up your MINI when it’s generally not so nice outside (we’ll be having another in the Fall). Or maybe just give the inside a good cleaning in the warmth of the service bay. Also a great opportunity to meet and chat with other MINIacs.

Dedicated Willis employees and fellow MINIacs will carefully motor your MINI thru the car wash and return it to the service area. After that it’s all up to you. Bring your own cleaning supplies and cleaning accessories, like glass cleaner, leather cleaner, towels, rags… you get the idea. There will be vacuums for you to use and an area to hose off your floor mats. Be aware the MINI parts department will be closed so picking up supplies that morning won’t be an option.

CIMC merchandise will be available and you can also pay your dues if needed. RSVP’s are always needed for planning so please don’t forget. Please RSVP on our Facebook page or by email to Laura at ljjr101@hotmail.com by Midnight, Sunday, April 21st.

Jeremy Moyle will once again be in charge of our annual contest. Everyone should gather at MINI of Des Moines for the driver’s meeting at 12:15 and to be ready to start out at 12:30 PM on Saturday April 13th.

The event will consist of seven stops around the Des Moines metro area.  Some will be on the outskirts in the suburbs.

Done in the correct sequence the total mileage is about 70 and can be driven in under 2 hours (per Google).

There will be a 2-hour 30-minute time limit to return to MINI of Des Moines.

You won’t be left stumped because you’ll have a cell phone number as a phone a friend option

Don’t let any of the clues be a wrench in having fun on the scavenger hunt!

Please RSVP on our Facebook page or by email to Laura at ljjr101@hotmail.com

Sunday March 10, 12:30 PM, The Tavern II, 1755 50th, West Des Moines

Our final indoor meeting of the season will be at a new location, the Tavern II in West Des Moines which should give us more elbow and conversation room as we’ve obviously outgrown the Wig & Pen. Come and join your fellow MINI owners for some food and fun and to find out some of the things we have planned for the upcoming driving season. It’s also a great chance to update your membership for 2019.

Please RSVP with the number in your party, by midnight, Wednesday, March 6th on our Facebook page or by email to Laura at ljjr101@hotmail.com Weather shouldn’t be a factor because by now everyone’s Winter driving skills have been refreshed!

Join us on Sunday March 3 at The Great Escape, 655 NE 56th Street in Pleasant Hill from 1:30 – 3:30PM. This is a block south of East University, just west of the Highway 65 East University exit. For those that went to our final Ice Cream Drive last year it’s right next to Over the Top.

Who’s ready? Skills or not, everyone can join in the fun. If bowling isn’t your thing come anyway and hang out with your fellow club members! $10 per person gets you 2 hours of bowling and shoe rental. RSVP on our Facebook page or email to Laura at ljjr101@hotmail.com with the number of bowlers by midnight Feb 27th so we can plan on how many lanes to reserve.

Please join us on Saturday, January 5, 1:00 PM at the Wig and Pen Pizza Pub, 2005 S Ankeny Blvd in Ankeny, Iowa to eat, be merry, and conduct a little club business.
It’s time to elect the board of six members to guide our club for the upcoming year. There are two vacancies we need to fill so be thinking of yourself or someone you know to join in helping to keep our club active.
Club merchandise will be available for purchase: short & long sleeve T’s, polos, window clings & grille badges.
Please be sure and RSVP via Facebook or email to Laura by midnight, Wednesday, Jan 2. Motor safely through the Holidays and don’t forget to WAVE!

We finally have a suitable main feature so Saturday September 29 will be the date for our annual night of movies under the stars. We’ll start our adventure with a drive to a feast at Moo’s Blues BBQ in Newton (the location just off the Interstate, not the downtown) around 4:30 pm. We’ll convoy to Moo’s leaving the Hy-Vee on 8th St SW in Altoona, departing at 4:00 pm. Charge up your FRS/GMRS 2 ways and bring ‘em along.

Then we’ll head to the Valle Drive-In, arriving by 6 pm so we can hopefully get in the front row. The Feature Movies are Crazy Rich Asians and The Nun.

The synopses are:

Crazy Rich Asians: This contemporary romantic comedy, based on a global bestseller, follows native New Yorker Rachel Chu to Singapore to meet her boyfriend’s family.
Rated PG-13 for some suggestive content and language.

The Nun: A priest with a haunted past and a novice on the threshold of her final vows are sent by the Vatican to investigate the death of a young nun in Romania and confront a malevolent force in the form of a demonic nun.
Rated R for terror, violence, and disturbing/bloody images.

Admission is still $8 for adults, $5 for ages 5-11 (0-4 are free).

Oh and don’t forget your goodies for the drive-in, a chair and perhaps a battery operated radio for sound if you choose to sit outside (thank you Ric & Pam).

An accurate body count is needed so we can let Moos know how many MINIacs to expect. RSVP via Facebook or email to Laura by Midnight, Wednesday, September 26. Shall we overtake the drive-in?