MTM 2008 May the 23rd to the 25th

[irishminis]

As all Mini enthusiasts will know, 1999 was the 40th anniversary of the launch of the first Mini in 1959. The Irish Mini Owners Club celebrated this important event in 1999 by organising the Mizen to Malin Reliability Run for Minis of all ages. MTM has become an annual club event and following the success of the MTM2007 "Numb Bum Run" for classic Minis only, we are sticking with the same format for MTM2008. As a Mini owner and enthusiast, we would like to invite you to participate in this interesting and challenging event.

Details of this event include the following:

(1) A non-refundable entry fee of €50.00 for paid-up IMOC members (includes driver briefing, road map and route instructions, a limited breakdown service, finisher's award). For non-members the entry fee is €60 to include insurance. Club membership forms can be downloaded on http://www.irishminis.ie. To cover currency conversion charges, Sterling cheques should be made out for £45.

(2) A list of accommodation options for the Friday and Saturday nights will be sent out with entry receipts. We would ask participants to make their own arrangements with the various accommodation providers and we would advise early booking, particularly at the Malin Head side, as this will be a UK holiday weekend;

(3) Registration and driver briefing will be held on Friday night 23rd May at 8.00pm. A roadmap and route instructions will be provided at Registration;

(4) The first Mini will leave Malin Head on Saturday May 24th at 6.00am;

(6) The planned route to Mizen Head will involve a distance of approx 450 miles in one day (hence the early start!);

(7) A number of Passage Controls will be present on the route and participants are requested to check in at each control during the day;

(8) A Lunch and Refuelling Halt will take place midway along the route and will be marked with the passage controls on the route map;

(9) To facilitate late arrivals on the Saturday night, a prize-giving breakfast with presentation of finishers' awards and spot prizes will be held on Sunday the 25th of May.

The event is open to Classic Minis and Classic Mini derivatives only and we would ask the participants to note the following:

* It is important that participants ensure that their cars are in good mechanical running order and capable of completing the event;

* A limited breakdown service will be provided throughout the event for those unfortunate to require assistance! Details of this service will be provided at the drivers briefing on the Friday night.

* We would remind participants that this is a non-competitive event. It is NOT a race nor is it a rally. All participants must observe the speed limits and Rules of the Road throughout the event.

* All cars must have current insurance covering the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

We feel that we have planned both an exciting and challenging event. The planned route passes through scenic parts of Ireland and should allow the cars to maintain a steady pace to complete the event. We have tried to minimise possible delays on the route. We hope you will join us in this challenge. We are particularly interested in having as many different Mini derivatives such as Riley Elfs, Wolseley Hornets, Mokes, Commercials etc. taking part in 2008. MTM2008 won't be a race so don't feel the older cars will be left behind!


If you feel you would like to participate, we would ask you to return the completed entry form with the entry fee of €50/€60/£45 per car before Friday the 11th of April 2008 to

Billy Mulqueen, IMOC
The Old Train House B&B,
Station Road,
Ballyhooly,
Co. Cork,
Ireland
Phone 025-39937
International +353-25-39337
Mobile 087-4195640
E-mail: mtm2008@irishminis.ie

Cheques/postal orders should be made out to The Irish Mini Owners Club. We do not advise sending cash in the post.

Entries after the 11th April 2007 may be accepted but cannot be guaranteed

Watch for further updates on the Irish Mini Owners Club website

[Billy]

Today is March 11th so there is exactly one month to the MTM2008 entry closing date of Friday April 11th. Accommodation is limited so get your entries in pronto.

Billy

[Womble]

Billy, I'll come along on the MTM, get some money off me on Monday before the parade!

[mustard]

is it defo too late to register?????

[kerryminigringo]

Wave a fifty under Billy,s nose and I,m pretty sure he will let you in.

[Billy]

Just printed off the first draft of the second MTM routebook. Next week myself and Neil will be doing the final recces before we head off for the IMM in 2 week's time. Touch wood there'll be no last-minute roadworks/diversions by the relevant county councils or there will be fun and games on May 24th.

This year's route is 24.4 miles longer than last year's but we've built in a few legally-faster sections to move the convoy quicker and get everyone down to Mizen a little earlier. And no, any provisional licence holders needn't worry, we won't be on any motorways.

The finishers' awards have been ordered, Maxi is again kindly designing the plaques for the cars, and Neil is working on his Presidential speech for the prizegiving breakfast in the West Lodge in Bantry on the Sunday morning.

More anon,

Billy

[Julespenfold]

Do you have a rough ETA for getting to Mizen/Bantry so we can let the B & B know

Ta
Jules

[Billy]

Jules,

Best tell them later to be on the safe side i.e 8-9pm though hopefully we should be back earlier. Ask how far your B&B is from the hotel as I'm not aware of any within walking distance. If it's too far and you want to have a drink in the "mini-bar" on the Saturday night, why not book into the West Lodge as we'll also be having the prize-giving breakfast there on the Sunday morning.

Billy

[Julespenfold]

We tried to book into the West lodge (as was the Malin) but it was fully booked. After much chatting with the local B&B's we have settled with Ard Na Greine which is about 2 mins away and they have given us details of a local taxi company should we feel its too far. Not that we think we may need a drink of course

[Billy]

Hi Julie,

I just rang the West Lodge and they still have 8 rooms allocated for us. You must mention The Irish Mini Owners Club to get one of our rooms otherwise they will tell you they are full.

For anyone else who has yet to book, don't say you weren't warned!

Billy

[Julespenfold]

Thanks Billy, I must have got a receptionist who didn't know I will try ringing again

[Julespenfold]

Just rang and spoke to a lovely lady we are now booked in at West Lodge

[The Marcos Graveyard]

Well, yesterday, I was up at 5:20am and with the assistance of John Barry, we drove to Malin Head and did the recce for the top half of this years MTM, some small changes to mileage and some additional junction information was added, and we are now happy that Route Book 1 is ready to be printed, Billy has already done the second half, so all is ready for printing to commence when we return from the IMM.

As we have said already, and not being ones to rest on our laurels, this is another new route this year. and is one we know you will enjoy.

So with less than 3 weeks to go, start prepping your Mini now for MTM 2008.

TMG