Irish Mini Owners Club

In the August Mini World page 101, it raises the question " Will the 2017 IMM take place in Ireland," if so, Do hope you get it,

O Dear

Cool but were could hold it!

The suggestion of this was first mentioned in Switzerland in 2010.

The IMOC have attended every IMM since 1989 and there are still a good few members of the Club who were part of the team that organised the IMM in Bandon in 1997. As a Club we know what to expect at an IMM and we certainly have the members and the Club interest to host a successful IMM.

The decision on where to hold IMM2017 will not be made until 23rd of May 2015 in Zarasai near the Russian border in Lithuania. So we have a bit of time to make a positive bid. As the proposal was initially rumoured seven years in advance and that the rumours have grown somewhat in the first two years it is hoped that the IMOC bid will have gained enough momentum and international support that there will be little or no opposition in Lithuania.

As to a venue, we would be looking for somewhere that has a large self contained secure area for camping possibly with some infrastructure for toilets/showers already in place, a hard stand area for parking, a hall of some sort to reduce the cost of marquee hire. I believe that we could expect anything from 800 to 1500 Minis to attend so there could be up to 3000 people to cater for.

The Club is a National Club so members are free to suggest any venue or site that they think would be suitable, it would then be up to the Club to decide on which venue is best. Ideally we should have a short list in place before next years IMM in Kent.

Im open to corrections or opinions on this but could mondello park be suitable ? Its practically central to the country and between parking around the track, stands etc i would imagine that theirs adequate parking, as for holding people the stands can be used for specators, the board rooms/ boxes can be used for catering, recreative activities or even make shift sleeping facilities, it wouldn't have the same space as mugello but between the size of the paddock and the parking around the track i'd imagine theres enough room and theirs a shop/ bar in site.

Getting a free weekend at Mondello might be a problem plus I would imagine the cost of renting it for the week would be substantial, you would also be stuck with the same problem as Mugello in that they will have existing contracts with caterers/suppliers and such. Also the fact that the venue is a race track and giving the nature of such a venue the insurance may be expensive. I agree with you about location and layout but I personally don't think it would be a runner.

It's not going to be easy to get somewhere in this country where the mention of holding an event such as this won't start the dollar signs appearing in the eyes of the venue owners. Again my personal opinion.

Many years ago the club rented Mondello for a half day for £750. After they built the new facilities it shot up to £10,000 for the day!!!

Punchestown would be a perfect location, Has all the facilities but I have no idea of the cost.

imho it would also be a huge advantage to be close to an already established international tourist or geographical landmark.... Newgrange, Adare Castle, Giants Causeway, Cliffs Of Moher - The bid needs a strong visual identity.
In any case, before a final decision on location is reached, photos of minis in cute places can be circulated, supporting Ireland as the venue. - have a quick look through (https://www.facebook.com/DiscoverIreland) pictures and imagine two or 3 minis parked in the photo....

Forgot about punchestown thats bigger again and for schedules and sub events there could be a convoy around naas or to incorporate tourism do like the circuit of ireland, the main highlights of the four corners of ireland, punchestown could be like the imm headquarters and the sub events branching off from there

This is a good discussion, folks.

The club is actively looking for potential locations for an ideal IMM site.

Ideally, the location needs to have the following:

1. Ample space for up to 1000 Minis & tents, a very large marquee/hall to accommodate up to 2000 people along with catering and party area, traders area, toilets, an exhibition area, shower blocks, and a whole load more space to be on the safe side;
2. It must be 100% weatherproof. It can't be a big empty field. Fields get soggy when wet. There must be sufficient roadway around the camping so that EVERY mini has its front wheels on solid ground so that if the heavens open, we're not looking for a fleet of tractors to pull them out. Recent IMMs in Holland & Switzerland used a test track and an airfield very effectively, Birmingham used a big field and was nearly cancelled the day before the event due to bad weather, Italy used the side of a hill and was a muck bath;
3. The location must be near a town where IMMers can buy food/supplies/beer;
4. Not everyone wants to camp so there must either be self-catering accommodation on site or hotels/B&Bs nearby;
5. Ideally, the location should be near local sites of interest so that IMMers can go off on day trips.

Keep the suggestions coming.

Billy

Limerick Racecourse it is then Billy....
.......We'll see how the Festival of Speed crowd get on this year in August.


and it's only across the road from me...good job I'm not biased

Seeing as the Mulqueen ancestral home is right next door, that's fine by me.

how many ppl we talking about? 800 - 1000 minis? plus friends? that's about 3000 ppl with say another 200 for traders... catering, services, security etc... 4 to 5 thousand tops... they would be LOST in a large venue... Racecourses cater for ten times that many...

Just a suggestion. Since this is in the summer, some where like ucd college or wit college campus would have the facilities for this. Also these premises would have student accommodations so plenty of apartment too.

Date wise you would be talking about one of the 3 weekends between the 7 days either side of the 26th-28th of May 2017.

Whitsun 2017 (both of them) is the June 4th 2017.

What about Citywest Convention Centre. It will have ample space for a few thousand people, and day visitors that will be able to pop in and out over the course of the event. Outdoor space in car parks for traders, camping if you wish catering things along those lines. Also the convention centre can be used to display cars indoors or let traders set up so we are not dependent on the weather. The palce is huge so can be used for a number of things Billy mentioned earlier Also it is next door to a 700 bedroom hotel which is on site. These may also be able to do the catering in one of there vast function rooms. As an option. That will work for people who wish not to camp also. It has ample green areas to set up fun activities to do on the weekend. Access for international visitors is also easy enough, it will only be a short enough drive for people travelling with cars from Dublin Port or Dun Laoghaire. Also a Luas stops outside its door so can be accessed from city centre. Area wise it is not a long drive out to the likes of National stud, Japanese Gardens touristy stuff like that in Kildare and surrounding area where runs and day trips can be organised to. My Mothers business is an event/conference organising and we would love the opportunity to help out wit this, we could get preffered rates stuff along those lines to reduce costs. From hotle itself to marquees etc... At an international event two years ago we used citywest and it went great.

If everyone chips in to cover my field with gravel id be glad to host the event 11 acres excludin the workshop, clear the workshop and traders can use it, set up a few portaloos in the stable and campin in the horse arena, be grand just need the mother to get a few pallets of barrys tea bags all laughing and joking aside lads this is a great discussion, alot of great pitches so far and im sure alot more to come, as pointed out race courses would and wouldnt be feasable, all the facilities at hand but too large a venue, ideally human comforts are needed, beding, washing and catering, some form of scenery and a secure ample place to how all the minis, trading posts and maybe some amusement aspect aswell

Any airfields, very large karting tracks, marts, showjumping arenas?

Stayed here last weekend.
http://www.breaffyhouseresort.com/

- 40 acres of grounds (camping)
- Hotel/Apartment rooms
- Leisure (indoor/outdoor) centre
- Good road access
- Close to Castlebar
- Plenty of tourist attractions nearby
- Helicopter pad!!

Has potential for an IMM.......

And they have held car events before, it looks very good on paper and I've already sujested to Joe its worth investigating.

and then there were the airports... as Billy mentioned above:

Galway Airport http://goo.gl/maps/S8u2t does not currently run any scheduled flights... But might be in use with charters, training and private planes/helicopters. Its 8m from Galway, lots to do lots to see! Also just off the M6 so easy to get to.. But for the reasons mentioned above might be difficult to get exclusive or any rights to the tarmac area.




Kilrush Airfield, Co. Kildare, http://goo.gl/maps/psUsL half way between Newbridge & Athy, smaller than Galway, has tarmac, does "car" events, including this year the Garda Motor Club, but but further from main roads and somewhat less to do in the area?

There great ideas lads keep them coming,

keith wrote:how many ppl we talking about? 800 - 1000 minis? plus friends? that's about 3000 ppl with say another 200 for traders... catering, services, security etc... 4 to 5 thousand tops... they would be LOST in a large venue... Racecourses cater for ten times that many...

are these numbers even close to right?