Unforgettable MINI experience
Bled/Portorož. In the time from 4th to 6th June 2010 Slovenia hosted the first MINI Alpe Adria Summit. The event that offered the MINI brand fans the opportunity to enjoy in the three day MINI experience staged the largest get-together of the MINI brand fans in Slovenia so far: 106 MINI vehicles with more than 180 participants from 12 countries. Several participants came even from distant countries like Russia, Ukraine and Great Britain.
MINI brand fans who drove their own cars to the event were fascinated by the unique combination of the exciting event program and the experience of driving through the almost magical countryside of Slovenia, from the Alps across the mountain pass to the sea.
On the very first day the participants were greeted by beautiful weather which followed them into a sunny weekend. On Saturday morning the caravan of 106 cars started from the idyllic town Bled (world famous for lake with a small island in the middle) and headed towards the Slovenian ski centre Kranjska Gora. Then followed the drive up to the mountain pass Vršič (1611 m), where the participants made a Red Bull PIT STOP. The impressive caravan of MINI cars then continued down through the picturesque national park to the valley of Trenta, driving alongside the emerald river Soča, all the way to Nova Gorica. In Nova Gorica the MINI representatives prepared a special surprise: the presentation of the MINI Countryman, model to be launched only in September 2010. This new model, the first member in its family with the length of more than 4 metres and with 4 doors as well as with the option of the four-wheel drive system 4X4, was presented by Michael Mendrina, MINI brand manager Central Eastern Europe. The participants were very excited by this new member of the MINI family.
The route then took the MINI caravan to the seaside town Portorož, making a great impression upon their arrival. Slovenia has never seen as many MINI cars at one place yet. All the participants will always remember the main evening party in the MINI Club at the beach. MINI and participants of the MINI Alpe Adria Summit were the star of the evening in Portorož. The participants of the MINI Alpe Adria Summit proved that MINI fans know how to party until the early morning hours.
On the last day the participants tested their abilities in a kart race at the Kart Track Lucija. MINI drivers proved to be great go-kart drivers. A bit of competitiveness and good spirit were a guarantee for a lot of fun. The fastest racers also won special prizes.
The friendly get-together finished with the promise to meet again at MINI event in Slovenia.
Participants came from the following countries: Slovenia (42 vehicles), Romania (13 vehicles), Ukrain (12 vehicles), Germany (8 vehicles), Austria (7 vehicles), Slovakia (7 vehicles), Italy (5 vehicles), Croatia (4 vehicles), Hungary (3 vehicles), Bolgaria (2 vehicles), Russia (2 vehicles) and Great Britain (1 vehicle). Since this was the first international MINI community event in Slovenia the number of participants exceed all expectations.
New MINI Drivers
The organiser of the MINI Alpe Adria Summit was the New MINI Drivers Club from Slovenia. It is a club with over 50 members. The first ideas about a Slovenian MINI club came from a MINI fan Anže Andoljšek, who was infected by the new MINI virus back in 2001 in a German speaking part of Europe. Slovenian fans of the MINI brand to start connecting in 2003. Until the end of 2008, for 4 years, their unofficial community grew slowly but steadily. In 2008 they decided to make one step further, so they officially registered their society in May 2008. New MINI Drivers run a Slovenian MINI web portal with their own forum, gallery and daily updates related to this cult MINI brand.
They have organised numerous events, each of them unique in its own way, such as trips with a variety of attractions throughout Slovenia (MINI rafting, safe drive trainings, participation at presentations of new MINI models, celebration of the 50th anniversary of the MINI brand in cooperation with MINI Slovenia, including the two events with especially great response: the annual autumn meeting »Grand Tour De Styria« BK and »Pre-New Year’s MINI Bowling«. MINI drivers from Slovenia have visited with their cars different MINI events in Germany (e.g. Strahlung Pur), MINI Challenge in Salzburg and the largest MINI event in the world – MINI United.
New MINI Drivers cooperate closely with MINI Slovenia and with the authorised MINI dealer MINI Malgaj, who also supported the MINI Alpe Adria Summit (main sponsors of the MINI Alpe Adria Summit).
Official website of the New MINI Drivers club www.mini-klub.com
