The Fresno River is a river in Central California and a major tributary of the San Joaquin River. It runs approximately 68 miles (109 km) from the Sierra Nevada Range to the San Joaquin River.  The Fresno River is formed by the confluence of Nelder Creek and Lewis Fork near the locality of Yosemite Forks.  From this point, it flows south to Oakhurst west for several miles, then southwest to Hensley Lake. Below the lake, the river flows southwest to  Madera, then west to the  Eastside Bypass. The river exits the bypass then flows generally northwest to its confluence with the San Joaquin River, just north of  Highway 152.

This is a private event for MidCal MINI members and their guests.

When:    Saturday, June 9, 2012

What:     A MINI run followed by river volleyball, grotto exploring, and floating and cooling off in the River

Food:      Hot dogs, Subway sandwiches, lemonade and water will be provided.  Bring your favorite finger/nibble food, such as chips or veggies and dip, or if you prefer, dessert, watermelon, potato salad, etc., and bring your favorite beverage.

Bring or wear:  Swimsuits, water sandals/shoes and sunscreen.  Some camp and beach chairs are available but even more would be better, so bring your own.  You may also want to bring a towel, hat and camera.

Itinerary:  11:30 am – meet up at the house and drop off your “stuff”.  Take a quick run around the “block”.  Lunch and river fun will follow afterwards.

An RSVP is required.  Be sure to email mcm@midcalminis.org confirming your head count and what food you intend to bring.  Please RSVP no later than Saturday, June 2.

This year marked the 16th anniversary of this two-day event, which was held on Saturday and Sunday, May 5th and 6th. Classic cars frommany different manufacturers were featured, spread throughout several different classes. This was a great opportunity to watch the competition between classic race cars such as Mini, MG, Triumph, Lola, BMW, Porsche, Camaro, Corvette, Mustang, Formula Ford, Super Vee, and many more at this well-known local venue. There was a two-day car show, celebrating 50 years of the MGB as well as a Saturday night BBQ.   Our very own Steve Phillips raced his Mini this year and Jon Brothers was able to snap some great pictures.  Steve won the Mini – Sprite – MG Challenge race on Saturday and he was also the fastest qualifier for Sunday’s race, but due to an oil pressure issue chose not to run the Sunday race. Better to be safe than sorry, as they say…..

Check out the Club Phone Album, British Extravaganza by clicking here.

The Raceway Park is located at the Lerdo Highway exit off Interstate 5, approximately 40 miles south of Kettleman City (I-5 and Hwy 41).

For more information about VARA, go to their website at Vintage Auto Racing Association – Home Page.

If you are like me, your calendar is filled with graduations, weddings, family vacations, etc., but not to worry.   There are still lots of short MINI Adventures happening in May, June and July that you may want to participate in.  And while not all are official MidCal MINI Events, they are MINI events just the same.  Watch for posts on the Club Calendar as well as the right hand column on the webpage for events that members and others  may find interesting.  Oh and if you are lucky enough to get away, we expect 500 words or less on “What I did on my MINI Adventure”.  Just kidding, but pictures would be nice.

Speaking of pictures, I am trying to figure out just how to enable access for members to upload pictures directly to the Club Photos area of the website.  I have not quite figured that out yet and have engaged the services of my “In-House Geek”, better known as my sister Bitzie.  Be patient, we will get there; but you know how it goes with family, you are the last to be assisted when it’s free!  Shhh, don’t tell Bitzie I said that.

Update: I guess it pays to rag on your sister on the web as she has figured out how to enable the picture upload feature on our webpage!  Members interested in uploading pictures just need to log in and send a quick message to KIKImowse via our Messages function and you will be given upload rights.  We can set up a specific album for a particular event and we have created a Miscellaneous Album for general Club use.  Select the Album you want to post to and start uploading.  Once uploaded the Administrators are required to approve and post the pictures.  This is just the way WordPress works.

The cost is $40 per person which includes the $10 gate fee, track drive during lunch on Saturday and Sunday, the Saturday evening BBQ, High Speed Slalom with instruction and paddock parking.  Kids under 14 are admitted free.

Classic cars from many different manufacturers will be featured, spread throughout several different classes.  This venue provides a great opportunity to watch the competition between classic race cars such as Mini, MG, Triumph, Lola, BMW, Porsche, Camaro, Corvette, Mustang, Formula Ford, Super Vee, and many others.

The event features a full food bar and merchandise shop at the track.  Lodging is available close by for those interested in making this a full weekend.  In store this year for those in attendance will be a two day car show, celebrating 50 years of the MGB.   

Buttonwillow Raceway Park is located at the Lerdo Highway exit off Interstate 5, approximtely 40 miles south of Kettleman City (I-5 and Hwy 41).

More information and car show entry forms may be obtained by going to the VARA website at Vintage Auto Racing Association – Home Page, or by calling 1-800-280-8272.

Not born from the gold rush of ’49, Hornitos was a strictly Mexican village built as if it had been transplanted from Mexico. “Hornitos” means “little ovens” in Spanish.  The town was never the same after it was invaded by the “undesirables” from neighboring mining camps. However, as the gold began to give out along the Mother Lode, the town started to return to its original form with the demand for law and order. The name of the infamous Mexican bandit, Joaquin Murieta, is still associated with Hornitos as he was almost captured there in the early 1850s, but escaped. Fortunately, much of the town can still be seen as it was during the days of the gold rush. It is located of off and west of highway 49 and west of Mariposa.

The town was founded by Mexicans who were run out of neighboring town of Quartzburg for the crime of being Mexicans. In its heyday Hornitos was a wide-open camp whose streets were lined with fandango halls, bars, and gambling dens. Today Hornitos lives on as one of the best preserved ghost towns in the Mother Lode with the ruins of the old Wells Fargo office, the stone Masonic Hall, the jailhouse, the store where the firm of D. Ghirardelli got its start in the 1850s and others.  

It was then a few more twisties before heading to lunch at “The Peppery” (13494 Mono Way, Sonora) which was exceptional once again this year.  Great food and our server did an outstanding job.  After lunch it was off to Jamestown and ice cream!  The group walked through the shops and just took time to enjoy the day and each others company.  At about 3:00 the MINIs formed smaller groups to make the trek back home again; some to Mariposa, some to Oakhurst and others back to Fresno and beyond.  Another great Run, with good friends and smashing little cars!  Be sure to check out the Club Photo Album of the Jamestown Run.

Rotta Winery, in Templeton California, is located west of Hwy 101 just south of Hwy 46, at 250 Winery Road.  The winery, owned by Mike Guibbini, featured and included a Winery Tour, wine tasting and a catered box lunch for all participants. An added feature was a live band warming up for the evening wedding of Mike’s niece. After a great afternoon, a few of the MINIs headed over to Morro Bay for the night and to take in some local color and events.

Rotta Winery, founded in 1908 by the Rotta Family, is the only remaining family owned “original” winery in San Luis Obispo County. Mike Giubbini, grandson to the Rotta Family and Mark Caporale of Napa, have combined their talents to “bring back to life” the historic and rustic winery. Today, Rotta Winery, just as in days of old, specializes in premium red and white wines along with flavorful and distinct dessert wines.

May brings flowers and the Monthly MidCal MINIs meeting.

When: Friday, May 18th at 6:30 pm

Where: Yosemite Falls Cafe at Granite Park, 4020 North Cedar Avenue, Fresno, CA

Directions: 168 East to the Shields Ave exit.  Make a left turn onto Shields Ave. heading West.  Then take the first right at Cedar Avenue, heading north.  Travel 0.7 miles and enter Granite Park from the main driveway on Cedar.  Make a left turn on the round paved area.  Yosemite Falls Cafe is on your right.

Parking: Just after passing Yosemite Falls Cafe on your right, head further north to the pack of the parking lot.  We line up the MINIs in the back as the parking lot gets very busy as the night goes on.

RSVP: Go to the Club Calendar tab and select May 18th. Once the date opens, complete the RSVP form. Be sure to account for each individual that will be in attendance. Reservations are by person, not by car or by couple. (You must be a registered member of this website to RSVP). See you at the meeting.