The MADMEN Odometer – December 2012
December didn’t have us on the road as much as a group as some months, but we still had lots of smiles. We tried to take it easy this month to give everybody more time to spend with family and all of the holiday plans and activities that many of us have with family and work.
On December 8th the Annual DMC Holiday Party had the Desert Rat Pack join us in Tucson at Cattletown Steakhouse and Saloon where about 35 DMC members gathered and swapped stories and gifts. We had a special room set aside for our group and the parking lot was filled with MiNis while the room was filled with “family and friends”. We had the traditional gift exchange in which many great items switched hands and fun was had by all. The DMC provided some door prizes ranging from T-shirts to Tools, Signs and more. After the party many of our members headed over to the 4th Avenue Winter Street Fair for shopping and entertainment.
Your Co-Chairs took an opportunity to really put on the miles for both personal business, pleasure, and fact finding for some future runs we are planning. Lets just say that 4 adults, around 3,500 miles in a Countryman with a rooftop luggage box is an interesting combination. We gathered information for our runs to Roswell and Memphis, as well as future runs in the greater Southwest.
Our Last Saturday Breakfast was not only the last Saturday of the month, but the last Saturday of 2012. On December 29th 26 MADMEN met at Beyond Bread on Oracle Road and nearly took up half the seating area. We had old friends and new ones join us for a great time of visiting and eating. After this many of us went to Marsha and Dave’s house to discuss plans for the trip in February to Roswell NM. This trip is dubbed A MINI Weekend Abduction-Roswell. To make a full day of it we then went to see an Elvis Presley tribute artist perform, that should help us get in the right frame of mind for our April roadtrip to Memphis. MME on the BBC!
Here are some of the upcoming events planned for January and the very first week of February, we hope to see you soon.
Thursday January 10, 6pm– My MINI Has the Munchies for some Southern down home cookin’ so we’re heading to Mays Counter Chicken and Waffles. Located at 2945 East Speedway in Tucson chef Aaron May serves up chicken and waffles (natch), steak, catfish, sandwiches, tater tots, shrimp and grits, pickle chips and much more. This is some seriously good food and I am aleady dreaming about the shrimp and grits.
Saturday January 26, 8am– Last Saturday of the Month Breakfast will be at Millie’s Pancake Haus at 6530 E. Tanque Verde. Pancakes are a specialty but the menu also includes waffles, French toast, omelettes and more.
The decor is Old World Grandma style or Brothers Grimm fairy-tale-cottage, kinda kitschy but comforting.
Saturday Feb 2 is the Santa Cruz Valley Car Nuts show in Tubac. The proceeds from the car show go to scholarships and a graduation car for Sahuarita High School.
The car show starts at 10am and there will be time to stroll through Tubac as well. Lunch plans are still being discussed and The Velvet Elvis in Patagonia has been mentioned.
Our usual meeting place for the drive to Tubac is the Home Depot parking lot at I-19 and Irvington Road. Exact time for departure will follow.
January Tracks
Greetings Motorists,
We hope your holidays were filled with smooth roads and fireworks.. Because everything is better with fire.
Last month we participated in our annual Holiday Light Run. It was cold and rainy, but the lights were pretty. Thankfully, by the time we made it to our destination, the rain had stopped and many of us enjoyed the festivities put on by the town of Glendale.
January Events:
Jan. 6th – Cars & Coffee – MINI of Tempe:
The first Cars & Coffee of the year. Come on out, chat with the dealers, owners, or just come for the free donuts.
Jan. 13th – Second Sunday Sweets – Rita’s Arrowhead, Glendale, AZ:
Featuring Italian Ice and Old Fashioned Custard, Rita’s is sure to satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth.
Jan. 19th – South Mountain Run & Brunch:
South Mountain Park in Phoenix, Arizona, is the largest city park in the United States, one of the largest urban parks in North America and in the world. Join us for a quick jaunt up the mountain. Once at the top, get out and enjoy the view. On the way down, we’ll continue along Central ave to enjoy a nice brunch at Good Egg.
Jan. 19th – Third Saturday Car Show (Scottsdale Pavilions):
Join us at Arizona’s longest running weekly car show. We are usually parked in first and second rows as you enter the parking area. With the nice weather becoming standard, arrivals will begin earlier, around 3-4 pm.
Jan. 23rd – DRP Go-Kart Night:
Ate too much turkey or gobbled five pumpkin pies all by yourself? Burn some of that off while coming out for some friendly competition on the track, even if you don’t want to race, come hang out and cheer on those who do! K1 features all electric karts for all the fun without the noise and smell of the gas karts. For more info about K1 Speed, visit their website.
Don’t forget, there’s also a drag race night being organized by one of our members Schyler!
Let’s race! It’s been far too long since we’ve hit the drag strip and I’m thinking this will be nice after all the holiday stuff is over and just before school starts up again. Open inviteDoors open at 6pm, $20 to race and $10 to watch. Check out the website for race rules:
http://www.firebirdraceway.com/web/streetdrags.html
As always, stay safe, check your oil, maintain tire pressure, and above all.. Motor on!
