Hundreds of MINI Coopers Take Over Eureka Springs

Ozark Mountain roads fill with MINIs every fall as owners from across the country gather for a long weekend of driving. You’ll have plenty of chances to meet people who happen to drive the same small car and to grow your MINI circle of friends.

THE DEETS

Pick Your Pace on the Open Road

You can choose from more than a dozen guided drives over four days, each rated casual, moderate, or spirited. The Haulin’ Tail run heads out to the Pig Trail and back, and it’s joined on the spirited end by the Hillbilly Hangover Drive and the Mini-Merry-Go-Round. If you prefer a slower pace, the Two State Scenic Tour and the Railway Winery and Butler Creek Distillery run keep things casual, with stops at a winery and a distillery along the way. Many drives include lunch at a local spot, like Oark General Store Café or Byrd’s River Front Restaurant in Ozark. Sunday closes out the weekend with the fifth annual Lawrence Robinson Memorial Drive, a casual run with lunch at the 178 Club. Unless the schedule says otherwise, drives leave from the Inn of the Ozarks Convention Center parking lot, and outside food, drinks, and pets aren’t allowed inside the Convention Center.

A Parade and Car Show Through Downtown

You can catch a parade through the Eureka Springs Historic Loop on Friday afternoon, as MINIs line up ahead of time before rolling through downtown together. Right after, stop by the car show hosted by OK MINI and sponsored by G&S Engraving. Dinner is on your own Friday, and the Mini Skirt Party at Gotahold Brewing (409 W. Van Buren, Eureka Springs) runs from 6 to 8 PM to benefit People Helping People. Stick around that evening for the MITO Halloween Party from 7 to 10 PM. There’s a cash bar and hors d’oeuvres, and costumes are encouraged but not required.

Dinners and a Silent Auction

You’ll catch group meals on two nights, starting with Thursday’s buffet. Saturday brings the farewell dinner, sponsored by this year’s gold sponsor, MINI of St. Louis, along with a reception where you’ll hear how the silent auction turned out and catch the closing announcements before that final buffet.

Sign Up and Get in Gear

This year, MITO is using MotorsportReg for registration, the same platform many clubs use for autocross and track day events. Only one person per household needs an account. If more people are coming, add a profile for each of them under that account and register them too. Drive sign-ups run through the same event page, where you choose the drives you want.

Organizers describe MITO as one of the friendliest regional events for MINI owners, and more announcements are on the way. Bring your MINI and come meet the crowd in Eureka Springs this October.