For those of you that aren’t subscribed to the AMVIV Mailing List (which you really should be), Agro sent out another update today. Friendly reminders and a change to the Strip Cruise. Read on! Hi everyone. As promised, here is a list of suggested things you might want to bring to AMVIV this year. It’s not an exhaustive list, so make sure you pack anything else you think you might need. Cash – can’t use a credit or debit card at the tables or slots you know. And many of the vendors won’t be set up to accept card payments. 2-way radios – official AMVIV channel is 7 sub 21. Camera!!! Empty memory card (or plenty of film if you’re still using it) and batteries. Chargers for your phone, camera, 2-ways, Ipods, laptops, etc. Detailing Supplies – if you’re into that, there will be a detailer onsite if you prefer, see below for details. Snacks – for the drive and for hanging out around the MINIs Water – Vegas is usually pretty dry and you can get dehydrated faster than you realize. Especially if you’re imbibing “adult beverages”. Shorts and t-shirts for the late morning/afternoons, a jacket and maybe jeans for the evenings or if you’re going on the Mt Charleston Run. It’s March and it can get chilly in the dark hours, and the top of the mountain is usually around 20 degrees cooler than Vegas itself. Sunblock – I get sunburnt every year, and I KNOW better! Sunglasses Hat – or you can buy any of a wide variety of hats at the Vendor Village during AMVIV, including the fabulous official AMVIV7 hat from the Sin City MINI Club booth. We also have a few of the green AMVIV6 hats left over from last year, but they’re likely to go fast. Swimsuit – if you’re from Canada, the Midwest or Northeast, the weather will feel positively balmy and the pool at Aliante is BEAUTIFUL! Aspirin/excedrin/tylenol – I’m just saying… Extra pair of good walking shoes Nightclub clothes – if you’re into that kind of thing Folding chairs – if you can squeeze them in, you’ll want them for hanging around the MINIs in the garage. Ok. On to other things you need to know. Pre-registration will close at 10pm Pacific time on Thursday (3/18) night. Once pre-reg closes, you will no longer be able to buy breakfast tickets, the shirt/hat combo or guarantee that you will get your size of shirt. We had a nice bump in registrations after the email I sent out earlier this week, here’s hoping that happens again. We’re getting right down to the wire now. We are also changing the Strip Cruise again. I told you in the last email that we’re changing the staging point to a little further south and having the Police help us out by controlling the traffic lights to get everyone out onto Las Vegas Blvd. THAT IS NO LONGER THE CASE. Our wonderful police dept here in Las Vegas decided at the last minute that instead of charging us around $300 for this, they were going to charge us over $1200, which we can’t afford. So the organizing committee has decided on a new plan for the Strip Cruise. Ignore what is in your event book and instead follow these directions that were handed to me to pass along. A printed copy of these will also be in your registration bags. Subject: AMVIV STRIP CRUISE RE: AMVIV STRIP CRUISE—-CHANGE OF PLANS Our experience with previous Strip Runs has shown us that it is impossible to establish a “convoy” of MINIs lasting for more than a few stop lights. The strategy this year will be to have all AMVIV MINIs cruising the Strip within the same time frame but spread out somewhat evenly along the 5 mile Strip corridor and going in different directions. This will give us a much greater opportunity to see fellow MINIs in opposing traffic; more photo ops, more chances to wave and honk at one another. So here’s the plan: (See map above) Cars numbered 1--75 --Entry A -- Sahara Ave Cars numbered 76--150 --Entry B -- Spring Mountain Rd Cars numbered 151--225 --Entry C -- Tropicana Ave Cars numbered 226-- and up --Entry D -- Russell Rd All cars should enter the Strip at their designated entry points between 8:30–9:00 PM. (The closer to 9:00 PM, the better.) Entry points for A & B turn right (south) on Las Vegas Blvd. Entry points for C & D turn left (north) on Las Vegas Blvd. Las Vegas Blvd. (the Strip) is undeniably, block for block, the most photogenic 5 miles of pavement on the planet. On a Friday night, at this hour, it is thick with traffic—– but the traffic does move in spite of momentary periods of apparent gridlock. Let’s be a noticeable part of that traffic. Traveling from Sahara to Mandalay Bay Hotel is, on average, 20-30 minutes in either direction. Let’s remember, we are not in a hurry. Just “Go with the flow, as slow as the flow may go!” The objective of our cruise is to create a greater than normal presence of MINIs on the Strip where the photo bugs among us can capture bright photos and videos of the iconic VEGAS STRIP with MINIs in the foreground. The North/South lanes of the Strip are usually close enough together to offer great shots of opposing traffic with the Big Resorts as background. For maximum exposure, this cruise should have MINIs going up and down the Strip from 9PM to 10:30 PM. Save any exploration of points of interest until after 10:30 PM. “Up and down the Strip”, for the purpose of this cruise, is from the Sahara Hotel to the Mandalay Bay Hotel. There are several traffic lights across from the Sahara Hotel and Mandalay Bay Hotel where it is legal and safe to make u-turns. The perspectives from both North and South lanes are unique and rewarding for all cameras, still and video. Enjoy the views, be patient with the traffic, and take lots of pictures. Another thing I need to remind you of is that the Thursday run to Calico will incorporate the first ever “official” AMVIV group photo shoot and we’d love to have as many MINIs and Minis taking part as possible. For the West Coast MINI clubs who are convoying in, this would be a great way to kick off AMVIV weekend, and you’ll get to convoy the last 170 miles or so with a HUGE group of MINIs. I’m still eagerly awaiting people telling me they need foamboard to enter the 4th annual AMVIV Photo Show. I’ve had a couple of people express some interest, but no-one has for-sure entered yet. Even if we only get 1 entry, it will be displayed, but I’d love to see a couple of dozen again as we’ve had in past years. I know I’ve still forgotten things, but it’s taken me 2 days to get this much written, so I’m going to send it now. Look for an update with whatever I forgot in a couple of days. See you in a couple of weeks. Andrew “Agro” Ross. More...