In 2006, MINI owners gathered at an event called MINI Takes the States. Our Car Coach, Lauren Fix, tells us more about the event.

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In 2006, MINI owners gathered at an event called MINI Takes the States. MINI owners rally across the country, stopping only to eat and sleep while having a blast along the way. This year it commences on the East Coast with a big bang in the nation's capital on the Fourth of July. From there, the drive moves westward, bound for the City of Angels. Let’s take a closer look.

MINI Takes the States travels from New York to Los Angeles through 16 states, 13 cities and countless towns in between over 3,347 miles one way.

Thousands of people and their MINIs will motor across thousands of miles to celebrate the freedom of the open road. Making it all about the MINI community is what makes MINI Takes the States so much fun.

In addition, MINI will launch three new London themed cars: MINI Convertible Highgate, MINI Bayswater and MINI Baker Street will all make their first public appearance in North America.

There’s even a MINI Clubvan equipped with a built-in BBQ grill, a concept car, to help host the ultimate "bootgate" parties along the way.

A MINI cross experience is offered to test your driving abilities on a coned autocross course.

For young drivers, the Miles Ahead Program instructors are educating teen drivers with their intensive educational activities.

Attending the MINI Take the States Event is paratriathlete Michael Johnston, who is traveling with the event. Johnston is a U.S. Paralympic Team hopeful.

BMW Group, as a proud partner of United States Olympic Committee, announces MINI USA's partnership with the Paralympic Team for MINI Takes the States, as the charitable recipient of the Road Rally. A portion of proceeds will be donated to the U.S. Olympic Committee to support the Paralympics Movement and the 2012 athletes who will compete in the London Games and 2014 Paralympic hopefuls as they train.

MINI Takes the States is an experience any car or MINI enthusiast would enjoy.