JUNE 26-29, 2023
SANTA MARIA, CA
Mini Meet West 2023/ Santa Maria, California
Mini Meet West 2023 will be the 50th time people from all over the country come together to celebrate the fantastic wee little car we all love, the Mini! We spend much of our time cleaning, repairing and driving our Classic Minis and MINIs. Then we throw a couple of bags in the boot and charge off into the sunset for a week of fun with other like-minded enthusiasts. We get to show off all our hard work and the fun we’ve had for the last year. All Minis and MINIs are welcome. Even if yours just rolled off the showroom floor.
From the beautifully restored to the show room perfect and from those rare stock Minis to the outlandish thematic and modified track cars, Minis take center stage! Held in Santa Maria, California, a relatively new wine country destination that has all the appeal of a small town with none of the limitations. Santa Maria is a car town for sure. If you just watch the traffic roll by on any of the main streets in town, you will see a great cross-section of classics, street rods, lead sleds, muscle cars from the 60s and exotics.
Santa Maria is about 5 hours south of the San Francisco Bay Area on US Highway 101 and is located between US101 and the historic Pacific Coast Highway (California Highway 1). There are many wineries to the east of town on the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail and a growing number of micro-breweries close by. If you would rather do a bit of walking around, the Discovery Museum and Adventure Safaris Dinosaur Warehouse is great for kids. Other museums include the Santa Maria Museum of Flight, the Santa Maria Historical Museum and the Natural History Museum. The coast and beaches are within a 30 minute drive on back roads. The events for the week are less than a ten minute drive in town.
The Historic Santa Maria Inn
801 South Broadway, Santa Maria,
California 93454
Phone: 805-928-7777 | Fax: 805-928-5690
https://www.santamariainn.com/
The Santa Maria Inn is our host hotel for the week. It is located right on the main drag in town, Broadway, and very easy to get to from US101.
“Located in the spectacular Central Coast wine country, Santa Maria Inn has been a California landmark since 1917. This charming hotel in Santa Maria, CA blends the style and elegance of an English country inn with modern hospitality. With its palm trees and soothing fountains, the Inn is an oasis of tranquility and luxury, offering unique experiences for leisure and business travelers.
A registered historic landmark and celebrity retreat, the Santa Maria Inn offers beautiful guestrooms and luxury suites, some with fireplaces and patios. Savor delectable California cuisine in The Century Room with a romantic ambiance set against a crackling fire and sip local wines in the Wine Cellar and Martini Bar.” *
The hotel has two types of rooms, historic and modern. Historic rooms are all unique reflecting the time they were built; long before “one-size-fits-all” hotels and resorts built today. But make no mistake, they have all the modern amenities you might expect. There’s even supposed to be a ghost or two wandering around! Modern rooms are exactly what you would expect, comfortable and quiet. All rooms have televisions and refrigerators. Suites, not included in our preferred room rates, have a full kitchen, living room with large bay windows and a bedroom.
Parking is free and the hotel front lots will be roped off for us to park our wee beasties. Imagine all those Minis and MINIs lining the front of the hotel grounds, spectacular! Hotel security is 24/7, so no worries about your special car. Trailer parking will be provided for either on site or within a short driving distance. More about trailer parking will be included here as it becomes available.
We recommend that you stay at the Santa Maria Inn as you might miss out on last-minute changes to the events. You might also really enjoy kicking back at the end of the day in the Tap Room with a cool drink and lots of conversation about the day with other Mini/MINI fanatics. Book your room early as rooms can be filled quickly; the Santa Maria Valley is a popular area to visit in the summer months due to the usually beautiful weather and the vast opportunities to explore.
The hotel room rate for our meet is $129 per day, plus taxes and fees, in both the historic and modern rooms. Hotel reservations are open now, please call the hotel at (800) 462-4276 to make your reservations. The dates blocked for our event are Monday, June 26th through Thursday, June 29th, 2023. Be sure to mention “Mini Owners of America” when you make your reservations to secure the special event room rate. Checkout should be Friday, June 30th since the Banquet will run late into the evening on Thursday
If you have any questions about the hotel, parking, trailer parking or need any special arrangements, please visit our Contact Page to send us an email and we will do our very best to contact you quickly with answers.
*From the hotel’s website
EVENTS SCHEDULE
Day 1: Meet & Greet - Check-in
Monday, June 26, 2023 (Late afternoon)
Check into the hotel, relax, and come join us poolside at the Cabana Room. Registration will begin at 4PM. Refreshments and a no-host bar will be available. See old friends, meet new ones, and plan your fun for the rest of the week.
Day 2: Show and Shine
Sponsored by Heritage Garage, Costa Mesa, CA
Tuesday, June 27, 2023
Off to the Show & Shine we go. This event will be held at Center Stage at the beautiful Santa Maria Fairpark. It's just a few minute drive to the show on the grass. Spectators can easily walk to the event from the host hotel as we spend our day showing off our cars and renewing friendships.
Day 3:
Autocross - Hosted by Golden Gate Lotus Club
Funkhana - Hosted by Seattle Area Mini Owners Association (SAMOA)
Wednesday, June 28, 2023
Just a few blocks away from the Santa Maria Inn we will meet at the Fairpark parking lot where the Santa Barbara County Fair is held. The Autocross course will challenge all drivers, novice to experienced, to drive and post their best times. With any luck none of us will get lost amongst the cones! Bragging rights will be convened upon those who excel. If driving madly through cones is not your cup of tea, the Funkhana Event (Hosted by SAMOA) will supply a somewhat more sedate competition. That is, if you can stop laughing due to all the fun you’ll be having while completing silly tasks with your Mini and passenger(s). The Funkhana tests the drivers in their abilities to back up, turn, and maneuver safely with twists, turns and things to do.
Day 4: Rally - Sponsored by Gildred Racing
Thursday, June 29, 2023
The Mini Meet West Rally will be a fun drive around Santa Barbara County. All the participants benefit from a free lunch provided by the Rally Sponsor, Gildred Racing, at the end of the drive at a historic ranch previously owned by 5 time oscar winning actor James Stewart.
Day 4 Evening: Closing Banquet and Farewell
Thursday, June 29, 2023
Thursday night, Mini Meet West 2023 will conclude with a banquet at the Santa Maria Inn, where we relive highlights of the event with photos and fish stories. The winners of the Car Show, Autocross, Rally will be announced and awarded. As this year’s installment of Mini Meet West concludes, it is sure to be with glasses raised high in a toast to camaraderie and appreciation for all that we have shared. And as we drive home reflecting on all the good times, they will become inspiration for next year’s event announcement, Mini Meet East Meets West!
CONTACT US
REGISTRATION
1st Option // Registration through our partners at Hagerty MotorsportReg
Avoid the hassle and register online by clicking this link to be taken to a new window
2nd Option // Download Form and send payment through Paypal
* Pre-Registration is available until 05/31/2023 at the rate of $185 per single attendee (with 1 auto) and $90 per Enthusiast (guest of attendee) and includes the banquet.
* Late Registraton is available after 06/01/2023 at the rate of $220 per single attendee (with 1 auto) and $110 per Enthusiast (guest of attendee) and includes banquet.
* Please see Registration options above for detail pricing.
OUR SPONSORS
Many thanks to our Sponsors that make Mini Meet West possible. If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities, please send an email to minimeetwest@gmail.com and someone will get back to you with standard and custom sponsorship opportunities.
Interested in sponsoring?
Mini Mania is the largest online provider of MINI Cooper Parts in the United States, and we are delighted to offer you the most comprehensive range of OEM and Aftermarket MINI Cooper parts and accessories.
Phone: 800-946-2642
Heritage Garage is the one-stop shop for all your Classic Mini needs. With over 40 years of personal Mini experience, my goal is to offer the best service and the best parts prices to the growing number of Mini owners nationwide. Located in Costa Mesa, California
Phone: 949-646-6404
Gildred Racing specializes in Vtec engine conversions, where we remove the classic mini drivetrain and install a modern Honda motor and transmission. We offer custom interiors, paint and body work, complete engine packages, and ground up restorations.
Text: (805) 316-6464
Jay Leno's Garage started with a modest mission, develop premium detailing supplies that work, are affordable, and are easy to use. Products that any car person, regardless of skill-level, can pick up, use on their own vehicle, and achieve the same show-stopping results we strive for at my garage.
Phone: 888-930-8743
With insurance for classic cars, boats, motorcycles, and more, Hagerty was built to protect your collectibles as if they were our own. Join today!
Phone: 877-922-9701
Wild Child Classic Cars is your source for classic car repair, specializing in classic Minis, MG, Triumph, and other British vehicles.
Phone: 480-361-9072
Calver Special Tuning is a specialist in the classic A-series engine, mainly for Minis but also for all in-line applications such as Midget, Sprite, A30, A40 etc.
Email: keith@calverst.com
Minispares: We supply and manufacture parts and accessories for the repair and restoration of all Classic, Cooper, Austin, and Rover Minis.
Email: sales@minispares.com
Whether it’s running Historic Mini’s to countless wins at iconic meetings including the Goodwood Revival and Members Meeting, to the Dunlop Mini Miglia Championship with back-to-back championship wins, to success in rallying, lift the bonnet of a race winning Mini and you will probably find a Swiftune Engine.
Email: sales@swiftune.com
Med / Classic Mini Engine Specialist
Since 1981 our aim has been to improve the BMC A-Series, an iconic engine that served BMC and later, Rover, from 1951 to 2000. Millions were produced in that time, in the UK and abroad.
Email: sales@med-engineering.co.uk