MINI CONVERTIBLE BOAT TO JOIN DAD VAIL REGATTA

Woodcliff Lake, NJ – May 8, 2013… Visitors to the 2013 Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta on May 10-11 will experience an intriguing sight that they won’t be expecting… a Chili Red MINI Convertible appearing to ‘drive’ on the water along the Schuylkill River during this famous annual festival of university and college rowing.

It will be the first time that the specially-created MINI Convertible ‘boat’ has visited Philadelphia and it can be seen throughout Friday and Saturday cruising on the river.  This one-of-a-kind boat was the brain-child of the MINI USA Eastern Region and was built as part of the MINI USA’s Not Normal sales event last October.

“MINI is known for being unconventional, and sponsorship at an event like the Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta is an opportunity to make a lasting impression with attendees, and add value to the event by further increasing its fun factor,” said Laura Towey, Regional Business Manager, MINI USA. “The MINI Convertible Boat’s appearance of actually motoring on water is so convincing that it provides guests with an amazing tale to share even after they’ve left the event.”

Powered by a 6 hp outboard motor, the MINI Convertible boat features a fiberglass mold of the car mounted to a boat hull, and accessorized with authentic MINI parts, including headlights, taillights, grille, steering wheel, badges, wheels and tires.  It was constructed by ACI Composites Inc, based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and trimmed so that the wheels rotate in the water reinforcing the illusion that the MINI Convertible is being driven on the river.

The MINI Convertible boat is appearing as part of MINI USA’s sponsorship of the 75th running of the largest inter-collegiate regatta in North America, which has been celebrated every year (excluding the WWII years) since 1934. For those on dry land, MINI will also feature a display of its vehicles at the event with product specialists on hand to offer more info to those who are interested. MINI will also stage an ergometer contest for spectators to test their rowing skills, with prizes awarded to contestants.

For 2013, the Dad Vail Regatta is expected to attract more than 35,000 visitors to witness 3,700 rowers from 127 universities and colleges competing in 150 races along the six-lane, 2,000 meter Olympic length course.

Spectator admission to the regatta site, located on Kelly Drive in Fairmount Park just northwest of city center, is free.  Public information can be obtained by phone: 215 542 1443 or e-mail dadvailpr@verizon.net and on the event’s website: www.dadvail.org

MINI in the US

MINI is an independent brand of the BMW Group. In the United States, MINI USA operates as a business unit of BMW of North America, LLC, located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey and includes the marketing and sales organizations for the MINI brand.  The MINI USA sales organization is represented in the U.S. through a network of 117 MINI passenger car dealers in 38 states. MINI USA began selling vehicles in the U.S. in 2002 with the introduction of the MINI Cooper and MINI Cooper S Hardtops.  Since then, the MINI Brand in the U.S. has grown to encompass a model range of seven unique vehicles.

Journalist notes: Media information about MINI and its products is available to journalists on-line at www.miniusanews.com. 

Consumer information about MINI products is available via the internet at: www.MINIUSA.com

###