This past Sunday was the second year for the Baron MINI benefit rally. This year, donations were collected for Harvesters, a local food bank. With three canned goods, each person was treated to a continental breakfast at Baron and then a police escorted drive through the city ending at Worlds of Fun amusement park where everyone got in for free.

About 170 MINIs turned out for the event and it was great to meet a lot of new owners. I gave out more than 40 business cards so I'm sure I'll be cranking out loads of more MINI graphics before the end of the year.

One of the highlights was having the I-435 freeway blocked off as nearly 200 MINIs screamed by - and I mean screamed by as in I hit 95 MPH at one point as we did our best to keep up with Kansas City's finest.

We didn't stay very long at Worlds of Fun - long enough to ride a roller coaster and get wet on the whitewater raft ride among a couple of others. I'm amazed how the place hasn't changed much in the almost 20 years since my last visit. It's dangerously close to being a state fair with more asphalt and fewer horses. Come to think of it, I didn't see a single horse so a state fair (pick a state, any state) probably has a leg up on WOF. I guess I'm an amusement park snob. Too many trips to Disney World and Universal Studios will do that to you.

A gallery of photos from the day can be viewed here.