Microcar 500 Information

 We can now share some of the facts of the Tour itself. There was a total of 8 cars and 2 scooters who completed the Tour.

We hope you will include this Pre-show tour in your planning for attending the Micro/Mini Car World Meet 2021 at the Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners, MI. We are planning on visiting 5 Great Car Museums, in 4 days and cover slightly over 600 miles. See below for a list of the Museums and overnight stops.

There is no charge for this tour. All of your hotels, meals and admissions are at your own expense. That way you can stay at the hotel of your choice, eat where you want to and still enjoy the fellowship of like-minded Micro and Mini car owners.

Can’t take 5 days off to join the entire tour? Don’t think your car or your body will make this length of trip? That’s fine. Join up at any point along the way. Simply meet the tour in the morning, before they leave on the next day’s drive. Just let Jeff Lane know you are joining the tour so we can include you in the planning.

                                                             Message from Jeff Lane - Tour Organizer

I want to welcome everyone to the Microcar 500 Tour to the Microcar World Meet 2021. I have the route laid out, and ahead, will be a little over 600 miles of fun and adventure! On the route, there are no interstates, some 4-lane divided highways, but mostly 2-lane roads. The only two major cities we pass through are Nashville and Indianapolis. 

I will be leading the group with our 1956 Heinkel. Speed will be 35-45 mph. To some, that may not seem like much, but because we will be driving this speed for hours on end, it’s pretty tough for a microcar. First, I want to note this tour happens in mid-summer in the South. It’s going to be hot. I encourage you to test your cars for an extended period of time in the heat.  There is a huge difference between driving your BMW Isetta to the local ice cream shop on a nice evening, vs. driving it at 75% of full throttle for two hours straight. I can tell you from experience that 200 miles in one day is a long day. Lots of hours in a seat that is uncomfortable, lots of noise, lots of heat and lots of vibration.

I know that not everyone is going to drive the full four days, and that’s fine. We only ask that you join us on a night stop in order to keep track of all participants. Please contact Jeff to determine the departure time each morning. If you just come and go as you please, it will be difficult to keep up with everyone. 

Breakdowns… there will be a few. One of our mechanics is driving the route with our 24 foot enclosed trailer in tow. If someone’s car breaks down, we will all stop, and approximately 20-30 minutes will be spent trying to fix the problem. If the car can’t be fixed, it will go in the trailer for the rest of the day. Please be aware – if your car cannot be fixed that night, we will have to leave it at the night stop, and you will be responsible for retrieving it. It is necessary to leave each morning with an empty trailer. Also keep in mind, once we get to the World Meet, you must arrange to get your car back to LMM or wherever it needs to go. Please bring spares for the car you’re driving. We will have generic items, but if someone is driving a Fiat 500 and needs a distributor cap, we won’t have it. 

General Arrangements – I have noted the hotels for each night stop, and there are several options. You are responsible for making your own reservations. There are no room blocks, so reserve a room as early as possible. I hope we can have lunch and dinner together, but again, I have not made any reservations or booked any group tours. Our schedule has to remain flexible in case of any breakdowns. Of course, visiting the museums is optional, and you will be responsible for admission. I’m sure I haven’t covered everything. If you have any questions or comments, please email me at lane@lanemotormuseum.org.
                                              

                                                  Detailed Itinerary and Hotels

Sunday, June 13 – Tour of Lane Motor Museum. (LMM)

10:00 AM Museum Opens and we will gather in the back parking lot. 

10:30-11:30 AM Open time to explore the collection in the basement. 

12:00-2:00 PM We will take a short drive (5-10 miles) to a lunch spot with our Micro cars.

2:30-3:30 PM Drive a few of the Lane Motor Museum cars around the parking lot (weather permitting) 

3:30-5:00 PM Continue exploring the Museum Monday morning,

Monday, June 14 – 9:00 AM – Leave LMM driving to the National Corvette  Museum in Bowling Green, KY (72 miles). We will have lunch at the Corvette Museum. 

Monday afternoon, June 14 – 2:00 PM – Leave the Corvette Museum and drive to Elizabethtown, KY (84 miles). The night stop Monday is at Hilton Garden Inn, 203 Commerce Dr. Elizabethtown, KY (270-900-4899). This is Exit 94 off I-65. There are four other hotels nearby:  Ramada, La Quinta, Comfort Suites, and Hampton Inn. 

                                                          Monday total mileage – 156 

Tuesday morning, June 15 – Leave Elizabethtown, KY and drive to Brownstown, IN for lunch (108 miles). 

Tuesday afternoon, June 15 – Leave Brownstown, IN and drive to Indianapolis, IN (88 miles). We will stay at the Wingate Hotel (317-269-6297). This is on Rockville Road, Exit 13 off I-465, Indianapolis, IN. There is also a Motel 6, Microtel Inn & Suites, and Comfort Suites nearby. 

                                                           Tuesday total mileage – 196

Wednesday morning, June 16 – Leave the hotel and drive to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum which is about 3 miles. We will spend 1.5 – 2 hours there, then drive to Noblesville, IN for lunch (39 miles). 

Wednesday afternoon, June 16 – Leave Noblesville and drive to Auburn, IN (116 miles). We will stay at the Hampton Inn in Auburn, IN (260-925-1100). There is also a Holiday Inn and Baymont Inn nearby. 

                                                          Wednesday total mileage – 155

Thursday morning, June 17 – We will stay in Auburn and visit the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum and the National Automotive & Truck Museum, which is right next door. Lunch is on your own. 

Thursday afternoon, June 17 – 1:00 PM – Leave for Kalamazoo, MI. There, we will stay at the Four Points by Sheraton, 3600 E Cork St (269-385-3922). 

                                                       Thursday total mileage – 94.6 

                                                    Total mileage for tour – 601 miles

                                          ADMISSION FEES TO THE MUSEUMS      
Lane Motor Museum Free for Microcar 500 Participants

National Corvette Museum $15.00/Adults $13.00/Seniors

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum $12.00/Adults $11.00/Seniors

Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum (ACD) $12.50/Adults

National Automotive and Truck Museum (NATM) $10.00/Adults - Note a “Campus Pass” to include both the ACD and NATM is available for $20.00/Adults

                                                                 Registration Form

Please print out the Registration Form, fill it out and sign it below and send it to: 

                                                            Microcar 500 Tour 

       c/o  Lane Motor Museum, 702 Murfreesboro Pike, Nashville, TN 37210 

                     or email it to Jeff Lane at lane@lanemotormuseum.org. 

Name(s) __________________________________________________________

Address___________________________________________________________ 

City, State, Zip ______________________________________________________

Phone # (Cell Preferred) _____________________________________________

Email address______________________________________________________

Car(s) ____________________________________________________________

 Will need parking for trailer at Lane Motor Museum______Yes ______ No                    

Trailer size? ______________________ 

Comments/Requests? _________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

                                                                         Liability Statement

As a participant in THE MICROCAR 500 (the “TOUR”), I attest that any/all vehicles I register/drive on the TOUR have a valid: 1) state inspection sticker, if applicable; 2) License plate; 3) Insurance policy conforming to MI’s minimum state requirements. I also attest that such vehicles shall be operated: 1) only by the vehicle owner; 2) only after engaging all safety equipment therein; 3) carrying passengers/cargo only in accordance with the vehicle’s specifications, and 4) in a safe manner, in accordance with state laws and pursuant to instructions provided by Tour organizers.

As a Participant in the Microcar 500 Tour, I agree to indemnify and hold harmless forever The Micro/Mini Car World Meet 2021, the Lane Motor Museum, all participating clubs, all officers, and volunteers from and against all liability and loss that I and/or my family/guests may sustain or incur as a result of participating in the Microcar 500 Tour, including but not limited to any personal injury, property damage or other losses. I agree to all above terms and conditions.

Signed ___________________________________ Dated_________________

Please contact Jeff Lane at 615-742-7445 or by e-mail at lane@lanemotormuseum.org.