Rocketboy's MINI Blog - Entry Page

For anyone coming from the north, or east & west of Geneva & Waterloo, we will be meeting at 9 am at the Prime Outlet Mall parking in lot in Waterloo, by the Food Court. (On the right as you come in the entrance, 2nd cluster of stores.) One drawback I've discovered is that the mall doesn't open until 10 am. A plus is that we have the parking lot wide open, but there may not be restrooms available there. I have a short rest stop planned right after the start, but it will be short to make time to get some twisty roads in on the way to Watkins Glen. In order to do that, we will need to leave the Prime Outlet Mall by 9:15. I will try to be there by 8:30- come early if you want to 'meet & greet'.

If anyone misses us at the Prime Outlet Mall, we will be taking a more scenic route, but you might beat us there if you head back out on 318. Right at the light out of the mall, then down to 14 South-left at that light, then follow the 14 South Truck route (or the 14 South other route- are they trying to confuse us in Geneva?), and take 14 all the way down into the village of Watkins Glen. 14 is the main road of the village. 414 follows 14 from 4th St. south, and then splits off to the right after the Burger King. Follow 414 after it splits off (On the right, right after Burger King, also on the right). You will see signs that say 'Racetrack'. 414 intersects County Road 16, and take a right at the light there. After Meads Hill Rd, the racetrack is on the left. Meet us at the 3rd entrance at the Ticket Office.
Or, here are the Mapquest directions for that route.

If coming from the south, from Route 17, Horseheads is the town where Route 14 heads north to Watkins Glen. Here is a link for directions to the Watkins Glen Racetrack from Horseheads (you may want to choose your own start point for better info).

We will be meeting at Watkins Glen, 3rd entrance at the Ticket Office at 11 am.

So the schedule is, roughly:
8:30 AM Meet & Greet at Prime Outlet Mall, Waterloo. There are Mobil stations near the Thruway exit ramps on both Exit 42 Geneva, and Exit 41 Waterloo right near the 318 intersection. 318 is directly opposite the Geneva exit. From the Waterloo exit take a right onto 414 South, then right on 318. (Mobil station is at the 318/414 intersection.)
Mapquest link for the starting point:

Keep in mind there may not be restrooms open at Prime Outlets- there is a Thruway Service Area near the exits both directions- Clifton Springs from the west milepost 337 (Between Manchester exit 43 and Geneva exit 42), and Warners from the east at milepost 292 (Between Syracuse exit 39 and Weedsport 40)

9:15 AM Depart Prime Outlet Parking lot, next stop Geneva Wegmans, McDonalds, Dunkin Donuts on 5&20
9:45 AM Depart from 5&20 for scenic route to Watkins Glen. The route I'm taking to the racetrack incorporates part of the village Grand Prix course, backwards.
11:00 AM Watkins Glen Racetrack- Get passes & sign waivers for track laps ($25 per car, optional)
12:00 noon Watkins Glen Racetrack Track Laps. We may want to have a small 'tailgate party' if there's room in the parking lot there, or people may want to bring a snack.
1:00 PM A Mini parade on the Watkins Glen Village Grand Prix circuit.
2:00 PM Picnic at Sampson State Park, Route 96A Romulus NY (Park Entrance fee is $7 but can be used at other regional parks on the same day. If you have a New York State Parks Empire Passport bring it along.
3:30 PM Optional afternoon drive- to Taughannock State Park, Podunk, back through Watkins Glen to Hammondsport, up to Canandaigua & back to Waterloo. This is about 100 miles, and will take 3-4 hours to drive depending on the group size. Anyone who wants to come along can drop out if they get close to home. I will have a printed route in the next week for anyone who wants to look it over before the run.

Bagpiper is working on a T shirt for the run (Thanks again!)