It’s been over eighteen years since Toyota final bought a midship runabout two-seater, however that doesn’t cease a gaggle of devoted fans from assembly up yearly simply north of New York Metropolis for MR2 Bear Mountain. The occasion has been rolling robust since 1997 when a gaggle of 4 MR2 homeowners went for a drive collectively. These single-nameplate occasions actually develop the camaraderie and companionship that actually are one of the best components of the automotive group.

Pals you make within the automobile world might be buddies for all times, and seeing them yearly at an occasion like this one is as near going to summer season camp as you’ll be able to actually get as an grownup. And even higher, these MR2 of us use their annual summer season camp trek to boost cash for the American Most cancers Society. You get to have enjoyable whereas giving to a superb trigger? Implausible!

Whereas the occasion began with simply 4 vehicles, it grew to round 180 vehicles in a pre-pandemic peak. This 12 months a wet forecast saved many from attending, however 109 vehicles nonetheless confirmed as much as courageous the rain and lift over $10,000 for most cancers analysis. The man who began what was then generally known as the Bear Mountain MR2 Assembly, Mr. Joel Pearlstein, died simply six months after the primary occasion, taken by an aggressive mind most cancers. Yearly since then the occasion has been devoted to his honor and has generated tons of of hundreds of {dollars} in donations.

Over the course of three days in late September on the Bear Mountain State Park, these fans go for drives, host a automobile present, throw a potluck barbecue, and simply typically cling about and chat about vehicles, life, and the that means of each. With the park nearly 90 minutes north of Instances Sq., the group all the time takes a Friday night time jaunt into the town. Saturday sees scenic drives within the Hudson River Valley, then the present and shine. Sunday is for breakfast and saying goodbyes. What a fantastic, if exhausting, solution to spend a weekend.

In contrast to many of those single-model occasions, MR2 Bear Mountain doesn’t gatekeep the Celica or Supra homeowners. When you’re a Toyota sports activities automobile fanatic, you’re most likely welcome. I wager they’d even permit the odd 2000GT or Lexus LF-A in case you confirmed up in a single.

Subsequent September you’ll most likely need to hang around with some extra MR2 of us, and I’m certain the occasion would welcome a bunch extra attendees, so take a look at the occasion’s web site, and get your mid-engine Toyota prepared for it.