Mini drivers rally from San Francisco to Boston (pictures)

Mini's bi-annual Mini Takes the States cross-country rally began on July 26 in the San Francisco Bay Area. Hundreds of Mini owners from all over the world gathered for the two-week event, which ends in Boston on August 10.

The Minis on hand covered the model ranges, from the basic Hardtop to the Countryman to the Roadster. Oddly, no original Minis were to be seen at the launch event.

More than just an owners' event, Mini Takes the States benefits a charity. For 2014 Mini's partner is Best Friends Animal Society, a US organization that seeks to prevent animal shelters across the nation from killing cats and dogs.

The participating Mini owners demonstrated their originality. This Hot Wheels Mini makes a wry comment on the car's toy-like size.

This lowered Mini probably handles very well, but may not be the best mod for a cross-country road trip.

Both Spitfires and Mustangs sported teeth paintings, but shouldn't this Mini have an RAF roundel?

This Mini verges on art.

This AC Schnitzer-modified Mini Cooper Coupe sports gold metallic paint and red stripes, and has nothing to do with the San Francisco 49ers.

This Mini joins the Mini Takes the States rally as one leg of a round-the-world trip from Germany.

Participants must become expert at packing their small cars.

Of course, a Mini roof rack can hold a lot of extra shoes.

Not all roof racks came from the Mini accessory line.

With a spare tire and two water jugs, this driver is prepared for trouble.

A custom trailer for your Cooper Clubman means nothing gets left behind.

A Sony Action camera mounted between the seats will capture a lot of the journey.

This GoPro is aimed for exciting footage of the Mini badge.

And what modern event would be complete without a drone or two?

The Mini flag flies over the sea of rally participants.

And the Union Jack was flown by more than one car.

This British bulldog looks eager for the trip to begin.

This carbon fiber spoiler looks like it's done plenty of track-day service.

Quad foglights on this Mini have been the death of many an insect.

Yellow headlights give this Mini a European flavor.

And of course someone had to decorate their car with lashes.

The front plate makes a good place for your motto.

Stickers adorned many of the cars, helping passerby to figure out why all these Minis are about.

This sticker lays out the rally route.

"Actual Size" proves a very popular meme among Mini owners.

This driver looks ready for shenanigans.

Smile when you get behind this Mini.

The German world-trekking Mini sports the best stickers of all.

If you are about to drive off on a two-week road trip, make a pit stop first.

These Minis are ready to go.

Mini Roadside Assistance is ready to help.

Mini is bringing along a mobile hotspot to keep the participants connected.

Before any of the drivers could leave, Tony Hawk insisted on jumping some of the cars on his skateboard.

This Mini Cooper parts and accessory supplier brought a sick racing Mini to the rally start.

SiriusXM satellite radio was on hand as a sponsor of the rally.

For some reason, Peeps marshmallow chicks are also a sponsor.

Local Mini dealers came out to show their support for the rally. East Bay Mini brought its own Guardsman in a Cooper Roadster.

San Francisco Mini brought a merrily painted Cooper Clubman.

The support staff for the Mini Takes the States rally rides comfortably in a tour bus sporting the logo, "Mark your Territory from Coast to Coast." Nice work, guys.