For my first blog, I decided to commend, and brag a little about, the sMUG Group.

Who are we: smart Michigan Users Group / sMUG – The Home Team is a group of smart owners and enthusiasts in and around Michigan and one very interested and active supporter, that being smart Center Bloomfield. We are not the largest group here, but as you can see from our event listing I dare say we’re the most active. Please take a look at the fun we’ve had so far. It’s amazing to me how much has been accomplished by this small group of folks in such a short time. Many sMUG members have taken the initiative to suggest great event ideas and go on to organize and manage them. Congratulations to all of you.

Please visit sMUG member Billo’s web site http://www.itibitismart.com/smug_home.htm
for info, photos, and videos of our events.


The support that smart Center Bloomfield has shown to sMUG should stand as an example to all smart Centers for world class customer service. They have not only opened their business to us for meetings, but also provided refreshment at those meetings, and periodically given out great gifts to sMUG members. Once it was a nice leather smart notebook with a pen/memory stick. Another time it was a copy of the smartisms book. They have assisted in communication by e-mailing sMUG event notices their customers. The Tech Seminar that sCB hosted was fantastic and obviously took many hours to prepare. The upcoming smart Corral event at the Detroit Grand Prix would not have been possible without the efforts and contacts of sCB. Thanks to Rick Cortright and his entire smart team.

We’ve had a bunch of fun, great events, and demonstrated that a lot can be accomplished in a short period of time when everyone works together.

I’d like to offer a friendly challenge to all of the groups here to get involved and host smart events to match or exceed sMUG’s efforts. Additionally, a challenge to all smart Centers to assist your owners and enthusiasts in the same manner that smart Center Bloomfield has supported and helped sMUG.

Finally, if you are ever in our area please join us at one of our events. All smart enthusiasts are welcome. I’m done now ;>).

sMUG – The Home Team Events and meetings to date

2/9/08 – 1st sMUG Meet & Greet at Athens Coney Island, Royal Oak. Attended by 5 very enthusiastic people and two smarts. A humble beginning, but the seed was planted.

3/8/08 – sMUG Organizational Meeting hosted by smart Center Bloomfield. Discussions centered on types of events and the structure of club. sCB provided the meeting room, refreshments, and a very nice smart gift to all attendees. Following the meeting the attending smarts participated in a 30 mile, 2 lane road tour to Bakers restaurant in Milford, known for their Sunday car shows.

3/29/08 – 1st sMUG Meet & Greet of the Western Michigan chapter hosted by stuberman at his home followed by a smart road tour of Grand Rapids’ architectural treasures.

4/19/0/8 – sMUG Meeting with smartUSA representatives to preview the upcoming smartusainsider web site. sMUG members offered suggestions and were informed that they would be invited to participate in the beta test of the new web site.

4/19/08 – sMUG Detailing Seminar hosted by member/owner Kasey at Classic Appreciation, a high end detailing shop. Kasey and his employees demonstrated to the sMUG members the professional tips and techniques to keep our smarts looking great. Once again smart Center Bloomfield provided all attendees with another smart gift. After the seminar a short smart road tour took us to Duggins, a car themed pub in Royal Oak.

5/17/08 – sMUG Technical Seminar hosted by smart Center Bloomfield, where service manager Mark Hovis presented an excellent understanding of smart’s mechanical workings and design. Mark had 5 smarts in various stages of disassembly as well as a ‘cut-away’ transmission for our viewing and understanding. During the meeting a final vote was taken in the ‘name the club’ contest. We officially became smart Michigan Users Group – sMUG – The Home Team. Why Home Team? Because smart Center Bloomfield, our enthusiastic sponsor, is also the home of smart USA. After the seminar and meeting the smart road tour ended at another restaurant. See a pattern here?

6/14/08 – sMUG Meet at Gilmore’s Car Museum in Kalamazoo. All attending smarts were given priority parking on the lawn in front of the restored 1930’s Shell gas station on the grounds. A smart tour to Big T restaurant concludes the June meet.

7/4/08 – Grand Rapids 4th of July parade participation hosted by sMUG Western Michigan chapter.

7/5/08 – Smug Cruise to Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle.

7/12/08 – sMUG ‘Crusin’ Michigan Avenue’ cruise participation in Dearborn.

7/13/08 - sMUG Water Park Meet & Greet in Sterling Heights.

7/18/08 – sMUG Port Huron Cruise Night participation.



sMUG - The Home Team Upcoming and planned events (as of 7/25/08)

8/7/08 – sMUG Meet & Greet at the Walter P. Chrysler Museum at the Chrysler Tech Center in Auburn Hills.

8/16 – sMUG Woodward Dream Cruise Picnic and Cruise. The Dream Cruise is the largest one day car event in the world attracting 50,000 interesting cars and over 1 million spectators. smartUSA will also have a Dream Cruise display including a smart tower. sMUG members will meet for a joint caravan down the Dream Cruise route, then reassemble in a Birmingham city park for a picnic and great spectator area to the watch the Cruise.

8/23/08 – sMUG West Michigan Metro Cruise participation in Grand Rapids

8/30-31/08 – sMUG smart Corral Detroit Grand Prix. This looks to be a great event with the help and support of smart Center Bloomfield. There is a discount ticket package that has special reserved parking for smarts on the island, grandstand seating, paddock pass, parade lap, hospitality tent, and much more.

Fall Date TBD – sMUG Western Michigan Winery Tour

Fall Date TBD – sMUG Traverse City Tour and Weekend Getaway