Over the weekend, I attended an auto show at a local BMW Dealership in north Houston. The event had participants divided into about 7 different categories, and about 6 New Generation Mini's and 1 Classic Mini in the Mini Category. Now, this classic Mini was a great little car, obviously not street legal, probably a racer, had their own tent set up away from the other Minis, matching shirts with the Mini's name over all the breast pockets, a really together presentation.

The event provided for 3rd, 2nd and 1st place prizes in most categories, announced in that order. I was very surprised when the Classic took 2nd place and my Mabs took first, but pleased, none-the-less.

When I came back from getting my award, the owner of the Classic was standing where I had been, speaking to a group of people who'd been standing behind me, and when I approached, he said, rather loudly, "It's not even a British car anymore". I looked at him and asked if he was addressing my Mini, and when he applied in the affirmative, I told him that she certainly was a British car, that she'd been manufactured by the same people who built his car. He stomped off and went to the Cooper, got in, revvvvved it up, and drove off, apparently to his hauler; the noise from the exhaust was louder than the announcements of the winners from the other categories.

While everyone kind of snickered at his obvious show of poor sportsmanship, it got me to thinking

Is there an undeclared elitemanship battle being waged between the New Generation and Classic Mini Cooper that most of us are unaware of?

 

There used to be...but even in the UK many have come to own and love both the classic and the New MINI. Mini car shows here (and there) generally feature both cars. That guy was a laggard...points off for failure to adapt!!! Good for you coming up with a response that puts things in perspective.

 

There are snobs for just about everything, sounds like you found one for classic Minis.

I know a few classic owners and they are great with the new MINIs and still love their classic. A couple of people who own both classic and new gen (R53s in both cases). They don't think less of either car.

 

I have had the same issue with classic Mini owners and clubs who have shown great disdain toward my Mini. I guess mine is just to NEW for the Classic guys. Many, not all, classic Mini enthusiast feel that only series one Mini's are real Mini's (exterior hinges, sliding windows) or up til' about 1967 when they stopped importing them to the states.

I have found talking with classic owners that their cars are quite often Australian built, yet they claim their cars are more British than mine? I think quite a few classic owners felt threatened when BMW went about designing the New MINI. They take their frustration out on the BMW MINI owners not realizing that if it weren't for BMW keeping the MINI brand alive it would have just gone the way of so many old British marks and all people would have said when they saw a classic is "isn't that one of those old British cars".

A few classic owners don't realize the opposite is true. Because of BMW, not inspite of them, many more people know what a classic Mini is when they see one. I'd say that's a Win-Win situation. I have great repect for BMW MINI owner and their cars, in fact I belong to a BMW MINI car club because the classic Mini club gave me the cold shoulder, yet the BMW MINI group welcomed me with open arms and my car has been very well received.

Besides MINI owners like to MOTOR, not give excuses why their car isn't running or in a million pieces on the garage floor. I leave you with these immortal words.............Can't We All Just Get Along

 

yea..what he said....

I'm an original 02 owner, and bought my 79 in 04..it's right hand drive.

There r still some of the classic crowd who really look down on the new car. But I'm finding more and more Brit car clubs welcoming the MINI because they realize that it is a way to get new participants.....aka club growth.

I show my 79 a lot and it is funny that a common comment I get is that they love the Mini but don't like the MINI. Then I identify myself as BI ....
BI MinUal .... I have both (actually 3 now GEN1, GEN2 and classic)....and that really throws 'em off.

There's still some hard core Mini folks who poo-poo the MINI and a car show that puts classics and new in the same category is asking for hurt feelings....but it happens.

and yes the classic crowd can get wierd too about how to slice their own pie

sliding window vs rolling

outside hinge vs in.

legal vs grey // comes close to being carb vs injected

stock restro vs modified .....

but if the folks there get too wierd I just remember to skip that show the next time....

OP's example sounds like a hard core car show guy....and yes 'we' can get very frustrated based on how the judging is done. If folks are serious showers and maybe even a car that's gone into 'real' competition getting dis'd because of off the wall judging can be frustrating. For example I really like a show that's held on a beach boardwalk annually. I like the show because being in such a venue brought a lot of 'non-car' folks around and I found that a lot of fun...exposing new folks to the hobby vs the folks I see at shows every week. But this show put every non-US car in one category...got a 29 Rolls full conc' restored? You are in the same class with a Honda Civic with lambo doors....and the class judge was from a local car stereo shop....the loudest car always won. Some of us that enjoyed the show just decided to live with this aspect..... Locally a one time decent Mini/MINI show has fallen apart because of "low quality judging" ... according to the ones who thought they should but didn't....

It's a tough call...you can please some of the .....

Last comment, I went to one car show where no one complained.....if you brought a car, you got a trophy! Well, yes there were still complaints

 

There are plenty "old school" guys who don't believe in giving any credit to the modern vehicles. I've experienced it a bunch with the muscle car crowd (GTO, Camaro, etc...). The true "enthusiasts" are the ones that can appreciate and respect other vehicles besides their own.