Don't be discouraged! I am a new CR resident as of August and am Coop waving every chance I get. I've noticed the only few that don't wave back are usually elderly...we should meet up sometime and have our coops meet, haha that sounds really gay

 

Hiya, Coop.... I live in CR just off of Wylie and F Ave... but my busy schedule (such as National Guard drill and other family events) has so far kept me from attending any Mini-Cooper-CR events... hopefully that will change. Welcome to the family anyway.

oh, and happily, I managed to get a wave back just the other day. First one in a long time!

 

What the heck are elderly people doing driving MINIs anyway? Oh wait, I'm 67 myself so I should be quiet. I wave now just like I did when I was in my college years driving a 63 A/H Sprite. I haven't noticed as many MINI drivers waving back as Spridget drivers did back in the day.

 

Be sure to let me know when those events are! I have no idea there were CR mini events. And I'm up over in the NW area on Blairs Ferry. You can usually see my coop from the road

 

Eastern Iowa Mini Club

 

Hah! Hubby is 69, and I'm just short of 62. Our Houston MINI club is about evenly divided between post-kids and pre-kids members, and at the last big MINI event I went to--last year's MINIs In The Ozarks, there were a number of us "old" people.

jhull--are you going this year? We'll be there!

As for the demographics of non-wavers, most of the people I've had no luck with are women driving Coopers. I typically come on them in the passing lane of the freeway, pause a moment to allow recognition, but never see the woman (usually a 20-something girl) even glance to the left. My guess is, it's our training not to "talk" to strangers...

 

I've noticed that most of the MINI owners in my area are too old to see me wave. So I wave anyway just in case they get a glimpse. But otherwise people wave for the most part. Treasure coast FL MINI owner.

 

Got a wave and a honk today in Springfield, Mo. Quite a few here but very few as excited as me. We will be at MITO this year for the first time. Some great roads here in the Ozarks.

 

Tell me more about MITO. We just joined the St. Louis MINI Club from their web site but don't have any of our membership info yet. We probably won't be going this year depending on when it is but maybe in the futore.

 

It starts next week, and this year's location is Eureka Springs, AR:

http://ozarkmini.com/

That's my MNI in the front row, 4th from the left. This year there are 50% MORE cars registered than last!

There are a number of MINI gatherings, in various parts of the country, ranging from MINIs In The Mountains (MITM) in Colorado, to MINIs On The Dragon (MOTD) in Tennessee/North Carolina--several more national events, too. You can find this information in the "National Events" section here on NAM (right above the club listings). I've personally gone to MITM (once), and MITO (2 times before). While MITM is a fine event, as a sea level dweller, I found I was physically uncomfortable at the high altitudes where the event is held. MITO is very well run, and runs through some of the prettiest country roads anywhere in the US. And yes, you can actually breathe!

We used to live in St. Louis, and I sure miss the Missouri roads! This was many years pre-MINI, but actually it was going to the races at Mid-America Raceway (now defunct) that introduced me to Minis--the old style. I had to wait over 30 years to get mine, and by then they were MINIs, but it was well worth the time. If you're confused, Minis are the pre-BMW design--pre 2002--and MINIs are the BMW design. In the meantime I've had a variety of sports cars and BMWs. In fact, we were in Munich picking up a new 2001 BMW when we saw the first billboards announcing the new MINIs!

I hope you get a chance to go to MITO. If not this year, maybe next. I hope to have Arkansas plates on my car next time around, but will be departing from Texas this time...

 

Haha my wife and I got our MINI yesterday and we got our first MINI to MINI wave today!

 

Apparently this whole waving to other MINI's thing does not apply if you are anxiously awaiting your new MINI but currently driving a slightly past it's prime minivan. I just get bewildered looks back.

 

I was in the same place 4 years ago - driving a minivan and waiting for the MINI. I didn't fully appreciate the whole MINI vibe until after I took ownership and started really motoring.

I've considered putting a sign on the back of the family mobile (Suburban) that says, "My other car is MINI!". That way I could get away with waving in that, too.

 

I would wave at a sticker like that! Especially on a Suburban, I don't need tire tracks on my roof. LOL

 

Passed one chili red MINI tonight on my commute home, and before I could raise my hand, his arm came out the window in a nice big, visible, friendly wave. made my day!

 

So on average how many MINI's does everyone pass on a average day?

I seem to pass about 5 each day.

 

I seem to see more MINIs, when I'm not driving my MINI!

Dave

 

Hmmm, I live in truck country. I pass, on average about two MINIS a week, sooo......not many waves, today was the exception. Passed one MINI, got enthusiastic wave..

 

1- maybe. I was talking to a dude at the exhaust shop. Said there's probably 4 in town.

 

4 to 5 here

 

Sadly, I don't get many waves from the MINI's in my area. But then I'm only one of few Countrymen here. :/

 

It varies drastically. I can see no Minis for days, then see 10 or more in a day. I saw about 5 on the way to work yesterday, 2 on the run to lunch, and 4 on the way back. Definitely one of the less common Mini-spotting days. Save for the 2 at lunch, none waved, but then again no one waves on the Beltway.

 

You must live in my neckmof the woods. Carroll, Frederick County!

 

Humm, I wonder: Maryland, Beltway... Could you be one of my "five"?

 

Maryland does seem to have a healthy representation here.