My apologies if this topic has ben discussed already but I've discovered (for myself anyway) the BEST magazine on the planet and it's entirely devoted to the new MINI!
goMINI magazine is out of the UK... naturally. I found it at my Barnes and Noble here in NY and I've got the biggest smile on my face with:
A: the May issue of goMINI in my hands sitting on my deck
B: the thought of picking up MCS "April" up on May 31st
C: a BEAUTIFUL Memorial Day weekend just starting
D: a cold Heineken "keg can" warming my soul as I enjoy A, B and C! :-D
Enjoy your weekend everyone.
Dave

 

It's a fun magazine and it's gotten better, IMO, since it's become a monthly. A bit pricey, but all British magazines are over here, especially lately.

I know you will, but I'll say it anyway: enjoy your weekend!

Mark

 

Interesting perspective. Can you guys give us the high points of the last issue? I can find it at a B&N probably, I think but it'll take some effort. A teaser would help motivate the search.

 

jds, here's a link to what's in the current issue: http://www.gomini.co.uk/current.asp

 

Just found out The Blue Marble Yearbook will be reviewed in the July issue!
Go Check it out!

 

They've had the same three issues here at Hastings for many months now. It seems there is no one here willing to pay ~$11.00 for a magazine.

 

I subscribed to this rag for the first year and politely declined the option to renew. Utter crap, imo.

 

Just curious: those who like it, what do you like about it? Those who don't, what do you dislike about it?



My opinion: I like the MINI content - what little there is. It is more of a lifestyle magazine with MINIs in it. Unfortunately, it is a BRITISH lifestyle magazine and doesn't address the interests of most of us on this side of the pond. I still buy it every month due to lack of choice. BTW, most Tower Record stores in SoCal have it on the shelves.

 

There's been threads on this site about a US based mag. Anyone got any updates??

ripley.

BTW, I'm not too impressed with GoMINI myself.

 

I'm in the June issue!

All the way in the back, I sent them an email about some team dynamics wheels.


Mikey Goodrich

 

I'm not a big fan, but i still get it because i like the pictures :smile:

two team members from Team Mighty Miniz had a feature article in GOmini awhile ago

 

I was fine w/ the mag @ first, but they started including tons of info on UK/Euro driving destinations. Not a big area of interest here....and the prospect of getting more of the same every month was more than I could bear. Not much info from U.S. vendors either, not that I'm in the market for a lot of that stuff anyway.

Initially, what I did enjoy was: 1) the excellent photography and; 2) the interviews, especially w/ the likes of Murray Walker, Mike Cooper, Russ Swift, Jeremy Clarkson, and the like. I would have loved to have seen a similar interview w/ Paddy Hopkirk, assuming it would be printable. I hear he is a pretty colorful character.

 

They cashed my renewel check over 2 months ago but keep telling me I did not renew.

 

My local Chapters bookstore brings a copy in for me here in the Vancouver area. They're running a month behind. Just picked up the May issue last week. It's $12CDN so I think I get a better deal than ResMINI at $11US.

Still...Motor Trend is only $5CDN. By the ways....Car&Driver has a report on the MCSC this month if it hasn't been mentioned already.

I like the photography in GoMINI. Some of the articles are pretty good but I'm starting to tire of the general format of the magazine being, for the most part, mainly for British audience.

Plus, they don't seem to answer email.

 

I got it for the last year and don't remember what I paid, however, just got a renewal notice in the mail for 84.50 GBP which came out to $154.00

I flip trough the magazine and read the interesting stuff but not at that price.

Earl

 

Same here. Just subscribed to GOMini and it's really expensive. I thought I'd try it out for one year to see if it is worth the > $100 price tag. My guess is that I will not be renewing it due to the price.

I got the first issue last week and it's great to see all the mini pictures and some of the articles were good and some just average.

I agree that a US magazine dedicated to minis would be a great idea!!!

 

Out of curiosity, let’s say that there was a US based MINI magazine. What type of features would you like to see in it that would set it apart from the UK magazines? I mean the type of things that would make you check the newsstands every day for a new issue. These may include:

Lifestyle stuff (the type of things you find in GoMini such as travel guides)

Technical stuff (how-to articles, etc.)

Vendor feature articles (eg. a "spotlight on" John Cooper Garages, etc.)

Dyno days (similar to the UK based classic Mini mags)

Styling guides

Features on MINI clubs

MINI event features (car shows, etc.)

Motorsport coverage (and how in-depth should the coverage be?)

Featured cars (and should these be strictly about the cars or about the owner and his or her MINI?)

 

Hmmmmm...good question! Your list is a good one Rick...let's see if I can add any wild ideas.

How about:
- Interviews w/ the movers & shakers in U.S. MINIdom. Heads of race teams, vendors (not just their stuff but how they got into it, owners they've met, and where they're going), MINIUSA execs, "celebrity" owners (major and less major...you know who you are ),

- Project cars (privately owned). Revisit cars whose tuning evolution may take months/years.

- Track events w/ interviews. I've seen articles reporting events from the outside...I'd like to get to know these people (drivers, crews, and spectators) and all about them.

- Autocross....pics and people. Could encourage involvement. I want to get to know these lunatic owners , how they got started, and why they love it.

- Yes...John Cooper Challenge coverage written so we can understand what's going on. Broaden our horizons over here. Who knows what can happen? (a U.S. series??)

- MINI stuff-collectors and hobbyists. Look for the odd-ball stuff that is related to MINIs (similar articles are always in Classic & Sports Car)

- A centerfold!!! (c'mon...you know you want it!!! ) An awesome pic of a MINI suitable for posting at home or office. (Remember the DS/B MCS the MINI dealers used to have around...something like that.)

- Destinations....awesome roads for motoring! Pics, pics, pics....and area lodging and other local attractions. Clubs, individuals, and even a few MINI buddies looking for adventure (or photo ops) might be able to use this info.

- VDC tour??? Plant tour???

- MINI staffers (sales and tech) recently got some pretty big recognition and awards. Let's meet them and see what makes them so good!!

- Auto service/body/tint shops who cater to MINIs. I know a few...shop owners also drive MINIs!

- Detailing how-tos w/ lots of pics!!! Product reviews.

- In time.......restoration tips. How to deal w/ scrapes, minor dings, and replacement of bits after warranty. It's coming folks.

- Keep us up-to-date on the international scene to some extent. Let's face it, the UK has some massive Mini/MINI events. I don't want to miss out completely.

- News, yes...but we have Gabe for that.

- Oh yeah...2009 is coming! Let's have a huge U.S. build-up to the 50th anniversary of the Mini. Lots of U.S. owners would enjoy catching up on Mini history so they can enjoy to the max!!!

- As Rick mentioned....clubs. The kind of events they do, meet the members, membership perks, how they started. May encourage other formation of other clubs.

- Highlight a classic Mini now and again. I know several owners who drive both Minis and MINIs. Love to hear their stories!!!!

- So say an owner is profiled in a article. Let's hear from their spouse or SO, too. That'd be funny!!!!!

- Speaking of which...a MINI cartoon!!! (insider and small car jokes welcome ) Something like this!

A personal plea.....although many owners (and NAMers, too) are into mods and the performance side of our community (can't blame 'em ), lets look out over MINIdom and try in some way to have something for everybody. I'd love to pull in the owners are on the fringe and make them feel part of the MINI scene whether they can get to events or not.

Ooooooo......a guide to waving might be nice too!!!

 

Needless to say, most of us over here leap before looking at any mag with cool pictures of the new mini on the cover. Its a pavlovian response. I admit I drooled at the sound of the bell too. I agree with many. It is too Euro or UK centric for my tastes. While I was cool with Rachael's first track day experience(good for her), the "five days, four circuits" assaulted with the "Mini One" was kind of like a weekend with (name your sex goddess) and an unlimited supply of all natural, organic viagra. And diesels, need I say more. I NAMinate Our benefactor to organize Mini Mag that will light our fire.

 

I picked up one issue and immediately got a subscription. Should have waited and read a couple of issues. Too much local British stuff and now that it's monthly even more of the same. Lot of stories about MINI ones, which no one has here.