Is there an official website for MONJ? How about an official logo? I was looking at the GoBadges site, and didn't see any for MONJ. Is there a "leader" of the group, or is it more informal than that. Please forgive my naïveté on this, my car is on order and I was checking out the groups. I'm in Monmouth County.

 

I would love to tell you that the MONJ club still exists but we folded shop back in 2006 when Rich and I moved to upstate NY (the Finger Lakes). We couldn't get anyone to take over the club so we shut it down. We ran it by ourselves for over 21+ years. In the end, no one wanted to work, only to play. Sorry to disappoint you. Perhaps this is an opportunity to start a new NJ club. I'm available to coach if you need help.
Debbie Franks

 

Wow, thanks for the info! That means there's no official club for my area? Would the closest one be Philly MINI? Is this just a loose conglomeration of owner posted events now? I can't believe no one has stepped up in 6 years? Most of the Philly MINI events are just too far for me, especially with 3 kids. I'll have to think long and hard about this, don't think it is something I could handle by myself but I would be willing to do it with someone, possibly.

 

I'm afraid so. And NAM asked me if they could leave my club link up as it was the only one for folks in NJ. I said yes and I do monitor it but that is it these days. As far as I know, there are no official Mini clubs in NJ anymore. There is L.I.M.E on Long Island, NY and they were doing a lot of events. The problem with clubs these days is that no one wants to work. They only want to receive newsletters and play. Rich and I did everything out of our pocket (no dues) so that no one could complain about when they got their newsletters. We were both working in the corporate world and I traveled a lot. By not charging dues, we could relieve some of the pressure. When we moved up here I felt so much guilt for letting the club go but, once we joined a classic car club up here, it was so nice to just help and not run a club. We are now having fun playing but we do step up and help at events. Don't take it on by yourself. Be sure you have at least six people who are a good base to start it up.

 

Thanks for the advice! It's a real shame that there are no clubs in New Jersey. My guess is that a good portion of NJ drivers go to Philly MINI, or the mid-Atlantic club.

 

It broke my heart to let the club go. We ran it for over 20 years - since 1988 after we were Russion volunteered to do Mini Meet East at the 1988 Mini Meet. That event taught us more than a lot. Iall was a lot of work but we wanted to keep the "love" alive. We just had a passion for the little car and wanted to see it continue.

And, when I was a Motoring Advisor at Princeton MINI (left in '06 - I think Jeremy is the only one still there that I know), I even ran events for them under the club umbrella and club insurance. If Jeremy is still there, he was big on continuing the events but I don't know if they still do. The dealership has changed hands a few times since I left.

And, we ran the OcktCOOPER Fest event every October. Saturday was an Autocross and Sunday was a people's choice show with silly trophies so that everyone could participate. People loved it because they actually learned how to drive/handle their cars other than just touring NJ roads. A few people actually got into racing because of it. I had one customer that actually became a race driving instructor. But again, no one wanted to work the events. What we did at the autocross was, if your class wasn't running, you worked the corners. That way we didn't have to worry about getting our own people to do ALL the work at the event. Timing and scoring was a big enough thing to tackle. My husband made all the trophies so that saved us a bundle. You just need to be creative. It's isn't hard to do. Really.

Like I said, I have no problem coaching and giving information dumps if you or someone you know wants to start up a club. I'm on an aviation board at the moment (we are restoring a WWI plane made locally in Ithaca). I basically do fundraising. It amazes me at what they don't think of. The guys always ask me how I come up with all the things we can do at events to raise funds and awareness. It's just experience from 20 years of running a club. It is all relative.

If nothing else, just have fun with your MINI and enjoy it. It's a great little car. ;-)

 

I bought my first MINI in 2003 at Princeton MINI, and attended the Italian Job event that was put on, so may have met you there. I had to get rid of my MINI in 2007 because we had a third child on the way, and it broke my heart! I've never loved a car before. If the countryman had existed at that time, I definitely would have traded for me at that point. As soon as I heard that they were coming out with the countryman with the rear bench seat, I knew it wouldn't be long before I'd be getting one. I can't wait for my car to arrive, and hopefully love what I'm driving again. Seriously, I think I've hand washed my current vehicle one time in the five years I've owned it, and that was only because someone egged it. I know I'll be washing my new vehicle constantly, the MINI always has to look its best! I am disappointed that there is no club for me to join now. I'm hoping some Monmouth County people will be willing to meet up occasionally, even Princeton is a bit of a hike for me on a regular basis with three kids.

 

It would be great to have an official Mini Club in NJ. Went to Eurofest today and was sad to see about 10 Minis scattered around there with over a thousand Euros there. If u can help in any way I'd love to see a club come together. Thanks Andy

 

Well, like I said, I don't have the time to take on something like this by myself. But I would love to help get something started. Not sure what I'd be able to do, other than maybe some website design/online things.

 

Let's get a few people together and figure this out and get it started back up again!!!!!!

 

Hopefully some people will step up who would like to be involved.

 

i'd be interested. most events are too far for me. i'm monmouth county. keep me posted. I'm sure mr. jim would be interested also.

 

Here we go again

 

Thanks for the constructive comment.

 

You're welcome...I've seen all talk and no action since 2007...and you're the 25th person that has said the same thing.

 

Well, then there should be 25 people willing to step up and help create something.

 

Right...like that's going to happen.

 

You need to make MINI friends...first...and go to some events...it's slow-n-grow process.

We are doing an event tomorrow...if you see the Drive-N-Eat thread.

 

I was being facetious. It is quite clear to me, based on responses to this thread and another one I created, that there is no demand for such a thing. And that is fine. If people are happy with things the way they are, that is great.

 

As for tomorrow's event, I wish I had seen it sooner. I already promised the kids I'd take them to Great Adventure tomorrow. I have only had the car less than a week, so wasn't following the events because I wasn't sure when I'd be getting it. I'll be keeping my eyes open now.

 

Going to an NJ meet on Thursday in Hamilton. Check out the subforum for info.

 

I was just thinking this and stumbled upon this thread. A NJ badge would be cool. Even if it wasn't a full on club a meet every now and then would be cool. I'm up in Bergen county.

Surprised NJ doesn't have a club. Mini HQ is a couple towns away in Woodcliff Lake. Keep telling my GF to get a job there.

 

I'm too young to start a club but would willingly work any event in jersey! Just got my cooper s in April and have been searching for any type of meet. I know eurokult up in union meets at applebees every Thursday but that's a Volkswagen event. Even if a bunch of us just meet in a parking lot one a month on a set date it's the start of something that can be beautiful!

Peace love mini hunterdon county nj!

 

Myself and another Mini usually meet Saturdays nights at Whiskey Cafe Car Show in Lyndhurst. It's a huge car show(weather permitting) every Sat from 4pm till 9pm all types of cars but we're the only Minis if anyone wants to join us see ya there.

 

been there before, years ago. just waiting on delivery of my CM-S