Hi Everybody,

Where was all the new Mini???? There was more Classic Minis than New Minis, like 2 to 1.

Did someone forget?
Did you have to wash your hair?
Did you go the NASCAR racers instead?

We had more new Mini from Southern Cal, Oregon, Washington and Canada than we had from the Bay Area.

It's Ok, you really didn't have to come. I just want to hear why you didn't come, so we can plan better for next time.

Thanks,
Keith
MMW Registration Chairperson

 

Sorry. Same weekend as SJGP.

 

A SoCal MINIac's observations . . .

Truthfully, I'm under the impression that that this annual event has it's traditions bonded with classic Minis. That new MINIs are invited seems like an afterthought.

Witness MINI events such as AMVIV, MINIs On Top, and the Dragon. These happennings reek MINI friendliness. (You were at AMVIV, so I'm sure you might've sensed this.)

Finally . . . the day we see MOALAers participate in MINI events, en masse, will be the day this border will be cast away.

 

I thought about going and then changed my mind for a couple of reasons. 1) I did not see a lot of people from NAM signing up. 2) I thought it would be dominated by classic Minis (not that there's anything wrong with that) and 3) I thougth the cost were kind of high, if I wanted to bring along someone to ride shotgun with me. So I went to cooking school in SF instead of attending. My goal now is to attend AMVIV.

 

Maybe someone should talk to the classic Mini owners about their attitudes towards us "Late Adopters".

Less than friendly - sometimes hostile.

I won't be back.

 

We were there I thought the price was great, but almost didn't come because of the San Jose Grand Prix. Unfortunate overlap.

 

Thats classic, "late adopters." I love it. Sorry to hear you have a bad taste in your mouth though. I love the classics as well as the new...

 

I was there for a bit on Saturday (Randy did an install for me) but had conflicting plans the rest of the weekend.

I too thought the cost was kind of high, but only because I'd rather see individual event prices (or price per day) as there was no way I could stay/participate all 3 days.

I found the 1 or 2 classic owners I came in contact with to be quite friendly, though I can see where there might be a "gap" in appreciation/understanding.

 

Love the Classics too - there were a couple a grade A a-holes there. Made some really classy comments to a group of us. Cutting edge stuff too, coming from a couple of old, overweight tools with their belted shorts hitched up over their sternums and wearing knee-high socks with their sandals..........

It wouldn't have been so bad if one of them hadn't been wearing a "Staff" shirt.

You hear about the Autocross Event on Sunday? Fastest time, by just under two seconds (on a course set up for the classics) went to an MCS.

Well, until it was decided that the driver hit two cones absolutely no one else saw him hit and that weren't mentioned by the announcer after he made his run. The announcement was ironically made at the awards ceremony.

Surprise! That 2 second penalty allowed a Classic to take the top spot.

 

I managed to stop by for about an hour on Sunday to watch funkahana and autocross. Didn't realize a MCS "won" it. I had to work part of the weekend, otherwise I would have spent more time watch some of the events. I would like to have a classic one of these days. Its too bad some of you had a less than desirable meeting with some of the classic people.

 

The key word is "some" - not all. Unfortunately, I could have swallowed the comments better had they not been on the MMW staff. Pretty rude.

If my wife or kids had been with me I would have smacked the viagra and geritol out of those creeps.

 

Here is how I see it. There are numerous new MINI events going on throughout the country all year long (Vegas, the Dragon, etc.) so this is just another MINI/Mini event to those who have never been. On the other hand, Mini Meet West is a once-a-year previously classic Mini event with decades of momentum. It is like an annual Pilgrimage to Mecca for us classic owners! I have friends that I met at Mini Meets in the 1980s, many of whom I see only at the Mini Meets. That, combined with the somewhat hostile environment that some of the new MINI owners in the past have experienced by classic owners, may have contributed to a low turnout.

 

Was backpacking that weekend, otherwise I'd have shown.

 

You've got to be kidding me! His (Randy Webb) first run was flawless, and when complete, there was no mention of cones down. And when Randy asked hours later about best time, it was still his, with no cones down. That's some serious bs...

The best time of day is something that is pretty important apparently as the MMW website said (and still says) prior to this event, in a stand alone paragraph - "So far the top time of day for Mini Meet West autocross has always been awarded to a classic Mini. This year, will the new MINI win bragging rights?"

I mentioned that to Randy prior to the event and he said that he had best time of day last time, and easily at that. Maybe he was thinking of another Mini/MINI meet, and not MMW per se. I don't know...

I too love the Mini, and have a new MINI because of fond childhood memories of the original. But, I agree with Skiploder. There were more than a few shirts, bump stickers, and license plate frames stating 'this is NOT a BMW' or 'this is a REAL Mini' and the like. That is fine if it was simply that expression, but there was attitude also, and I certainly felt it.

To make matters worse, having been there since 8:30am, I saw Randy Webb on at least 2 occassions let classic Mini guys use his air compressor and/or other equipment. Near the end of the competition, Randy wanted his trailer loaded-up so he could move to a better location so he could get busy with helping me out on my suspension set-up. After the generator and compressor were powered-down, and hauled into the trailer (in 100+ temps), a guy asked if he could get air for his classic. Under serious time-constraints, pouring with sweat, I said that we just got the stuff in the trailer, and are leaving. He didn't say a word, and walked a way. Later he approached Webb and said that he would never buy anything from him because how he (or his help) refused to aid a classic Mini. Randy of course explained that he had assisted a few classics, but that didn't seem to matter .

Randy got hosed, and more ways than one!

 

It only takes one turd in the punch bowl to ruin it for everybody.

The majority of classic owners welcome new MINI owners with open arms but there will always going to be some w@nker off his meds and arguing that the world is flat from his soapbox. After being a classic Mini owner for 20+ years on and off, I recently converted to new MINI ownership and sure as hell haven‘t lost any friends over it.

 

That is one of the MOST graphic statements I have encountered this year. Teaches me to not eat (especially rather bloody grilled tri-tip) while cruising NAM!


PS: Until reading through this thread I had no idea that some Mini owners express resentment about MINIs. Too bad. When I owned a Mini it was just one of the many small, interesting and inexpensive cars one could choose from a large assortment of "foreign jobs" (nearly all from Europe). Friends debated the merits and faults of each and enjoyed the never-ending banter. It was more about a bunch of car nuts getting together than distinguishing ourselves from everybody else.

 

Read TonyB's post:there was a whole pod of turds swimming in that punch bowl. They were organized enough to "fix" an event.

The majority of the people there were fine. The organizers appeared to be the most prejudiced of the lot, to the point where they manufactured penalties on a flawless MCS run so they could hold onto their precious streak of automotive dominance.

By the way, in a supreme fit of arrogance, one of the Classic Owners decided to sit on my car during the Autocross Event. Three of us saw the jerk do it. When I confronted him with it, he basically told me to ES&D. Correct me if I'm wrong Tony, but I think this was the same guy who confronted you guys at the end of the day.

Unfortunately, ripping the arms off of a 60 year old man wearing stretch Levis and a white belt in front of his doughy, blue haired wife doesn't appeal to the Christian side of me.

I'm hoping he decides to sit on a less charitable person's car next time..............

 

Unfortunately, there won't be a next time for me...

When did Randy find-out that he didn't win? I vividly remember Webb going down to chat with the time-keeper, and he got verification of his time, and that it was the best...

I do recall a guy sitting on your MCS alright, but I couldn't say for sure if it was the same guy. I had sweat/salt in my eyes, and just wanted to get everything up in the shade so we could get to work on my car. Randy had a couple hours, then rush to a shower, and then that dinner...

 

I would have liked to have seen a per day or per event fee. I didn't have the entire weekend to blow, but would have attened the auto x event. It is only 15 minutes from my house.

New vs old mini, I have both. The MINI is much more refined and beter suited for Bay Area comute driving, it doesn't overheat when the temp is 100 plus and you are stuck in traffic.

Grin factor. Unless you have driven a classic, you don't now what you are missing.

 

At the awards banquet

 

Thanks to all that gave their time and effort setting everything up over the last year. Met some nice folks in old and new MiNiS. Larry

 

I understand Arizona Mini Owners will host next year. If so, the event should be a bit more friendly as Phil and Shirley, president and vice of AMO, own both classic and new MINI's.