The other day I was out motoring with my lady friend/significant other in the 2003 MCS. We were approaching a driveway where someone was slowly backing out. I new that I'd be past the driveway before the driver made his exit onto the street, but I decided to let him know I was approaching and gave the "hooter" (= horn) a double tap.

Well, my friend who was raised in South Africa promptly exclaimed "It's Noddy's car --- PARP PARP". My response --- "Excuse me, but what in the world are you talking about"? She then explained that her Mum was from England and that she had read the "Noddy" books to my friend and her brother when they were children in Jo-Burg. Further explanation was in order, so she elaborated a bit more. There was a whole series of children's books (sub-titled "All Aboard for Toyland") written by Enid Blyton and published in London. The central character was a little fellow name Noddy. This chap had a nifty little car and Noddy would drive people around for a small charge. It seems that Noddy was very pround of his car, and whenever he pressed on the hooter, the sound from the car was "PARP".

Well, my friend thought that my Mini's horn (hooter) sounded just like "PARP, PARP". I tried the hooter again, and, by George, she's right --- the Mini horn sound is indeed "PARP". Any thoughts from Mini-land, especially Mini owners who know about Noddy? I'd like to end this tale with a quote from one of Enid Blyton's lovely little books --- Cheer Up Little Noddy. This book was written in 1960 and the drawing of Noddy's car, with a wee stretch of imagination, might possibly be a Mini Cabriolet?

"Noddy sang and sang, and rubbed and polished [his car], his head nodding all the time. It was nice to listen to him.

The sun is shining
And so is my car,
It's a beautiful morning,
How happy we are!
Parp-parp-parp!

Soon we'll be speeding
Away down the street,
Hooting and waving
To friend's that we meet,
Parp-parp-parp!

And now I have finished,
So in I will jump,
And drive away quickly,
A-bumpety-bump,
Parp-parp-parp"

Motor on! :smile:

 

Huh

 

 

Um, I have a different definition of "hooter," tee hee! Parp, parp, parp! Cute story!!!


Clo/Wanda

 

What the h&#& are you talking about?



just kiddin

 

Well Clover, you've got a point there (double entendre intended ). Depending on one's relationship to the hooter, a double tap on it might result in an "Oh yeeaaah" or a slap!

 

"parp parp parp"? Well... I guess so.

I wonder if the MINI horn, hooter, whatever sounds much like the Mini?

Dogspeed.

 

Hmmmmmm......Noddy does sound like a true Miniac! And he's definitely got the right vibe goin'. Hadn't heard of this, of course, but you've gotten my interest...off to do a search!!! Parp-parp!!!!

 

Obviously no Brits or toddlers here yet...

Noddy is a very popular British children's show. It was on here in the US on PBS for a while but isn't any longer. I'd think that with all of the interest in things British among MINI folk, someone would have heard of Noddy...

Oh well, here's his car:



Can't say it looks like a MINI...nor do I think my horn sounds like "Parp Parp"...but it's an interesting connection nonetheless. :smile:

 

My daughter was 6 months old when we moved to the UK and 7 years old when we moved back to the US. Noddy was one of the many shows she grew up with. :smile:

 

I first heard of Noddy at my local Walmart. They had a quarter ride there of Noddy's little car. With the annoying music too. My kids loved it.


Wife is is child care and she'd heard of it as well. That's about the extent of our knowledge of Noddy.

 

It may be an urbal legend, but I heard that Noddy was banned in the US because one of the books started with the line "Noddy woke up one morning feeling a little queer."

The little queer was never mentioned again, but that was enough to set off the censors.
Noddy's best friend was a guy named Big Ears who looked like a garden gnome and lived in a giant toadstool. Cool series for kids.

 

Good point...

Perhaps some Miniac could do a comparative test of both cars under the same conditions. An oscilloscope might be in order, thus lending a more scientific air to the project.

I still think my MINI's hooter sound is PARP; but I also know that can almost be covered up by the "Grrrrrrr" eminating from the engine when I put the pedal-to-the-metal.