I thought I'd share a real life story between an over enthusiastic MINI enthusiast (me), and a "normal" father who just happens to drive a MINI.

In preparation for our MINI/Mini car show later today, I kept a small stack of color flyers in my MINI, just in case there was an opportunity to pass them out to other MINI owners. I've found in most cases, MINI owners are receptive, or at the very least polite.

So today, I'm driving along, and see this Pepper White--I can see it's a guy in his late 50's driving, and I can see a few kids in back. We're both turning left at the light, and while the cross traffic light is green, I decide to do the unthinkable, and get out of my MINI and try to pass my flyer to the driver behind me. OMG, you should have seen the look on his face. You'd think the guy thought I was going to rob him or something. He looked back at his kids, and kept his hands on the steering wheel, and just kept mumbling no, no, no. He wouldn't even look at the flyer.

Then it hit me, this is one of those "normal" people that drives a MINI but isn't a nut about them. He's one of the other 83,000 owners that isn't on NAM nor welcomes strange MINI owners with open arms.

I kinda felt sorry for him, but of course I felt even more stupid . Worse than not getting a return wave. I think that's one of the dangers of hanging around a community like NAM or in local clubs--you begin to assume that ALL MINI owners are friendly and easy going.

I should have known, as I broke my own cardinal rule--never approach or wave to any MINI that doesn't look like an enthusiast car--check for aftermarket exhaust, custom vanity plate, custom vinyl, tasteful mods, etc...

This was the flyer--it doesn't look menacing to me.
http://c3club.org/files/minishowflyer1.jpg

Lesson learned, now time for bed.

 

Love the flyer !

...im a founder/moderator for a quickly growing forum in the UK and i always get nervous placing calling cards on MINI windscreens...incase the owner comes running out ready to punch me one !

 

WOW...that looks like a fun time.....if I leave right now, i'll be there on wednesday....oops, the fun fair is today......good luck with it and please don't be discouraged by that one crazed ( or should we say uncrazed MINI owner )....BTW, whatwas he doing with a few kids in back....only seatbelts for two in back

 

He probably thought you were going to jack him for his wheels

 

Great looking flyer!!!

Hard to believe someone would get worked if another MINI driver approached...maybe because he had kids in the car.

 

He probably thought you were trying to sell him something. that
ad you have there looks too professionally made (commercial level
advertisement) you probably needed to give him something that looked
like a cleaning lady's ad they stick on the front door. j/k

That would leave a emotional scar though... he could've at least
said hi, nice car!

 

Thanks guys!!!
Glad to see I'm not the only crazy one around here, I'm totally in my element.

Cooper_Si
Yeah I hear ya---leaving stuff behind might lead to retaliation Best to hand it in person to experience the humilation first hand!

 

I would have wanted you to pull over at the nearest parking lot so we could talk about the upcoming event. Don't be discouraged by the few MINI non-enthusiast.

 

Oh my...poor Richard! You in all your enthusiasm actually scared another MINI owner! I guess he didn't quite notice that you were both driving MINIs???

Props to Zaida for the super-groovy flyer! Have fun at today's event! :smile:


Clover