I've been a member of Mini Owners of America Los Angeles (MOALA) on and off for close to 20 years and have also been involed in the SoCal MINI Maniacs (SCMM) for about 2 years. Owning a Mini/MINI is all about the social aspect for me. I've met a lot of very good friends over the years and have had a blast. Sure, there are always a few annoying people and politics to deal with but that is everywhere in life. I wouldn't give it up for anything.

 

Most definately. I co-founded the Sin City MINI Club and have joined a few other clubs too.
I enjoy it enough to volunteer to take on organizing AMVIV. Need I say more?

 

I am writing this with out reading the rest of the thread. I just want to answer the questions asked without the input of others....
Yes, DC Metro MINIs
Yes - see the first question. Now for the why?

1. To meet with other MINI owners - the best option that comes as standard equipment with each MINI. Lots of very nice people own these cars. People from all walks of life. One could learn a lot from this crowd or at least have fun trying.
2. Join for the events, I have gone on drives to wonderful places. Enjoyed dinners at unexpected locations. Learned to autocross, went to a track day.

3. Help with dealerships. Our clubmembers recieve discounts on parts from the local dealerships. The dealerships help us with events.

4. When I purchased my first MINI in 2002 there was no club. People were trying to start a National Club along the lines of BMWCCA. It did not take off for a number of reasions. Seven people got together at a dinner to start the DCMM. I got to help in a very small way.

There is nothing wrong with not wanting to be a part of a club, but if you want to do events or mod your car it is easier to be a member of either a MINI club or another car club.

John

 

Now THAT'S an enthusiast!

 

Plus I get a chance to put together stuff like this: http://www.moalachat.com/showthread.php?t=1108

 

Do you belong to a Mini club? YES Chicago MINI Motoring Club http://www.chicagominiclub.com/

Why? After reading through the posts on NAM and having been a passive VW club member for a couple of years, I wanted to see what the MINI community was about. I was hoping the MINI people weren't all hardcore gearheads. I was also hoping the MINI community wasn't as fractured as the VW scene (air-cooled, water-cooled, bugs, ghias, SoCal, Euro, Resto, etc...) since I didn't plan on doing many mods since my MCC is a daily driver. I was pleasantly surprised. My first few events were positive experiences. Now I go out of my way to invite people to CMMC gatherings.

You'd think that by living in such a large metro area like Chicago would have many club members... but it's not the case. The people who regularly appear at the events are genuinely great people and I have no problems calling them friends, not just fellow club members.

 

I tried this summer to create an account on nemini and it wouldn't work. Haven't tried since. I need to stay local for right now. So much family stuff going on I don't have time to venture too far away.

 

I would say like 90% of the people here belong to a club. Ditto on everybodys comment. It is always fun to do something with a group of people that share your interests.

 

Not only am I a member, but I'm also the persident (by default).

People of like-minds tend to seek eachother out. Be it with books, sports, pokemon collecting or cars.

 

Yup!

SCMM was just beginning so I joined out of curiousity back in February of 2003. Once in, I honestly enjoyed the experience- mostly driving events at first, and, eventually, social gatherings developed.

This question is moot for me.

-Juan

 

professorDave - I'm north of Pittsburgh, so the PhillyMini club is a little far, but thanks for the invite!

Floydfan: Dealer open house at mini of pittsburgh next weekend, go there and meet folks! Check the East Coast forum for the PittStop thread, also check www.miniofpittsburgh.com or www.pandwforeigncars.com

I liked the Pgh mini club so much on the first outing that I "volunteered" to help with their (oops - meant "our") performance driving events...

 

In my corner of the MINI world, we have a very vague club. No dues, no membership cards, no meetings... we hang out on that other MINI website, someone will say "hey, who wants to drive here on this date?" and many people will show up. Yeah, MINIs on Top is much more organized than that, and there's a few other events with a fair amount of organization, but most of our stuff is off the cuff planning.

I am a BMWCCA member, and a member of the Sports Car Club of Vermont - both are not MINI clubs, though.

 

New to this as well, but planning on checking out DCMM site - soon.
From all the replies, it seems like a good idea.

 

We joined our local club for the fun of getting together on runs, dinner meets, etc. Always have a great time seeing the other owners and their cars. Here are a couple pics from this past weekend in which we had 65 Mini's & their owners show up for a run to raise money for a police memorial fund and dinner afterwards.

 

Those pictures are a perfect example of why you join a club. The feeling of just being in a line of MIMIs like that is great. Not to mention the looks you get from everyone else around.

 

Ah... Try again. The admin recently changed the whole site format.

Some of our biggest and most popular runs are not far from you: Jim Thorpe Run and the Rt 125 Run.

 

I belong to The Club From Hell!

 

a very good idea

I've been a DCMM member for 4 years, and I've had a blast. I'm proud to say that we're probably one of (if not)the largest, most active clubs in the country.

 

The most interesting thing for me, as a new MINI owner, is the camaraderie that exists in the "MINI Nation". It kind of reminds me of Honda maybe 25 years ago. The dealerships would invite owners to meet up at the dealership on weekends to learn about the cars and do minor service.
I am not a club person, but the badges look so cool that I made up a club badge for an imaginary club in which I am the sole member......

 

Ooh, you're next to a bunch of my favorite local(ish) roads!! DCMM doesn't make their way out there as often as I'd like. I want to set up another drive out there next month in fact, but I don't know if there's enough time.

Next year though, definitely! We'll probably do another run to the drive-in theatre that's outside of Winchester again, too!


-Paul!

 

I belong to sort of an Anti-Club: No dues, no meetings, no unwanted BS. Our unofficial president will say " Where do we want to drive on Nikki Run #12 and which weeekend looks best in November?" Check us out at Maverick Minis !!

 

No, don't belong to a club at present.


Yes, I would join a club except for the reason I finally left my last club. I work retail which means I work when every one else doesn't, ie: weekends, which is when 99% of club events are held. I think car clubs are great social vehicles. You get to meet people from various background and with different ideas who all at least have one thing in common. Will you like everone in the group, no but that's not hte point. You are there to have fun and play with you cars.

 

Joining a club has led me to many fun roads and many fun people. It has also helped out when at my local dealer's service department - 10% discount on parts and labor!

 

Yes, I belong to a club. I like it because it's like a live action NAM. I love my club and the people who I have met through it, a great group of friends!