(Pull up a chair and a cup of coffee - it's a long read!)



Um, wow, looks to me like there are all kinds of things flying around the greater St. Louis area when it comes to Minis/MINIs, the people that drive them, and the people that sell them! It’s a little confusing and I really don’t quite know what’s going on. I’m sure, like any situation that involves a number of people, there are many different viewpoints, arguments, opinions, etc. With that being said, I’d like to see what some other people’s viewpoints are, honestly. Now, you’re probably asking yourself, “So, what are your feelings about it?” Well, I’m glad you asked, because here it is and I’m getting tired of this stuff.

1. I love my car. Always have. Always will. So, there’s number one.

2. I love the people that I’ve met through having this car. Yes, I’m a member of STLMINI, and a happy one at that. I have made many friends from all walks of life that I would not have without this car and the club that attracts other enthusiasts. Not only that, I’ve learned a ton about my car, how to take care of it, and how to get the most out of driving it. If you are a member of this club, you know what a great, diverse group of people we are, and hopefully have had the same experience. Where else would I have gotten all of this? Answer: Nowhere.

3. I had a great buying experience from MINI of St. Louis. Yes, I bought my car used from them. But I tell you; I never would have guessed that it was used from the way that I was treated. It was like it was brand spanking new (minus the wait of course!) I have had great service from MINI of St. Louis. So, both sales and service (parts, accessories, and body shops included) have treated me very well. No beefs, no regrets, no complaints. (They were over-busy one day I went and couldn't do what they said they could, but I'll give anybody a break.)

4. I have had a great time at every St. Louis Mini Club event that I’ve gone to thus far. Have I made all of them? No, but I try to. And I have every intension of continuing to go to all the events that I can and enjoying myself thoroughly. The first happy hour I went to gave me the courage for bonnet stripes. The first time I came home from my first driving event, I swear, I bored my wife to death telling her how great a time I had for the next few days!

5. I realize that there is going to be differing levels of involvement, enthusiasm, and participation from other club members. Let’s face it, we all have different personalities, some have other hobbies, some have difficult job schedules (or no job schedule at all!), families, and all the other things that require our time. You know what, those are the things that enrich our lives too and make us that much more fun and interesting! I will not hold any of that against any member in a club I am a member of or hold it against any member in a club that I am not a member of -- MINI or non-MINI related.

My opinion is that this kind of crap totally destroys the very nature and spirit of fun, community, and plain ol’ havin’ a good time that our cars instill within each and every one of us (that’s why we joined!). So, I plan on getting ready for an even better season of motoring and socializing. I can’t wait to see the impact and breadth of our club grow. I think the Toys for Tots collection the other night is a very exciting step towards more community-driven (no pun intended!) activities! The members control what this club does, so let’s step up to the plate and make it the best darn car club period! And nothing and/or nobody is going to get in my way of having fun with the car, and the other amazing people who own them, that I love!

So, what do you want to see happen? Me? Well, I’m staying in my club, I’m going to try to do as much as I can on its Steering Committee, and I’m going to continue to have fun. Pretty simple really. No other factors concern me at all as long as those things are happening. And you know what, they are, so I’m golden.

[Okay, now imagine a big soapbox and me climbing down from the top of it saying, “NEXT!”]

Oh, and lest ye forget,
Let’s Motor!

 

and we out here are too.

This year, MINI5280 sort of revived itself and the result was:

- I met pp in your club and at least 10 others
- we found about 100 new pp hiding, with their MINIs in a closet somewhere
- we gave them about 40 new reasons (events, gatherings) to come on out
- most, probably not all, had a great time doing it
- we have the BEST supporters out here, including Mark from NAM (yup, the one and only) and including Randy Webb (who has made many of our MINIs a very expensive habit) and including our friends, supporters and mechanics at Ralph Schomp MINI is suburban Denver.
- we COULD have a club without these supporters, but I am hazarding a guess that it would be MINIMAL for many

On the down side. Uh, let me think. Nope, I cannot think of anything other than most of us have a spouse and or children and or a job to pay attention to. Takes time from the MINI thing. So we all draw the line where it needs to be drawn.

The other down side? Uh, we have to have $$ to run this thing, and we have to ask members, friends and the public to give us theirs since we have no taxing authority. So get ready, dues are about due for 2005.

The last downside? All of our members and friends (pp we associate with but who don't pay dues) have to read literally hundreds of these posts or emails yearly...about events they cannot (egads) attend. Oh well, it had to be something.

In case my tone doesn't tell, the club here is about the members and those in the community. We like it that way. We invite the Classic folks to our stuff and we go to theirs, whether they like it or not. Simply, many of them are more colorful (read that any way you want) than some of us suburbanites and frankly, to me a MINI is a Mini is a whatever. We all have the same single thing in mind. We like our cars, and we like your car, too.

Enuf.

So what we are doing is organizing (thru Lois) our group to drive thru StL to meet your group to go to the Dragon. Hope to drag Gabe at Baron and a few pp out of KC on the way. We can talk about club stuff in person, if you want. But it is fun here. And if any of you EVER vacation to Colorado without calling ahead and letting us know you want to MOTOR, shame on you. After all, you should have no problem riding shotgun and if you are nice, we might even let you take the stick.

JPS, one of the happiest Motorers on Earth.

 

Thanks for the reply, jsouz.


What, NOBODY from around here has an opinion on what's been going on!?

 

Here in Lincoln, NE there is no MINI club. The people dont want to have a club. I don't know whats going on here.

glad its going well there.

 

I have opinions, Adam. But I'm under a gag order

Lois

 

Love the club! Being 2hrs away, I would like to see more events on the weekends, especially during the summer. Kind of hard to make the trip on a weekday, make it back home, and still have some brain cells for the next day of work. Is there any way were members like me can be more active in the club when we are not able to make the trip down for every meeting?

Looking forward to the Spring rally, great warm up for the Dragon!

Motor on.

 

I have some thoughts, although I am pleading the 5th. I'm in kind of a unique situation since my StepDad works for Autohaus. Bottom line....I love the car, I love driving the car, and I love the people I've met through the Club who also feel the same way about their cars. As long as there are gatherings of Miniacs, I will be amongst them.

 

I really can't add more than I have already, in other posts. What little I have been involved with this club, it has all been positive. Mike, Aaron and all the others that have helped make this club what it is deserve all the credit they get. I have met some great members, Adam being one of them. I look forward to taking part in as many events that I can.

As for Mini of St. Louis, both sales and service have treated me right. Still I am dismay when I hear that others experiences aren't as positive. I know that you can't please everyone, and we as Americans have the right to choose. So if members wish to buy their cars elsewhere, that is their right. This should not make them any less a member of our club. My only disappointment is that Mini of St. Louis withdrew their support of our club. Will I stop doing business with them. This would be unreasonable for me, as they are only 11 miles from my house. Obvious with upcoming service visits (and warranty work) they are the most convenient.

This is a great club, with great members. I support the club and I will support Mini of St. Louis. My respect goes out to both, and hopefully it will stay this way, despite some of the disappointments I have.

 

Thanks, man! And ditto to you too Paul.

 

Will talk at the Jan 10 meeting.

 

I do have an opinion.

I belong to a club that races vintage cars, and briefly belonged to MINI 5280. In the racing club, we race hard, eat food, and drink beer together when we're all done. In MINI 5280, we spent time meeting and on parlimentary procedure. The odd scavenger hunt and all-MINI night at the drive in seem fun, but alllocating time available to me is an easy choice: I choose to race.

I don't mean to offend car clubs. I love my MINI, my Formula car, my Ducatis etc. I am a gear head. Car clubs and bike club events just don't seem as exciting as races, track days and parties that follow.

Is there some excitement I've missed in MINI 5280 for example that might change my mind?