[Lucas63]

Sorry if this is a long post but I have a few things to say about Mini Meet East 2003 in Magog-Orford.
My wife and I arrived the day before the meet. It was a enjoyable 6 hour drive. We checked-in, ate and got some sleep for the next day. We were looking forward to some MINI/Mini fun. We love british cars of all types, it's a passion (or obsession). I awoke in the morning and went out to wipe the bugs off the front and generally clean-up the car before moving it to it's spot with the rest of the cars. That's when the tone was set for the day. You see, some smart___ poured oil in front of the MINI's in the parking lot. Someone left a note under my wiper saying it was a joke. I laughed and said to my wife, " I guess the workers from the old assembly line are now working on the new assembly line." Some owners were not laughing, and I know of one who left the meet because of this and other things that happened. I moved the car to it's spot, the sign said BMW MINI Cooper. Guess they just wanted to make sure we were not confused with the other cars. 10 MINI's were registered, but only enough room was given for 6. The only people who talked to us were event organizers who kept telling us that new MINI's are welcome. That because we are "new" things are alittle different. That the people that buy "new" MINI's are a different class of people than the owners of old Mini's. That we need to hang in there and when we become a force of 250 or more then we will have more of a say about what goes on. Nice words of encourgement. Made me feel right at home. NOT!!!!!!!
Then there were the stickers in windows of Mini's. !00% free of BMW parts. The Real Mini. etc. Gee, should have found a 100% free of Lucas parts sticker. Could have been just as childish, glad I wasn't. The final nail was driven later in the day. The panoramic picture. All the cars are driven to a field and a beautiful picture is taken with all the cars.160 cars were there for the picture. The largest gathering of Mini's for this event ever. Not too shabby. I arrived with the first group. All MINI's were kept off to one side. The Mini's (cabriolet,pick-up,van,MkI,II,III,Cooper,Cooper S, etc.) and I mean every Mini version there is was mixed-up in a semi-circle on the field several rows deep. After they were neatly arrainged and it looked like no other Mini's were coming and the dust settled, only THEN were we MINI's allowed to enter. We were given a place in the back row. Again told that because we are "new" things are different for us.That we shouldn't feel left out. Come on MME organizers, give me a break. MINI's are not welcome, just sat it. They say we are but the actions speak strongly.This was our first and LAST Mini Meet. I will never attend again.
Words of advice to all MINI owners. If you attend any of these events be the bigger person, don't segregate the "new from the "old". These events are a gathering of people with a common interest. Expect to hear MINI bashing and see childish actions and statements. But take comfort in the fact that in the world of Mini's your car is BIGGER !

[nickworld]

That's a real shame, mate. Pity people can't just smile and let you into the fold. I popped into the Kent Motoring pageant yesterday and was pleased to see a Mini club with a bunch of originals parked up next to a new Cooper. There was quite a big crowd too with people gabbling away happily. (Even more gratified to see the majority of people were pawing the MINI!!)

That said, I must admit I never wave at old Minis for two main reasons. Firstly - its a completely different car to me. Just like we are to them. I'm sure some kind of community will grow, but in the meantime, bugger it. Secondly - there are just too many of the little things around here. If I waved to one, I'd have my hand in the air all the time.

A mate of mine is a BIG old Mini fan and has had a few in his time. Hated the MINI with a passion... until he had a go in mine and realised it really is the spiritual successor.

Jealousy is a terrible thing.

[90IScruisingSpeed]

Yeh well you have to expect it I suppose. Lets face it if they could afford a new mini they'd get 1 so there’s blatantly some jealousy there!!

And when they have stickers saying free from bmw parts what the hell are they trying to say?? If bmw parts were low quality then fair enough but these new minis are made of parts that are 1000% better quality then in the old mini.

1 word shmucks.

[Naughty Magpie]

That's not at all fair. I try to get on with original Mini drivers but they don't seem to really care about conversation or being polite. Truthfully, I have yet to meet a Mini driver who compliments me (or is civil even!) on my MINI. Scowls and the odd v-sign when I flash them or smile. Am I wasting my time?

[nickworld]

Blast me if you like, but I say ignore them unless they wave and make up for it by flashing AND waving manically at other MINIs!

[Grings]

I HATE it when I read this kind of thing. I have 3 cars a MCS 2003, Mini Mayfair 998 1986 and a Mini Pick-up 850 1978.

I love driving all 3 of them and wouldn't get rid of any of them for anyone. When are these small minded owners going to grow up. I've had my fair share of abuse from old mini drivers when I'm in the MCS and I just think how they would feel if I was in the pick up (the rarest of the old mini, which I saved from being scrapped). Not once have I had a new MINI driver abuse me in one of my old mini's.

Sorry - rant over. I'm going to get some coffee to help me calm down

[Rob.]

Opinions are changing. Some more slowly than others
I have owned classic mini's in the past and now have a new cooper. Most of the people I know who are fans / owners of the orginal mini like the new MINI as a car, but they do not like to think of it as a mini. Lots of them would consider buying one as a second car, but because of the past (Rover, which I think should stay in the past) they do not feel comfortable buying one.
Yes, some couldn't afford it, but other definitely could, you cannot generalise.
To the average person on the street the new MINI is a better built more desirable updated version of the classic mini. And I believe after a few years pass that is how nearly everybody will view them. Then again, what does it matter.

As long as you enjoy your car that is the main thing

[MiniMonkey]

Same thing happens in the NewBeetle scene although, being a few years older it is slightly ahead and I think it is slowly improving.
There is even as far as I am aware a specific catergory at air cooled shows for the new beetle now.. so hopefully in time the attidtudes will change with the MINI as well

[Lucas63]

Thanks for the support. After the meet I traveled to Niagara Falls. It was a 1460 mile round trip. During that trip we saw 7 MINI's. Most of them waved or smiled. I will still acknowledge even old Mini's, let the arrogance be on them.

[BooMin]

I've had three Mini's. They were all great fun but ALL were unreliable. Mini no.2, only 9 months old when purchased, lasted only 3.5 yrs and 53k miles before the gearbox (3rd one replaced under warranty) lunched itself totalled the engine ... 100% free of BMW parts eh!
The Mini deserves it's place in history but is not a good car by today's standards, and I agree, there are a lot of sad jealous people out there.
I loved the new MINI as soon as I saw it and always smiled at MINI drivers when driving my Mini. (Started grinning like a fool when I knew I was getting one though )

[ruthie]

Quote:

Originally posted by Lucas63
Thanks for the support. After the meet I traveled to Niagara Falls. It was a 1460 mile round trip. During that trip we saw 7 MINI's. Most of them waved or smiled. I will still acknowledge even old Mini's, let the arrogance be on them.

Yeah! That's the spirit Lucas. Keep waving!

[Dark Silver S]

I purchased a MINI mostly because I have wanted a Mini since the 60's. But I wanted a car, not a hair shirt. I suspect that's what's irritating most of the classic drivers.

On the other hand, I previously owned several VW Bugs, a Karmann Ghia, and a Bus. I'm not overly wild about the New Beetle, and I was quite happy when my SO picked a Miata instead of a New Beetle. So I can see how the feeling occurs.

Okay, I'll admit it, then. I haven't paid my Mini dues. Tough. If Mini drivers don't like that, too bad. I paid the other dues with my Triumph and my Hillman.

Maybe we can end the rift by referring to MINIs as Minis?

[Ginger]

I went to the A's of Herts show over the weekend, camped with classic Mini friends and got no grief at all - made a pleasant change!
G

[Shorty]

I had the same sort of attitude from a guy who I work with who has a Mini Mayfair. The first thing he said was "it's a BMW not a Mini" . That is until he drove my MCS, suffice to say his mind was well and truly chanded!

[AprilWhine]

I'm the one who left the meet. For details, see this thread: MINIs not welcome at Mini events.

Pictures of the vandalism included.

[Dark Silver S]

Sad little man, inadequate in so many ways. Apparently MINIs are not his only challenge.

[sugster]

When we were coming back from the Dyno Day, there was me, Bad Manners, MOD, Ginger, Anand and OllyBlox in a convoy on the M40, we sped past a classic and he waved at us, so he got a wave back.
Just after passing him we pulled into J8a services and he followed us. He pulled up next to us and started chatting He was a member of the Anglian Mini Club (I think), he had a good look at our cars (ONE's, Coooper's and an S) and had lots of complimentary things to say about them, we had a good look at his 'Italian Job' Mini, it was a tidy little car. We enlightened about MINI2 and the dyno day we'd been on. I think he was surprised that the MINI had such a following.
It was nice to get some postive feedback from a Mini driver considering some of the posts I've read on here classic drivers.

It's a shame all classic drivers aren't like he was.

[Mini1380]

I have been to several Mini Meets in the US and I have met people who think that the classic clubman style isn't really a Mini and doesn't belong at the meets. Other people stress the point that it isn't a real Mini unless the mini has sliding windows.

Some people just need to get a life.

I have gone to small club meetings and there has been generous affection from the classic Mini owners towards the new MINI.

[HKMINI]

Depressing... When will we grow up...?

[MINIsota_Cuke]

I think the reason Mini owners in the U.S. are not welcoming the new MINIs is because they feel that their exclusive club has just been invaded by an unwanted child. Since the Mini has not been available over here for almost 40 years those that have kept their old Mini (very few) and those that went to the trouble to import one (most often the case) are probably feeling not quite so unique anymore.

Over here, to see a classic Mini is very rare. I think I have seen two in my lifetime outside of car shows. On the contrary, I'll see a couple of new MINIs every week. In 15 months time the market in the U.S. probably has more new MINIs now than there are old Minis. This could explain why the reaction and brand association over here is on a different level than in the UK.

I am in no way justifying certain peoples actions. They should welcome the new MINI and use it to draw attention to their classic Minis. Or if they positively can't bridge the gap then they should just come right out and say that the new MINIs are not welcome at their events.