Riding in Tandem

[Grom]

I just wanted to tell someone this, and I think you guys are probably the only ones that would appreciate it...

I was driving to work this morning down the M2 in Kent and as I left the slipway onto the motorway I noticed a 53 MINI Cooper zip past me. As I'm a new owner and I haven't encountered many other MINIs yet, I put my foot down to catch up and check it out. Then something odd happened. He changed lanes, I changed lanes, he slowed down, I slowed down, he sped up, I sped up...etc etc you get the picture. After a couple of minutes we were both buzzing of each other and started "riding in tandem" (its the only way I can describe it)

It was great...I was really quite gutted when I eventually had to leave the motorway and my new 'friend'

As we passed people I could see young and old alike checking the two of us out. I already get attention because of the car anyway, but the two of us seemed to double it. Maybe I'm sad but it gave me a real buzz....and definitely made my journey into work a lot more pleasant.

Has anybody else had any similar experiences?

[scooperman_uk]

my friend you have experienced the common phenonenom of what we on MINI2 refer to as the MINI convoy. if you attend a MINI2 run you will see this on a much larger scale. my personal favourite was on a convoy back from birmingham in 3 MINIs we played leapfrog for pretty much most of the m42.

[wibbly]

Such good fun isn't it -- especially when its a complete stranger as well

[ButtonIt]

Another goodun is playing "Shotgun" in the traffic..

Basically you and fellow MINI driver (although I have managed to play this with other cars too, most recently a Porsche ) change lanes and slow the traffic enough to let your "mate" undertake and pull in front. A very handy way of making headway in a traffic jam

[SoggyCornFlakes]

Yes Grom - it's great fun - something Washy and I have done a few times on the way home

Come and join one of our runs to get a real MINI buzz

[Grom]

Thanks guys, I'm glad I'm not alone!

I'm definitely going to try one of the runs at some point....they sound really good fun.

[RedMini]

Yes, a MINI convoy can be great fun, and my wife and I got lots of attention when we form our own, particularly as hers is signwritten as a driving school car.

[Fishtail]

Quote: Originally Posted by Grom

Thanks guys, I'm glad I'm not alone!

I'm definitely going to try one of the runs at some point....they sound really good fun.

If you like playing when theres only two of you, imagine the fun your going to have when you have between 10 and 150 minis! Mind you if you are at the back you dont half have to put your foot down to get to the front!!

ps. like the 'arty style pic' in ya gallery,

[bubblegoose]

yeah its awesome when our North West Mini Crew convoy to a run or a pub meet - The feeling is absolutely awesome
On the Chilterns earlier this year I remember Fistail & I playing Shotgun on a country road Very funny
Cant wait for the next run I'm on - Bring on Cullen
YAY

[Grom]

Really can't wait to try one of the runs out...unfortunately it probably won't be until next year though now - I get married in september which means that every weekend has been pre-booked doing weddingy stuff (woo ). Hopefully there will be one in autumn that I can tag along to. I love the thought of it. How many minis do you normally get at a large run?

Quote:

ps. like the 'arty style pic' in ya gallery,

hehe...cheers, thats the problem with being a designer/photographer, its difficult to take a snapshot without getting on your knees and tilting the camera Hopefully I'll get the chance to take some decent ones in the near future though.

[SoggyCornFlakes]

Quote: Originally Posted by Grom

............. Hopefully there will be one in autumn that I can tag along to. I love the thought of it. How many minis do you normally get at a large run?

Try Cotswolds in August maybe - it's got nearly 130 folks now and quite a few MINI2ers from overseas so it's a great chance to meet some folks from further afield - details are in my sig And it would be good to get away from wedding plans for one weekend

[Fishtail]

Quote: Originally Posted by Grom

Really can't wait to try one of the runs out...unfortunately it probably won't be until next year though now - I get married in september which means that every weekend has been pre-booked doing weddingy stuff (woo ). Hopefully there will be one in autumn that I can tag along to. I love the thought of it. How many minis do you normally get at a large run?


hehe...cheers, thats the problem with being a designer/photographer, its difficult to take a snapshot without getting on your knees and tilting the camera Hopefully I'll get the chance to take some decent ones in the near future though.

Well in the North West theres between 10 and 30 of us on most runs, the larger, more organized ones have upto 150! (Motor Show) The problem i find is once there are more than say 30, it begins to get a little less fun. More people meens more people to please. I for example like to do runs at a good pace and stop maybe only once. Then you get a full days driving, whereas some peeps prefere to do more stops and catch ups which if theres only 10-30 of you are never needed. Its more free flowing and more importantly, faster and more personal, when theres 200+ peeps you can never talk to them all, when theres a lot less its much more friendlir. Hope you can make the Chilterns, if not then hope you loose your Mini Cherry soon.

[Grom]

Question - How do people stay in touch on the runs? Say someone at the back wanted the loo BADLY, how will they not get lost from the group if they were to pull over?

[scooperman_uk]

PMR radios. most people us them. do a search on here under PMR theres lots of threads discussing which units to buy.

most MINI2ers use channel 6-0