Mini Fair 2005

[franky]

Hello all.
I went to my first Mini Fair 2005 at Bingley Hall Stafford today
and was surprised by the amount of New Mini owners at the event.
I also realised that there is still the divide between New and Old mini .
Eg. BMW Mini my **** stickers and the New Mini in a cage with the sign
arrested for impersonating a mini.
On the whole a good day had by all.

[Baz F]

Nice to see the old guard developing a sense of humour..

[MINIMAT]

Yes I noticed the caged MINI what owner allowed his car to be mocked like that?

Aside from that was all the “100% BMW Free” stickers on a lot of cars. Plus I heard a comment from one owner to another talking about cars, “at least its not a BMW.”

Several Mini clubs were original Mini only. It’s a shame as I always used to love the original Mini but now my opinion is being tainted by some of the owners.

To be nice I let a Classic Mini out in front of me on the way out only to see he had one of those stickers in the back window.

On the good side our section was nice and the new MINI’s that were there looked beautiful I wonder if there were any secret envious glances?

[Naughty Magpie]

Quote: Originally Posted by MINIMAT

To be nice I let a Classic Mini out in front of me on the way out only to see he had one of those stickers in the back window.

Same here, but I got the scowling sneer too. It was that really nice classic Mini in that two tone green with 4 exhausts and blue LEDS in the bonnet. Such a lovely car. Pity about the nasty chap that drove it!

Quote: Originally Posted by MINIMAT

On the good side our section was nice and the new MINI’s that were there looked beautiful I wonder if there were any secret envious glances?

I bet there were! Your car looked great - I was disappointed not to be able to talk to the other MINI owners but I got too involved in Zymol waxing and polishing my car and got sidetracked talking to various odd people telling me I'd "missed a bit".

[ScoobyDoo]

Hannah - So sorry I didn't come over and say Hi. I saw your car & recognised the reg no, but I didn't put 2 and 2 together, was it you talking to Paul & Kirsty. If so really sorry i didn't say Hello.
I didn't stop at the show that long as I had to dig my car out of the mud pile of a car park.

[Ady]

As ever there is always a minority to spoil it for the rest, the anti MINI feeling is waning slowly. Mini2 shall be at the usual shows this year.

Ady

[Naughty Magpie]

Quote: Originally Posted by ScoobyDoo

Hannah - So sorry I didn't come over and say Hi. I saw your car & recognised the reg no, but I didn't put 2 and 2 together, was it you talking to Paul & Kirsty. If so really sorry i didn't say Hello.
I didn't stop at the show that long as I had to dig my car out of the mud pile of a car park.

Hi Helen - don't worry about it. It would have been good to see you though. Next time! If in doubt, I'm the one wearing a lot of pink and looking really annoyed. x

[DMR]

Disappointed with this event, could do with a bigger venue so there would be more to see. Classic Mini owners still making us all feel unwelcome at all events I have attended so far, and that included Silverstone last year. I run a club and it's hard to get decent space at these events. We were only offered a 3 car space at Mini Fair, so declined it. As it turned out it seems all new Mini clubs were only given 3 car spaces. This was despite classic Mini clubs in the main hall being allowed more.
The only way we will overcome this is to have our own events, and keep away from the classics. I am surprised that this hasn't happened yet. Hoping that Mini's Birthday will have some kind of event for it this year. The only other one is the INMM in Belgium.
So if anybody (Mini2 ideally) can organise something may be we should hold our own event.
Looking forward to the larger outdoor events later in the year.
Cheers
Jas

[TonyM]

I think the best way to overcome this is to have our own events and include the classics. Best to lead by example

This kind of event is bound to have a leaning towards the classic because most of the traders sell parts for the classic that you can't get anywhere else.

I think a lot of the slogans etc. are a bit tongue in cheek and I thought the MINI in the cage was done with a sense of humour. Elsewhere there was another MINI dressed up like a burglar and handcuffed to a classic mini "police car". All in good fun I think.

On the other hand there is still a lot of antagonism on the part of many classic owners which I really don't understand.