40 replies to this topic

[1984mini25]

The typical mini owner has changed over the last 10 years, from your average 18 to 25 year old with a mini as there fist car. Who would then join up with a local club (not as many of those than their used to be). where if they had an issue, you could normally guarantee someone would have a spare tucked away in there garage for a free, a beer or a favour. You'd also meet up for drive round in convoy to a local pub (maybe get lost on the way) or a nearby show at the weekend. Half the fun of the shows used to be the journey getting there, as at least one person would brake down or have some other issue, limp/towed to the to the show and then need fixing to be able to dive home again. Where you'd be off looking through the traders/auto jumble for the next new/used part form your mini, either to fix it or to improve it with a new set of wheels, seats, carpets etc. it also used to be that you got a nice discount for buy from a show. But now most of those mini owners have grown up and either moved on from minis (kids, marriage, house etc.), or still have a mini tucked away in bits after abandoned resto that was started with such youthful enthusiasms that they no longer have time for.

 

Where as you typical mini owner of today if somewhat older, have already been through the house and kids stage and see the mini as a weekend toy. And have no real interest in joining clubs or getting there hands dirty fixing it on a budget because they need it for work the next morning. Instead they are much more happy paying a specialist to do all the restoration and repair work for them regardless of the cost.

Edited by 1984mini25, 18 September 2016 - 07:46 PM.

[Stevie W]

I think the above sums it all up very nicely!

[nicklouse]

So going the way of the U.K. VW shows.

[mini-geek]

What thriving on every weekend and sell out?

[nicklouse]

And very much reduced in numbers of events.

The advantage they have is the cars or from the same company not two.

[1984mini25]

Although on the subject of Stanford hall. The turn out compared to past years seamed right down, half the clubs area was empty and the rest was more spread out. The concourse, witch used to be packed, only had a few or even just single entries in the classes. And the deals/prices on offer from some of the traders were more expense than online (even from the same trader). The only reason I bought some bits witch I could have bought cheaper online, was if I didn't it would have been a waste in fuel and entry.  

Edited by 1984mini25, 18 September 2016 - 09:28 PM.

[mini-geek]

Sorry but you're wrong the vw scene is huge

The whole air cooled v water is present but there is variaty of models that helps.. And the main thing is that most shows are a weekend long

The whole bini at mini shows isn't helping in my opinion it's a different scene and hopefully as the bin scene grows the will separate

[l_jonez]

For me they have been going downhill for a long time. Certainly the lack of traders is very noticeable in all classic shows not just mini specific.

I used to enjoy Gaydon as it was a full weekend with a party on the Saturday night. For a lot of people the "big" shows are to far away to make travelling on the day not worth the effort. the option to travel the day before and camp with mates etc was a big part of the attraction for myself and many others. 

[mini_surfari]

 
I entered my (non-cooper) Mini into the concours at Beaulieu this year for the first time but the weather let the show down a bit and I spent all morning trying to wash the mud off of it with buckets of water!
 
Cheers, Steve.  

Steve, I had the dark blue mini to the left of yours at beaulieu, and I had a close look round yours and thought it deserved an award... it's a lovely car.... but it seems to be who you are not what you built these days 🤔

[Archived2]

Too much Facebook. Not enough forums. Too much 'hate' towards mods now. And sorry for this.... Too many posh rich kids. It's going stale

The shows are a result of how the mini scene owners treat each other and how they now use the cars

I've been saying this will happen for a while. When the prices/demand falls then maybe we will get a small reprieve but in large I feel the scenes time is nearly up.

Now where can I buy a beetle?
.

[Archived2]

And whilst I'm upsetting people... This:

The same sodding show cars!?! You've polished that same turd for ten years or more! Get a different mini and show us what you can do ya lazy bastards.
If I see another blue cabrio then I guarantee I've see it before... For 15 bloody years. He'll I'm not shocked people are bored of looking at the same cars!

Lazy lazy boring samey lazy boring samey ol tripe. Nice cars but I must have paid out over £300 on show entries to see the same black Gt or orange car with no wheels and mirrors etc.

Where's the new cars? I'm not talking the v tech norms or Honda yawn... But the guy at home with his ideas and a budget?

Feel the burn lol

[mab01uk]

Sorry but you're wrong the vw scene is huge

The whole air cooled v water is present but there is variaty of models that helps.. And the main thing is that most shows are a weekend long

The whole bini at mini shows isn't helping in my opinion it's a different scene and hopefully as the bin scene grows the will separate

 

As you say the VW scene is different as there is a much wider variety of models like say a Ford show (and it is much more international as all VW's and the Beetle in particular was sold in huge numbers compared to the classic Mini, all over the world including the USA). The Mini scene has a reducing number of everyday classic Mini's and an increasing number of Modern MINI's and every major show knows they need New MINI's through the gates to be financially viable over the long term as do the larger clubs like the Mini Cooper Register and British Mini Club. Obviously local Mini Clubs can restrict their membership and events to classics if they wish but the days of huge turnouts of classic Mini's at National events started to decline when production ended. I can remember when every year in the 1990's a large proportion of the parking areas at Beaulieu were filled with brand new Rover Coopers much to the disgust of some of the original 1960/70's die-hard Mk1/2/3 Cooper owners!

Edited by mab01uk, 18 September 2016 - 10:23 PM.

[mab01uk]

Maybe future shows will go back to a few Mini's in a field like this, the first ever Mini Owner Club event in 1979 (see link below)......

I was there back then and took these photos......and Chris Cheal the organiser still runs the Stanford Hall Mini Show today, although the National MOC is no more.

First MOC Meeting 1982 - Twycross Zoo:-

http://www.theminifo...2-twycross-zoo/

 

Edited by mab01uk, 18 September 2016 - 10:30 PM.

[nicklouse]

I was trying to remember Chris's surname. We used to be waiting at the gates cooking bacon for him to let us in.

This would be late 80s early 90s and if I remember you had show cars and auto jumble no trade stands at the start of my visits.

Them mid 90s trade stands started at the shows. I know I was helping running one.

This was all pre Internet and distance selling rules as they are now. And Rover was still making the Mini.

One must also consider the last Mini show I went to was also when the Mini was in production.

Do we really need to buy new stuff at shows? Yes collecting orders can be good as postage can be saved. But high value goods need to be seen and touched to close some orders. The twink heads etc.

The last shows I have been to in the UK were VW Van related.
Both seemed to have stalls selling very low value stuff or food and drink. Anything of high value was shown via customer vans or their demo.

Not very well thought out but I need sleep.

[fiestaharry]

does anyone know the name/ details of the person selling in the auto jumble with the brightest pink seats possible for sale, 9not interested in these it was something else he had for sale)