89 replies to this topic

[THE ANORAK]

Well said Vanman,

Minis are far from being automotive fossils, we're just as interested in personalizing them and making them even more fun to drive as they were back in the sixties. When the Mini scene is just stale old concourse restoration it will be dead and as boring as a classic MG or Jag.

no one is against personalizing the cars and making them fun to drive don't know where you got that impression from ?

it's the dressing up we don't understand

[MiniDick]

Anorak is right about kids being scared of people in suits ets (unless it's Bob The Builder, Tweenies or Postman Pat )

The Mini IS an Icon and they aren't common (Corsas are common, Mondeos are common) I think it's good for every Mini owner to learn the heritage of their car, I have and it makes me value my car even more.

Edited by MiniDick, 26 July 2007 - 09:36 PM.

[Wigan]

I actually went to a fancy dress do in Manchester the other week, but the transport to get me near my mates house was the mini, chauffeur driven by my Dad.. He dropped me off in the centre of town and me and my pal jogged to my mates house, dressed in 70's sports gear..

It complimented the mini greatly. Random people were taking pictures and most of the public generally had a good laugh.

I like to see it as being based on the old 'Goldie Lookin' Chain' saying..

Fancy dress doesn't kill the mini, the rain does!

[Ethel]

Slippery slope, when you start talking about being part of British heritage and detracting from the car's image.

What's more British than dressing up and acting a bit like a big kid every now and then?

(I think I know the answer )

[Guess-Works.com]

Oh dear....

[MiniDick]

The Mini means different things to different people, some people feel the need to dress up, some people feel the need to be a concours nut, some people love the history and heritage of the car, some people like the fact that every Mini is different and enjoy how it can be tuned and changed. A bloke slaving away on a Sunday in his garage with his Mini Is British, Chucking a Mini round Santa Pod is British, dressing up like a div is also British, true. The fact remains however, that the Mini is an Icon and a BIG part of British Motor heritage, how saying that is being on a slippery slope, I don't know.

[minivanman]

The Mini means different things to different people, some people feel the need to dress up, some people feel the need to be a concours nut, some people love the history and heritage of the car, some people like the fact that every Mini is different and enjoy how it can be tuned and changed. A bloke slaving away on a Sunday in his garage with his Mini Is British, Chucking a Mini round Santa Pod is British, dressing up like a div is also British, true. The fact remains however, that the Mini is an Icon and a BIG part of British Motor heritage, how saying that is being on a slippery slope, I don't know.

Thats exactly what I was saying earlier. Why I even bother trying to argue with Anorak I don't know. I just guess some people will never be happy, and feel a need to complain no matter what.

[Ethel]

I'm pleased to hear you don't MiniDick as it suggests you don't see it that way.

To me heritage suggests an disproportionate respect for the past at the expense of the present. If Anorak is talking about the Mini's image then he must have something in mind and it can't take into account any new ideas that other people may not have even had yet.

You have touched on the most quintessential qualities of Britishness though - tolerance.

[MiniDick]

When the Mini was produced Britain was the fourth largest car Manufacturer in the world, now we're fourth from bottom. There are no longer any true British car firms anymore - Fact. I think the Mini is something to treasure and look after (also to have fun with) because we'll never have anything like it ever again. I'm peoud of Being British and I do love all things British, Past AND Present. Just happens that There are no present day British cars to be proud of. The Mini IS a car from the past, not the future. If I wanted the ''future'' I'd have a Prius or something....

Edited by MiniDick, 26 July 2007 - 10:32 PM.

[Ethel]

The Mini's as much a car for now as it has been ever since 59. People are still developing it even if they're not rolling off a Brummie production line any more.

Apparently we make as many cars today as we did in the 70's. Would be nice if the odd one was fully designed and developed here though.

[CanadianMiniFan]

minis are rare...over here...

[wobblybob]

Anorak, I think you're forgetting that the mini means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. Some people enjoy dressing up and having a laugh with their mates. Others enjoy walking round a field looking at rover coopers that are exactly the same. We're all different.

firstly, what exactly has "dressing up and having a laugh with their mates" got to do with the mini ???

I think somebody has no freinds

[biggav]

If people go to a mini show and "theme" their car and themselves i have no problem, with it. Infact, the variety of cars keep things intersting. i try and do at least one major modification between shows, i may actually bring the car to Mini in the park!!!! (if it has dried out)

I am far more concerned by the number of Non mini or even non bini..( yes i'm making concessions.. this once) who turn up in chavved up euro shitheaps with big speakers just to get drunk/high (you will see them at santa pod!!)

They are also invading the VW shows now and i know several VW owners who won't ever go back to run to the sun because of it.

I'm deffinatley not doing Riviera run again. I actually felt embaraced walking through the camp site and went home at 2pm on the day of the show.

[Modmobile]

I'm not getting into any argument but I'd just like to mention that at the Riv Run there is a fancy dress competition. It's on the evening, not in anyway connected with the minis and is just a way of people having some fun after the show during the day. (my kids love seeing people dressed up and actually spent a lot of the evening following Batman) At the end of the day, if the magazines choose to report that rather than on the minis, surely that is their problem and not the problem of those who have dressed up. I'm already working on my costume for the Winter Warmer *waits to get shot down in flames*

[Jake Blues]

no one is against personalizing the cars and making them fun to drive don't know where you got that impression from

It's written in your letter to MiniWorld...a comment about themed cars.


Firstly, I apologise for calling you a prat in my first post, that was rude.

Secondly I am absolutely amazed by your vitriolic comments against dressing up for Mini Shows. As most people in the show scene know we at Central Minis have a long tradition of getting dressed up to join in with the theme of the show or just to bring a bit of light relief to, what would otherwise be (in my opinion) a car park/Sunday market.
I spent many months thinking about how to restore my Clubby Estate, I didn't want it to stay beige (no offence to beige CE owners!) I wanted something different, radically different and something that was unique to me and one day I had the epiphinal moment and Jake the MiniBluesMobile was birthed. I bought a cheap black suit and white shirt from Asda, a decent fedora and RayBans and the theme was complete. I love going to shows as Jake Blues, people love seeing the car and it gets photographed and shown in the Mini magazines with regularity (bottom of page 29 in this month's MiniWorld). I get a kick from seeing my car and me in print...ego? Hell yeah!
Getting dressed up and getting your club stand themed takes a lot of work and dedication not to mention cash. We do it because we enjoy it. Two years ago we did all the shows as Pirates in honour of the film.....just because we can. We all went to the Premiere of Pirates 2 in costume and were given posh seats at the front...nothing to do with Minis but FUN!

Thirdly (and finally!) The Mini is an icon, without a doubt...but it is also only a car, a possession, a collection of metal, rubber and glass after all that that will eventually crumble to dust. I had an accident in Jake, three months after spending two years restoring him. gutted? yes but I wasn't hurt, neither was the other driver and he was repaired. Life goes on.

I think your letter has amused the editorial team at MiniWorld and it has amused me...please come and have a beer with Central Minis at SMD....we'll be the ones dressed up like film stars entering the spirit of the show ......I'm the one in the black suit stood next to a MiniBluesMobile but watch out for "Him"!