89 replies to this topic

[taffy1967]

with the greatest respect in the world,(edit: some) people do get fed up of seeing the same cars and faces in there over and over again, i mean how many times do we need to see the mini bandits club stand ??

Good point...

Yes very good point and there's a reason for that too, the members of Mini Bandits are those who run MiniWorld Magazine! So if you ever want you're car featured you have to go beg and kiss their feet first. Ahem.....

Anyway I have to admit that my Mini was dressed up once and whilst it was a bit of fun at the time (even though you couldn't see much of my Mini which was a tad annoying since it had just recently had a new front end fitted), the novelty soon wore off.

The theme was Austin Powers and the girlfriend of a member of the club I was a member of did all the work herself and even though it brought much attention at the 2002 MITP event and got featured in Mini Magazine soon after, we didn't win and came second to a club whose members dressed up as Doctors & Nurses and who arsed about all day long.

Not that we minded of course, but we felt sorry for the girl who had worked so hard to provide dressing up stuff for each and every car on the club stand.

Personally I wouldn't have bothered because I don't see much interest in Minis with big sunglasses and gaudy stuff everywhere. Okay I've been doing the Mini shows since 1986, so seeing people dressed up now doesn't interest me either and I tend to ignore it anyway.

I do remember admiring the club stand at the National Mini Owners Club "Standford Hall" show many years back (one of the first Mini events where people had a themed club stand and dressed up I think?), because they used the swinging 60's as their theme and so they all dressed up as hippies and had an old record player and classic LP's (The Beatles, The Rolling Stones etc) tastefully displayed amongst lots of other kitch 1960's groovy stuff. Oh and I took a few photo's too.

But after that all you ever saw was people wearing silly afro wigs and stuff and so the novelty really wore off. If some people enjoy it then fine, but I don't think it needs to take over a Mini event and to force clubs to dress up or not get a stand is just criminal.

Okay I don't want to go to Mini shows and be attacked for not having a perfect Mini or have nothing but a concourse competition and a few traders. But I certainly don't make much effort to attend themed Mini shows now either.

Anyway sorry for waffling, but I'm sure the right balance will please everyone just so long as one thing (dressing up) doesn't dominate and spoil things for those who have seen it all before.

Edited by taffy1967, 27 July 2007 - 06:48 PM.

[biggav]

Can i just thank The Anorak and Jake Blues for listening to each other and offering different (though respectfull) opinion. You have set a fantastic debating example to us all without resorting to snipes and backstabbing so commonly seen of late.

I applaude you both.

What is right for the goose, is not necessarilly right for the gander.

[MiniSal]

I am glad I have read this thread after returning from the pub. What the hell's the problem with dressing up Minis ? If we all went on the North Devon Grand Tour without dressing the Minis up, then the kids at the hospice would be extremely disappointed......they dress up their hospice to greet us, so surely we should reciprocate.................

i have been known to dress up on occaision...it's usually at some point during the riviera run.....why? it's the first big show of the season it's a bloody long way, and my first holiday of the year, so it's a celebration.

]the winter warmer. Southern mini days and other big shows usually have a fancy dress theme, which could explain it.

and i totally agree with guessworks re: practical classics.....it's the only mag i buy now

[Ethel]

What a load of Arse Gav, there's nothing more entertaining than a good cat fight.

Handbags at ten paces - no hair pulling, *Female doggy* I'll scratch yer eyes out

[MiniDick]

Variety is good and that's what also makes the Mini special as each owner has their own way of expressing themselves. At least it's not boring with back slapping all the time telling each other we're amazing (like some other owners forums)

[THE ANORAK]

right, i have a serious question now....

last night i sat down and had a full read through the mag so whats with all the photos of dogs?


i really seriously want someone to explain what thought processes they went through that led them to feature dogs in the mag. not only do we now have a monthly photo of "i love my dog" but now a good percentage of the show reports feature pictures of dogs (even bothered to find out the dogs names) for no reason what so ever.

it's my guess that mini world now have someone on their staff who is a dog lover, fair enough, i used to work in a boarding kennel for seven years, i like dogs (but cats are more my thing) but i really seriously don't understand what their doing in mini-world.

i get the impression these people think their writing a local club newsletter instead of an international magazine.

and please don't tell me they have done their research and the majority of mini owners want to see pics of dogs because that just rubbish.

i think these people have been working on the mag to long, it's time to get some fresh faces in, and this time i will be complaining to the publishing company, not the mag.


forget the laughs and the jokes, this time I'm peed off. >

[biggav]

Dogs should be licenced. and cats serve no purpose and should be got rid of.

Well, maybe not that extreme, but at least stop sending in pics of Dogs!!! it's a lot of arse.

[biggav]

What a load of Arse Gav, there's nothing more entertaining than a good cat fight.

Handbags at ten paces - no hair pulling, *Female doggy* I'll scratch yer eyes out

True, but there have been quite a few threads which have had to be deleated, closed or moved to the boneyard due to differences of opinion escalating to full blown War!!!!!

I have more respect for someone who has a different point of view from me, but listens to the other side and makes a healthy debate than someone who agrees with me and tries to spin whats being said and back stab.

[MiniDick]

Things should always be polite, If I wanted a slanging match I'd go to BarryBoys. Anyway, I have noticed that Miniworld does seem to have a load of Poo-Poo in it lately, Dogs and stuff like that is a waste of paper, I've got two cats, anyone want me to post some pics of em up?......thought not (someone will say yes ) The only car gripe I really have with it this month is that Fapping Green Pickup, vile.

[taffy1967]

What a load of Arse Gav, there's nothing more entertaining than a good cat fight.

Handbags at ten paces - no hair pulling, *Female doggy* I'll scratch yer eyes out

Wow Ethel I'm shocked, you're so violent!

[taffy1967]

I am glad I have read this thread after returning from the pub. What the hell's the problem with dressing up Minis ? If we all went on the North Devon Grand Tour without dressing the Minis up, then the kids at the hospice would be extremely disappointed......they dress up their hospice to greet us, so surely we should reciprocate.................

i have been known to dress up on occaision...it's usually at some point during the riviera run.....why? it's the first big show of the season it's a bloody long way, and my first holiday of the year, so it's a celebration.

]the winter warmer. Southern mini days and other big shows usually have a fancy dress theme, which could explain it.

and i totally agree with guessworks re: practical classics.....it's the only mag i buy now

Nothing wrong with that Sal, especially as it's all for a good cause and not just a few nutters desperate to get their faces in MiniWorld.

[taffy1967]

What a load of Arse Gav, there's nothing more entertaining than a good cat fight.

Handbags at ten paces - no hair pulling, *Female doggy* I'll scratch yer eyes out

True, but there have been quite a few threads which have had to be deleated, closed or moved to the boneyard due to differences of opinion escalating to full blown War!!!!!

I have more respect for someone who has a different point of view from me, but listens to the other side and makes a healthy debate than someone who agrees with me and tries to spin whats being said and back stab.

True but at least some (me & the anorak) apologize for going off on one occasionally.

[taffy1967]

Variety is good and that's what also makes the Mini special as each owner has their own way of expressing themselves. At least it's not boring with back slapping all the time telling each other we're amazing (like some other owners forums)

Any one owners forum in particular?

[taffy1967]

Anyway after thinking about it and sending my mind back in time I realised that I've been telling lies because the very first Mini related people that I remember dressing up their cars and wearing fancy dress were the original members of the Mini Cooper Register.

And that was when I attended the 1987 NEC Classic Car Show and I was impressed with their display of Minis and the fact the blokes were wearing racing gear and the girls were all in Mini Skirts/Dresses. And that was a long time before the Mini Skirt came back into fashion too.

In fact one of the girls was the late Carole Evans who was the very first MCR membership secretary and she was a lovely lady who was no doubt one of the main reasons why the club became successful so quickly. It was simply because she was approachable, very friendly and welcomed everyone to join whether they owned a Mini Cooper or not, or even a Mini. Basically everyone who had a passion for the Mini was welcome. Yes that was long before the politics took over and long before they tried to ban the Rover Cooper!

Then they would make a massive effort at every Classic Car event, be it the NEC or Earls Court etc and all the eyes were on their Mini Cooper displays which ranged from either fake snow covered cars in Monte Carlo Rally style scenes to fake accidents with a police Mini Cooper S and the warning "Don't Drink & Drive" advertising banner.

So all their effort paid off because they'd always win the first prize for their club displays and matching costumes and they would then enjoy full coverage in all the Classic Car Magazines.

But once they'd fully established themselves, they stopped making the effort with these club stand displays and then concentrated more on the annual Beaulieu Mini Cooper day instead. Plus things moved on and the main club organisers changed over the years too.

Okay I'm waffling again, but what I'm trying to say is that back then the novelty of what they created was breath taking and it was something to be proud of too because the Mini Cooper had achieved great things and they were out there reminding and educating people about the facts with mind blowing displays. Yes they were the talk of every Classic Car event and the Mini deserved the reaction and coverage.

So I love that and I love the fancy dress for charity sake, but I find a few blokes wearing big afro's and false buttocks bloody tedious that's all.

Edited by taffy1967, 28 July 2007 - 01:02 PM.

[taffy1967]

Dogs should be licenced. and cats serve no purpose and should be got rid of.

Well, maybe not that extreme, but at least stop sending in pics of Dogs!!! it's a lot of arse.

Sorry but it must be catching and here's a picture of our Mini with Marie and Alistair our Scottish Terrier: -