Hi All

Just wondering if there's many people who want to join the MCC (NSW Mini Car Club), but haven't because their car isn't original or because the club doesn't seem to cater for modified Mini's???

I've only been in the club for a short time and although the club as a whole welcomes new members with open arms, there are elements that like to just put crap on people who modify their cars. Personally I don't care when some old bloke stands there telling me how my 12" wheels, disc brakes and electronic ignition aren't original, but I can see how it would turn a lot of people off joining the club.

I have an idea I want to put to the committee and I'd like some feedback first. My idea is to have a part of the club dedicated to modified and modifying Mini's. We could have our own seperate meetings and I think it would help people new to the scene (like me!) gather information to help their projects, and meet other people who are doing the same thing.

Don't get me wrong - I'm not badmouthing the club - I reckon the club is great, I'm simply trying to think of an idea to expand the clubs current activities - and attract new younger members.

Let me know what you think, and NSW based non-members - let me know if a dedicated modified Mini "sub-club" would make you more likely to join!!

Thanks, I'll get off the soapbox now.

Bob.

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Bob Slattery
Duffman Says A Lot of Things - OH YEAH!!

I hear you Bob.

I must admit, I love a totally original restored Mini, but to be perfectly honest, mine will never be that. Restored yes, but I doubt it will be 'as per factory'.

I know what you mean in regard to your comments, and your idea has merit.

Good luck !

Anton.

When you say cater for "modified minis" exactly what type of things do you mean.

We have many modified minis in our club. Just run some events that lean towards the type of things that these people might be interested in and you may find that those modified minis come out of the wood work for the right events.

Just an idea.

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mutant mini 1380cc '73 UK imp-Chroma Lusion-leather interior-8 x 300W Diamond Audio Dual Voice Coil 8" subs, Phoenix Gold 4 chnl amp, Pioneer 7550 DVD, 2x Phoenix Gold A1.800d MonoBlock Amp, Focal Utopia splits, 14" chrome rims 195/40/14 tyres

Great idea, let me know when my hybrid mini will be accepted as what it is ( A MINI ) and i would love to join up and get together with other mini owners that are into the same thing. Just because its a modified mini dosnt make it any less a mini, in most peoples eyes a faster, safer, nicer looking mini is great.

In the UK they have a 16vminiclub and they have over 1000 members now and they still arnt accepted by the wider mini community, but give it a couple of years and they will have more members then the original (a series) mini club.

I got nothing against original minis, hey i have one in the garage at the moment, but for people to say that mine and others alike arnt minis is just plane crap.

mutant mini do you get the same thing down at melbourne with your awsome mini?? or is it sydney mini enthusiast thing????

EDIT: also like to add that my mini was on a tow truck headed to the wreckers when i ripped it off and built it to what it is today, what would the so called "mini" owners rather, the car melted down to make toasters or what i did with it?

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1974 Moke - 998cc
76 Clubman B16a2 Vtec AWD Turbo 12.9@105mph
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9PW49e1hYs

Thanks 13sec - couldn't have said it better myself. Like I said, I don't want to say anything bad about the club - but they need to welcome ALL minis. I have heard some people talk about starting a seperate club for modified minis - this is totally unnecessary and counter-productive. Why not have one huge club for everyone? I reckon it'd be great to see an immaculately restored original cooper S next to a fuel injected hotted up special - that's what the club should be about! Please keep the comments and ideas coming - I'm going to send a letter to the committee to have them look at this idea, and may even try and get involved myself (there's not much point in me spruiking about my ideas if I'm not prepared to get in and help out now is there?). So many of the minis that belong to members on here look and sound great from what I've seen - I'd love to see some of them in my rearview mirror on the next club cruise!!!! There's nothing like a line of 30+ minis going up the highway to turn heads!!!

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Bob Slattery
Duffman Says A Lot of Things - OH YEAH!!

What kind of events do you have in mind for the modified crew apart from maybe a panel meeting (along the lines of the current restoration panel meetings) to discuss modifications with like minded people?

All other events that the club has scheduled suit the modified crowd - convoys/picnics, motorkhanas, khana x, lap dashes, supersprints, static shows, dyno days etc.

I can't see the committe having any dramas setting up a regular modified panel meeting.

I would join up too, if they catered for modified cars.
As said, it is counter-productive to form another club rather than annex us into the MCC, and, there are a lot of potential new members out there.

Will be interested in how the proposal is received.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Actually the panel meeting was the main thing I had planned - I agree, all of the other events do allow anything - even non-minis!. The main thing I wanted was to make the modified Mini's more welcome, attract new members and thereby make the club stronger. Like I said it'd be great to see some of these done up cars on our cruises and social days next to some of the original cars - BRING IT ON!!

If anyone has any other ideas I'd love to hear them

Bob.

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Bob Slattery
Duffman Says A Lot of Things - OH YEAH!!

Everything seems to go in cycles in the club. 10 - 15 yrs ago most cars were modified, then the historic rego scheme came along and members saw the oportunity to have 1 or more cars on reduced rego but there was strict original guidelines to adhere to. This saw many of the modified cars being 'put back to standard'.

There is always going to be the 'old set' group who like nothing better than to stand around in their houndstooth jackets with leather patches on the elbows bagging out someone who has dared modify an Issigonis original.

All I can say is find like minded members who are into modifying Minis. They far out weigh the 'old set' and they're a pretty good mob as well.

I don't actually have anything against the "old set" (your words - not mine!!), most I have met are extremely nice people and a well of information to mini newbies like me. I have been going to all general and enthusiast meetings and think that there's no decent forum in which to chat about/get info about modifying minis. Look at the Vic Mini club and their recent show - The top trophy getters were all modifieds - and damn good ones!! I'd like to see so many more of those in our club - and not just members, but active members. I couldn't believe at gannons park last Sunday (our annual show'n'shine) how many car were there I've never seen on a cruise or at a meeting - and how quickly they all cleared out after the presentation!!! C'mon People - lets get these damn machines on the road where they belong!!

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Bob Slattery
Duffman Says A Lot of Things - OH YEAH!!

I alway like to remind the "it's got to be original or nothing else" brigade that the humble Cooper S (that they all drool over) started as a modified Mini. Thankyou Mr Cooper.

The Mini would have never had the great reputation or history it has if the original 850 was never modified.

The club is great in my opinion. 90% of the members are cool, but there are some within the club who are assholes......as there would be in every club.

Me: "I saw that Mini for sale recently. How much did you pay for it?"
Him: "Can't tell you that"
Me: "Hahaha, no seriously, how much. The lady was asking $2500"
Him: "I told you, I am not going to tell you that"
Me: "Right on - ASSHOLE!"

OK here is my version as I too am a potential club member, i live practically down the road from the club meeting venue, the money to join is not the issue, nor is the time.

I have a el crappo deluxe, it's a "bitsa" mini, bits of this bits of that sort of thing. For instance, it's round nose, has an 1100 clubman rodchange in it, the boot lid is from an old S, the front is missing bling bling that is supposed to be on a deluxe, even the "Morris Mini Deluxe" badge is 2 cm higher than it should be.

But you know what, I've put hours and $1000's into her and she runs great! Bottom line is I love her that much more because she is one of a kind.

I am almost afraid to take her to club events! I park in the car park away from the club cars. I see the other cars and feel ashamed and almost feel like people don't want to talk to me because I have an All Original junkyard special... after the first few times, i never went back to club events...

Don't get me wrong, the people in the club are VERY nice people and they are more than willing to help people like me out, they have never turned me away or given me the cold shoulder. Quite the opposite actually..., but man, I can't help feeling this "shame" that I paid money to feed the "non-original" mini market, and I shoulda done this or that instead... especially when you go to a club meeting and practically every car is factory trim, factory spec etc... makes a guy feel err... left out? Especially when my vision for my red mini is bucket seats, beige leather interior and a dellorto...

In reality, how was I supposed to know when I bought her? if I had known of all of her flaws would I have bought it? perhaps not, i dunno. But at the end of the day she is sitting in my lock up garage under a car cover with 3 coats of wax, she never sees rain and kept as immac as she deserves to be kept... and I love her.

Should people who love minis not be accepted into a Mini Club as one of their own even if their minis are not factory condition?? hrmmm.... Back in 1968 I am sure 90% of all Minis were "non original" right?

One day I will have myself a 1964 sliding windows cooper S matching numbers in better than factory condition, but man I feel left out here with my less than perfect, but still loved mini...

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Lillee - 1969 Morris Mini K

I am gonna make my 2 cents worth short. I have a Mini. Its got a Mini badge. It looks like a Mini. It makes Mini sounds. It smells like a Mini. It leaves that little Mini oil pool. It goes round corners like a Mini. Its costing a fortune in parts like a Mini. Everytime I look at him I get new ideas on changes I can make like any other Mini.... Modified or original or restored or daily driver or beaten up rust bucket, I think that if the club was to act like the fantastic people on here (where everyone helps out.. everyone is nice... everyone respects you regardless of age and car type) then I dont think that there would be any trouble getting members.

**PHEW**

Now I have that off my chest, I would join if there was more beginners things like "Hey lets go for a drive" and "this is a hands on lesson on how to tune your carbie" rather than meetings about "how much did you pay for this and that" and "guess where I got my hubcaps from"

My turn.
I've been their and done that. All the people are loverly and I never had a problem. The fact that you're is not original should not make a differance. A Club or Union is a colective of people with the same interest (Mini's). Ever since mini's were manufactured people modified them. Are how did they win so many races on the tarmac and dirt. So if some came along with a Hopkin or a Broadspead will they say nar that's not origanal not interested. Yer like hell, head in under the bonet "WOW' nice.
And now adays most parts you can't find originals unless you have the money.
Also I'm not interested in the Budget, Letters to and out of the club. Give me as Iwana said tech tips and how to.
Anyway I haven't been back for some time now but have missed the last couple but intened to go to the next one in the non original Morris

Cheers

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Stop Licking the Dog...I Don't Care Who Started It