Man - I've opened up a great can of worms here - but the feedback is great! Keep it coming. I will now try and answer all of the posts that have appeared since i left work!!
68delux - I know the exact feeling you are talking about!! I try and go to every event I can, but due to the condition of my car I kinda feel like I shouldn't be there. As you say, this isn't due to the people in the club "poopooing" my car, just due to the awesome standard of some of the cars coming along. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I WANT TO CHANGE!!!
THE CLUB IS FOR EVERYBODYp.s. mate I go to as many events as my spare time allows and your car sounds a heap better than mine!!
Iwannamini - I agree with everything you said. The club is for anybody who has an interest in minis, regardless of whether they have a concourse winning showroom spec cooper s or c rusted out oil chewing clubman or don't have a mini yet at all.
Gafmo - Exactly what I was getting at. I go to the general meetings which are good. All that is said there is necessary for the running of the club, but pretty damn boring for newbies!! I mostly go for the chinwag before and after. So I went to the enthusiasts meeting hoping for what you said - ie tech tips etc. You do get some of that there, but still a lot of general business etc. And Geezus - want a laugh? Go in there and ask some of the old guys something funny like how to do a 16V honda conversion - seriously the look would be priceless!! The Kind of meeting/forum/sub-committee (call it whatever you like) that I want to set up is to welcome all of the people that otherwise wouldn't have a place within the club. How good would it be to be able to talk all the crap (and the good stuff too!!) that we talk on this forum, but in person?
9YaTaH - I never claimed the club restricts modified minis at all - quite the opposite. I think they want anyone and everyone who like minis. I just think we need our own little forum in order to discuss our modifieds etc without upsetting the purist elements within the club. And I don't have any illusions AT ALL of messing with the club plate scene. Now i really wanna clarify a few things you mentioned. I don't want to change the club - just add another dimension and some new blood. I DEFINITELY don't want another club started - as i mentioned in a previous post this would achieve little and be counter-productive in a big way (well I think so anyway). And Finally
NONE OF THIS IS MEANT TO BE ANTI - MCC IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM!!!
And finally Aaron - I didn't think the committee did have an issue with these cars, just that some of their owners feel a little out of place. I want to create a place within the club so we can get some of these people to join. How many great guys (and girls!!) are there on Ausmini with great cars that aren't in the club?? As for the old guys hassling people with non-original cars, I think it would be less of a problem if there were more of us. I can tell you from the point of view of a fairly new member turning up in a non original (and pretty crappy, but hey i'm working on it!) car, that it is pretty daunting. Have a think about the Mini's that come to the general meetings - Steve and Mikeys Dorothy, John McMeechan's 850 and a few other REALLY NICE cars - and some young bloke turns up in a rustbucket looking for friendly advice and some fellow miniacs, only to be criticised for trying. Okay so it's not always as bad as that but I just think if we had our own meetings where we could swap info, experience and help each other out, it would make the club - and the whold mini scene in NSW stronger in the long run.
And I'm not suggesting seperate cruises. NO WAY!! Like I said, I wanna see these modified beasts cruising with coopers cruising with 850's cruising with unfinished project rustbuckets! The more the merrier!!
As far as volunteering, Well I guess I'll have a go if anyone else thinks it's a good enough idea??!?! I'd really like someone to take this idea to the committee on my behalf - Aaron if you wanna help me there that'd be great. I've already spoken to Steve Eaton about it and He seemed positive about it too. I now just have to convince the rest of the committee??
I think i've done enough typing for one day - keep the feedback/suggestions coming, and most of all - KEEP ON MINI-ING!!!!