JUNE 2002 Articles

 The New Mini:  Steak... or Sizzle?     by Glen Carliss

(NOTE:  This is the opinion of the article writer and does not represent the official opinion of the New England Mini Owners' Club or the webmaster or editor.  NEMO welcomes both Classic Mini owners and New BMW MINI owners equally.) webmaster

    I just got back from taking my white and yellow classic Mini for a quick
spin.  It was something that I had to do as soon as I got home.  My Mini is
not perfect.  It only has a 998 stock engine with a stock exhaust and a
single SU carb.  The body has a touch of the tinworm, and I am still running
on stock 12" steel rims.  But, you know, it is a hell of a ride, and I
appreciate it even more after what happened today.
    I started the day off in Boston, having spent the night before in town
with my wife Nancy and daughter Kira, celebrating my wife's birthday.
Earlier in the week, while I was planning the weekend's events, I happened
to come across an ad in the automotive section of the Boston Globe for a
group of auto dealerships.
    There, in the middle of this full page ad, was the listing for the new
Mini dealership in Boston.  I wrote down the address and took it with me,
figuring I would have to wait for just the right moment to spring it on
Nancy and Kira if I wanted the slightest chance of making a quick side trip
to see the new Mini.
    Nancy loves our Mini and drives it frequently.  Kira, on the other hand,
is mortified whenever I make her ride in it, and wishes I drove a 'normal'
car.
    Ever since the new Minis went on sale a few weeks ago, I have been
waiting to see one on the road.  Every day that went by without seeing one
helped to build the anticipation of the inevitable event.  It is kind of
like when the PT Cruiser became available.  I ended up renting one within a
few days of their release.  The thrill is gone on that car, big time.  Could
that be foreshadowing of what was about to happen?
    We ended up at the Mini dealership just before noon.  They had eight new
Minis there in eight different colors.  Two were the Cooper S model with the
supercharged 1.6 liter, 163hp engine.  The others were Coopers with the
standard 1.6 liter engine rated at 115hp.
    I was very excited to see these cars.  I have been reading about them
everywhere.  All my friends have been sending me articles from magazines and
newspapers announcing the introduction of the redesigned Mini.  I have been
trying to imagine my car with 163hp!  It probably is struggling to muster up
40hp. 
    The three of us immediately started climbing all over the one car that
was unlocked.  Even Kira was getting into it.  I looked at her, hoping to
see some acceptance of this new car, some sign that maybe she would ride
with me if we bought one.
    The people who offered help at the dealership were sales associates,
there to assist the very busy senior sales staff.  There seemed to be a
number of interested people there, and a sale was going down with money
changing hands.  Before long, they asked me if I wanted to take a car for a
test ride.  "Are you kidding?" I thought.  Of course I would.  Which model?
The Cooper S, the one with the big engine!
    Before I knew it, the three of us were in the car with a sales
associate, and I was doing 60mph on Storrow Drive.  I took it for a pretty
long drive and had plenty of time to form an opinion of the car's
performance and handling characteristics.  It was very fast, with lots of
torque, and a six-speed transmission that I never took past fifth gear.  It
stuck to the road and was responsive to the slightest movement of the
steering wheel.  Braking was positive and smooth.  When we got back to the
dealer, I was finally introduced to a salesperson.
    When he asked me what I thought, I told him I was not impressed.
    I had gone there with an open mind, and actually wished to be swept off
my feet by the experience.  Funny how that happens less and less as I get
older. 
    I think the car looks extremely sharp, and it is solidly built.  Nancy
told one of the guys at the dealer that it was a lot different than our old
tin can.  Ouch! 
    It comes standard with six air bags.  I like that feature.  It had a
fancy stereo with a CD player.  I turned it on for a while during the test
drive, and that is when the real differences between the classic Mini and
the new Mini started to sink in.  I refuse to put a stereo in our Mini.  Why
would you want to be distracted from the pure driving pleasure you get from
the Issigonis icon?  Within minutes of driving the new Mini, I was bored.
    That is why I could not wait to climb in my little white and yellow 'tin
can' when I got home and go for a ride.  Most importantly, I didn't want our
Mini to have any hurt feelings.  We are not about to trade her in for a new
model.

 
    Within two blocks of our house, I heard someone say, "Hey, there is an
Austin Mini."  Tears almost welled up in my eyes.  I realized that during
the whole test drive on the streets of Boston crowded with pedestrians, not
one person had anything to say about the new Mini.  I am afraid it just
blended in with all the rest of the shiny paint and chrome.
    I wish the new Mini all the luck in the world and hope that their owners
take as much pleasure and pride in owning them as I do owning mine.
Awareness of the historic significance the classic Mini has been enhanced by
all the publicity the new Mini has gotten.  On the drive home, I asked Kira
what she thought.  This is the girl I count on to stay fashionably hip.  She
said it reminded her of a small minivan.  Double ouch!  End of story.
    Now, just think of the classic Mini $20,000 would buy!  Holy cow, I
could have Dave Black build up a 1380 with dual carbs, unleaded head,
radical cam, Maniflow exhaust, K&N air filters, new shell, new sub frames,
leather interior, new hula doll......

Counterpoint:
The New Mini:  A chance to discover the joy of the ride.       by Faith Lamprey

    With all the talk about making new Mini owners a 'special group' within
NEMO, and even excluding them as members and from shows, I felt I needed to
express my opinion on the subject.
    First, let me state my biases:  1) Bruce and I own a classic 1967 Mini
that we love; 2) Bruce and I both have new Minis on order that we are very
excited about.
    Glen Carliss makes some good points in his article.  The new Mini will
not replace the classic Mini in the minds and hearts of those of us who love
the riding experience  (which is definitely not boring) that only a classic
Mini can provide.  We will keep our classic Mini for fun, but it is not
practical as a daily driver.  For that we are getting the new Minis.
They're replacing our Honda and our Maxima, not our classic Mini.
    I got involved in British cars more than 20 years ago.  I bought an MGB
new in 1980.  I bought it for the convertible top and because it was a 'fun'
car.  We were invited to a rally by a local sports car club and we
discovered the joys (and woes) of rallying.  When we were invited to join a
British car club, we joined to be with others who enjoyed having fun with
their cars.  The club had members with cars from the '40s to the '80s, but
everyone was welcome.  The first time I autocrossed (in my XR4Ti) I
discovered the joys of driving at speed.  This is obviously all about fun
and enjoyment for me!
    Not every person who buys a new Mini will want to join NEMO.  The ones
we will attract will be the folks who discover that driving a car can be
more than just getting from points A to B.  It can be a fun experience, and
why not in a new Mini?  I would hope that we would welcome these people to
our group with open arms.  Who knows, they might get themselves a classic
Mini, too.

On the beat with Dave Black
 
Hopkinton, MA:  Lots of mechanical news this month.  Ron Lieuwma is finally
driving his re-powered Limey-green Mini.  It now has a fresh 1293 with 276
cam, and Ron has been seen sporting that 'Mini smile'!
    Dave Newman's 998 is the current projet du month.  Remember, he's
putting in a fresh 998 short block to solve his 'seeping block' syndrome.
He arrived last Saturday and we held a tech session around the lump's
removal and disassembly.  Pleased to report that his engine has just been
run on the test stand and will be going back into his car for delivery this
coming Saturday!
    Ron Blanchette has sold his Mini barn and is building a new one behind
his house in Lewiston, ME.  We'll have to come check it out;  maybe help
with one of his transplants some weekend?
    Thom Pickett reports very little progress on his 'S' project.  Work and
personal considerations seem to be getting in the way.  We suggest a weekend
of nothing but Mini projects to set things straight!
    Steve Dodge has a newly acquired '72 Innocenti for sale.  I had the
pleasure of driving it to the opening day of Gould¹s Microcar Museum last
Sunday and can report that this is one nice car.  Completely original with
its 1100cc engine, the thing drives like a real Mini, not a hopped-up
go-kart like most of ours do!  Give him a call if you know of anyone
interested (sedodge@attbi.com).
    Speaking of the micros, last Sunday, May 19th, had many NEMO members
converging on Hudson, MA, for the unveiling of Charles Gould's Microcar
Museum.  Chuck has assembled an impressive collection of microcars including
a Peel, Invacar, Messerschmitts (the name is larger than the car!), an
Amphicar, a Mercer (nothing micro about this one), and lots more.  Check out
his website at www.bubbledrome.com to see a more complete list, with
pictures.  Don¹t miss out on the July Mini-Micro Car Show at the Museum of
Transportation where you'll get to see these micros up close!

    I've been receiving e-mail from several of our members who think we
should treat 'new Mini' members differently from our 'classic' members.
Dues considerations have been proposed, or a different class of membership
for 'new' owners.  Please send me your thoughts on this.  In the meantime,
check out the review from Glen Carliss (and Faith's 'Counterpoint.')

Spot the Mini  by Dave Newman

    Take a peek at this trailer for the upcoming movie The Bourne Identity
http://www.apple.com/trailers/universal/the_bourne_identity/trailer1_lg.html.  It features a red ratty
Mini (similar to Dave's Own Mini) in most of the movie and some great chase scenes.  It
comes out about June 15th, 2002.  (picture copyright Universal Pictures)  Stars:  Matt Damon, Franka Potente, Chris Cooper, Clive Owen.  (Trivia: Matt Damon is from Boston and Chris Cooper lives in Kingston, Mass)

July 2002 Articles

Micros and Minis Return!    by Charles Gould

    Newton, MA:  Fire up those Bubblecars and Minis for the 7th Annual
Microcar and Minicar Classic Event, hosted by yours truly, Charles and Nancy
Gould, in Newton on July 12th, 13th, and 14th!  This is one of the best and
busiest weekends for microcar and minicar enthusiasts, including three days
packed with activities for owners and their families.
    This event has become one of the premier microcar and minicar events in
the USA.  In each of its first six years, it has drawn a larger attendance
than the National Event!
    This is no 'park and look' car show.  Owners are encouraged to drive
their cars all over town.  Last year's event was buzzing with activity as
over 70 microcars terrorized the neighborhood, and over 120 participants
attended.  The whole neighborhood was littered with microcars!
    More than 2,000 spectators attended the public lawn event at the nearby
Museum of Transportation in Brookline, where guests queued up for microcar
rides all afternoon.
    This year's event promises to be even bigger and more spectacular than
last year!
    This is no asphalt parking lot, either.  All three days of activities
take place on lush green grass locations with refreshments and shade
available.  Safe evening parking is available for all micros at the Gould
residence.  Extremely detailed directions to and from all tour destinations
are distributed to every member so there are never any 'lost sheep.'
    Tow vehicles with safe, secure flatbed trailers are available for those
minor disappointments (if you are one of the unfortunate, you can even
compete for the hard luck award!).  There will be informal tech sessions and
group help for the mechanically challenged.

The weekend's activities

    Friday evening begins with a wine, cheese and 'microbrew' reception for
owners and participants, held on the torch lit deck of the Gould residence.
Unload your cars, greet old friends, make new friends, tear around the
neighborhood and take in the sights and sounds of the strangest collection
of automotive oddities ever created.  See new acquisitions and old
favorites.  Exchange parts, stories, tech tips, and general admiration for
each other's cars.
    Mosquito control will be provided by all the two-stroke activity.
Registration for the weekend's activities will be available for the duration
of the evening.
    On Saturday morning, registration and informal tech sessions continue
with coffee, bagels and pastries served until 11:00 a.m., when a giant
parade of microcars depart for a short drive to the lawn event and public
display on the grounds of the Larz Anderson Museum of Transportation, which
includes the country¹s oldest private collection of motorcars (including
many European examples) housed in a beautiful 1800s carriage house.  This
year's exhibit also features antique automobiles that were built in New
England.
    Saturday afternoon includes the huge eclectic barbecue at the Goulds'
house.  Everyone is requested to bring a dish to share.  Details are in the
registration materials.  Past years' barbecues have included everything from
enchiladas to tuna sashimi!  We will have chicken, hot dogs and burgers for
those of you who are less adventurous.  That evening, we will take a tour to
a local ice cream bar.  Our arrival creates a low-pressure area as everyone
gathers around to see our absurd little travel pods.
    Sunday morning begins with an early morning run to an elaborate brunch
at the Sheraton Needham Hotel.  "Ah, the sweet smell of a two-stroke in the
morning..."
    After breakfast, we tour to a huge 1,200-car antique auto show and
autojumble, where we steal the show with our late arrival.  We will have a
prime location on the lawn near the shaded porch of the Endicott Mansion
(tours available), and the flea market will be great.
    Sunday afternoon includes a tour to Matchbox Motors, the Goulds' new
microcar museum in Hudson, after which the stragglers who are still standing
will wind down by soaking their tired dogs in ice buckets (the poor man's
hot tub), buzzing around the neighborhood in microcars, drinking margaritas,
and finally venturing out for Mexican food or Peking duck.
    Registration is $25 per person.  The registration fee includes the
Friday night wine and cheese arrival reception (including all snacks, wine,
beer and margaritas), Saturday morning pasties, bagels and coffee, the
Saturday afternoon lawn event and Museum admission, the Saturday afternoon
eclectic barbeque, as well as all tours.  Sunday morning¹s brunch is only
$9.95 more, and is well worth the price!
    This is one of the few events that wives and girlfriends enjoy as well
(it's not just about the cars!).  So, gentlemen, bring your wife and your
girlfriend!  Kids are welcome and they are free.  Plan on arriving Friday
evening and staying through the full day on Sunday.  A great time will be
had by all, guaranteed.  Just ask anyone who has ever attended one of the
first six events.
    We have also negotiated a fabulous room rate of only $79 per night at
the Sheraton Needham Hotel (the regular rate is $189!), which is less than
two miles from the Gould home.  You can leave your car parked safely with us
if you prefer.  For registration material, hotel details, or general
information, call or write us, Charles or Nancy Gould, 163 Country Club
Road, Newton, MA 02459.  Telephone (617) 965-1333, e-mail chas
gould@aol.com, or visit our website at www.bubbledrome.com
    [Acting Contrib. Ed. note:  This is an incredible event and is a must
for all Mini enthusiasts.  It is the one time ours get to be the biggest
cars on the field!  Meet us at the Museum of Transportation on Saturday
morning, or better yet, get to the Goulds' no later than 10:30 a.m. so you
can caravan over with the whole gang; it's a real hoot!  Please
pre-register to help the Goulds know how many to expect.  If you can't
pre-register and just show up, don't forget to pay the $25 per person
registration fee.  The party alone at the Goulds' is worth it! 

Beat the heat and do something neat!

Join NEMO this summer for a cruise to a fun place to meet other car enthusiasts! 

    Carousel Cruise, Saturday, July 6; Meet in Providence at the Gano
Street Dunkin Donuts parking lot at 4:30 p.m.  Gano Street is Exit 3 off 195
from east or west.  You'll turn right on Gano Street and find the parking
lot one block up on the right side.  Depart from there for the cruise (about
10 miles) to the Riverside Carousel for a 5:00 car show.  The show is free
but the local Lions Club will be accepting donations for the handicapped.
With your entry you'll get a dash plaque and a ticket for one free ride on
the carousel.  There will be a DJ, a snack bar and, of course, the carousel.
Hope everyone can come.  Curtis Boivin is our Cruise Captain, at
synesthetic@hotmail.com.
    Ice Cream Cruise, Friday, August 16;  Join British Motorcars of New
England at the Gazebo in North Scituate, RI for ice cream.  You can join the
caravan leaving from Faith and Bruce¹s or meet us at the Gazebo.  Directions
and times will be forthcoming.
    Pizza Cruise, Friday, September 13; Join British Motorcars of NE at the
Gazebo in North Scituate, RI, for pizza.  You can join the caravan leaving
from Faith and Bruce's or meet us all at the Gazebo.  Directions and times
will be forthcoming.


Randy's picnic in July

    Speaking of something neat, Randy Koehler, NEMO member, is throwing his
annual pizza and picnic party, on Sunday, July 28th, at his home in
Castleton, NY.  Over the years this has turned into a great event for car
enthusiasts, and this time should be no exception.  There should be 30
Citroëns on the scene (!) as well as other interesting iron showing up for
the day. 
    The picnic officially starts at 1 p.m., but there is a 40-mile gimmick
rally that starts from his house at 11 a.m.  Come a little early for coffee
and donuts as well as pre-rally instructions.  Bring a dish to share for the
picnic if you like.  Pizza and beverages are provided.
    Directions to Randy's from the east: Mass Pike west into New York State
to Exit B1.  I-90 West to Exit 11.  Right onto Routes 9 and 20 East.  Right
at the red light onto Route 150.  Left at the stop sign to stay on 150.
Right on Western Road.  Go one mile, look for #911 on your right.  Randy's
phone number is (518) 732-2436; e-mail's Morrisawhat66@aol.com.


New Connecticut Mini Club!
by Peter Braun

    Watch out for Mini Owners of Connecticut;  we're on our way!  Check out
our website at www.miniownersofconnecticut.org. (down?)
    [Acting Contrib. Ed. note:  Peter is currently working for Minis of
Fairfield County in Stamford, CT.  He is a huge Mini enthusiast and former
Mini race car driver.  We applaud Peter's efforts to get more Mini
activities going by forming a club in Connecticut.  We look forward to
having events with them and offering their club whatever help they might
need in getting established. 

In response to 'The New Mini: Steak... or Sizzle'    by Gavin McKeown

    As an owner of a classic Mini and a new MINI I feel I must write to take
exception to the article by Glen Carliss published in the June issue of
British Marque Car Club News.
    First of all he is not accurate in his summary when he says, 'Think of
the classic Mini $20,000 would buy!'  The MINI starts well under $20,000.
The standard Cooper starts for more like $16,500.  Just because Herb
Chambers (which seems to be the dealer he went to) will charge people
whatever they think they can get, it doesn¹t mean that all new MINIs are
$20K.
    My biggest objection however is to his opinion that not one pedestrian
had anything to say about the car.  Now maybe the people in the area of the
dealer have gotten very used to seeing them, but wherever we go in ours,
even after eight weeks, it still draws a crowd.  There is no way the new
MINI can 'blend in with all the rest of the shiny paint and chrome.'
    Besides, there's more to driving a MINI or a Mini than turning heads!
I'd drive ours even if it made you invisible and no one ever looked at you.
Sometimes I wish it didn't draw a crowd so that I could get out of the
parking lot without getting into a long discussion of the background and the
current ownership of the MINI brand!
    As for his daughter's assessment that 'it reminded her of a small
minivan,' well, she certainly is not an authority on car design!  That
comment was just laughable and just goes to show the bias with which the
article was written.
    If NEMO is setting out to alienate new MINI owners, it couldn't have had
a better start than to put this article at the top of its newsletter just as
more MINIs are starting to hit the road.  Hopefully there will be a new club
starting up that will welcome both Mini and MINI owners.
    Otherwise, we'll all just have to join the BMW club...
    [Exec. Ed. note:  I was the one who made the decision to put Glen's
article 'at the top' of the NEMO page because it was a good lead article; no
bias on the part of the regular Contributing Editor should be presumed from
that, as we had no instruction from him to do so.  Also, for the record,
Glen e-mailed us after the article was published to make it clear that he
meant no hard feelings to those of us who like the new Mini (or MINI, to
follow MiniUSA's convention, used by Gavin, of writing the name in caps) and
wished its owners well. ]

Faith takes delivery of her new MINI Cooper, with Bruce and Hrach, her favourite Mini of Peabody Salespeson!

Faith SMILES BIG with her new 2002 MINI Cooper CVT!

August 2002 Articles

MINI of Peabody Throws a Party
June's grand opening gala brings out dozens of new MINI owners      by Bruce Vild

Peabody, MA, June 19;  MINI of Peabody, which has already established
itself as the highest-volume dealer of the new Mini Cooper in the USA, had
itself an open house in June celebrating its 'grand opening.'  By the looks
of things, and all the new Minis and their owners present for the party,
you'd think these guys have been operating for years.
    Those attending had the opportunity to partake of an array of hors
d¹oeuvres, wines, beers and soft drinks, and to feast their eyes on the new
Cooper and Cooper S and the sparkling dealership offering them.
    Following a welcome by Managing Partner Warren Waugh and MINI National
Retail  Manager David J. Riley, there were door prizes and a lot of Mini
activity.  But first, while salesmen Hrach Chekijian and Keith Polischuk
held a giant ribbon taut on either side, a yellow Cooper drove out of the
garage in back and straight through the ribbon, officially 'cutting' it and
opening the dealership.  A nice touch.

    Yours truly, finally blessed after all these years with a winning raffle
ticket, walked away that evening with one of the best door prizes; a Mini
cuckoo clock.  On the hour, a tiny new Mini emerges from two equally tiny
garage doors on the side of the clock, starts and revs its engine, and beeps
its horn twice.  A collector's item for sure.  (Stop at the house in
Harrisville for a demonstration!)
    Sure, most if not all of the cars on display were already sold; there
is a waiting list of several months - but at least they were on display so
those not yet fortunate enough to have one could see the different colors,
options and models in the flesh.
     Keith, the man with the ribbon, showed off his own silver Cooper S,
only recently obtained.  No question, a handsome car.  Also on hand was a
white Cooper equipped with a CVT automatic transmission owned by a fellow
named Dave.  There were white roofs and black roofs, roofs with flags on
them, and even roofs the same color as the rest of the car.
    The new Mini spirit was, of course, infectious, and captured perfectly
at this classy but friendly event.  Glad I went!


MME puts Charleston on the Boil   by Faith Lamprey

    Bruce had just gotten his new Electric Blue Cooper S the week before.
As we were about to leave for South Carolina and Mini Meet East on
Wednesday, Dave Black pulled into the driveway, blocking our exit no doubt
so he could check out the new MINI.  And the comment from this
dyed-in-the-wool classic Mini enthusiast?  'Wow!'
    In the new Mini, the trip was not at as grueling as it might have been
had we taken our '67 MkI.  Both the air conditioner and CD player were
cranked up high.  We took time on the way down to explore New Castle, DE,
where we had dinner that night.  It's the place where William Penn first
landed and has some quaint buildings and restaurants.  We didn't see another
Mini, new or classic, until we were right outside of Charleston on Thursday.
We picked up another new Mini and they followed us right to the hotel.
    The location of MME 2002 was fantastic; it was on the water, across the
harbor from the city of Charleston and next to the aircraft carrier, the
U.S.S. Yorktown.  It was, however, hot!  The air conditioning in the hotel
was a welcome relief from the heat of the parking lot.  At one point, I
thought the vendors were going to melt right into the blacktop!
    Both old and new Minis were welcome at the meet and a great assortment
were there.  We greeted many NEMO members, met new friends and were happy to
see others we had met at other Meets.
    Lisa Mastrandrea and I got up early the next morning to go on the ride
to the beach to see the sun rise (John and Bruce are not morning persons).
We rode to the beach with Mark Caldwell from Florida in his Moke.  What a
great ride!  We led a caravan of about 20 Minis across a bridge and down to
the beach as the sun rose over the ocean.  The rally was not going to start
until the afternoon, so Bruce and I took the free water taxi (provided by
the Meet organizers) into town and spent a few hours exploring.
    The rally was going to end at Folly Beach with a reception at the end of
the pier and then a pub crawl.  We listened carefully as the rallymaster
explained that the rally was really not hard and everyone should do well.
(We have heard that before, so were not convinced.)  As usual, some folks
were looking for rides (as everyone wanted to attend the reception at the
pier) and we volunteered our back seat (and air conditioning).  So Lisa and
a young lady from the Washington area named Hannah joined us as we queued up
to take off. 

    The rally was a lot of fun and took us through some beautiful roads and
back country.  We ended up at Folly Beach after a fun ride and figured we
had done pretty well.  The reception was held in a pavilion at the end of
the pier.  It was great looking out at the ocean and the beach.  We joined
some folks for dinner afterwards but were just too tired to do much pub
crawling!
    Saturday morning found us lining up bright and early in front of the
U.S.S. Yorktown for the customary panoramic picture.  They put all the new
Minis in the back row on the grass with some pretty vicious mosquitoes.
Since I had a large bottle of insect repellant spray and was sharing it, I
was very popular!

    The car show was going to be that afternoon, but after helping Bruce
clean up the car, I opted to join the 'kids' activity' and took the water
taxi to the Charleston Aquarium and Imax Theatre.  Two charming kids from
North Carolina adopted me and we had a great time.
    Meeting up with Bruce that afternoon we hurried to get ready to caravan
to the Charleston Visitors' Center for the Meet banquet.  It was some sight
to caravan with about 150 other Minis!  Upon arriving at the Vistors' Center
we parked with all the other cars in an enclosed area meant for buses.  I
think they ended up fitting 170 Minis in there!
    The buffet was delicious and we were feeling pretty good when they said
to gather for the awards.  Much to our surprise and glee our team placed 1st
in the rally!  Bruce and I have never done particularly well in a MME rally.
We received a logo thermos (new Mini) and model car (classic Mini) as
prizes. 
    All too soon it was time to head back to the hotel.  The autocross was
held on Sunday, but we had to head back home in order to return by Monday.
    SCUM (South Carolina Ultimate Minis) did a fantastic job organizing and
putting on this Meet.  They are to be commended for work well done.
    This was a great trip, a good opportunity to break in the new Mini, and
a fine MME.  Hope to see more of you at MME 2003!  (Rumor has it that it
will be hosted by Mainly Minis Montréal.)


It's NEMO Mini Grand Prix Time!     by Dave Newman

Seekonk, MA; Come one, come all!  Bring your family to the Seekonk
Grand Prix Raceway and compete against your fellow Mini owners.  No, not in
your Mini, in go-karts and slick-karts!  There are also arcade games and
bumper boats for non-racers.  This is the same track made famous by the late
night crowd at Mini Meet East in 1998 (the names have been withheld to
protect the guilty).  That's right, it was the track directly behind the
Ramada Inn. 

    The slick track is the main attraction as you'll have to practice your
best Paddy Hopkirk slides to win on this course.  Sideways is the only way!
Then, there is the 'long' course on go-karts, where hitting the apex and
keeping the revs up is the way to win.  If you¹re not smooth, you are
history, mate!
    The track is located in Seekonk, right next to that little state... er,
I mean Rhode Island (it's not just an island, either!), on Rt. 6 at the
junction of Rt. 114A.  It's about 1/2 mile south of Rt. 195.  Look up
directions on your computer to 1098 Fall River Ave. and you¹ve got it.
    We will meet in the parking lot at noon on Sunday, September 8th.  After
a few hours of racing, there will be a local one-hour mystery tour of the
area, ending at an informal eating establishment.
    There is no organized 'run' to the track, so we encourage local groups
to caravan down from their areas.  Seekonk seems to be central to most
members.  Bring your FRS radio and if you see another Mini, call on Channel
5.
    Some other news:  Details are coming soon of the NEMO 'invasion' of the
Columbus Day weekend show in Falmouth, hosted by the Cape Cod British Car
Club.  That was a great show last year, with Mini class trophies going to
Dan St. Croix, Barbara Newman and Glen Carliss (who lives 1/2 mile away,
hint).  More details to follow in the next Marque.


British Car Day at Larz Anderson    by Dave Newman

Brookline, MA; Sunday, June 30th, found a scant few NEMO members at the
British Car Day in 95°(f) weather.  Many NEMO members were attending Mini Meet
East in South Carolina.  For those of you who missed this event, we're sure
the weather in South Carolina was cooler!
    Jane Wilkinson and her husband were there with their brand spankin' new
2002 Mini Cooper.  It's a Mini shade of red with a white roof and a Union
Jack decal on top.  License plate is MYMINI.  What a beautiful car!
    Ron Lieuwma was there with his Lime Green classic Mini, along with Steve
Dodge in his stunning Innocenti Cooper.  For those of you who haven't seen
this car, it is white both on top and underneath.  What a restoration!  Very
nice. 

    Dan St. Croix came with his Bank Garage retro Mini.  Barbara and Christa
Newman and Barbara's mom came up in their British Open Mini.  And, for its
first event with a 'Dave Black rebuilt' engine, was yours truly, Dave
Newman, in a '78 Mini 1000.  The engine runs better than it has in 16 years
of ownership; now it's worth doing the body over! You'll start seeing grey
primer and new panels in the future as this phoenix of a classic Mini rises
from the rusty ashes!
    There were about eight Minis in total at the show, including two 2002
Minis.  Our very own Dan St. Croix took 1st place in the Mini Class.
Congratulations on picking up another trophy, Dan!  Dan attributes his win
to the installation of new bumble-bee ignition wires just before the
judging.  No hula girl doll required for this car!
    An Electric Blue sportpack Mini took second place.  Sorry, didn't get
his name. 
    Next year we need NEMO to fill this show with Minis!
    Oh, and there were about a hundred other British cars there also; MGs,
Triumphs, Rovers, Jags, Lotuses, Rollers, a brand new London Taxi from
Sudbury and more. 
    But who cares?  The world revolves around Mini!


The Big Guy gets a big spread!

    The July 10th issue of the Boston Herald had a two-page spread on our
Big Guy, Hrach Chekijian!  It talked about his collection of Mini
memorabilia, his museum and his love of everything Mini.  The reporter
really captured the essense of our beloved leader, commenting on how he
drives and talks very fast!  Congrats, Hrach, it was a fabulous article!

Where is Dave Black?     by Faith Lamprey

    Wondering where Dave Black is again this month?  He and his wife are now
busy unpacking boxes after their to move to a lovely new homestead in
Woodstock, CT.  We understand that his car is still in the shop getting a
paint job.  Many thanks to Dave Newman for submitting additional articles
for this month.

Dear NEMO                           (unable to attach pdf file)

I attach an image of our Limited Edition Print “Escape from Turin”, which I feel might be of interest to your members. The sale of this print will support the fundraising efforts of The Italian Job Touring Event in aid of NCH (Registered Charity Number 215301). To date we have raised one and a quarter million pounds for children’s charities, in the UK,  Europe and thanks to our American teams also US based children's charities.  We hope that your support by featuring our print will help us raise even more. There are only 350 signed and numbered original prints available. Each A2 size print costs only £35.00 inclusive of UK p&p. We are able to accept payment by cheque – payable to Italian Job Trading – or by credit card by telephoning us on UK (01273) 418100. The Print is also featured on our website www.italianjob.com along with various other items and detailed background of the Italian Job event.

Kind regards
Freddie St George

September 2002 Articles

(coming soon)

October 2002 Articles

(coming soon)

November 2002 Articles

At the NEMO Halloween Party
For once, not everyone came dressed as Dave Black...!
Photos by Faith Lamprey
Clockwise, from below left:  Ken and Brett Lemoine show imitation is the
sincerest form of flattery; will the real Hrach please stand up?; separated
at birth?; what the well-dressed man (Curtis Boivin) is wearing in Mazatlan;
Paul Gingras... as BMW executive?

Join us for a
NEMO Holiday Gathering!

    When:  Sunday, December 15th, 11:30 a.m.
    Where:  John Harvard,s Pub, Shoppers World, Framingham, MA.
Intersection of Rts. 9 and 30.  There is an exit off the Mass. Pike for Rt.
30 (go west).  The Pub is at the back of Shoppers World, at the entrance
from Rt. 30.
    Bring:  Your Mini (if you can).  One wrapped "Mini" gift (i.e., that odd
part in your garage that you don¹t need, Mini regalia, etc.) for a "Yankee
Swap" (lots of fun!).  Please, only one gift per person so we can get
through before closing time.  Bring your appetite, too!  It,s a
British-style pub with good food.
    Since some of you are not familiar with a Yankee Swap, here is how it
goes:
(1)    When you arrive, you will receive a ticket for the gift you bring;
(2)    A ticket will be drawn and the holder of the ticket will select a present and open it for everyone to see;
(3)    That person will select another ticket and the holder of that ticket can take the first person¹s present or select another.  As more presents are opened, the "swapping" gets more heated!  Obviously, you want your number to be selected last so you have the choice of all of the opened gifts!
    The Yankee Swap is entirely optional, but I encourage you and your guest each to bring a gift so everyone can get in on the fun.  Please keep the cost of your gift under $20 (unless it is that used part that your significant other wants you to get out of your garage!).


Update on MME 2003
by Deb Bolton

 Magog, Quebec.  Thirty-eight rooms and three cottages have been booked so
far with a total of 87 adults and 11 children.  Eight months to go and we're
one third booked.  Hoping to get the whole hotel full before the block date
of May 15th expires.
    What for?  The next Mini Meet East, of course!
    The dates for MME are July 1-4, 2003.  If you have not made your hotel
reservations yet, call the Cheribourg Resort in Magog, Québec, Canada at
(800) 567-6132.  Ask Annie for the MME 2003 rates.
    Rates are $40US ($61CDN) per person for a double or $75US ($110CDN) for
a single.  This includes an all-you-can-eat breakfast.  Taxes are 15% and
are refunded at the duty free store on your way home.
    The current exchange rate is $1.54CDN per $1US.  There are 109 rooms and
12 cottages available at the Cheribourg.  Don't delay.
    [Deb belongs to Mainly Minis Montreal, host of MME 2003.]

MME 2003 Forms Now Available

An attempt was made to send everyone the forms for mini meet east 2003. Many
were returned because the file was too large. So please go to our website at
www.mainlyminismontreal.com to download the info and registration forms. If
you prefer to receive them by snail mail please email us your address. Thank
you. As of 11/11, 41/109 rooms are already reserved. Deb


And then there's 2004!
by M.I.N.I. and M.A.D.M.E.N.

    We are writing this on behalf of M.I.N.I. (Minis in Northern Illinois)
and M.A.D.M.E.N. (Mid-America Diehard Mini Enthusiasts' Network).  We are
moving forward with our plans to host the 2004 Mini Meet West Meets East!
This will be the combined Mini Meet for both coasts, as is the tradition
every five years.
    In the past, the host club has announced its intention to host a Mini
Meet during the previous year's Meet.  Over the past few years this has not
happened and we have left the Meet not knowing who would host the next year.
    We want to change that.  In an attempt to put on a great Meet that will
rank at the top of your all-time favorite Mini Meets, we want to get an
early start on the planning.  We have had a kick-off meeting and are close
to deciding on a time and place.  We would like the blessings of all the
North American Mini clubs before we proceed with setting our plans in stone.
    Please e-mail us with your thoughts at cooper@tbc.net.  If we do not
hear back from you we will assume that you have no problems with us hosting
the Meet and we will move forward with our plans.
    We have a very enthusiastic committee and a bunch of great ideas that we
would like to share with all of our Mini friends.  Many of us have been
attending Mini Meets for many years and feel the time is right for us to
give something back to the community.  We look forward to hearing from you.
    [This communique was issued by Chairman Rob  'Loose Nub Behind the
Wheel' Woelfle, M.A.D.M.E.N. Emperor Karl "It's Good to Be Emperor" Strauch,
and M.I.N.I. President Andy "I Will Have the Jem at the Meet" Vanko.]


On the Beat - Tech, and lots of it
by Dave Black
    In news from the Tech Corner, Paul Saulnier finally got his clutch
problem sorted out.  (You,ll remember that he had a problem getting the
clutch to disengage.)  When he got it all apart, he discovered that the
flywheel had spun on the crank - OUCH!  This wasn't the first time, though,
'cause both the flywheel and crank showed signs of galling when first
inspected.  It took some detective work, but we finally ascertained that the
flywheel taper had been worn to the point that it would fit too far onto the
crank and not allow the taper to develop its full friction when torqued.
Thus it broke the key and spun some more!
    Further thought brought the revelation that if the flywheel was too far
"in," it would require a longer throw for the clutch to disengage.  So we
discovered the cause for the initial problem.  A new flywheel was fitted and
all the problems have disappeared.  One more for the record books!
    Paul has recently received a very nice Prowler Copper-colored Mini from
New Mexico.  The car has been vertically deseamed and fitted with a 40-over
A+ engine with 649 crank and Longman head.  Quite a hummer!  He called to
say that the car would run really rough when cruising around 40-50mph.
(This is an inherent problem with the hotter cams that we all want to fit to
make our Minis go faster.  You get a better acceleration and top end, but
the driveability suffers tremendously.)
    We diddled with the dizzy a bit, then screwed around with the carb
adjustment to smooth it out as much as possible.  Paul reports it's now much
better, but beware all you who would try to put a race engine in a road car!
    Bruce came in with an exhaust leak he¹s been battling for some time.  It
seems his head was assembled with bolts to secure the manifold.  Two of them
had stripped, causing a leak that made his lump sound just like an
air-cooled VW!  The manifolds were removed, the threads in the head chased,
and then all was re-assembled with the proper studs, washers, and nuts (and
a new gasket).  Voila!  All is as it should be ­ no more leak and you can
now hear the tappets tapping!
    He drove off to get ready for the Halloween Party (see photos above),
and upon arrival at Greg and Janet¹s he announced he had a coolant leak ­
ugh!  Well, let's crack open another beer and have a look at this under the
lights in Greg's garage.  Sure enough, the water pump was spewing, and the
nearest spare was back in Connecticut.  Run it with the cap cracked, so
pressure doesn't build up, we all told him.  But take a gallon of water,
just in case!  He and Faith got home just fine, then Bruce came out Sunday
morning again. 
    The job turned out to be a little more involved than planned, as the
radiator had to be removed.  This is quite tricky in a MkI car, as the inner
fender has a surround blocking easy access to the radiator.  After
everything was thoroughly cleaned, re-assembly was simply the reverse of
disassembly - HAH!  Well, after a few well-emphasized expletives (all right,
after a bunch of expletives), the pump and radiator were reinstalled, filled
and then run up to temp to see if all was truly as it should be.
    I bet you think there's more to this story the way I'm running on here,
but you¹re wrong - that's the end of the story!
    [And a happy ending it was!  No more oil leaking onto the exhaust
manifold and burning (we replaced the valve cover gasket too), no more fumes
or spewing coolant, no more VW sounds or lost horsepower.  A good doctor,
that Dave Black.      Been driving the Thurd every day since getting it back from the body
shop September 18th.  First up to Stowe, then to work daily, rain or shine.
Even went to the Cape Cod British Car Show in Falmouth in the pouring rain.
The show was really nice - six Minis, lots of other British cars, and
English weather to boot!  NEMO needs to make a much bigger showing at next
year's event.
    Till next month...


Van Rebuild

by Ken Lemoine

    Grafton, Ma - We have elected to rebuild the Austin van and we will need
at least one of every part that the car originally had in it.  We have
tentatively set Sunday the 24th of November at Greg's house as the "take it
apart" day.  Everyone who has ever wanted to take something apart in their
life will get their shot on that day.  We will then make a list of all the
required parts (that should fill a book) and put the list on the e-mail for
everyone to volunteer available inventory.  For those who don't have parts,
then money and other important supplies (like beer) would be very much
appreciated.
    I think that we will need to break up the responsibilities for this into
little pieces so we don't get overwhelmed: coordination of the available
parts, work on the different sections (the engine and front suspension,
interior, etc.), promotion with the prospective parts suppliers,
fundraising, and so on.  Maybe we can have an auction of Mini stuff, tools
and what-not to raise some money.  Contact me if you think the auction is a
good idea (Alvis1934@aol.com).

December Articles 2002

On the Beat:  Engines and Trannies
by Dave Black

    Woodstock, CT - This month we've been busy with engine jobs.  Alex
Lieuwma is having the 850/magic wand powerplant (loose terminology) redone
for his original Traveller.  Many of you have seen this car at the
Connecticut shows this past year (such as British Autumn, where the
accompanying photo was taken).  The car recently came from Holland and
apparently has been run on leaded fuel and lead substitute for its entire
life.  The whole inside of the engine and tranny are coated with a sticky,
black, lead/sulphur deposit that requires oodles of time at the sandblaster
and wire wheel to remove.
    One of the points of rebuilding will be to install valve seats to
eliminate the need for lead substitute.  This should result in a much
cleaner interior. 
    I didn't realize it at the time, but parts for the 850 are becoming very
rare.  Pistons have been a particular problem, but Alex has found a source
in the U.K. that has a few left.  Other parts are the same for the 850 as
for the 998, and are much more readily available.  Once the pistons are
procured, machining will start and re-assembly should follow without pause.
    Joe and Greg Gethins brought in their Cooper S for what was supposed to
be a tranny rebuild.  Upon disassembly we discovered that the pinion gear
(the gear that drives the differential) was completely disintegrated and had
caused a major hurt to the crown gear.  Further inspection uncovered a set
of crank thrust washers in the bottom of the tranny, one with a tooth mark
clean through it! 
    The thrust washers must have come from the crank, right?  We pulled the
main bearing caps to see if any were missing and discovered that they were
all still in place!
    Apparently the last rebuilder had left the washers several years ago and
I call it s**t luck that they hadn't torn up the whole lump long ago!  A
couple of gears, a full tranny, and engine rebuild are currently underway
and should be completed by years' end.
    Goeff Neiley's subframes are now waiting for parts and re-assembly
should start early in December.
    We're working on these Mini projects most every weekend and you are all
welcome to come, watch, and help with any of the work.  Parts cleaning
occurs sporadically during the week as time allows, so anyone who wants to
learn the art of wire wheel brushing can come over anytime!
    Quite by accident I ran into Don Bollin this week in Fall River.  We
were both on the job and happened to meet on the street.  Don took me out to
lunch (thanks!) and then we toured his new Taj Mahal, with one garage bay
for his big truck (14' door and 16' ceiling) and two smaller bays for his
collection of little British cars.  Quite a spread that would make a
wonderful destination for a rally through Tiverton and Little Compton.


From Ian Goodchild:    IMM 2003 News

This was received at the British Marque Editorial Office by e-mail.
Ian is a Mini restoration specialist in Britain who can be reached at
ian@mini-autobodycare.co.uk 

www.mini-autobodycare.co.uk
www.essex-mini.co.uk

Preparations are well under way for IMM 2004, which is being hosted by
our Anglian Mini Club at the Norfolk (England) Showground.  It will be a great show.
Hope you'll be able to visit us then.  This falls on an adjacent weekend to
Mini in the Park (can't remember if it is before or after!).
    Website for IMM: www.imm2004.co.uk.
    If you manage to see copies of Mini World, you will find updates of
preparations every month.
    I am refurbishing a British Open Classic with, of course, an
eye-catching paint job, to raffle for the IMM and this will be launched next
spring with a spread in Mini World.  I will be taking it to Italy for the
2003 IMM and it will be at selected shows leading up to our IMM.  Hopefully
we will sell lots of tickets for our charities.

Who designed the new MINI?

    Our "Letter from England" correspondent, Tony Merrygold, reported that
the Sunday Times saw fit to answer this question authoritatively.  So, who
designed the new MINI, and where is he now?  The Times wrote:
    "That's a good game among the car design fraternity because the
presentation of the car got caught up in the schism between BMW and Rover
and BMW was not keen to credit Rover people who defected to Ford owned Land
Rover.  It is pretty clear, though, that the basic shape and style was
penned by an American, Frank Stephenson, who has worked at BMW for years.
    A few weeks ago he was in Munich basking in the satisfaction of
creating an international smash hit when he got a call from Italy.  Yes, the
man who designed the new MINI now has the dream job of design chief for
Ferrari.  That is the biggest conceptual leap since Belgian Dirk van
Braeckel left Skoda to take charge of the design of the Bentley Continental
GT."

I believe I'm a new NEMO member. Here are a couple of pictures of my 66 Morris Cooper. Please post one on your site to see if someone recognizes me as an actual dues-paying member.

Thanks,
Paul "Animal" Saulnier

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