From - New England Mini Owners' Club

Articles from the British Marque

July through September, 2001

From JULY 2001 Issue

On the beat  with Dave Black

Hopkinton, MA -  Still no official events to write about!  We have yet to attend an autocross, cruise night, rallye, or any event at all!  That's not to say we haven't been busy.  The midnight oil has been burning on several projects in central Mass.
  First, from Maine, is the news that Ken Taplin and Ron Blanchette attended a car show in Standish, ME.  No information on trophies, but Ken reports that he caravanned down with a Vette and a hot rod.  He and the Vette pulled up to a gas pump together.  Ken put in five gallons to the Vette's 16!  With rising gas prices, aren't you glad your hobby car is one of the stingiest gas sippers on the road?
    I was filling the Thurd the other morning when another patron asked if he could take a picture of the car.  He said it would make a nice contrast to all the guzzling monsters on the road today!  Bet the rest of you have stories like this to share.  Let's hear them.
    News from Montreal has them chalking up two accidents and one robbery. There were no reports on injuries, but one of them wasn't wearing a seatbelt and broke the windshield with his head and the dash with his knee, ouch!
  The stolen Mini belonged to David Plante, was blue with Midland mags and a gray cloth Chelsea interior.  It was originally green.  Keep your eyes peeled!
    Back in the summer of 1970 (or 1971) my neighbor had her Mini stolen in Scituate, RI.  Some weeks later, I was pulling duty at an intersection in Warwick and I spotted a Mini at a gas station.  It was a different color than my neighbor's, but had the same little dents that become so familiar to us.  I got the plate number and called her, and she eventually recovered the car!  So all of you keep your eyes open for this Mini - it may show up at one of our events!
    Now, to Mini sightings (this is a first for me).  Both happened during work and were not in any way staged.  Paul Gingras was spotted at the Dunkin Donuts in Upton, MA, while two days later I saw Curtis Boivin's Mini on Mendon Road in Cumberland, RI.  It¹s really good to see the cars being used for more than just show!
    Steve Dodge has probably been our most active member this month.  He received the Clubman wagon from England and it's ready to go out the door. He also took delivery of the 1975 Innocenti 1300.  It's stripped and should go to the body shop before being put back together.
    Oh, and did I mention Steve sold his first Mini?  This isn't the first Mini he's sold, it's the first Mini he bought!  The buyer didn't want
Steve's recently (last month) rebuilt engine, so a frantic engine transplant was performed.  The car will reside in Barrington, RI.
    So, we wind up with no official activities, but lots of activity nonetheless!

Spot the Mini!

    Rent the British movie, Circus, and watch for a very large man in a Mini.  Quirky movie, cute Mini!
 

From AUGUST 2001 Issue

On the beat with Dave Black

    Lots to talk about this month - Mini Meet East and Micro Car Day!  Almost a full week of nothing but little cars.
    I do enjoy spending a week driving the Mini, especially when nothing goes wrong!  Sunday, July 1st, Faith, Bruce and I started for New Jersey. There's just no other way to get there in a reasonable amount of time except down Interstate 95 to 287, right into the bowels of Connecticut and New York traffic.  I've made this trip many times in regular vehicles and it's always been a white-knuckle drive.  It's no different in the Mini, except that it was just as hot (or hotter) in the car as it was outside!  We took a break in Milford for lunch and met up with Ron Blanchette, then continued to Park Ridge, NJ, for the start of MME.
    Northern New Jersey is heavily wooded, but in between all the trees are industrial parks and what used to be small towns.  The whole area is quite thickly populated and houses the U.S. headquarters of many huge, multinational corporations.  BMW, Mercedes Benz, Konica and Volvo are just some of the names that we drove by daily.  The industrial parks stretch for miles, the speed limit is 25, and the cops were ruthless about enforcing the law (several Mini drivers can attest to that).
    Nevertheless, Mini Meet East was a resounding success.  Sunday we all had a chance to meet old and make new acquaintances, wash our cars, and get settled.  Monday's rally was really very tricky, though the rally master had us believing that it would be simple!  Purported to be 55 miles long (we drove at least 90!), and should take 2.5 hours (we took 4.5), clues were intended to be read from the car at "50% above rally speed. "  Bull*#?!  It was tough!  We had to turn around numerous times to go back and get clues.
One question asked "What famous Canadian Mini-Owner can be found referred to here?"  The answer was Denis Boisvert.  Apparently there was a sign with the name "Greenwood" on it; Boisvert is green wood in English.  I call that a real stretch - sounds like a question Bruce would dream up!
    Monday evening, we all had a chance to see Karl Strauch's slide show of his trip to Alaska in a 998 Mini, the Blue Goose.  That was a real treat, to hear Karl spin the tale of his great adventure and see some incredibly scenic panoramas with a Mini in them!  He claims he's ready to do it again, just say the word!
    Tuesday was devoted to the autocross.  Once again, the organizers had managed to set up a course that could only be described as "the equalizer." Starting with a 200 ft. drag strip, the course then suddenly turned into one better suited to Mokes than real Minis!  Most ran in 1st gear, or dogged it in 2nd.  Times were very close between all classes and lots of friendly competition ensued.  Hats off to the crew who dreamed up this course, and who spent the entire day running the event.  That evening we were treated to a live 60's band and buffet supper.
    Wednesday we queued up and participated in Ridgewood, NJ's 4th of July parade.  This was a real test for the Minis - about two hours of idling and stop-and-go, waving, blaring horns, and explaining to the curious what the Mini is in just a few words!  Nick Lehner donned a British flag and became our Caped Crusader.  He directed several of the cars in a criss-cross maneuver that had the crowds roaring with approval.  Whenever the procession stopped, the doors would open and a "Chinese fire drill" would be performed, much to the enjoyment of the bystanders!  I tried to explain to several folks that it was more entertaining to watch them than it could be for them to watch us!
    After the parade, we adjourned to BMW headquarters for lunch and the group photograph.  It was here that we finally had a chance to meet the New Mini.  We were allowed to sit in it and pore over the replacement for our classic cars.  From all indications, BMW has a success on their hands. Longer and wider than the classic, the new Mini will come with all the trimmings we've come to demand in our everyday vehicles.  And when something goes awry, you can truck on over to your friendly BMW dealer to have it diagnosed and (hopefully) fixed!  The only resemblance that the new has to the old is the name!
    Many thanks are due to the Mini Owners of New Jersey for hosting a most memorable meet!

Pictures from Mini Meet East 2001 (from Faith Lamprey)

    The following Saturday found many NEMO members attending yet another event: Micro and Mini Car Day at the Museum of Transportation in Brookline, MA.  We met first at Charles Gould's house in Newton, where there were lots of funny little cars.  Isettas, Messerschmitts, Goggomobils, Bonds, a Mano, and a homemade electric thingamajig all lined up for the ride over to the MOT for a day of fun on the Museum grounds.
    At some point, NEMO held its annual meeting, and, though I can't give you a direct report, it seems that there are to be no changes in the list of officers.  The Treasurer was conspicuously absent, so there was no Treasurer¹s Report; the President was absent, so there was no President's Report, and there was no sign of a Secretary's Report.
    After the crowds had been satiated with micro car rides, it was back to the Goulds' for a delicious repast and drinks.  I strongly urge any Mini enthusiasts to attend this event next year - you won't be disappointed!
    That's it for this month - oops!  Forgot to report on NEMO member activities! 
    Steve Dodge sold his Clubman to Tom and Casey Grimaldi of Granby, CT.
    Glen Carliss is battling middle age with an electrical problem in his signal lights.  It seems the symptom is smoke coming from behind the dash when the left turn signal is on.  I suggested using a hand signal to solve the problem! 
    Curtis Boivin drove his Mini to New Jersey and back on July 4th, then came over here to replace his head gasket!
    The Newman's are awaiting the arrival of a 1967 (British Open Classic)ed   Mini from Texas.  It's due any day and we hope to see them (and it) at our rally on July 29th.
    Dave Reid claims another 1st place finish, this one on a flat tire!
    Remember, if you don't like what you read here, or if I've missed some bit of important news, write something yourself!  I'd love to be able to
include some thoughts from the rest of you!


From the September 2001 Issue

After the NEMO Rallye - (photos by Faith Lamprey)

NEMO members show their true colors!
by Faith Lamprey

    On July 29th, eight driver-navigator teams took off for the NEMO Rally from Dave and Jo Ann Black's home in Hopkinton, MA,  after feasting on fresh baked cinnamon buns, juice and coffee.
    The rally was designed to keep us on secondary state roads that were not heavily trafficked and that wound their way through numerous towns.  The route took us 68 miles through some very nice scenery to arrive at the finish, Greg and Janet Mazza's house in Grafton, MA.
    So why were Bruce and I almost the last to finish after a third place start?  And why did I storm into their house, glare at Dave and demand a
margarita? 
    Well, those most rascally of Rallymasters, Dave and Greg, had switched the order of two of the questions in a section.  This meant that unless you read ahead, you would have missed the answer to the second question and had to turn back.  They did this in only this section, but it was early in the rally.  For the rest of the rally we frantically read all of the clues in each section and turned around frequently if we thought we had missed something (they had said that time did not matter).  As the other rally teams arrived at the finish point, all reported that they had seen us going the other way along the route!  So when we finally arrived tired and very thirsty at the finish, we were greeted with much ribbing and a pitcher of the most welcome and delicious margaritas.
    So what is this about the members showing their true colors?  Well, only eight teams ran the rally, yet there were over a dozen cars at the cookout at Janet and Greg's!  That must prove that more NEMO members will show up when food is going to be served!
    Greg and Janet have a new outdoor cooker and amazed us with the most tender delicious brisket we have ever tasted.  This was along with numerous other appetizers, salads and desserts.
    Dave awarded the prizes for the rally winners.  First place went to Bill and Sheila Taylor.  (Should they get a handicap for having two extra people in the car, or do two young children get you extra points?  Either way, they didn't need to take the advantage!)  Second place went to Bruce and me, who were by then somewhat consoled with the margaritas.  Third place went to Glenn Carliss, who came in from the Cape to join in the fun.
    Many thanks to Dave and Greg for putting together a great rally and to Janet and Jo Ann for putting together another incredible feed.

Spot the Mini

    An orange Mini Clubman (ironic color!) has a starring role in An Everlasting Piece, an Irish comedy about two guys who sell hairpieces in
Belfast.  This is a must-see!