Quack Quack Jack pictures

Posted on by Ian C.

Quack Quack Jack (“QQJ”) is spending the week with me, between MTTS’08 Boston and MINIsOnTop … I’m crazy busy both with MINIsOnTop and “real work” – but at least it means QQJ has MINI friends!

I did find time to take him on a short tour – first stop was Silly Goose toy store in Essex – where his sister Quack Quack Jill was “born”; then to the Man At Wheel statue in Gloucester, and over to Harbor Loop to meet Fitz Hugh Lane – once a Gloucester artist. I’ve been to Harbor Loop many times, and visited the Fitz Hugh Lane statue before too … but today I discovered that there’s more to the statue than the statue itself! There’s a pair of sandals, and the quotation “Step into my shoes and become inspired” …

It felt like QQJ – and Ed Smith (“MaxaMINI”) – had showed me this extra today; I feel that QQJ helps us to step in to Ed’s shoes, and be inspired to niceness as he was to all of us … thanks, Ed 🙂

MTTS’08 final thoughts

Posted on by Ian C.

Most people that know me, know I wanted to see a repeat of MTTS’06 with lots of driving, and supporting end-of-day events – rather than doing a MINI United type event that focussed on music and pushed driving to the side.

I know many people enjoyed MINI United (especially the night life) – but it’s not, for me, what MINI is about!

Personally, the fact that we had 200+ MINIs show up yesterday morning for the Rise & Shine rally, and much less than half that attend the afternoon/evening at U Mass – even with a chance to drive brand new MINIs, suggests that at least here in New England, other MINI owners think like I do!

I’ve even got “proof” that at least one other person agrees with me – I agree with you, Brian, and I think your suggestions for what could have happened are smart … let’s hope MINI USA reads this for 2010!
Sarah and I enjoyed the drive and breakfast far more than any other part of the event. Her suggestion for what should have happened was this: breakfast followed by a drive to Gloucester, and then – coordinating with the Chamber of Commerce – get a group of local businesses there to offer local tours, whale watches, and other local points of interest. Recommend some good seafood restaurants, etc.
Dedicate the majority of the day to that, and then wrap things up at UMass with the autocrossing (perhaps overlapping that with the events in Gloucester), concert and a much smaller “festival” type thing. The UMass thing was pretty lame, really, aside from getting to test drive a bunch of different cars around the course.

(I agree with your “The MC2 guy (Barry?) was a complete ass, but what else is new?” comment too! 😉 )

Hopefully MINI USA are happy with the overall success of this years events – but if not, let’s go back to something closer to the original format (and Gerry, if you’re reading, I loved your suggestion!)

And if you’re not happy with my MTTS’08 posts, be sure to visit George’s site instead!