Some quick “Thank You”s

Posted on by Ian C.

Firstly, many thanks to everyone that donated to MINIsOnTop (please see here, here and here) – especially Herb Chambers MINI and MINI of Peabody (their two donations supported raffles selling almost 200 tickets each, raising close to $10,000 for Rosie’s Place!)

Of course, MINIsOnTop would be a failure without all the volunteers who put in countless hours before and during the event – I can’t list everyone here (because I’m bound to miss someone!) but extra special thanks from me to Theo, Michael, Mike and Beth!

Thanks also to Robyn & Ian for creating The Great Ice Cream Run, and thanks Murray, Dave & Erica for being wonderful company during the drive up from Florida to New Hampshire 🙂

Finally, many thanks to Chris and all the service guys at MINI of Peabody, and Julian at Sublime Restorations, for rapidly and perfectly restoring GPMINI while I was at MINI United (it was suffering from a “service engine” light, and flaking front bumper paint!)

I’ve now been driving a MINI for more than five years (yes I know, not the same one all the time!) and I’ve met so many great MINI folks – it’s truly a wonderful “second childhood” … so thanks also to everyone I know 🙂

And of course, extra special thanks to my wife Margaret, for letting me get carried away with MINI indulgence!

MINI United 2007: Dinner with friends

Posted on by Ian C.

Tonight MINI USA took us to dinner at Fifteen, an unusual restaurant near the hotel. It was a great chance to chat with MINI friends old and new, as well as enjoying some good food (and drink!). And Rauno Aaltonen signs “MINI the book” gifts for each of us, and tells us stories …

 

Tomorrow, it’s the long trip home! Would I come to MINI United again? Depends …
Rumour here is that MINI United 2009 will occur, partly because of the 50th anniversary of Mini, and probably in England – if so, I think I’d probably make the trip because I can also see family & friends. But if it’s elsewhere in the world, perhaps not.

Unlike the wonderful MINI Takes The States last year, there wasn’t much chance here to meet people and make new friends. The short event, and many activities, mean everyone spends much time waiting for or participating in some event; there’s no central area where people just hang out – under the big tents, the music tends to dissuade friendly chat, and in the open air (when it’s not raining), it’s all cars and not people.
MINI United has a very different flavour to MTTS, and I prefer last years USA event (of course, I may be biased!)