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Hey Ron, you can be IN my crowd. Your car is awesome and I love that you did the work and made it what it is. I really really can get down with people that get their hands dirty. I will gladly park my little PJMcGee with her cracked paint and homemade light fixtures and roof next to yours then yours will look concours or whatever that fancy word is, haha!
According to MEB, the show was organized/categorized according to age/era. That would probably generate the tendency for comparison. Ron's car apparently was grouped with cars that weren't 'comparable'. If it had been grouped with other Minis, then maybe compliments would have been more forthcoming. Ron says it isn't a concourse car, so maybe it was positioned beside cares that were, weakening the comparison further.
Also not apparent is the blood (I'm sure), sweat and tears that Ron put into it. Other cars there might be cheque-book restorations. Had he been with a group that knew him and the car and their history, I'm sure he would have gotten remarks of appreciation.
Also, as both Ron and MEB pointed out, Ron wasn't there to receive any comments/compliments.
I took my car to a local show - once. As MEB pointed out, these car shows have an "in-crowd" of the regulars (and probably organizers), which serves them as an ego event where they can show their P&J's to eqach other and the unwashed masses. Other people (not 'in-crowd' are welcome to enter and display, but their participation adds to the coffers and the 'background'. The show I went to was grouped early by marque around the perimeter Minis together, Landies together, Triumphs together etc. Later arrivals (read that people like me who weren't in the 'in-sub-groups' did not have space reserved in the marque sections and so were lines up in rows in the in-field. There was a Morris Minor behind me, a TR7 (not stock!) on one side and a GT6 (?) on the other side. I did a walk-about to see what else was around, so my car was left unattended, like Ron's. I did speak with other Mini owners, and a few others, but some groups appeared to have private or semi-private picnics on the go - lawn chairs, coolers umbrellas etc.
Then it started to rain...
I did get a few comments, but the only ones to express any appreciation were people I knew from church. Their son was most appreciative because he got to sit in a car - mine, while the thunderstorm passed.
Oh, I stayed around for the 'awards' and, you guessed it, all the winners knew each other.
The stick-on metal plaque for participating is smewhere in the junk at the back of the basement workbench. I haven't been back.
Darn fine car Ron - ya done good! Be proud, and don't let the snoots get you down. A Mini is made to be driven anyway.
Wow, I never thought of myself as one of the " in" crowd? As far as being part of the British car club that puts this show on well yes, I guess I am. Is it a concourse car, is the paint perfect, is everything exactly where it should be... No, but I never said it was. I think it's a nice car, and not a bad looking job for the first time ever restoring a mini, with nothing to go buy but some books and some pictures. I do have to say, that you are right about not being in back of my car the whole time, I was keeping busy with my son, and looking around at all the cars at the show. I thought all the minis looked great, and was happy you all showed up again this year. After last year having the mini as the featured car it was good to see some here again this year. Maybe I thought more people knew who I was? Maybe I may have to do a better job at finding out who's car is who's. I must take the blame on that. As far as expecting things, I don't expect much from a lot of people anymore. I guess your post confirms that. I hope to see you and all the other mini at the show next year. I would hate to think my poor attitude would keep you away from such a nice venue. Never thought my post would draw this much attention or annimosity. If I have offended, I apologize and hope you will not hold it against me.
P.S. Mike, I just realized who you were when I put a face to the name, I did see you checking out my car(picking it apart) as you say, as I was eating my lunch behind it, and realized a compliment from you wouldn't really mean anything to me after all.
I was very happy for my friends Rick and Boris whenever I would see them and their Dad at car shows. I wished I had that time with my Dad before his passing. Now that I have a lanky Son of mine, I am going to be getting started with building a tin top Mini (I have an angle on a shell - various actually, from yesterdays show). The Boys Mother has forbid all her offsprings from riding in the Moke. They drive like possesed rabid fiends here in DFW in their humungous trucks and SUVs.
Well QuickSilver we are all getting older...and you are getting that cap I promised. Will be best in your collection since it's a smaller size that what you would likely wear (only realised after I got home).
Quite agree that family and friends are the most important. For more than 15 years now I have enjoyed a shared hobby with my younger son and treasure the experience. I have an MGB to get back on the road that was built when the boys were quite young, but two of them did get to do parade laps on the old Westwood course (one buckled in under the roll bar...he was just 7 or 8). Later we took a road trip to Alberta in 1990 in the B, which was fantastic top down summer driving with the Buick V6 kicking it out through the 5-speed gear box.
I use my Mini as the MGB etc. They were "best before use" LOL. However, as has been said we all build the cars they way we want or are able to with knowledge, experience, cash. Some are perfect restorations that remain essentially pristine through low use, if at all. Others are built to go places and do things. The latter are my kind of cars, though I respect and appreciate the care and attention to detail of true concours restorations.
Enjoy your Mini Ron! It too will age and will age best in use and related adventures for you, your family and friends.
Mini friends! Mini rides!
Restored/modified Mini 1000 with 1380cc power unit,
2.95:1 FD, adj. suspension, S discs/drums, 10x5 Minilites, 165x70
A008s, custom trim and matching custom trailer.
One of my bad faults and some have argued that it's good is my uncaring way about how someone feels about me, things I own and people that sorround me.
Life's too short, enjoy your car and your family. The rest is small stuff.
This thread is typical of why I don't hang around here anymore, but someone emailed me the thread and I felt I had to comment.
As usual only one side of the story is being told, but with this group if it's one of the "in crowd", they could do no wrong.
I was at this show and was one of those Mini owners who didn't comment about this car. First, this show has the cars broken down by years: 1963-1968, 1969-1974, 1975-1980, etc... So you have Minis, Jaguars, Triumphs, etc.. all in the same class based on year. While there were multiple Minis in the other classes and the owners either because they previously knew each other, or were in close proximity to each other, socialized; this car was the only Mini in the 1963-1968 class. Second, while going through the show I went to this car a couple of times but there was never anyone around the car. I didn't know who owned the car and wasn't about to have a broadcast message sent out over the PA system. Third, there was one Mini which belongs to one of our members which had some issues so some of us got involved in fixing that. Fourth, I and other members of our club spoke to a couple of guys from NJ with Minis at length so we couldn't have been ignoring other Mini owners. It wasn't until the end of the show that I saw the person who I now recognize as Ron at his Mini.
In closing and this is directed to Ron, did you approach me and say nice Mini? You didn't, and I DON'T EXPECT you or anyone to do so. I looked at your car closely and could pick it apart, you could do the same to mine. You build your car as YOU see fit. Bottom line, you are an adult, you are not a third grader who needs to be told you did a nice job on your finger painting.
meb
p.s. People here have been posting about this car being "shockingly good and so well done" and "was that a Mini owners club for the visual impaired". You guys haven't seen this car in the flesh. I have.
It seems to me when like cars are among their own the compliments aren't as abundant, but when you show up among some muscle cars, because you stick out like a sore thumb you get more notice. This happened to me a couple years ago at the Summer Nationals here where astoundingly beautiful hot rods in enormous quantity were all over the city. My son and I drive around in the Mini and everyone is turning their head and pointing. Get my point?
Your car is shockingly good and so well done Ron, we all recognize it. I envy you. Like others have said, it's the run into town for bread and milk that is the fun part, not the shows. And yeah, when you drop your kids off at school you're gonna be grinnin' guaranteed.
As to "pushing" the car, it's true you obviously don't want to abuse it or redline it but I'm told that a full bandwidth run revving things up is important to get the rings to settle properly.
I love my slider windows, I find that on the highway I open the front part to reduce the wind and then when cruising around at lower speeds I open the rear part of the slider and get just the perfect amount of air, plus I can hang my elbow on the window perch and look very cool.
Dean, well, that's my mom's finger. It's not really tht fat, but just in the wrong place. Actually the camera is laid out in an odd way. The lense is in the upper left side of the camera, just where most people rest their finger. it is a Nikon coolpix 8.1, and I do think it takes nice shots, but is just not laid out right. I'm not too worried bout the other stuff at the show, just happy to get to take my car! I drove some back roads yesterday, and had a blast with the wind coming through the slider windows! It feels different from my 76 mini though. I had 13" wheels on that one, and some escort seats. I haven't really pushed this car yet because of the new engine, but it seems to has as much if not more power than the "Smurfmobile". I am looking forward to the Carlisle show, and a relaxing weekend.
The importance of the time, event, family and the mini are all linked together and will remain so forever. I am constantly reminded of the time (alot of time) I spent with my young daughters (starting around 3 1/2 years old) fishing in our leaky old canoe. Hour and hours and hours of baiting hooks, removing fish, bailing water, talking and feeding them cookies to get them to stay out for another 5 minutes all the while never catching one myself. I haven't used the canoe in well over 10 years but till have it stored in the garden up on sawhorses. Just can't seem to get rid of it.
Enjoy the good times, they're yours forever. Oh and by the way, was that a Mini owners club for the visual impaired? dan
"I don't know much, but what I do know I know little
of
"
They were jealous! The Mini looks GREAT and the photos are too cool. I am glad you had a good time and enjoyed the day. Your Mini would have brought more to the show by being there than not so forgedda about those people that don't want to say "hey nice Mini!"
If I was there I would have came right over and said "hey nice Mini!" then asked you a million questions and give you a keychain with a classic mini on it because that is just what I did yesterday when I met the orange/red Mini that runs around here in Cinci I had heard about. It was great to meet a Mini friend and his car was really nice and deserved the compliment!
Keep on attending those shows, and if you really want to get some compliments just show up to the local street rod/muscle car cruise.
looks great!!.. only wish I could get off my ass, and get some motivation to work on mine!
Cranium
Inner and outer sills, left
and right door steps, left-right-front-rear floors, and inner wings welded in place. Moving to the boot
area, then to the a-panels/front end. Should have the welding done in 3
more years!
:)
Battery Box removed, and rear valence removed. Time to clean up the
rust, and find the holes.
The importance of the car will fade. The importance of the relationships will grow. One of my favorite photos is of my three sons who were then between 2 & 5 in an old Midget I re-worked. Fun times and a great age. I get melancholy when I look at it. (the youngest is now 28) But, one now has an MGB and another has a Mini.
Make it idiot proof, and someone will make a better
idiot....
Much more stylish hat this time Ron! I too am jealous that you get to spend time with your dad at shows. My dad is still heavily involved with car shows, but it's 2.5 hours north, and I can't attend with my mini. (No room for a family of 5).
Shows are funny. I have found that any self respecting Corvette fan would never compliment a dumb little car, but girls and children seem to flock to it like it's an ice cream truck. Your car is beautiful, and everyone here knows it's history.
I am fortunate to pick up my 5 and 7 year old girls from school often in the mini. They don't say much about it, but they have told me the love it. They are proud when the other kids are pointing and smiling. (Me too I guess)
Just wait till they get to school age and insist that you drop them off right in front of the school - but only if you drive the mini (good all the way through high school).
Steve
Life is driving Minis. Everything else is just waiting.
Internet Specials!
Posted: May-06-2008 11:36AM
Your car is awesome and I love that you did the work and made it what it is. I really really can get down with people that get their hands dirty. I will gladly park my little PJMcGee with her cracked paint and homemade light fixtures and roof next to yours then yours will look concours or whatever that fancy word is, haha! 
are welcome to enter and display, but their participation adds to the coffers and the 'background'. The show I went to was grouped early by marque around the perimeter Minis together, Landies together, Triumphs together etc. Later arrivals (read that people like me who weren't in the 'in-sub-groups'
Edited: May-06-2008 08:49AM
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