The next Chicago area event

Sections: Uncategorized Mar 13th, 2003 91 Comments

I'd be interested in having a meeting of all those interested in helping create an official Chicago MINI club. Obviously there would be a lot we'd want to talk about (including a name!) so I'd like to see those interested in a get together for a lunch and maybe a small cruise afterwards. I'd like spend this time to talk about what sort of organization we'd all like to see and how far reaching it should be.

Who might be interested in this and what are your thoughts on a meeting place? I think the most of us live either in the city or the northern suburbs so lets try to come up with a central location.

Written By: MF Staff

Donna

I'd like to hear all about it, could be great fun! So if anyone goes, please tell us what you find.
Jeeves

Windy City MINI's Windy Citi MINI's Three times fast…
vlm

Additional "Chicago" club names: Broad Shoulders; Wild Onions; Hog Butchers. And don't let's leave the city motto untouched–let's take it for our own: Urbs in Auto (City in a Car).

You'll have to fill me in on the outcomes of events if the plans fall on the 12th (for sure), and on the 26th (probably) or the previous weekend I may also be booked. Sorry!!!
SingaporeJim

ChiMini!
Jeeves

Jim, I think you may just have something there.
Linda

"CHIMINI" sounds like Chimney
SingaporeJim

Our rally or autocross team can be the ChiMini Sweepers! We smoke 'em all! :)
Donna

LOL, that's a good one!
vlm

Not too "Mary Poppins," with the Chim-ChiMINI? Or is it more properly pronounced "Chime-MINI" or even "Shy-MINI"?
Linda

Here's a few more to ponder about :-)

MINI-MACH1 Club Da MiniCooper Club MINICruizin Club
http://bridger.us/mini Gabe Bridger

I like Windy City MINIs but it's very close to the BMWCCA Chicago chapter's name: Windy City BMW. Personally I prefer something very simple and keeping within the MINI/Mini traditions. Maybe "The Chicago MINI Motoring Group" or "The MINI Motoring Club of Chicago". I like the idea of using the term "motoring" since it's now so closely associated with the MINI brand. Overall I think it's important for the club to have a name that sounds professional yet is identifiable with the MINI.
Donna

I really like "MINI Motoring Club of Chicago"…I too like the idea of having the "motoring" spirit referenced.
SingaporeJim

Formal's good, future sponsors or people we're gonna be asking stuff from will probably take us more seriously too.
Simon Lee

I will be out of town on business that weekend.

I will catch the next one.
Jim – LTL M CPE

I'll third the MINI Motoring Club of Chicago idea.
http://www.geocities.com/blue_mini_cooper_2003/ drew

This totally off the subject, but I'm curious about something. Gabe, on your headers and other pictures, I've noticed that you fuzz out the license plates. I've heard other people talk about doing that too. At the risk of being naive, what's wrong with showing someone's plate number? People see your plate number in public all the time, so what's the risk of showing it in a picture?
http://bridger.us/mini Gabe

Drew – Great question. I really don't know what is wrong with showing plate numbers. I just know that some people are very sensitive to it and I've photoshopped the plates in the appropriate places because of it.
SingaporeJim

How about a prequel to the next chicago event? Just seems like April 26th is so far away. Anyone?
vlm

I slightly prefer the ring of "Chicago MINI Motoring Club" to "MINI Motoring Club of Chicago." But that's me.
Ellen
MINI Motoring Club of Chicago

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http://bridger.us/mini Gabe

Jim – what are you thinking? I'd like to do something sooner but it seems so many of us are busy.
Deborah

How about Chicago MINI Motorers? I do like ChiMINI too… though on second thought I would really prefer something that didn't say Chicago as so few of us are actually Chicagoans and it seems limiting. I only call myself a Chicagoan when I'm in foreign countries or other big cities. Here at home I don't identify with the city much as I might go downtown only 2-3 times a year, tops. I didn't make it even once in 2002, unless you count driving on I90 coming home from a trip out east. What about a name that encompasses the broad nature of our group, including the Indiana & Wisconsin folks as well? Tri-State Motorers? MidWest MINI Motorers? Am I the only one that thinks this?
http://bridger.us/mini Gabriel Bridger

I understand what you're saying but in the end I think using the term Chicago is the easiest way to identify the region. Personally having lived in Northwest Indiana for years I'd have no trouble belonging to a "Chicago" group. That's my 2 pence at least.
SingaporeJim

Hey Gabe, we're going for dim sum this sunday, wanna join us? Anybody? We could meet in Wilmette and drive down to Chinatown.
http://bridger.us/mini Gabe

JK – Thanks for visiting the site! Since I used MINI-Light wheels off a Cooper S the bolt pattern wasn't a problem. If you're interested in other wheels and want to make sure the bolt pattern will work I'd recommend checking with a company like tirerack.com.

As for being a member – are you referring to our informal Chicago group? If so you're welcome to join us in any of our events if you're in the area. We're 100% open to anyone who wants to come out.
Juan

Seeing as how I'm a Californian married to a Chicagoan whose mom lives in Alsip, my 2 cents suggestion goes for Chicagoland MINIs. (won't exclude suburbanites)
J.K.

Gabe,

I'm not a “member” yet but I have been visiting your site and I do find it interesting and informative. Quick question. Your Cooper has been upgraded to 17″ wheels. Was the bolt pattern a problem?

J.K.
Ellis Dionisio

I second "Chicago MINI Motoring Group". :)
BMWMCS3

I did some serious motoring this weekend, 1900 miles in 47 hours. Unfortunately it was me solo in a Chevy Tahoe, not a Mini. I hauled a '53 Pontiac woodie wagon back to Chicago from Dallas. Along with a thousand other random thoughts, I had plenty of time to ponder a club name. Here's three that I came up with: 1) Chicagoland Cooper Club (CCC) 2) Midwest Mini Mob (MMM) (mob as in a group of kangaroos, not the mafia), 3)Motoring Mini Madmen (sorry ladies). Well, what did you expect from the sleep deprived?
Juan

I have two more cents to toss in. Here in Southern California I'm a member of one of the clubs you've posted a link to- SCMM, the SoCal MINI Maniacs. Why not call your group Chicagoland MINI Maniacs? Form some kind of connection. You guys have a street named Fullerton while we have a city with the same name. We have a Burbank as does Chicagoland. Your North Side has road called Belmont, we have Belmont Shores with just as much coolness. Oscars are made in Chitown while they're presented here in Hollywood. I could go on, the point being we have quite a bit in common besides the coolest cars of all- MINI Coopers!
http://bridger.us/mini Gabe

Thanks for the suggestions Juan. As someone who's worked with the on again off again on again MINICCA I know first hand the proposed benefits with working togther as seperate clubs. Hopefully in the future there will be an organization that will help clubs from all over the US work side by side to help make things easier and give the clubs a stronger national voice. But until then we need to be very aware of each other and trade tips and suggestions as much as possible. Personally I think it's important to have the name of each group be original to that location. Carving out a local identity will be very important for these clubs in that it will create more of a sense of ownership among it's members. That being said I'm open to any name and I think we should pool everything that has been proposed here and vote on them at our meeting.
http://bridger.us/mini Gabe

FYI: MMCC and CMMC aren't available in any form in terms of URLs. That doesn't mean we can't use "Chicago MINI Motoring Club" or "MINI Motoring Club of Chicago" but we'll have either have a long domain name or a different domain name than the actual club name. Knowing this how does MINI Club of Chicago, Chicago MINI Club, or Chicago Club of Motoring sound? I think keeping the term Chicago in there is important in that it easily ideitifies the region.
Ellis Dionisio

"Chicago MINI Club" sounds good & easy to remember.
Jam Jar

I hope I can get in on this… “Chicago Mini Motoring Club” sounds good to me, even as a suburbanite. Can somebody email me as to when the actual meeting of the Mini Minds takes place and where as I am very interested in joining :-).
David

I think I like the Chicago MINI Motoring Club. Very dignified. I think with a name like that, we should have tea and crumpets before every drive. :) Seriously, I like it, though. Looking forward to seeing everybody on the 26th, and maybe we can vote on a name then if we get other things resolved, as well.
BMWMCS3

I like Chicago Mini Motoring Club name as well but how about this twist: Chicago Mini Motoring Society? It has a tad more British snobbery with a hint of tongue in cheek. I suggest a ballot on club names be put up for a vote at the 4/26 meeting. Amoung the other agenda items to discuss at the meeting, I'd suggest naming heads to various areas of motoring interest. A couple of categories that come to mind are: technical (i.e., us gearheads), ralleys, social events, solo driving events, overnight motoring trips and general day fun motoring.
Charlie Deets

i'm very interested, keep me posted. i also think the chicago mini motoring society is a pretty funny name. have a good day.
Jam Jar

OI OI …. i am liking the Chicago MINI Motoring Society even better. See you all on the 26th.
Jim – LTL M CPE

Has there been a time and place set for the meeting? I did a quick glance and don't see any final decision. Trying to get my schedule straight, so need the info please. Thanks.
http://bridger.us/mini Gabe

Here's what we've got at this point: The meeting will be held on 4/26 at the Highland House. Tentatively we're scheduled to be there at noon. I'd like to come with a very specific agenda that we can work through during and after lunch. Sound good? I'm going to post something later this weekend with all the details. We'll also need everyone to RSVP so we get a better idea of how many we'll have at the restaurant.
Freitas P SABAH

I'll like to be a member.

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