Matt Davis from Autoweek recaps his MINI United experience and realizes that MINI’s marketing is (gasp) good. Here’s an excerpt:
>Perhaps no other make has done so brilliant a job at locating its public as the new Mini. Recently, in Misano, Italy, the faithful arrived from around the world for Mini United. Attitude, baby, it was all about attitude. And it was scarily religious.
>When we arrived at the Santa Monica track we were amazed to see what seemed like 2000 Minis—mostly new ones—and reportedly 6000 people crowding the track’s parking area. From the grandstands, the parking lot looked like the holding area for Minis fresh off the line.
>Mini United participants had hair mousse thick as thieves, wraparound sunshades straight off an Ibiza dance floor, and low-riding pants held up by Joan Jett-style silver-studded belts from the 1970s. There were lots of smokers. Like we said, attitude, baby.
You can check out the entire article below:
[ Got Demographic? Mini fans old and new meet for Mini United ] Autoweek
I think Gabe could hold his own Mini United type event in Chicago. Since Chicago is central to the US and is the 3rd largest city it might be the best place to hold a sumertime event.
I would be up for Brats, Beer & Deep Dish Pizza!
Thoughts?
FPANDA
I guess some buy ’em for image enhancement, but that’s not the vibe I get from most of the owners I know. We’re more of the Motoring Kind.
BCNU,
Rob in Dago
I’d go to Chicago for a MINI United event! Both for the MINI’s and becuase I miss Giordano’s and can’t quite convince myself to pay > $50 to have one air freighted to me.
I second that Giordano’s. Also there is Connie’s Pizza, Carsons Ribs, White Fence Farm, Morton’s Steak House, Lawry’s Prime Rib and Goose Island Brewery among others. I would be the Motoring Kind to drive to each one and enjoy the scenery, other Mini’s and friends along the way.
FPANDA
zagat rated “umbertos of new hyde park, long island” best sicilian pizza in the world. Hows that for long island pride. Its some damn good pizza. Although, I would go to a mini meet in chicago if I had the time.
There is no finer place to “exercise” a MINI than Road America in Elkhart Lake, WIS. And it’s only 150 miles from Chicago!
I’d go to a MINI meet in Chicago as well (especially since I live there), but <a href="http://chicago.citysearch.com/review/3677850" rel="nofollow">Pequod’s</a> is my pizza of choice..
We should see these attendance figures at AMVIV this year; durn thing is growing faster than Burning Man. Phil Wicks will be there with an event on the Speedway. Can you say 140?
“There were lots of smokers”–sad. I thought most of us MINI folks were enlightened.
It was in EUROPE. Of COURSE there were lots of smokers. Nothing to do with the MINI. Duh!
when+where is MINI united be in USA? i’d love to go.
<blockquote>when+where is MINI united be in USA? i’d love to go.</blockquote>
Gabe’s, house in ’06’. There’s a parking lot and a nice view of sandy beaches.
Now getting all the other people in the neighborhood to leave might be a problem!?
Mini united, the us version is held every five years someplace in the U.S. Usually on one coast or the other. The last one was called East meets West. It was held in 2004 in Chicago’s backyard, Rockford Il.
This was the first time new MINI’s attended.
Chicago makes perfect sense for this event as not only could Road America be a possible track the new facility by Joliet is also perfect for MINI / mini’s to run on.
If memory serves Phil Wicks has held a class at the Joliet track, so I think its a natural choice.
Just floating some thoughts here but if Gabe and the head of (m.i.n.i.) minis in northern Illinois, got behind such an event along with Phil Wicks, MINI USA,
MINIS of ST Louis, the Michigan MINI club, and others… Such an event could be substantially larger than 2004’s event in Rockford. The Rockford event in 2004 was pretty darn big by the way, with minis/MINIs everywhere they could possibly be parked.