Here is one you don’t see everyday.
>SOMERSET — Ernest Trent always has been fascinated by fast planes and trendy cars — even when the hot wheels were Model Ts.
>The 100-year-old Somerset man has owned 51 cars and 13 airplanes. He trained B-17 and B-25 pilots during World War II.
Today he will take possession of his new MINI. It’s his second.
>“I just like them. They’re a cute little thing,†Trent said Wednesday from his home along North Rosina Avenue.
We should all be so lucky to still be driving at 100. Even luckier still if we were driving a standard transmission!
>“When Mr. Trent took delivery of his first MINI, I rode with him to make sure he was OK with the operation of the standard transmission,†Brad Davis, MINI of Charleston general manager, said in a statement. “His driving skills are still sharp.â€ÂÂ
[ Area centenarian nation’s oldest MINI Cooper buyer ] Tribune-Democrat
Mr Trent, I hope you are reading this. You are an inpiration! Keep Motoring!
The MINI is a rejuvenator for us all!
I was introduced to a young woman of 80 years at an Open House event at my MINI dealer about a month ago. She just got her first MINI and was interested in joining the local car club.
Just goes to prove that you’re only as old as you feel!
Fantastic to see motoring fans of all ages. Can only hope that when, and if I see a century pass that I will be hopping into a new sporty manual clutch auto. Mr. Trent is deffnetly an inspiration to me.
Interestingly, when we were at the U.S. Press Launch in Arizona, a MINIUSA exec (I want to say it was Jim McDowell, Gabe correct me if I’m wrong) brought up Mr Trent and the fact that he was a repeat world’s oldest MINI owner.
That’s pretty damn cool. I owned a MINI when I was 16, can I snatch the youngest owner award?!
But seriously man, keep on shifting. To know that there’s a 100 year old guy out there somewhere motoring at the same time is kind of a neat thing to think about. Glad to know he’s still having a blast. Motor on, my friend!
Maybe BMW can buy Buick from GM and start a new line of Coopers.
MR Trent,
What do you think of the cod piece?
I guess Mr Trent skews the average age of MINI buyers. I hope MINI doesn’t consider a Buick its competition.
Incidentally, a 90 year old guy and his 85 year old wife blew by me on the ski slopes awhile back. So I guess you’re only as old as you feel. I hope I’m as young when I get to retirement age. Well done, Mr. Trent.
Keep flyin’ low in your new MINI Mr. Trent! Godspeed to you and thanks for keepin’ it “exclusive” as the founding charter member of the “10 Squared Motorers Club.” Now there’s an idea to keep you occupied when your not negotiating chicanes or performing barrel rolls! Best wishes dude.
How’d you know how old they were?
Cool. Just this weekend I delivered some DVD work to a customer who whilst admiring my MINI told me her 87 year old mother drives a stick shift MINI. She said that when she gets to old to drive a stick she’ll switch to an automatic!
First MINI I ever saw on the streets was in La Jolla, CA. LY/W Cooper, stopped me dead in my tracks.
Later met the driver at the first Brecht Mtn Rally.
75 or so Yr old woman, who loved driving it. 😀 😀
Neato DB!
Thanks
God bless him
Mr. Trent is an Honorary Member of the PittStop MINI Club and is, unsurprisingly, our oldest member! We are hoping to see him out at BeaveRun Motorsports Complex. 😉
Way to go!
We have several grandparents in HMMS (Houston MINI Motoring Society, the Houston area MINI club). One couple has two MINIs, with one of them being a GP! Their other MINI is an MCS JCW with further aftermarket mods. They’re so into their MINIs that they’re also members of the Dallas MINI club, MetroplexMINI!