Five years ago this month a small site called Bridger.us/MINI launched. It wasn’t much; some downloads, some links, and one review. However it was start. Just a few months after that the site you see today launched (1/03) and the rest… well you can read the rest in our news archive.
At the time of the launch the site was simply a front-end to house all my various MINI links and official PDF files that I’d gathered over the previous six months of ownership. Five years later it sees upwards of 15,000 visits a day as the world’s largest MINI news site. So I’d like to take a moment to give a big thanks to all the readers, contributors and especially the sponsors of MotoringFile who have been a large part of this success.
And for those curious, it wasn’t until early January of 2003 that the site changed to the daily news format that you see today.
And finally another big thanks to Don Burnside. He’s now been with the site as the official daily editor for a year and has helped a ton as my availability has started to get increasingly harder to come by.
Cheers, Gabe — happy anniversary. You’ve got an awful lot to be proud of, and we’ve got an awful lot to be thankful for. Here’s to another five years!
Happy Anniversary! I wouldn’t care to think about my MINI life without this site – especially my weekly dose of WRR. Thanks guys.
Five years! That makes my site nearly that old too – scary 🙂
Well done! Very glad to have been a visitor of this site for a long time. Still remember first time I came across Motoringfile I was happy to see other Mini fanatics.
Great website, Great daily Info! It’s been fun, for the last 5 years, seeing how the MINI and your product have evolved. And here’s the song…
This is the Self Preservation Society
The Self Preservation Society
Put on your almond rock and daisy roots
Brush your Hampstead Heath
Wear your Whistle and Flute
Lot’s of La-de-da’s and cockney’s ‘ere
Look alive and get out of here
Get your skates on mate
Get your skates on mate
No bib around your Gregory Peck today, hey!
Drop your plates of meat
right up on the seat
This is the Self Preservation Society
The Self Preservation Society
The Self Preservation Society
(Repeat to fade)
Thanks Mr Bridger……….. 😉
PS….. I still like eggs!
Congrats, Gabe. I guess I can remove the old link out of my bookmarks sometime. 🙂
Congratulations and many thanks for an incredible site about all things MINI. Here’s looking forward to the next 5 years for the most informative online MINI site in the world!
Happy Anniversary to all @ MotoringFile!!
Congratulations and Happy Anniversary!!!
Congratulations and well done.
Congrats, Gabe! Five years of thank yous for the best source of mini news and info.
How cool. Congratulations!
Yay Motoring File….I still remember the old days of <a href="http://www.bridger.us/mini" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.bridger.us/mini</a>
Congrats, Gabe and team!
And, I couldn’t be happier! Thank you for all you do!
Congratulations on a Milestone being reached; I know you’ve had plenty of help and I applaud thier efforts and yours on making Motoring File a great place to read about all things MINI….
Are the old bridger.us/mini shirts collectors items yet?
I’m planning on using that for my retirement.
Congratulations and thank you MotoringFile. I count on you for all things Mini.
Geez Gabe – you’ve become our old friend on the Internet. 😉 Ya done good!
My bookmark still says: <strong>Motoring File – ex Bridger</strong>
Congratulations on turning 5! Thanks for all you do for the MINI community.
Congratulations Gabe – you’ve create something special with Motoringfile. Excellent design + content worth reading = a site I’ll visit every day. All the best for whatever the next five years brings!
Happy Anny, Gabe – still the best, everyone else is just the rest.
Time flies when you’re having fun! You are to be congratulated on your passion and dedication to the site and brand. It’s time MINI USA made you an honourary MINI World Ambassador.
Thanks for doing what you do at MF! Thanks to db for keeping us current!