2010 Mini Festival - Some ideas & news

[Mike1]

Good Morning all

So.Lately I have been full of wonderful ideas. :mmm:

Firstly... I have a new job... As a salesman (Need to do the training still) at Mini Cooper at Auto Atlantic in the CBD. Whooo!

I realised that my passion for Mini is much bigger then I anticipated and Mini has welcomed me to their team. I will probably be starting with them in a week or so. Excited is an understatement. :excited:

This has got me thinking. I understand that Mini is technically a BMW / Peugeot. And I understand and appreciate that Mini is included in this forum and this club. But... There never seems to be any events dedicated purely to Mini.

This is the idea.

At the end of this year I would like to arrange a Mini gathering of Mini mentalists.

I was thinking of making it unique though. Retro yet modern.

The idea:

Have an evening or day where the public can get together and showcase their cars. But have a theme which is predominantly 70's and 80's (when the original Mini was at its greatest) yet with a modern spin to accommodate for the fresher, newer Mini. This spin being a modern DJ. Modern foods and entertainment with a bit of a 80's vibe to it all. To sort of bring back the old school vibe that the original Mini had and mix it with the newer Mini's sophisticated yet heritage endowed vibe.

We could invite Mini tuners (Zeemax etc), Rennzport can showcase their range and have the Mini Clubs get together for a fun evening with the public being able to drool over the Mini's (Something a Mini does very well is attract crowds). Obviously there are a variety of different companies etc we could invite and with this year being the 50th Anniversary of Mini we can also showcase the special editions and the more outrageously modded versions too. It would be a local event that would attract people from around the country. And I think it should be in Cape Town. We may even break a few records...

The reason I suggest Cape Town is because it seems the Mini market is predominantly here in Cape Town. But things can be changed. :wave:

What do you Mini owners and forum members think?

Is this an event you would like to attend or at least be interested in?

Is there anything special or unique that you would prefer to at a Mini event?

Let me know your thoughts. :thumbsup:

Mike

 

[Cooper]

Sounds like you've been doing some brainstorming! But I like what you have in mind. It would be a first for Cape Town I think. You going to have a lot of work to do trying to get all mini owners together to make it a sucess. Im sure it can be done though through MINI themselves and going big with "marketing" :clap: I would def attend an event like this.
good to see someone thinking of going the extra mile for the mini owners.. Once you get this thing going im sure further details can be discussed.
And congrats on the new job! :excited: Dont abuse the jcworks

 

[Twinz]

Congrats with the new Job...was wondering why you were so quiet...will pop in at AA and say hello this week.

Love the mini idea...it will be fascinating seeing a mini only gathering...would you consider the previous mini models as well, to join in the day?

Let me know if you need help with the arrangements.

 

[Mike1]

Hi there

Cooper - Thank you for the wishes. Mini is on a huge marketing campaign at the moment for Bafana Bafana where all Mini owners must go to Mini and collect South African Flag mirror covers for their Mini's. So this would fit in well. I dont think it will be a Mini SA event though. I think having it organised externally yet approved by Mini as an official event is a better option as the rules and regulations Mini has are probably going to be very strict.

Twinz - I have been a bit scarce lately... The last few months have been mayhem for me on a variety of levels. I still owe you guys cd's. I made promises I didnt keep. So generally Im feeling like a bit of a d*ck at the moment and thats one of the main reasons I havent been around as I havent been in a position to try resolve things that I said I would do. This will be sorted out in the next week or so.

I think going with the retro yet modern vibe means that even the original 1970's Mini's will be welcome. The thing I have realised is that most New Mini owners also have original old Mini's. The new Mini also revives certain emotions and feelings even though it is a complete overhaul... My Nan / Granny had an original Mini as her first car when she lived in Scotland still and sold it before moving to Uganda and showed me the pictures... And after taking her to Mini and letting her drive a Cooper S she (And my mom who loved the old Mini) were actually in tears. This car has that effect on people. The GTI does a similar thing but with the Mini it is so much more.

I would like it to be an event where everyone can contribute even if they dont have Mini's. It must be fun, viable for all ages and it must take people back to the days when they got a Mini as their first car or when they got married the year the Mini was launched etc etc. It must have that Austin Powers fun factor to it. Basically just to share the passion that people have for these cars.

And I apologize... Last year was the 50th Anniversary of the Mini. I was confused. :mmm:

I would most probably contact you for help as I know you know people. lol. Also... I need to drop you a PM a little later as I want to chat to you about the publishing of a smallish book in a very new book segment here in SA. Your opinion would be fantastic.

Thanks guys!

Any other suggestions?

Mike

 

[Hellas]

Congrats on the job and the good marketing ideas Mike. If you run in the right direction with this, you might have a lot of backing from the big guys (aka your new employer... )