Mini Shows

[Pete]

Haven’t actually been to a Mini ‘show’ (other than Blyton) for years which I feel I probably should support. What was Stanford like last weekend? I used to go regularly to that one but looked a little bereft of nice/early cars from the photos I saw (and were mostly the same that always turn up) compared to the shows of the past (and people too!). What’s going on with Mini shows and why aren’t cars there in numbers anymore? Is the dominance of BMW MINIS putting people off ? I did notice this at the excellent Brands Hatch Mini Fest I went to for the first time this year, mostly MINIS but then if you think about it how would these events survive without them??

Answers on a postcard

[gs.davies]

I made an innocuous enquiry on a post from British Mini Club a couple of nights ago, asking what the split was between Classic and Moderns at that event.

I didn't realise what a bunfight it'd cause.. Apparently both sides of the 'divide' have to work together to 'keep the brand alive', whatever that means.

Anyway, apparently, it was majority moderns, which is about as interesting as walking around Tesco's carpark. A good Classic Only event would be a great thing to do.

[woodypup59]

Stanford Hall was fine, not a vintage year maybe. I guess the rain at about 3pm rather curtailed it.

There were alot of Binis, but as you say, they swell the numbers, otherwise the same event - mini only - would probably mean a gate price of £30+. Its a lovely venue, but that's a cost I would struggle to justify.

I go partly for the jumble, though the supply of original mk1 parts must surely be drying up.

Like you, I like early / standard cars and they don't seem so common at SH. I don't do concours but perhaps someone can tell us how many cars were in the Mk 1 concours section - if there was one. Given their value, I suppose some cars are very cosseted nowadays and only do short / dry trips.

I enjoy mixed shows, esp little village events. I was parked in my well worn pickup between 2 Maseratis and an immaculate 2 door Rangy recently at a village fete and guess which car got the most attention. Or is it simply that I am more willing chat to people more than some other owners.

[Richspec]

Like many others I don't really do mini shows anymore.
The biggies were always Bingley (now almost always clashes with my winter on call weekend), and I'm not a fan of the crowds.
and Stanford Hall, but this year I was at Southport on Saturday and fairly well past caring to drive all the way to Stanford on the Sunday..
Obviously Mitp has bitten the dust.

Do lots of static shows and some touring assemblies from April to September round Cumbria and southern scotland though.

[Brynmor]

There used to be a few about that I went too and no longer exist…one at Ellesmere Ports Vauxhall factory early in the year, there used to be a cracking one at Shugborough every year too, (think that was Mini owners club?)
I’ve always thought 3 sisters in Wigan would be a ideal for a Mini show…track ideally suited to Minis and fairly handy off the motorways.

[Richspec]

Hell thats going back a bit, we used to go the one at Ellesmere Port, Did Shugborough not move to Himley Hall then became a British Mini Club event?

[hanlminiman]

Stanford Hall was fine, not a vintage year maybe. I guess the rain at about 3pm rather curtailed it.

There were alot of Binis, but as you say, they swell the numbers, otherwise the same event - mini only - would probably mean a gate price of £30+. Its a lovely venue, but that's a cost I would struggle to justify.

I go partly for the jumble, though the supply of original mk1 parts must surely be drying up.

Like you, I like early / standard cars and they don't seem so common at SH. I don't do concours but perhaps someone can tell us how many cars were in the Mk 1 concours section - if there was one. Given their value, I suppose some cars are very cosseted nowadays and only do short / dry trips.

I enjoy mixed shows, esp little village events. I was parked in my well worn pickup between 2 Maseratis and an immaculate 2 door Rangy recently at a village fete and guess which car got the most attention. Or is it simply that I am more willing chat to people more than some other owners.

Like Woodypup I now prefer mixed shows but do have some reservations. Gaydon hosts evening gatherings during the summer months, Footman James have breakfast meetings at several venues and Caffein & Machine locations all encourage petrol heads. However, they are not classic vehicle meetings and I often wonder how the younger enthusiasts afford the modern "quick cars." Back to Stanford Hall, it was good to see the winners of the concours included young enthusiasts.

[Pete]

Beaulieu’s still the one exception where you still get big crowds and lots of cars albeit I’ve not been for years plus it’s refreshing to know your entrance fee is going to just fill somebody’s bank account.

You southerners are spoiled rotten though, Bicester, Kop, Gaydon, Combe, Goodwood, Firle, Bulee, Silverstone, etc etc etc… even Château Impney are still putting decent car meets on. It’s abit grim up north is the truth of it save for the odd venue that host the odd event.

[Brynmor]

in regards Impney I thought it had stopped hosting events but then noticed a show recently, what was the reason the competitive event stopped?

[Pete]

The Hillclimb event stopped when the hotel itself closed in 2020 and was mothballed with plans to redevelop the site. A crying shame because that event was run by real petrolheads not an event company and I’m so lucky I got a Mini class there in 2019 and so many of us got to compete! It was great working with Charlie Martin on that event, they really did roll out the carpet for us.

We’re absolutely starved of such events oop north and what a shame the Yorkshire Motorsport Fest went down the pan. I supported the recent Southport Speed Revival for this very reason which was very poorly promoted and subsequently very poorly attended but has the potential to be a real success, not that it’s easy to do that up north, you’re always gonna be up against it. It’s a real shame Harewood hasn’t been developed and used more like Shelsley and Prescott are. Mega popular venue though (which is why I never get in)

[Pete]

Talking of Mini events, there’s one on the Isle Of Man on the same day as Blyton next year, more of a car tour I think but looks good and very well promoted.

https://www.sceniccartours.com/iom-mini-fest

Should we do a website for Blyton? Anyone fancy doing one?

[Richspec]

Talking of Mini events, there’s one on the Isle Of Man on the same day as Blyton next year, more of a car tour I think but looks good and very well promoted.

https://www.sceniccartours.com/iom-mini-fest

Should we do a website for Blyton? Anyone fancy doing one?

Does it need one??

Didn't you (or Mark) say the last one was at capacity?

[Pete]

Talking of Mini events, there’s one on the Isle Of Man on the same day as Blyton next year, more of a car tour I think but looks good and very well promoted.

https://www.sceniccartours.com/iom-mini-fest

Should we do a website for Blyton? Anyone fancy doing one?

Does it need one??

Didn't you (or Mark) say the last one was at capacity?

Yep not far off but it just makes life easier if you have a single web page with just the basic info on, which we don’t have anymore.

[mab01uk]

The dominance of BMW MINIS at shows is unlikely to have caused any drop in the number of classic Minis at shows, the number of classic Mini or modern MINI owners/enthusiasts that buy tickets and turn up is entirely down to the number of owners of each who want to make the effort to attend, there are no restrictions on ticket sales or parking areas for either Minis or MINIs that I know of at the major events like Beaulieu, Stanford or Brands Hatch Mini Festival, etc.

The modern MINIs rarely have many, if any trade stands and at the Brands Hatch Mini Festival this year there were no MINI races, it was all classic Mini racing....despite that the Modern MINIs turned up in greater numbers as spectators and as show entrants, so effectively they seem to be making the larger Mini events financially viable to continue but without all the benefits and attractions we classic enthusiasts still enjoy.

While the show areas of Modern MINIs may be about as interesting as walking around Tesco's carpark for some of us, clearly we have to accept that plenty of perhaps younger enthusiasts (and some older ones too!) don't agree, each to their own. A small price to pay for the larger long established shows to continue at the more expensive to hire event locations. If there is enough demand for smaller classic Mini focused events (like I remember in the early days of the 1980's [ie. see links below for Beaulieu - Mini Cooper Club /Stanford - Mini Owners Club] and more recently like Blyton) then there is nothing stopping any club or person organising more such events if they think enough classic Mini owners will turn up.

However judging by the Mini Cooper Register membership, I think many classic Mini owners are also often modern MINI owners who like me (or our partners) can no longer face a long journey (usually on a 'smart' motorway) as we get older in a 'back to basics' classic Mini....or simply don't want to get it wet or risk some SUV shunting our expensive restoration project up the rear because they didn't notice our small brake lights come on....probably while scrolling through the menus on their phone or touch screen dash!

Sad but true..and I know if we all do that the Mini shows will see less and less classic Minis turn up which is what seems to be happening already and will just have to rely on the older diehards with early Minis and the younger generations of classic Mini enthusiasts with later Rover Minis to hopefully keep things going for another couple of decades.

First MOC Meeting 1982 - Twycross Zoo
http://mk1-forum.net/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=10623

Mini Cooper Club meeting 1981
http://mk1-forum.net/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=10580&start=0

The major Mini shows like Beaulieu and the National Mini Owners Club shows started in 1979 from small beginnings, also was the same year BL organised the Donnington Mini Extravaganza for the 20th Birthday of the Mini.
There were a couple of "Mini Festivals" at Brands Hatch in the 1960's at race meetings but the Mini show and club scene of today really started around 1978/9. I won a concours prize at the first ever National Mini Owners Club meet in 1979 at Twycross Zoo with perhaps 50 Mini's in attendance organised by Chris Cheal.....but in those days the competition was a lot less professional as I remember!
Also while sorting out some old Mini stuff in my garage recently I found a small green metal souvenir plaque from the "Mini 21st Birthday Party at Beaulieu 26th August 1980."
I remember going to this and entering the concours as there were very few other Mini events then, also it seemed quite a small gathering after the first Austin-Rover Mini 20th party the previous year (1979) at Donnington.
About this time I also joined the first meeting of members of Ray Holmans newly formed 'Mini Cooper Club', we used to meet at the Cat Inn, West Hoathly in Sussex, the annual MCC Beaulieu Meeting started soon after with a handful of Mini's camping, it was later taken over by the split away group of the 'Mini Cooper Register' around 1987 and grew over the years into the big annual event it is now.

[Pete]

Agree with most of that Martin. I was amazed how few Classic Minis were at Brands despite all the track content being classics! However I don’t quite agree with the assumption that MINI owners are a totally different breed than classic in that plenty of em often have a classic sat at home in the garage! It’s just easier to jump in the modern I suppose and I do suspect that the over abundance of moderns do put classic fans off attending Mini shows. I strongly suspect that if Blyton was a much more inclusive event for moderns our classic visitors would tail off or jump in their modern to attend instead!

[mab01uk]

Pete, I agree plenty of modern MINI owners often have a classic sat at home in the garage and it’s just easier to jump in the modern and I admit I'm one of them, at the age of 67 my days of driving classic Minis long distances on motorways is over....especially with many motorways no longer having a hard shoulder to safely wait for breakdown assistance or do a minor running repair. However my 2002 R50 MINI at 22 years old is now considered to be a classic by many in the modern MINI world and by classic car magazines, so it could be argued I'm also supporting the early days of the emerging R50/R53 classic MINI scene!

Only thing is I don't really understand is why the over abundance of moderns does maybe put some classic fans off attending Mini shows, as usually the shows are laid out so you can view only the cars that of interest whether classic or modern or both and the trade areas are usually mainly for classics....so what is the difference? I agree Blyton is a different case as it is not just a static display type show and the on track action would be diluted if modern MINIs were out on the circuit getting in the way in mixed sessions or taking up track time if separate sessions.

[Catmint]

I think we have to apprieciate that there is a broad spectrum of interest in different car brands and to get that show "vibe" you need people - it's self perpetuating. Didn't get to see any of the show at SH as I was glued to the stall, but there was plenty of variety driving past, from ratty to shiny, old and new. A fair number of folk wanted to talk and take photos of the landy parked at the back of the stall

For some reason Northern shows just do not work, there have been a few attempts over the years and they just fall flat, but the mixed classics shows do well.

[Polarsilver]

Did not agree when the MCR changed policy to include Modern MINIs ,, small is better .. However being an Old Git, i do understand to bring in new owners to the outside door hinge cars, yes that needs younger people to become a Mk1/2 Owner yes maybe they are coming from a modern MINI & hopefully perhaps interest in the early cars will get new owners going forward (given our early cars are getting cheaper ).. other ways are to get your Grandkids into early cars as mine polish the 1071 much more than that car needs ..but hopefully it will live in this Family for another two generations.. all is not lost.

[Pete]

For some reason Northern shows just do not work, there have been a few attempts over the years and they just fall flat, but the mixed classics shows do well.

Yeah with the exception of Blyton I think that’s true. . How do people feel about the idea of including MINIS on track? It’s something I’m very conscious of that we don’t but I think is something that would change the event totally if we did?

[Catmint]

Blyton is different - if it wasn't for the track day it wouldn't work (and it is still well south for a fair few ) If you are filling the track then there is no need to change, if entries run short then it may be something to consider in the future but why change if it is working