A special reunion for a former Mini owner

The SAMOA 40th Reunion promises to be an amazing event. Not only will Mini friends reunite, here is a story of a Mini owner who will reunite with her Mini after nearly 30 years apart. The heart-warming story begins with a notice that appeared in the pages of The SAMOA Newsletter in March, 1978:

STOLEN MINI!! 1968 Austin Cooper S MkII, blue with white top, Wash. Plate – OGR956. Stolen from the Queen Anne area of Seattle in February. Owner, Barbara Graham, a SAMOA member around 1970, bought the car new in 1968 and it was the last Mini sold new in the Seattle area. Registered as a 1967, the car is stock except for a leather steering wheel. Please be on the lookout, including you Mini lovers out of state (we’re afraid it may have been taken out of the area). Anyone noting anything suspicious about a Mini or Cooper S parts for sale contact the Seattle Police Dept. or SAMOA.

Shown here are photos of Barbara's Mini. One photo taken in 1968 when the car was new (Wa. license on front bumper) and the other taken at this years White Elephant Auction party with Al Beebe at the wheel. How on earth did Al end up behind the wheel of Barbara's car? Read on to learn more of this fantastic story.

In response to the recent mailing to former SAMOA members we received the following email:

Hi,
I'd love to come to the SAMOA reunion. How did you find me? Amazing! As Bert Lobberegt knows, my '68 Cooper was stolen and totaled in 1978. Fond memories and a blue and white Mini Matchbox model are what's left of that era. When I first saw the current generation of MINIs, I was dismayed because they are so-o-o beefy....and so computerized---so different in overall feeling. Really only cute relative to a Humvee. Nevertheless I went to Fife and tried out a '06 Cooper S and a Cooper last June. To my amazement I realized that the new Cooper S MINIs are RACE cars! I pursued my 40+ year dream of driving on a grand prix track (never mind that it has holes in it!) and took the day and a half Proformance driving lessons with my '05 Cooper S. I've never experienced adrenaline like that. It took at least 4 hours of driving before I stopped shaking. The car performed well and so did I. I determined that I would go back to the track in the spring with racing wheels and tires and a harness. I've got that gear now and I'm going back to the track for more instruction and lapping sessions. I'll be able to see better how well the car and I can perform. I've always known I was a race car driver without a race car. So I hope that new MINIs are welcome at the party August 18th. I'm looking forward to seeing Bert and Chuck Heleker again. Thanks for finding me here on Whidbey and sending the invitation. - All the best, Barbara Graham (not Severinghaus)

Hi Barbara,
I am Tim Boyd and am chairman of the 40th Anniversary committee. I will be passing your note on to Chuck Heleker and Ed Sauer. While the party is for the members from 1967 through today, and for the original minis, I can tell you that my wife and I will have both of our '06 MINIs there, and I'm sure that a few more will show up too. Look forward to meeting you and seeing your "BINI". - Tim

Barb,
My name is Al Beebe. I've been a member of SAMOA since 1967. I bought your old Mini from Bert and restored it back to original. You will see it at the 40th reunion. - Al Beebe

Dear Al,
Wow! what a surprise! Really a shock!
Thanks for the photo of my first "child". (It was my first car.) I'm pleased she's been in your good hands. I wonder if she'll "recognize" me when we meet again. Just last night I told some new friends about my 1968 Mini and how it was stolen and totaled at the tender age 10. I showed them my photo of it when it was 6 months old. Seeing your photo, I feel like the Lindbergs might have felt if they had found their kidnapped child alive. - BG