Bring your SAMOA memorabilia

Here's a whimsical look at a SAMOA Mini taken way back in 1980. A wonderful shot that sort of looks like a self portrait. Do you remember the car and the owner? Hint - the Mini owner/photographer is one of several family members who used to be involved with the club.

If you have collected SAMOA related stuff over the years (photos, trophies, t shirts, whatever) bring it to the picnic so we all can enjoy it. Be sure your name is on each item. And if you are tired of Mini stuff cluttering up the house the club will gladly include it in the ever-expanding club archives.

And the answer is...Shelly Staatz! Only a couple of long-time members guessed this one. Her dad, Merlin, and brother, Wes, were also SAMOA members and we're hoping the 40th picnic will be a Staatz reunion as well. Maybe Shelly will bring more of her great Mini photos!

Was it really 20 years ago?

Almost as shocking as the fact that SAMOA is 40 years old is the fact that these photos were taken at the SAMOA 20th reunion 20 years ago! The group photo is of those who were members in the 60s. in the other photos, the two handsome gentlemen in one photo are founding members Ray Honsberger and Del Gould. Jeorge McGladrey (Patience) is surrounded by many admirers (as always) in two of the photos. Jim Hunter, Al Beebe and Dave Harris, all 60s vintage members, in one photo and in the other with another member of 60s vintage, our much esteemed current president, Chuck Heleker.

Loosen your Mini seatbelt, it's a SAMOA picnic!

We got hamburgers, we got brats (ok, hot dogs), we got all the fixin's to put on 'em, we got soft drinks and we got a big ol' 40th Anniversary cake. All we need is you. If you've ever been a SAMOA member you'll hate yourself in the morning if you miss this bruhaha. And you really need to RSVP qwickmini@gmail.com.

Current members, if you wish, please bring a side dish to go with. Former members, bring a big appetite!

Back to the 60s again

Mike Howze has been "digging in the basement" (or wherever) like so many other former SAMOA members, now that Minis and the 40th reunion are filling his mind. Here is some of what he dug up. Dash plaques from some long-ago events (who could forget the Mini Mother Cross!?) and really fine t-shirt art by local artist Fred Palmer. Fred used to do a lot of illustrations for the hod-rod crowd but Mike managed to talk Fred into doing one of Mike's Cooper S. Groovy!

Hopefully Mike, and everyone else who have found SAMOA memorabilia, will bring it all to the reunion on the 18th.

This Mini really gets around

Ok boys and girls, it's Mini quiz time again. Some Minis come and some Minis go but this Mini has been in SAMOA since the early 70s. Can you name its first SAMOA owner? How about its present SAMOA owner? How about the four SAMOA owners in between (this is sort of a trick question)? Club members who attended MMW 2007 are automatically disqualified!

The TRUTH at last, at least about all the SAMOAns who've had their mitts on this nice little Mini. Chuck Heleker found this 1974 Canadian Mini 1000 in the mid-seventies at Fisherman's Terminal in Seattle. Catherine Bell, a Canadian living aboard a fishing boat, had it for sale. The rent had just gone up for the fish locker she'd been storing the Mini in. Bert Lobberegt purchased the Mini for his girlfriend at the time, Denyse McFadden but Denyse didn't quite catch the Mini bug and Chuck bought it back. Tim Corbett then purchased it from Chuck and when Tim moved to Corvallis he sold it to Michael Palmer. Michael in turn sold it to current owner, Barbara Praefke who has just installed a spiffy new 1275cc motor. We don't expect to see the orange Mini change hands again any time soon!

Tim Boyd got part of the history right and though Kathy (Dawson) Moellenberndt thought Jim Kirbach might have owned the car his name hasn't been mentioned by any of the previous owners. Of course, all previous owners and the car will be at the reunion. Let's see if they'll all fit in the Mini at the same time!