Site is up for 40th photos

(photo by Colin Sauer)

The new gathering place for photos from the 40th reunion is now operating.

Check out: http://www.flickr.com/photos/seattlemini

Continue to send photos you took at the 40th, along with names and captions to Qwickmini.com.

Thanks much,
Tim Boyd

A veritable Mini smorgasbord

Here’s a very small sampling of the wide variety of Minis on display at the 40th Anniversary reunion picnic. Can you pick out which is which?

Besides the British variety, we had Minis from Australia, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa. There was a supercharged Moke and a turbocharged Clubman. There was a Mini Van, Tinnies and Woodies. There were Cabrios, a Mary Quant and a Rally Mini and keeping an eye on them all was a Liverpool Police Mini! (photos by Colin Sauer)

Too long between Mini rides

The last time Glenda Larson sat in a Mini was at the Autocross Olympics in 1967. That was, until last Saturday when she navigated for Alan Smith on the 40th Anniversary tour. Now Alan is well known for many things but never as a sedate driver so you can be sure that Glenda had quite a memorable trip. The last we heard she was going to immediately start shopping for a Mini of her own. Welcome back Glenda! (photo by Sandy McDaniel)

Did that REALLY happen?!

Can it be that SAMOA is the most amazing Mini club in North America? After 300 Miniacs and 78 Minis gathered at the 40th Anniversary reunion picnic last Saturday is there any doubt? The picnic was preceded by a tour of the beautiful Snoqualmie River valley. From the tour organizer and overall event chairman, Tim Boyd:

It was 10:45 Saturday morning as I made my way into Carnation to set up for the first Eastside Mini Tour in over 20 years. On the way to Tolt Middle School, thoughts ran through my mind as to what cars would be going on the tour. I was thinking a few minis and a bunch of SUV’s. To my surprise when I arrived at the school I already had people setting up for pre-registration and a few minis in the parking lot. I pulled into the parking lot and Dorothea and Judy brought their registration table over behind my car and we started staging minis. We had three minis line up and things were looking good. It seemed like every few minutes another mini would show up and get in line. By noon our line of minis went across the parking lot, around a tree and then next to the minis already in line. In all we had 27 minis, 3 Binis and 1 Mazda. The crew that had been working on this reunion for the past 8 months was pumped! I just want to say thanks to everyone that took part in this tour and to all the people that helped with it.

Tim Boyd

ps. would you believe me if I told you that the Jones soda bottles that all the tour entrants got are going for $45.50 on eBay!

Map and directions to the 40th

Click on the map to get a larger, printable example. See you Saturday!

Mini Meet West '85

SAMOA hosted Mini Meet West at the Westwater Inn across Capitol Lake from the state capitol in Olympia. There was a great turnout of Minis from all over the west coast and the event was a high point in the history of the club.

Accompanying photos show the cover of the event program (sad that Olympia Beer is now but a memory, at least their logo lives on) and some of the Minis and Miniacs who attended.

Long-time Vancouver Mini Club member, Ken Friend is seen "hanging around" the hospitality suite. David Vizard and David Anton from Advanced Performance Technologies were welcomed guests. At the banquet Oregon's George Thomas is giddy after receiving a trophy from SAMOA's Bruce Moulton. The famous "Monte Mini" of Don Racine sits next to Steve Ludwig's and Al Beebe's race Minis at the concours and all the Minis gather in preparation for the panorama group photo. Has it really been 22 years? Perhaps SAMOA should host another meet in the not too distant future....

Less than a week to the 40th reunion!

Over 200 Mini enthusiasts will be attending the picnic THIS COMING SATURDAY (the 18th). From founding members to Mini owners who will be joining SAMOA for the first time at this event. And there will be more than 40 classic Minis on hand.

The club will be grilling hamburgers and hot dogs for everyone. Chips and soft drinks will also be provided (remember, this is a county park so no alcoholic beverages are allowed). Present SAMOA members are asked to bring a side dish or salad. Former members are asked to simply show up with a big appetite!

Remember, if you have any old Mini photos stuffed in a box somewhere or any other SAMOA memorabilia bring it along.