With the rise of retro chic and hipsters around the world has changed since the rebirth of the MINI in 2001 which brought the swinging 60s back with it. BMW’s rebirth of the brand brought a new and old generation back to most fun you can have on four wheels. Some were buying it for the small compact size, low running and fuel economy but others just wanting a slice of the Italian job and MINI adventures. Which one are you?

Having been a MINI owner since 2008 with my first car & love my beloved R56 MINI ONE 1.4, it always brought a smile to my face through my university years. I wasn’t part of the MINI scene but I wanted to but didn’t know to get into it. I didn’t break my cherry until attending MINI UNITED 2009 with a friend who told me to buy a MINI. I guess he started this MINI obsession of mine. His first car was a mini which was brought for him when he was 12!!! I am sure you already know the rest with my MINI adventures in my JCW.

Going back to the title question are you a MINI owner or MINIac? There is a clear difference between to the two.

A MINI owner is someone who has a MINI as city car.

A MINIac is someone who owns a MINI to drive around town to have fun.

A MINI owner is someone who cares about fashion and looking good.

A MINIac is someone who buys a car to be different and to project their personality on.

A MINI owner doesn’t get excited seeing another MINI.

A MINIac is someone who checks out another mini and gives them a smile, the nod of approval, flash or does the MINI WAVE.

A MINI owner is someone who brought a small car.

A MINIac is someone who always parks next to another MINI.

A MINI owner sees their car as a depreciating asset.

A MINIac is sees their MINI as part of who they are and part of their family.

A MINI owner doesn’t know other owners.

A MINIac will know another just by looking a number plate or customisation/mods.

A MINI owner sees their car as object to go A to B.

A MINIac will go for a drive on the roads less taken.

A MINI owner takes a holiday.

A MINIac travels across cities, countries, states, board lines, continents to travel with other MINIac for a MINI Adventure.

A MINI owner will cut you up.

A MINIac will always give way to another MINI even if it’s out of their way.

A MINI owner has their family and friends.

MINI is the only car that comes with friends as standard (MINIacs 2nd family).

A MINI owner will just say they own a MINI.

A MINIac always steer the conversation towards talking about their MINI.

A MINI owner parks up and walks away.

A MINIac will turn around for those few seconds and just stare then take a million pictures.

A MINI owner spec their car for resale value.

A MINIac will spend, spend, spend on their car to give it a personality then spend more money on it taking it to the point that it is unsellable to a point – ahhhh custom mods.

There is a level above this MINIac level which is a CERTIFIED MINIAC who has changed how the MINI community for the better. Their personality has brought even more people together for our shared loves of all things MINI. They may have started a mod, club or a MINI Run which has benefited us all or even set the standard in modifying MINIs across the world which has sparked others to follow or improve on. I have met this few characters from being in the scene for going on 4 years. I am glad I have met them as they truly make the community what it is and I hope to meet many more across the world as my MINI adventures continue…

There is one major thing that bugs me now out on the road as 1st & 2nd Gen MINIs have become affordable to buy. To be precise it saddens me as it used to be the MINI driver was an aware driver of their driving and traffic around them. From what I have seen since the launch of the 3rd Gen MINI I have begun seeing MINIs in areas which I wouldn’t have normally seen them and these owners driving has begun giving us a bad name. The MINI has become one of those “small run around cars’ : (

I have travelled the across boards, countries, continents to do MINI events and nothing really ever changes but the people I meet. I love listening to their stories how this little car changed our lives as we know it. MINIacs across the world have put a smile on my face countless times with the passion and their individual MINIs. This is exactly what has made the MINI community a 2nd family to me with no boundaries. This passion makes us who we are and the reason why we are drawn to the brand and its lifestyle. I am yet to meet a MINIac who hasn’t changed my life in some shape or form.

As always try to keep it’s a MINI ADVENTURE.

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The post Are you a MINI owner or MINIAC? appeared first on JCW Adventures.

Back to my Uni days where all the MINI Madness began

My Dad brought me my true first car

It was an REAL upgrade from my mum’s Honda Civic that I drove after I past my test

Lets say I wasn’t a good drive then with the only panel that was not dented was the roof once I was finished

My VTEC just kick in yoooo days were over!

I was handed the keys to my brand new Midnight Black R56 MINI One

There wasn’t much options on it and it had the 1.4L engine with 89 BHP

She sat on 16′ R94 Bridge Spokes and 0 to 60 came in at 10 seconds

Even thought she wasn’t the quickest, the handling was on another level and working the gears I was able to give a few quicker cars the slip on the bends

This is the car where I honed my driving skills and techniques like double clutching, rev matching down shifts and the ladies favourite hand brake turns

Forwarding a bit I just turned 20 and partied away night away with my uni friends

How I miss days where it was all partying and not having a care in the world

I found out that about something called MINI UNITED and that MINI would be celebrating its 50th Anniversary

This would be my 1st MINI Adventure and I don’t think I could have had a better start

I was sooo excited as it was it Silverstone and it would be my 1st track time & MINI event

I cleaned and waxed my MINI already for MINI UNITED

Before you all go mental about all the chrome – Chrome was COOL in 2009

At this time I hadn’t taken my MINI on the motorway or driven on the motorway for a great lengths so I was nervous about it all

Simon my close friend eased my through it all teaching me what I should be doing on the motorway

The closer we got to Silverstone the more excited i got with other MINIs flashing and horning as they drove past

I miss how back then when you saw another MINI they would flash & wave : (

We rolled up to the Silverstone gates and parked up to get our freebies

The 50th anniversary lanyard and bits where Uber cool making you feel that much more special for being there and owning a MINI

We jumped back into the car and drove over the hill at Silverstone to be greeted with sight of thousands of MINIs parked up from all over the world

I had never seen so many MINIs in my life

I parked up again and this time to the obligatory car and driver shot for memories sake

We walked around look at all the MINIs that come down

I was shocked to see so many foreign MINI with cars from France, Spain, Russia, Poland, Germany

We carried on walking spotting out Foreign MINIs and custom work they had done to them with the paint work

I saw this MINI GP with a Matt Black Body & Carbon Fibre roof wrap with Lime green viper stripes – Still not sure to this day whether it looked good or not

We came across this stage in the main area where MINIs would drive up and the owner would talk about their MINI & their story

There were two ladies from Russia who drove down and it took them a week and over 3,000km!!

Little did I know I would meet them again at MINI UNITED 2012

As it was MINI’s birthday!! It wouldn’t be right not to write it a little message

There was plently to with all with the MINI Merchandise shops and MINI Clubs to join

You could pull a MINI if you fancied

I was more of relaxed with the DJ playing some good sets

Back then one of past times was to DJ so I had to get a shot with DJ stand

There was one tent at MINI UNITED which drew my attention the most

I didn’t know that MINI did a one make racing series and it was amazing that you could walk around this area and look at all mechanics working on the cars

Never seen people move so fast working on car and they were all happy to talk to you as well

This got me all excited and I wanted a JCW – This was the day the saving pot for my JCW began

I was told you could race your MINI on the track which I jumped at it

After a safety briefing detailing over view of the track, racing line and safety we headed down to the track

My MINI was a little overpowered by the opposition

Simon didn’t come with me the first go around as he was a bit dubious of my driving but took some shots as I went around

The 2nd time around simon came around with and guided me on how to drive fast on the track. He had some track time before and had his fair share of fast cars ranging from fast fords to V12 jags

We managed to keep up with the coopers and you should have seen the grin on my face

This is the day Simon appointed the nickname of Rally Ali to me 

After the R56 & I cooled down we headed back to look around the collection of MINIs on show

The Monte Carlo winning rally MINI was there with the MINI Challenge race car

Mr Beans & Paul Smith mini were present

But I loved this Girlie Cop Clubman

I had a fantastic day out and couldn’t wait till the next MINI UNITED

Still remember this event like yesterday and it always brings back many smiles & smerks

Early 2013 I bumped in my 1st Car & MINI : D

Still miss that MINI

I know a few of you went to MINI UNITED 2009 – Why not share your memories in the comments

Next Blog Post: MINI MARCH

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