Category: Mini Coopers

MINI Takes The States 2024 – The Recap

Posted on August 7, 2024 by Bruce

On July 10th I headed out west to be a part of “The MINI TransAmerican Motortastic Road Trip to End All Road Trips Rally” ver. 9.0 You’ve heard me trying to help people prior to the start. Once I got on the road all I can say is it was a lot of driving… roundtrip somewhere around 6,700 miles. This was my ninth time going on this drive put on by MINIUSA every two years (Postponed once due to a pandemic). I’ve also gone to the European version- MINI United which is basically a long weekend party. In 2009 it was at Silverstone Raceway in the United Kingdom. They stopped doing MINI United in 2012. Basically this one was Albuquerque to Seattle with two days in the middle where you were on your own.

The diversity of this country comes into full view as you drive the roads throughout each state. You learn so much about how big and beautiful our country is when you see it from the road. I do recommend this type of travel to everyone, MINI Takes the States makes it a bit easier.

The route is planned for you, all you need to do is show up in the morning for breakfast at the appointed time and get a route sheet. Do you have to follow it? No, you can do whatever you want, but… With MTTS MINI provides Roadside Assistance to those on the route… not on the route? They’ll still help, but it might take more time and there are “vultures, vultures everywhere!” 🤪

The trip from Indy to Albuquerque wasn’t bad at all, I listened to two books Slaying the Dragon by Ben Riggs on the history of TSR and NPCs by Drew Hayes, a fantasy involving what happens when a bunch of Non Player characters decide to go on a adventure. I liked them both. When I arrived in Albuquerque I went to the airport and picked up Sue.

The next day we visited the Very Large Array and then headed north to check into MTTS at Sandia MINI. There we met up with some friends, passed out buttons and stickers, and picked up our lanyards, water bottles, and goodie bag. The cost for one person to go “All the Way” is $200. You get some swag, but the most important pieces are probably your lanyard with your badge and your wristband. This year they went with #CampMINI as a theme and we were divided into troops. Each troop was named after a MINI color and an animal. Sue and I were part of the Volcanic Orange Scorpions. There were competitions each morning pitting each troop against each other for fame and prizes. At registration they also handed us a bingo card to go meet new people. When completed we could turn this in for a merit badge. We stuck around discovering that many of our friends from past MTTS events were having some trouble and their MINIs were being serviced, before leaving tomorrow. We heard about a group getting together in Old Town for dinner and decided to join them. After many spilled drinks (mostly water) we ate and then headed back to the hotel to prepare for the first Rise & Shine.

Online terror strikes with people concerned about pretty much everything. We weren’t overly concerned since we had done this before and we actually do travel a bit. Having a trunk also helps because most of your things are out of sight. Each night we would bring in our cooler, our small suitcases, our snack bag and daypacks. We had planned for being on the road for over two weeks so we knew we would be recycling some clothes. we also knew space was tight.

First photo for MTTS as I entered Albuquerque I saw the supply trucks from the Interstate.

The Rise & Shine

We started off at the Balloon Fiesta Park with excitement levels high. There is a row of tents each dealing with something and over the course of the trip you get into a groove as to where to go.

  • Registration Tent- If you missed registration yesterday or are joining now, this is your first stop. You get you water bottle, folding daypack, lanyard, wristband and other SWAG.
  • Check-In Tent- If you’ve already registered, here is where you pick up today’s button. You are given a button at each location. You may also get other SWAG that they may give out for that day. Exclusive super cool stuff… or not, matters the day.
  • MINI Financial Services – in 2022 they gave out magnets for each state, this time around they went with window clings which are harder to steal. If you had a MINI credit card you could also get something special if you showed your card. MINI Financial Services has embraced being eco friendly so they had just announced a new card made from the plastics floating around the ocean.
  • Merch Tent – Yes, you can get a grill badge, t-shirt, sweatshirt…
  • Plant Oxford – Our guests from across the pond. They were giving away chances to take classes in Thermal, CA and you can sign the bonnet of their MINI Countrymen which will be hung in Thermal for all to see. They also had a couple of different buttons.
  • MINI Connected – Learn about all the cool tech in the latest model of MINI. They gave out pins highlighting one of the many features provided by MINI Connected.
  • American Camp Association – MTTS is a way for MINI owners to do good. This year we were motoring for Keep America Beautiful and The American Camp Association. Here You could donate and receive limited edition MINI SWAG or you could buy raffle tickets for the daily MINI Lifestyle package.
  • Breakfast – Ranged from Pancakes to other breakfast fare… sadly, no breakfast burritos. 😢
  • Urban X – showing off their cool 3D Printers and making license plate frames.
  • MINI Services – raffling off a cooler and a chance for free oil changes for 3 years. They also started scanning keys and printing out a picture of your MINI it’s mileage and how many services were due.
  • There would be other tents sometimes local dealerships selling shirts, or local groups telling you about the area.

Everyone got into a rhythm as to where to go first what to save for last. Throughout the morning our mistress of ceremonies, Dez, would go over things you should know, but many people didn’t listen to. This was when games would be played, the raffles would occur and execs would come up and say a few words. Raffle rules: your name is called three times and then the ticket goes into “THE POCKET OF DOOM.”💀

Once the morning is over we are sent to our cars, and we head off through a gauntlet of MINI people waving flags and cheering us on. Somedays this was 7-9am others 7-10am

Highlights from the Road Leg 1: Albuquerque to Salt Lake City

Each day brought about different scenery each unique. Day one for us ended with us in peril… OK not too much peril, but still. We had stopped for gas and a short break about an hour outside of Durango. When we restarted Alfie there was a red warning indicator which looked like the car was in the garage on a lift. If it were amber, I’d probably drive on… a little anxious, but still get into town and have it checked out in the morning. The car did start. However it was red… red usually means bad things. I called Roadside Assistance explained what was going on and was told a service vehicle should be there within an hour. I then got a call from the service vehicle and explained it was probably nothing, but I wanted to checked out. They arrived. and everything started with some laughing and a belief by everyone that it was “nothing.” Then came an “oh.” and next thing we know it, Mike Peyton, VP of MINIUSA is there and two other corporate MINIs. I kept repeating that I just had the car in days before I left… It seemed the FRM Module (which runs things that don’t make the car drive, things like the lights) had gone out. It was a known issue in that these things have an expiration date (kinda) they run so many actions and then – they die. There is no way to predict it… it just happens. So we are stranded…

As the story goes Jim McDowell the first VP of MINIUSA was at Disney and noticed that a kid had dropped their ice cream within a few minutes, the ice cream had been cleaned up by a cast member, and the kid had a new one. They say he felt that MINI Takes the States should have the same kind of service. If something goes wrong, the MINI owner should be taken care of. We were. One of those Countrymen were emptied out and we were handed the keys. Alfie would be towed to Salt Lake City and we could pick him up there. We had a 2025 MINI Countryman for about three days. I’ve already written up my feelings about the Biggest MINI ever so I won’t go into it. My only regret was Mike Peyton did offer to go over the new controls with me, and I turned him down… I still don’t know about many of the Easter Eggs hidden in the large round screen. We christened our new MINI “Joel Incognito” “Joel” because that’s who we took him from- the MINI kept say “Hello Joel” and “Incognito” because no one knew us since we weren’t driving the Roadster.

It was a great drive and each Rise and Shine brought about the same vibe. I spent a lot of time running around handing out pins and stickers something I will do less of in the future (you don’t get to spend that much time caching up with friends). I will note that while driving “Joel Incognito” I noticed that we did blend in with other cars on the road. MINI says the new Countryman is the “Biggest MINI ever” as if that should be a point of pride… ummm… We were driving through some small town in Colorado in a mixed line of cars when I saw this woman on the side of the road waving like a crazy person at all the MINIs going by. When the “regular” cars came by she stopped waving. We were sandwiched between a couple of non-MINIs and I watched her stop waving. She then looked around for other MINIs. We started waving at her and she ignored us. Still looking for MINIs to wave at. The new model doesn’t have the same characteristics as what people consider a “MINI” it’s just another car. While Members of the MINI community may politely embrace this change, the general public is looking for what they think of as a MINI.

We arrived in Salt Lake City and headed over to MINI of Murray to pick up Alfie. He was repaired and we happily drove off leaving some surprises for whoever ended up with Joel Incognito next. (stickers buttons, a drawing and note of “thanks.” That night was an evening event celebrating the end of the first leg. With lots of posts about parking, food, and confusion from the people who don’t listen to Dez when she makes announcements.

The group photo of those who had attended all nine MINI Takes The States and could make the photo… so many were missing. (See Seattle for the other photo)

Choose Your Own Adventure

Between Salt Lake City and Bozeman we had two days on our own. We were told MINI Takes The States staff would be off the clock, that regular Roadside Assistance would work, but the special set up for MTTS would not. Go have fun and explore. Which we did.

We started with a quick trip into Herriman, UT to see the “Up House.” Then to Promontory to the Golden Spike. From there we went into Idaho and the Museum of Clean. The next day took us to Jackson Wyoming and our first Troll of the trip. From Jackson we headed into the national parks. Ending up in Boseman for the night.

Highlights from the Road Leg 2: Bozeman to Seattle

The Return of Jim McDowell – The prime Chief Motorer returned from retirement to join us on the second leg. For those of us who had done MTTS since the beginning this was like the second coming- with a squirt gun. He was just one of us on this trip, but it was great to see him and his wife having a great time reconnecting with MINI owners. Yes, he tried to kidnap Cecil on multiple occasions, but that was part of the fun of having Jim around.

I’ve spoken about the diversity of our country, and sometimes we have stereotypes. one that persists is how the Pacific Northwest is pretty much mountains and pine trees… nope. A lot of Washington state is fields, 75% of all hops used in beer production in the US comes from this area. It is also pretty hot until you cross through the mountains.

MINI Roadside Assistance to the rescue (again) – When we left for the last Rise & Shine a low tire indicator when off. We pulled into the Roadside Side Assistance Tent, and the quickly discovered a very small, slow leak in one of my tires… They said keep an eye on it, and get it patched in Seattle. Which I did.

The last Rise and Rally was interesting, here is where MINIUSA auctions off all the stuff from the trip so they don’t have to carry it back, and it brings in a nice sum to the charity. over the years we have picked up a few items at these auctions and plan ahead since they are cash only. This time I had my eye on the Volcanic Orange Scorpions Troop flag and Sue wanted to continue our collection of event banners. The hardest part about this and anything else is the limited space in a MINI. We’ve been living for two weeks out of our little car and over the stops picked up stuff. Usually t-shirts or other small things, but still we had little or no room. With that in mind we did not go for the Large “Welcome to…” signs or the “Jelly Beans” used to direct people to the event. We dis get what we wanted, so we were happy.

The Museum of Flight

The final event was held at the Museum of Flight in Seattle, there were the typical questions about parking and food. There was a mob to get into the Museum where we earned our “wings” which was awesome. One thing they also had (which drew the largest crowd) was the extras- buttons, pins, stickers that were left over from the trip. Sadly, for those of us who had “Gone all the Way” this meant that some of the exclusive items weren’t that exclusive anymore. While it is a bit of gambling- pay for the last day and get all the swag you missed. Of course Sue and I live by what we call the “Harley-Davidson Rule” – Buy the bike, then buy the shirt. So we won’t buy or wear stuff from things we haven’t done. As with all rules it can be bent, I wore a MINI cap years before I bought a MINI. (Still wear the cap) I just recall once wearing a Brooklyn Dodgers jacket my parents had bought me and getting quizzed by a sports geek about the team. I wore it because I grandfather was a fan and almost failed out of high school because he would skip class to go to games. After that I stopped wearing the jacket. Those who know me well, know I know nothing about sports.

…and so it ends at the Museum of Flight as it began…
A portion of the group that has participated in every MTTS since 2006. Kind of the “Perfect Attendance Club” There are around 14 of us crazy folks.

Oh, for the record it was catered and parking was available.

Pictures or It Didn’t Happen

So what did I learn from my 9th running of MINI Takes The States?

  • Be flexible, things happen, go with the flow.
  • Don’t Panic, it’s silly when you panic over stuff like “Where do I park?” or “Will they provide food?” you will find a place to park, and if no food is provided you can get something somewhere else.
  • Buy early… if you want SWAG, make sure to get it your first day.
  • Don’t obsess over buttons, stickers, koozies, ducks, or other signature items. You’ll be spending your time trying to hand things out instead of meeting people.
  • Fill up when you reach half a tank.
  • Leave yourself some room. Don’t overpack. We brought a cooler for drinks and ended up leaving in it Washington because it took up too much space.
  • While I loved having two days in the middle – it made it like it was two different trips. So many new people jumped in that it was like starting all over again, with people not understanding what was going on.
  • I missed the Surprise and Delights… With only one gathering each day there was limited time to get to chat with other Motorers. Therefore it was harder to find a group to drive with if that’s what you wanted. The only Surprise and Delight was on the first leg, a drive through photo op, which didn’t lend itself to getting together unless you were waiting in line at the port-o-let.
  • I need to keep in contact with my tribe better. While I’m an introvert and tend to like being by myself. I missed sharing meals with my MINI peeps. We were fortunate enough to meet up a couple of times on the road, but still.
  • Let the crazies be crazy. There are a number of people who think they are a “Professional driver on a closed course” and will drive dangerously. Enjoy your drive, stay safe and avoid those idiots like the plague. Give them all the room they need so you won’t get hurt.
  • I’m looking forward to MTTS 2026 (if it happens- nothing official has been announced) Do I care where or when? not in the least.
  • Need to plan/remember to get Adventure Labs in the places we visit or along the way… I made a list an promptly ignored it.
  • In this day and age we have learned something- there are too many places to get bad information. MTTS has a bunch of groups- MINI Takes The States 2024 (now 2026), MINI Takes the States- First Time Newbies, MINI Takes The States – Going All The Way, and a bunch of repeat groups (some set up by scammers). All giving out similar but in many cases slightly different information. I hope that by the next one, either there will be a central location to get information, or MINIUSA works with one of the Social Media groups to get official information out in a quick reliable way. Having an event App only helped a bit and sometimes led to more confusion.

By The Numbers

  • Days Motored: 19
  • States Motored in: 15 (We have now traveled through all 50 states in some way or another)
  • Miles Motored : 6,392 not counting a tow to Salt Lake City and driving “Joel Incognito”
  • Approx. Hotel Cost for the Actual Days of MTTS: $2700
  • Approx. Fuel for the actual Dates of MTTS: $850
  • Registration All the Way for two: $200
  • Official SWAG: $140
  • Donations: All in Cash so a bunch- One Event Banner, One Troop Flag, numerous raffle tickets, One Oxford Plant polo shirt (aka the most expensive MINI shirt ever)
  • Food: Umm… I never try to figure this out since we have to eat no matter where we are.
  • Geocaches & Adventure Lab stages: 125 We only have Alaska to go then we will have found a geocache in every U.S. State.
  • Signature SWAG handed out/lost: 41 MINIons Take the States Buttons, 33 MINIons Take The States Stickers, 90 MINIon 4238 buttons, 32 Extinct MINI Cooper Motoring Society Window Clings (v.1), 13 LEGO ducks, 20 MTTS 2024 classic stickers.
  • Buttons, Signature SWAG, Ducks collected: Does it really matter?
  • Photos taken: 1,056
  • Trolls (Thomas Dambo Sculptures) visited: 12, 15 if you count the portals.

The Journey Home

On the way home we stopped off to see family and then more trolls which, by now, might be like family, but aren’t. We made it safely back to rest for a few days before the next Whimventure®

On the Road, Again

Posted on July 9, 2024 by Bruce

It’s time to head off on another Whimventure®! This time It’s MINI Takes The States (MTTS) which is always a lot of fun. As I prepare for the final push to leave I head to the starting point Albuquerque, New Mexico. It will take me a couple of days to get there since I am no longer allowed to drive straight through after the MTTS Lubbock to Indy drive which the court of public opinion (not as political as the Supreme Court) certified me as “insane”, but since it didn’t get dark until I was almost in Illinois, I figured it wasn’t that bad… You never realize just how big and barren Texas is until you have to drive through it.

I will be joining hundreds (if not thousands) of other MINI owners as we motor together (and apart) across the country, What MINI is call calling #CampMINI. Like many campers there are those excited, and those anxious. I’m a little in-between. The anxious ones make me anxious, but having been doing this since 2006, I’m not too worried. I know that things happen, and you just go with the flow. There are people who are packing for an expedition into the unknown. Basically like “Moto-Preppers”, (Did I just make up another new word? 🤪) people ready for the end of the world while they are on the road. I think maybe they’ve watched the various Mad Max movies too many times. Read “Along The Scenic Route” by Harlan Ellison, or ‘Why Johnny Can’t Speed” by Alan Dean Foster- I think they believe driving through the wild, wild west is like that. Then there are those who have everything planned out to the minute, and are concerned that they have not been given the second by second details.

They just announced the apps they will be using, A navigation one and an event – social connectivity one. As with any technology, some of them are a little glitchy right now. The event doesn’t officially start until Saturday so they will be working on bugs the rest of the week. I was able to make sure Cecil had his account set up- I’m superfluous. Sue is still having difficulties, so we’re trying to figure out if it is because she is set up as a co-pilot, or because she uses the same app for work. Unlike the folks with their multiple lists I’ve been putting together a notebook so I don’t forget things (like stopping mail). I started writing down Geocaches and Adventure Labs for the route, but stopped. There are just so many… except in Durango😉.

We have some plans, but mostly, it’s going to be a time to see old friends who we only see at MINI events like this. We will most likely be driving by ourselves. Although driving in a group is safer, especially when confronted by the bands of post-apocalyptic gangs roaming the nuclear wasteland known as the American west. Hmmm… bI might just need to draw a Mad Max MINIon sometime…

When it comes to groups, we have found that it is really hard to have a Whimventure® when you have to worry about a line of cars getting lost, while you are trying yourself to get lost. I’d rather deal with the stress of being on the road alone being passed by hundreds of MINIs than trying to figure out what happened to the green MINI that was behind me, and listening to radio chatter about cars missing the stop light. If you can find the right group it works, but keeping the band together over the years can be difficult. Plus that’s a lot of stress on the person leading and the one in the back.

This in NOT a Geocaching Trip

OK we will be caching, because that is a really great way to see cool things that other people miss. What we won’t be doing is trying for a cache in every county, or getting as many caches as we can along the road. We know people who would call that a vacation, I am not one of them. Sue has a list, I have a list. I’ve gone over a number of virtual caches in the cities we stop at and wrote down the logging requirements. Some are easy- “Take a picture of yourself here.” Others are being ignored- “Email me the answers to these questions as you visit these 14 different locations. Use complete sentences, proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Do not log the cache until you have heard back from me.” Ummm… I don’t think so. If you’ve read this blog for long enough, you know proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling are not my strengths.

A Typical Day

I’ve gone over this before but it might be nice to hear it all over again. If things go the way they have in the past a typical day will start with a line of cars trying to get into the “Rise & Shine” location. One year people started lining up at 3:00 AM, hopefully that won’t be the case. It may be an open field, it may be a parking lot. There will be tents and port-o-lets. During the morning people will eat breakfast and talk about stuff. We’ll check in and get our button for the day and desperately try to get whatever the coveted SWAG is this year (in 2022 it was magnets for each stop). There will be button and SWAG trading, or just handing out. Announcements, will be made, games will be played, charities will be mentioned, breakfast burritos or pancakes will be eaten. We will head off for the day, sometimes escorted by the police. People will turn left when they should turn right. People will get lost. Mid-way through the day there should be a “Surprise and Delight” some people will stop, some won’t. It could be the line of cars to get in is too long, it could be that the delight isn’t delightful enough for them. We will then drive into our next stop and search for our hotel. Next morning we’ll do it all over again.

Normally, about a day or two into the trip one of us will get grumpy over something stupid. We’ll drive in silence for a few hours and then get back to normal. When you’ve been married for over 30 years you get into a routine. It would be nice to avoid this part, but… if it happens, it happens. Too much togetherness with two introverts can lead to a little grumpiness.

We will have a lot of time on the road and at each destination city to explore. Which is why I have a list of geocaches and have been looking at Adventure Labs in each location. We’ll also be checking out local micro-breweries and brewpubs. Nothing fancy, just normal stuff with a local flair.

Our Route – A Whimventure® In The Making.

As for driving, my trip to HeroesCon in Charlotte was around the same distance (and time) as each day I’m driving solo to get to Albuquerque. Much less than my trips to New York. Don’t even get me started on my drive from Lubbock in 2014! When by myself I tend to get up early and just drive until I get to the destination. I did Denver to Los Angeles in 2014 also… that was a year filled with stupidity.

  • Solo Day 1: Indianapolis to Tulsa – 635 miles (9 hours)
  • Solo Day 2: Tulsa to Albuquerque – 650 miles (9 hours) Pick Up Sue at the airport
  • MTTS Day 1: Albuquerque to Durango – 220 miles (5 hours)*
  • MTTS Day 2: Durango to Grand Junction – 165 miles (4 hours)*
  • MTTS Day 3: Grand Junction to Salt Lake City – 350 miles (5.5 hours)* Evening Event at the Gallivan Center.
  • MTTS Day 4 & 5: Choose Your Own Adventure Salt Lake City to Bozeman – 410 miles
  • MTTS Day 6: Bozeman to Missoula – 230 miles (4 hours)*
  • MTTS Day 7: Missoula to Spokane – 260 miles (5 hours)*
  • MTTS Day 8: Spokane to Yakima – 260 miles (3 hours)*
  • MTTS Day 9: Yakima to Seattle – 140 miles (2.5 hours)* Evening Event at the Museum of Flight.
  • Day 12: Seattle – Troll Hunting – ???
  • Day 13: Seattle to Bellingham – 90 miles (we have a tour of GCHQ that morning and are spending the rest of the day with family)
  • Days 14 to 17: Bellingham to Indianapolis via Fargo- 2,350 miles – Trolls in Detroit Lakes, MN!
  • Total estimated mileage: 5,750 miles (not counting driving around town, getting lost, or other excursions- did I mention we still hadn’t planned out the “Choose your Own Adventure” portion of the trip?)

*MINI’s estimated time on the road. In most cases we will be entering the city before we can check into our hotels.

It’s funny, we really don’t have the “Choose Your Own Adventure” or the trip home planned out. 😱 We have a few ideas and must do bits. There’s a Thomas Dambo Troll in Jackson, Wyoming, we need to get a geocache in North Dakota, and Thomas Dambo just placed a bunch of trolls in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. We have a National Park Pass, and some ideas, it just matters what we decide to do, where we decide to go. Day 4 we are going to need a hotel room. Our route home will retrace some of MTTS, so if we hear of something awesome that we missed, we might be able to see it on the way back.

For our return, we’ll drive as far as we want, stop when we need to. We should drive about 600 miles each day, but some days will be longer than others and I usually have the rule that I rarely stop if I’m in a state bordering Indiana, I might as well push a bit and sleep in my own bed, with my cats- who I will be missing and worrying about the second the garage door closes as I head out.

I’ve loaded my phone with a couple of audiobooks: Slaying the Dragon – A Secret History of Dungeons & Dragons by Ben Riggs that I looked at when at The Book Loft in Columbus, OH. I also checked out NPCs by Drew Hayes, a comic fantasy story about a bunch of non-player characters in a game and what happens when the game isn’t being played. These should last me for the entire drive to Albuquerque. With Gen Con coming up I figured these might be interesting. I’m still figuring out what I want to focus on- Gaming & building with LEGO bricks have taken a back seat to drawing and comics. I also still need to get the classic Mini working- Oh the things to deal with after MTTS and Gen Con.

I’m only missing the coveted MINI Financial Services Magnets from 2022 because I really don’t want them to go missing. Alfie (aka Stormageddon, Dark Lord of All) , Cecil, and I are ready to hit the road tomorrow… once I finish packing. 155,573 miles on the odometer before we head out.

Planning & Packing for MINI Takes the States

Posted on July 1, 2024 by Bruce

As we close in on the start of MINIUSA’s “TransAmerican Motortastic Road Trip to End All Road Trips Rally” How does one prepare for this? In the immortal words of Douglas Adams “Don’t Panic.” I’ve watched Social Media since the dates and route were announced and there are a lot of people who either are anxious, or have never actually driven their car outside of their town, county, or state before. I suffer from travel anxiety, but I guess I’ve pushed beyond my fear enough times that some things I’ve gotten a “This too shall pass” kind of attitude. Do I like it when my car has issues on the road? duh. no. I panic just as much as any normal person would. I just understand things happen. While this is my process, your mileage may vary.

How Do I Prepare?

First things first, I do my best to keep Alfie (aka Stormageddon, Dark Lord of All) in good operating condition. I rotate the tires regularly, change the oil, bring it in for scheduled maintenance to the dealership. I tried another local garage once and found that they were just as expensive and didn’t have the experience or resources that the dealership had. Interesting experiment. So now about two weeks out, my car is at the dealership getting a once over and oil change. Having an olderish MINI I want to give them time if parts needed to be ordered. I also have the dealership do a full detail inside and out. It’s pricey but I only do it once every two years, and it makes Alfie look nice in the sea of other nice looking MINIs.

So Alfie has a clean bill of health before heading out. What else do I do? I pack some extra oil and a bottle or two of fuel additive since we will be dealing with gasoline from a wide variety of locales and high altitude. I may not need either, but I’m an old Boy Scout so I’ll be prepared. Outside of that I have my usual quick cleaning kit some microfiber towels, window cleaner, and spray cleaner (Griot’s Speed Shine). So I feel good Alfie is ready to go.

What About The Humans?

Sue is responsible for her stuff, and I deal with mine. They have stores if we forgot anything. I have a small cooler that we will put water and soft drinks (pop, soda, coke, or whatever your region calls it) and a bag that will contain snacks. We usually go with a Chex Mix, and trail mix, maybe beef jerky or gummy bears. I’ll be driving through Texas so I know I’ll pass a Buc-ee’s at some point if I need to restock. The LEGO bag is the stuff I have for the car that usually is in the glovebox and a few other items. Since My MINI is currently in for service, this stuff is at home.

Since I am old I have various medications I need to take on a daily basis. This is a long trip so I contacted my insurance company to make sure I was allowed by the rules of the policy to actually get enough to last the entire trip. Anytime I put in a refill early it gets dinged, so I wanted to make sure. I figured out that by the time I return I will have been out of everything for a couple a weeks. I also waxed nostalgically about when you could just go to a pharmacist and say “I need extras” and the reply would be “Sure, hope you have a nice trip!”

I don’t know how people who drive a MINI convertible do it, the roadster has a ginormous boot (trunk for non-MINI folks) so we can live out of it without a problem. We had issues when we rented a MINI convertible in May. I’ll need to pack at least one MINI shirt for each day of the event. I already know I’ll wear the 2006 MTTS shirt, the MINI United Shirt, and the “Most expensive MINI shirt ever” besides that I need to pick 4 more- hopefully not all black although all old school MINI shirts are black.

So I might have a few MINI shirts I’ve gathered over the years… I also know I’ll be picking up a few along the road.

About halfway through we have a couple of days on our own so we could do laundry. In the past if you were part of the ‘Going All the Way” group MINI provided a small laundry service midway through… not anymore. I’ll pack jeans and shorts, with the full knowledge that I will most likely wear them more than once. I’ll also pack a couple pairs of shoes. One pair that is more comfortable for driving, and another pair for hiking and walking around. I might also throw in a pair for the evening events, although black tie is optional at these events. 🤪 I know heat will be an issue, but I will pack a light jacket or some rain protection (be prepared). I’ll also pack a couple of hats- my Tilley and a baseball cap. Some people will pack for each day in a different bag… whatever works for you. I’m planning on bringing a separate bag for dirty laundry that way my clean clothes don’t mix with my… other stuff. Don’t forget electronics and chargers. While I will be using my phone as a GPS I will also pack all the various chargers and a FRS Radio (set to channel 7 sub 21). Most electronics will be plugged into the car charger throughout the trip, but better safe than sorry.

Then There’s SWAG

I often roll my eyes and joke over the people who bring all these things to give away… I’m just as bad as all of them. I have been keeping a notebook for this trip and figured out all the different things I’m bringing to make other people happy. I have buttons, stickers, and a top secret very unique and limited edition duck. My hope is that everything I have I will not be bringing back with me. With the passing of a friend (MINIon 0666) I also have some items for those who knew him to honor and remember him. I will be passing most of those off to another friend (MINIon 0001) for distribution.

A couple days ago I finally went through my bags from MTTS 2022. I hadn’t opened them since we had returned home. I’m glad there wasn’t anything edible, or alive in there. I won’t say I was shocked by the amount of stuff I had, more like I was shocked by how little I had. I think of MTTS like some of my first Cons that I went to as an adult. I would take pictures of everything, because “WOW!” and now I know what I like, I know what I want and I know I don’t need another button or duck or whatever. My Lanyard from MTTS 2022 had only two personal buttons on it, the rest were ones given out by MINI. I had another lanyard that had the destination buttons on it. I’ll actually be taking off those personal buttons and pins to wear them this time around.

Your Tribe, or not…

My first MTTS (2006) I took it as a Rally and we drove straight to Indianapolis from St. Louis. We were helping the local club with the lap around the Motor Speedway, so I had a commitment. I wish I had taken more time to enjoy the road, and the people. 2008 was weird being four different events. We did Chicago (Road America) and then flew to L.A. We pretty much did it on our own, hanging out with friends from our local club and in L.A. I invited my family to join us. At MINI United in 2009 we met people from around the world and expanded our group. In 2010 we drove with some of them along the route and created the MINIons group. From 2012 – 2016 that group was our motoring crew. In 2018 Sue and I decided we wanted to go “rogue” adjust explore. Driving with a group can become stressful. Where is everyone? Who needs to use the bathroom? Do we stop at this attraction? What about lunch? Dinner? While it was fun, we embraced being by ourselves and catching up with everyone in the evening, or at breakfast. In 2022 Sue and I decided to go even more rogue, with Sue driving her MINI and me driving mine. It was a logical issue in which I had things to do beforehand and had to get home. While Sue had work and then went to visit family. This time around, I’m driving and Sue will meet me in Albuquerque we will then head off on our Whimventure. Will we drive with the MINIons? Maybe, but I know we have other things on the list.

Worried about finding your tribe? Don’t be, it is something that happens naturally. Those extroverts out there will march up and start creating a group (if they haven’t already). The introverts will sit back and meet people at breakfast, at the surprise and delight, or just on the road. Your driving group might change every day. The important thing is to have fun on your terms. If driving around with a bunch of people is your thing- great! I’m sure it will happen. If you just don’t know, it’s OK to drive with a group and then cut out later in the day. Be polite, say “Thanks” and you look forward to seeing them tomorrow at breakfast. You won’t hurt anyone’s feelings. As I said, sometimes (especially for whimventuring® introverts) it can be stressful driving with a large group.

Who are the MINIons? For the most part these are a mysterious group of people I have met along the road or people who were invited by other MINIons. We’ve basically grown up in the MINI community together and we are all over the place. We laugh together at the antics of those “serious” MINI owners. “My LXM number is lower than yours” kind of people.🙄 We try to help out when possible, but basically we take everything in stride. We live by the Book of Motoring and the idea of “Not Normal.” The group has traveled together, but also many go rogue and have their own Whimventures®. Of which Cecil (my stuffed monkey bent on World Domination and usual co-pilot) approves of these actions.

Plans & Schemes

List? What list? Now as we close in on leaving I’ve been going through Geocaching.com, the Adventure Lab App, Atlas Obscura, Roadside America, and other sources to see what might be on the route or nearby to see. We don’t know what the route will actually be, or the Surprise and Delights along the way. For us, our major goal won’t happen until we start heading home, after a short visit to check on my brother and how he’s handling retirement. We need to find caches in two more states to have found a geocache in every state in the lower 48. This leaves only Alaska and we will have completed the entire U.S. Outside of that we have Trolls to find and a visit to Groundspeak’s Headquarters in Seattle. I’ve created a list in Atlas Obscura, of things that look interesting. Along with a list on Geocaching.com, both will be constantly updated, and no, we won’t see everything on the list. Most of the geocaches are virtual ones, We’ll use the app to catch actual hides nearby as we stop for things.

I do recommend using either Geocaching or Adventure Labs as a way to explore new places. Download the apps create an account and go have some fun. Geocaching is using a GPS (or your Phone) to find something hidden by another player. Think of it as a treasure hunt. Sign the log, put it back where you found it, log it online and take a look around. Most Geocaches take you places people don’t usually go to. Think of it as a local showing you around. A Virtual Cache takes you to a place and you either need to send in the answers to some questions, or take a photo of yourself at the place. Adventure Labs use geo tracking and as you get close to a location a question pops up that you need to answer. These tend to be tours of local art, or historically significant places. A nice way to learn about where you are visiting. I like them because, unlike geocaches, I don’t need to dig through plants to search for them, I just need to find the answer on a plaque.

They’re More Like “Guidelines”

Posted on June 23, 2024 by Bruce

Once upon a time… When I first bought a MINI Cooper there were only a few of us and MINI catered to the idea that a small car was unique. During that time their ad folks came up with a bunch of advice for MINI owners all part of the “MINI Book of Motoring” which was handed out at dealerships to prospective owners so they would understand what they had gotten themselves into by taking that “first step into a larger world” by just looking at a MINI. I keep a copy of one in my glovebox as a reminder of those simpler times.

MINIs marketing was irreverent and dry, never being too serious and had advice and new vocabulary like “Farking Spot” which was when someone parked and was hidden from view by other cars making it seem like the spot was empty so you would get your hopes up and think you could park there. The idea was as a MINI owner you should keep this in mind and not pull all the way in, line up your boot with the surrounding cars. Other things like wear dirt as a badge of honor and Miles = Memories were ways to say “Have fun, drive and don’t worry.”

Owning a MINI meant you were off to adventure and mostly fun. I do my best to follow this holy scripture, better than many people follow the rules set forth by their organized religions. You wonder where the concept of “Whimventure®” came from? It adds the MINI concepts to times when you can’t Motor. These are just some highlights from the holy book:

The car, besides being small, was quirky and there were things you had to get used to- like the switches for the windows and locks were in the center column, not on the door. Then executives decided that they were being marked down on all important surveys for these quirks and started changing things- making MINI bigger, and moving things around so it was more “normal.” One of my favorite advertising campaigns was one of the last pushing the uniqueness of the MINI- “Not Normal.” Sadly, while MINI is still unique in some cases, the newest models are just like most cars on the road. As I have stated elsewhere, I do like the current interior with the ginormous round screen, but I really can’t tell from the outside that it’s a MINI unless I see the logo. You can’t miss the logo- it’s almost as big as a classic Mini!

During the early days MINI set up some rules, created by marketing and cobbled together from various local clubs. They also were shorthand for those found in the “Book of Motoring.” These have kind of stuck. Unfortunately, many owners don’t have a clue about them (kind of like many church goers haven’t a clue about what their religion actually is about 🤪). MINI has become successful enough that most owners think of it as a car. Something to get them from Point A to Point B (See the definition of Motoring in the MINI Book of Motoring). The concept of “motoring” has vanished. If you adopt a pre-owned MINI you may never know about the community. For those in need here are the Official Rules as presented at MTTS (MINI Takes The States) in 2022 (Cecil was added for clarity):

  1. Always park next to another MINI. Notice it doesn’t say “Back into the spot.” I don’t understand the importance of backing in, but to many that is also a rule. I think since back up cameras became standard it became more of a thing. Originally maybe it was to be able to drive off quickly… I’m sure there is a reason, but not compelling enough for me to participate. I just think of the times when I’d go see the Indianapolis Symphony and all the old folks would slowly and laboriously back their cars into spots… 🙄
  2. Wave, dammit. This can be disheartening since so many owners have no clue about the “rules.” Either that or they are on their phones. The other issue I have found is I wave to cars and then realize that it wasn’t a MINI! MINI has done such a great job making sure that the design doesn’t get dinged in surveys that I can’t tell a MINI from a Hyundai, from a KIA.
  3. Give your MINI a name. I have always done this, but then again my grandmother did this with all her cars. When you name your MINI it starts to develop a personality and becomes your partner in crime and one of the family. Yes, it’s “Not Normal” but that’s what MINI was all about. My first MINi was Penfold, my classic Mini is Tink, my current Roadster is Alfie although he prefers to be called Stormageddon, Dark Lord of All. Sue’s MINI is Poppy.
  4. No two MINIs should be alike. The MINI term is “Youification” you want your MINI to stand out in the crowd. I once owned a black Honda Civic sedan… do you know how many times I came up to the wrong car in a parking lot?
  5. Treat SUV drivers with compassion. This rule was before MINIs started to be as big as some SUVs. We are supposed to feel sorry for the SUV owners because they can’t possibly have as much fun as we do in our little cars zooming around them, and gas mileage. I know many Jeep Wrangler owners would argue this point.
  6. Put away the middle finger. “Carma” be nice to people, there is no reason to be in a bad mood if you are driving a MINI. For many of us this is so true. We get in our little car and smile as we hit the road. Every trip is fun, even if it’s just to go to the drug store to pick some aspirin.
  7. Embrace the MINI community. This can be difficult, but learn about the MINI groups around you and online. When my brother bought a MINI the first thing I told him to do was find out about the club nearby. I recall my first experience with a car club. It was Sue’s Honda S2000 and everyone involved was a guy, and all they talked about was their cars. They wouldn’t talk to her, since she was a “girl.” I had to keep pointing them in her direction since I rarely drove the car and knew very little about it. My first MINI club meeting we talked about life, (and our MINIs) but everyone there was treated the same. It was right before the first Mickey & MINI and we were all excited to head down to Florida. Now it has to do with online groups and MINI events around the country. Yes, I missed MINIs on Top to go to a comic book convention.😱
  8. Find a copilot who’s ready for adventure. For the most part I have Sue, but when she thinks what I’m about to do is too silly, or she has other things to do (work) I have Cecil. Yes, my copilot is a stuffed monkey, but that monkey has been on more adventures than most people and having a stuffed monkey as a copilot is definitely “Not Normal.”
  9. Admire your MINI. I like to add – admire other MINIs too. It’s all part of the Youification thing, your MINI is yours, and someone else has made their MINI uniquely theirs. I have seen a multitude of MINIs and each one is different and amazing.
  10. They call it #37. Always be ready to rally. This is the core of whimventuring. Since the Monte Carlo Rally in 1964 Mini (the car was #37) has had a “Rally Heritage” that we should embrace. Be ready to hit the road at a moments notice, you never know when an opportunity my come up.

Are there other “Rules”? Everyone has added or changed them. Unfortunately, like having a large menu, at a restaurant it gets confusing. Sometimes it’s hard to remember which ones to follow, and we sometimes forget. Gordon Ramsey’s first act when he swoops in to save a failing restaurant is usually to make their menu smaller and easier to navigate. So 10 rules is fine, if we all know and follow them as best we can. If you go to a large MINI event you’ll see most people following these and other obscure rules.

I know, I know… What about ducks? There are some MINI owners out there who like to put ducks on other people’s MINIs. This is a way to say “Hi!” “I like your MINI” “quack” or whatever. While it is a Jeep thing, according to many, a MINI owner started it. Ummm… sure, fine, whatever. Even if that is the case Jeep is doing a much better job at it, along with the Wave (See Rule #2). While driving home from North Carolina I saw multiple Jeep Wranglers with windows filled with ducks… I didn’t see a single duck on a MINI. Should we stop? No, you be you. If it makes you happy, go ahead. If you get mad because people say it’s a “Jeep Thing” maybe MINI should invest more in PR, but I don’t think they really care. People might get angry over who started it (See Rule #6). In a time of “Alternate Facts” the winner writes the history books (or bans them). This is a battle I don’t choose to fight, but I find it amusing to poke the bear when people start getting really serious about it.

The best response I heard from someone when it comes to ducks was “Google it!” Like the Internet is ultimate proof. You google “Ducks on cars” and every link and AI assist gives you stuff about Jeeps and some person in Canada who “started” it. I don’t know, like I said and I don’t really care. I know there are many who do, which is why I bring it up. Yelling about it won’t change the fact that Jeep seems to do the duck thing better.

Next Steps?

I suggest we all start with a personal focus on one rule that we can do without worrying about anyone else. I don’t care which rule it is… For me, It will be #2 Waving. I have a friend who always gives a peace sign ✌️. For me I will do my best to give the Vulcan “Live Long, and Prosper” sign 🖖. I know I will forget sometimes, but with MINI Takes the States coming up I should have a lot of practice. Of course the sad part is not getting a wave back. There’s nothing I can do about that, just be happy I spread the joy, the “logical” joy of owning a MINI and not being normal.

Mostly, You should make friends along the way. It starts with a simple wave. You may find people who you wouldn’t normally hang out with who are awesome people and the only thing you have in common is MINI. Just remember there is probably only one thing that doesn’t fit in a MINI- that’s politics, especially in this day and age. See Rule #6. One thing all MINI owners can agree on is that the MINI (no matter how much bigger they make it 🙄) is an awesome car.

MINI Takes The States 2024 is coming up and if you are attending it’s a great time to get into practice following the rules and becoming a better Motorer. People will wave, people will park and gather, people will duck, and button, and sticker, and whatever… MTTS is uniquely MINI and an awesome opportunity to motor with other like minded “Not Normal” individuals. If you happen to be along the route… look out for us- “We’re all mad here.” 🤪

Track to Track: MINI Takes The States 2016

Posted on August 28, 2016 by Bruce

MINI Takes The States (MTTS) all started 10 years ago with the last model year of the first generation MINI. To kick off this historical event MINIUSA decided to go on a road trip. Starting in California and ending in Connecticut. It has since become a tradition that biennially MINIUSA celebrates its owners with a trip. This year the theme was “Track to Track” Starting at the Atlanta Motor Speedway and ending in Thermal, California. This isn’t just for fun (although it was) MINI Takes The States has a purpose. When MINI Takes The States first started I don’t even recall if there was a charity. Since then this has really become a trip about helping out. Feeding America was the charity this time around and we had a goal to raise enough money to provide 800,000 meals.

It all began with much fanfare and three guys parachuting into the new MINI convertible. A parade lap around the track and off to our next destination Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Before we get into too much of this adventure you probably need to know what a typical day on the road is like. Each morning we Rise and Shine (literally, the event is called the “Rise & Shine”) Which brings us early in the morning to our starting point, usually some thing significant or at least large enough to park a whole lot of cars. Did I mention that over 400 MINIs did the entire route and there were well over 1,000 people taking part each day? So after you follow the green flags and park, there is an area that has: the bus, a number of tents from either MINIUSA or some of the sponsors, and breakfast. People are milling about either registering, picking up their button (each city has its own button, you wear it on your lanyard so people can see where you started), getting a route sheet, talking to people, getting tickets to enter in the daily drawings, buying swag, or donating to Feeding America (either cash or non perishable foodstuffs). Basically a sea of people who share one thing in common, the MINI.

As we get close to departure time, Desiree, our Mistress of Ceremonies, gets on stage to start things off. We have general announcements, meet the “Executive of the Day” from MINIUSA HQ, go over the route with a local MINI owner, hear from the the local food bank about how our little bit is making a difference in the area, Then the various door prize drawings, from MINI Value Service, MINI Accessories, Pirelli Tire, and the local food bank. The last drawing is for everyone, you don’t need a ticket, but if you don’t show up after your name has been called three times, your name goes into “the pocket of doom.” We close with awards for the person who has raised the most money the previous day, the person who had the best tweet about #defyhunger, the leaderboard for the top car club, the infamous “Bug of the Day”(what most likely wil be splattered on the windshield), oh, and the car of the day- who gets a MINI Takes The States door magnet. Then we are sent to our cars to  have a parade lap at the track or just head off to who knows where.

MTTS 2016 at the M1 Concourse in Pontiac, Michigan
MTTS 2016 at the M1 Concourse in Pontiac, Michigan

Getting 400 MINIs out of town is difficult, most days there were a lot more that 400. Usually we had the help of local law enforcement to get us out safely & quickly. Once on the road we were on our own.  Many people would meet up with fellow MINIs and drive together. Having a radio was essential so you could communicate between cars.  Everyone was given a route, on paper or electronically through the MTTS App.  The route had been planned to take you past some beautiful country, and to see things you wouldn’t see if you just drove from city to city on the interstate.  Somewhere along the route was a “Surprise & Delight.”  Some location, usually in a small town.  One day it was stopping for lemonade another day cupcakes, each was unique I doubt I would have stopped at “Mr. Ed’s Elephant Museum” in Pennsylvania if it weren’t for the surprise and delight. When you arrived in town you could crash at your hotel, or you could attend the evening event.  This event brought everyone to some interesting locations in the host city, mostly to rehash the days drive and socialize, and a chance to try out some local delicacies.  In Charlotte we visited the NASCAR Hall of Fame Museum, Baltimore took us to the B&O Museum, Cheyanne we went to a rodeo.  Fortunately, MINIUSA had planned in a few nights off so people could explore on their own (and do laundry).  At the end of the night we head back to our hotel room and sleep until the morning, when we do it all again, for 15 days.

I’ve done part of each MINI Takes The States from one leg to the entire thing (twice).  What makes this a fantastic trip is not just the places you see, the roads you drive on, but mostly the people you meet.  I heard over and over again, “When you buy a MINI, it comes standard with friends” thanks to my adventures on MINI Takes The States I have friends from all over the world (who I’ve actually met, not just on Facebook).

For the record- round trip: 8,100 miles.  Meals provided through Feeding America: 1.3 million.

A picture tells a thousand words so here’s the link to the MINIUSA’s photographers’ MTTS Gallery

MINIons Take The States t-minus 7 days

Posted on July 1, 2016 by Bruce

So we’re a week out from MINI Takes The States 2016 and in preparation for this epic adventure I am… Doing nothing.  While many folks out there have printed the route sheets, and repackaged their MINI a bazillion times, and done practice runs, and had their MINI serviced and detailed (full transparency I did do that), and contacted their next of kin, and… You get the idea. We all have come to realize that most of Social Media is just to turn the drama up to eleven, and it goes.  So looking at everything am I laughing or make fun of anyone who has made sure all the i’s are dotted and t’s are crossed.  Not really, everyone has their level of comfort when traveling and not being in control of the majority of a trip does increase the discomfort.  For me, I took my roadster in for service, just like I did in 2014.  While there, since I have been lazy (real reason is we threw out our old hose and hadn’t gotten it replaced until now) I had the roadster detailed.  So it would be ready for the trip. Came back with a clean bill of health and all nice and shiny. I’ve also added a little MTTS 2016 graphics to the car.  So what do I still need to do? Pack I guess. For the monkey and me.  What am I bringing, a messenger bag, and a suitcase – the one I take on planes.  I’ll have things squirreled away in the car, but I definitely hope I will not over pack.

In the suitcase:

  • Pants (jeans, and pants with zip off legs)
  • Shorts (maybe, I always get myself into trouble with sunburns so I’ll flip a coin at the last minute)
  • Shirts (MINI related- this is one of the only times you can get away with a MINI shirt every day) any in particular? I’ve got a few on my short list, and at least one required.
  • Maybe a shirt with a collar.
  • Meds, toiletries, underwear, socks
  • Two pairs of shoes – In my experience feet start to rebel when you wear the same shoes for too long,

In the Messenger Bag:

  • Electronics chargers (for iDevices and batteries)
  • An iPad
  • My sketchbook or a Bristol pad or both
  • Drawing stuff – pencils, erasers, pens
  • Glasses cleaning cloth

In the Car (within reach):

  • iPhone with Waze and MTTS apps
  • FRS radio with headset set to 7:21
  • 30 oz. Yeti knockoff cup
  • Snacks – trail mix, beef jerky, that kind of stuff.
  • Sunglasses
  • Sunscreen SPF 50
  • My Tilley and a ball cap.
  • Windshield cleaning wipes
  • Tire pressure gauge (in the glovebox -always)

In the Car (most likely in the boot):

  • An umbrella
  • A towel
  • A blanket
  • A waterproof jacket or pullover
  • Various cleaning supplies (Microfiber towels, Griot’s Speedshine) most of this stuff is already there.

Going over this list just now, I feel as if I’m bringing too much or maybe overthinking it. But this is about it and I can guarantee I’ve forgotten something important. (Squirt gums are optional)  I think Sue’s list is similar except for the drawing supplies, she have knitting things and her GPS loaded with cache coordinates.

What no camera? I have a lovely Nikon DSLR that I really haven’t used since I started taking snapshots with my phone.  It has two lenses, lots of memory cards, and takes beautiful pictures, but it’s hard to capture a spontaneous moment when you’ve got so much to check on and set.  If I have room I might include it because of some the picturesque places we will be visiting, but probably not.

ook? I’m ready, are you?

What about Cecil?  His list is pretty easy:

  • Shirts, one for every day (yes, he has enough for even longer trips)
  • Socks
  • Two pair of shoes
  • Book bag filled with buttons – no he doesn’t have a specific button like he had in 2014. With the whole “premium” rebranding he wasn’t sure whether the background would be black or white so he decided not to this time around. So he has some of his monkey buttons.
  • A hat or two

For those who do not know about Cecil, he is a fully registered participant this time around. In 2014 he was included as a “pet” which confused MINIUSA and made Cecil irate that he would be considered at the same level as a dog.  Oh yes, Cecil is a stuffed Monkey, who has MINIons around the world aiding him in his struggle for world domination.  You might see a few at MTTS. Currently that includes raising money for Feeding America, through MINIUSA’s  #defyhunger campaign during MTTS2016. If you would like to help, visit his team page and make a donation. Anyone who donates will get a hand draw monkey (one of Cecil’s MINIons) suitable for doing something with.  No two are alike. End of sales pitch.

It was an honor just to be nominated…

Posted on April 17, 2016 by Bruce

This month has been pretty interesting especially for a guy who tends to think that he is never “good enough.” Don’t blame me, I grew up trying to live up to my parents view of “good enough” that usually had something to do with being successful in areas I could care less about- i.e. sports or school popularity. So, even at 50ish, when I get recognized for something I usually think there must have been a mistake. When I received an email from MINIUSA that I had been nominated for their “Defy Labels” contest, I first thought there must have been a clerical error. You see at the Super Bowl (It’s a TV show about commercials that has a football game breaking up the ads) MINI had a spot kicking off their new image/branding. Whatever, I still like my Roadster.

https://youtu.be/Y9XqYAzbmTI

Basically, I read the message of the commercial as putting things in neat little boxes devalues the item or looking at the people speaking- the person. Don’t worry about what other people think, be yourself, labels limit the possibilities.  A classier view of being “Not Normal.”  So I get this email with my full nomination: “If you think teachers are all about suede jackets with elbow patches and boring monotone lectures, you’ve never met Bruce. Teaching isn’t just a job or a career to him. It’s the intersection of art and LEGOs and robots and comics. Bruce knows that kids learn best when you strip away the classroom – and the labels that come with it – and you dig into learning with passion and creativity. When kids have teachers like Bruce who dare to do things differently, they learn more than just what’s in the text book. They learn to creatively approach challenges and they learn that it’s perfectly okay to take the road that looks the most exciting.”   The silly part is that they have a character limit on what they display for each person so it ends on “Bruce knows that kids learn best when you strip…” which kinda makes me sound like someone you would never want near children.

A few weeks later I get another email (I really need to start filtering my incoming mail)- This time from one of our district high schools letting me know that one of the top 30 seniors named me as their most influential teacher.  Wha?  Huh?  I think about how I have to teach now, and try to remember what I did eight years ago that was so great… Oh, yeah that was before anyone really cared about test scores, and school grades, when we could teach without fear.  I thought about the student who nominated me (I was required to write 100 words about her for the award ceremony) and I fumbled over what to say, trying to think back to when I could teach, really teach.  She’s a wonderful young lady with a bright future and I hope I found the right words.  She was also asked to write something about me.  On Wednesday I stood on a stage across from her and heard about how I had made it “okay to make mistakes,” and that I was one of the first teachers that let them know the person behind the desk, that teachers had interests to share and be excited about (MINI Coopers, Geocaching, and of course Cecil).  I held back tears, quipped about how Cecil was sorry he couldn’t be there, and smiled… waiting to be escorted off the stage by security because there had been a mistake.

Like I said, I know that there had to be a clerical error in both cases.  I’m know I’m not that good- That I can be better.  With that in mind I have set a new goal:  I want to be the teacher everyone thinks I am.  I may not be teaching much longer with that mindset (thank you politics), but at least my students will be better off (Does anybody really care what a rhombus is?) and I will be happier.

For the record this post is not about asking for reassurances, pats on the back, or even votes.  I just felt I needed to get this out of my head so I could move on.  It usually happens with drawings, but this one is sorta hard to doodle.  It was an honor to be nominated- I appreciate the people who believe in me enough to do so. Now I just need to live up to that honor.

 

A Year in MINIons- MINIon #0333

Posted on December 30, 2015 by Bruce

0333I’m kinda ending this adventure the way it began, with a MINI Cooper friend. As most of you should remember I started this project making personal badges for some of the people I drive cross country with every two years. They put up with me, and the monkey- they get some custom artwork for their MINI. It started with my thinking that I’ll just draw a monkey with a fez, (Cecil’s Minions from this comic) and that will be it. Each person gave me a number that they wanted, and some of the numbers spoke to me. 0042, 0666… and I began drawing monkeys that went with the number. Once I started I couldn’t really stop, it wouldn’t be fair that only a few people got special ones- so this yearlong challenge began. 365 monkeys, a monkey a day. With one day to go, we have returned to our roots and – MINIon #0333. Could you guess this person owns pugs? Tomorrow will finish it and I’ll move on to a different annual challenge- that will NOT entail drawing monkeys every day. 🙂

A Year in MINIons- MINIon #2812

Posted on December 28, 2015 by Bruce

2812I’m horrible about writing thank you notes… While many people were forced to write a nice note to each relative who gave them something, my family didn’t believe in it.  It was their belief that if you said “thank you” either in person or over the phone, that was enough.  Not saying they didn’t try to get us to, but since I don’t recall seeing them every write a thank you note they didn’t model the importance.  Now as an adult, I do like getting them.  It tells me that the gift actually arrived.  It’s also nice to hear about what’s going on.  I’m still horrible at it. My current excuse is I don’t have any notecards to write on.  I’m thinking of using “no stamps” next.