Past Editions:
NOV/DEC '07
SEP/OCT '07
AUG/SEP '07
JUL/AUG '07
Four classic Minis and four new MINIs gathered at Karl Jenstad’s house for the start of the tour which headed west on Crosstown to highway 101 in Eden Prairie and then south to Chaska and some great back roads along the North side of the Minnesota river. Although the color was muted this year, the day was fantastic and the roads uncrowded making for a good day despite the lack of color. Unfortunately, we lost the company of Ann O’Callighan and her Cooper S shortly into the drive as the stoplights in town did not prove friendly to the 8 car caravan at first. (Sorry we lost you, Annie!) After motoring through the countryside for two hours and just over 80 miles, we arrived at Fireside Pizza, the site of the first ever MMPEAPSHA meeting, for an early dinner with much friendly conversation among the participants. Hopefully, future years will enjoy as good a day as we had, but with a bit more color in the foliage.
Our Next Meeting....will be on Saturday, Nov. 17th, '07......A Fine Fall Mini/MINI Lunch at AlleyGators Restaurant from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm (or so.)Alley Gators Restaurant is at 494 and Bass Lake Rd. in Maple Grove. Hop into your Minis/MINIs......c'mon over, have a fine lunch, and tell a few Mini/MINI stories.
UPCOMING EVENTS
The moonlit Mini night - a Halloween story
By
Phil Kirk
Minis have always been an integral part of everyday life for many of us, and when I'm driving "another car" and I see a Mini on the road, I try and figure out how I am going to let the driver know that I too, know the pleasure of driving a Mini......without them thinking that I am just another freak on the interstate.
However, there was a time when the hairs rose up on the back of my neck when I saw a Mini.
It was a dark night on the 16th of September 1977; the moon was large in the sky and the shadows were growing long across the roads. It was late, or early, depending on your point of view, but the attractive young couple were laughing and having fun as they gave the Mini a workout under the stars chasing the railroad tracks that wound their way through the countryside like a snake moving through the grass. The male passenger was talking about his birthday, just two weeks away and how he had everything and wanted for nothing. Just then they passed a young lady walking alongside the road and decided to pick her up and help her to her destination.
"Excuse me miss" the passenger said as he rolled down the window and looked up at her face. She was about twenty, he estimated, and looked worried as she answered. “Thank you, I am scared to be out here alone"
She slipped back into the back seat of the mini and as the female driver looked back through the rear view mirror she drew a smile, “Well I better introduce us, I am Gloria and this is Marc, where are you headed?" she asked, "home" came the answer.
After a quiet giggle they began to drive off and take to the roads again, " where is home?" she asked again of the mysterious passenger, "just a few miles down the road and off to the left just past the railroad bridge at Queens Ride" came the answer.
"Ok, we will be there in just a few minutes then" Gloria said as she looked across at Marc with a puzzled look.
They continued the drive, picking up speed and talking about the stars and the moon and how the evening was perfect.
The purple Mini Clubman GT was singing, the tires were locked to the road and the windows were open letting their hair wash in the breeze. It didn’t take long for the railroad bridge to come into view, but no houses could be seen in the moonlight. Gloria asked the passenger, " where do you live then?" at the same time looking up into the rear view mirror only to see that there was no longer anyone sitting in the back of the car, but a voice still rang out from the darkness "Did I say I lived here?, this is where I died!"
Gloria was frozen from fear. As the Mini made it way across the bridge, the headlights picked out the same young woman standing directly in the way of the car. Gloria instinctively swerved to avoid the woman but tragically hit an old oak tree.
When police arrived at the scene of the accident Gloria and Marc were alone, Gloria was hurt badly, but unfortunately Marc was dead.
Gloria Jones, an American born singer, was so frightened by the incident that she returned to the US with her two year old son.
Marc Bolan, lead singer of T-Rex will forever be remembered at Queens Ride.
In 1998 the Oak tree was reported to be in ill health from all the foot traffic, so in 1999 steps and a viewing platform for fans were built........and on clear moonlit nights a young lady can sometimes be seen looking down at the old oak tree at Queens Ride.
One of the greatest singers in history was indeed killed at Queens Ride as a passenger in a Mini driven by Gloria Jones, but the story of the young lady is completely false........ Or is it?
Have a great Halloween.
Please Note! The Wanted & For Sale pages have been getting a bit too long as a result of old ads. Our new policy will be to list "For Sale" items three months. Ads will run for three months, and will then have to be renewed or will be deleted....to renew your ad or list new ones, you can contact me at: cbaumann@lkdllink.net or call me at 1-320-963-5681. The Service Offered ads will be continued indefinitely.
Mini For Sale......needs a little work.
WANTED: Mini/MINI stories for The Oily Edition! Do you have a Mini/MINI Article, Story or Adventure you'd like to see in print? It doesn't have to be Great Literature.....we can edit it and polish it up for you (and even have our Staff Cartoonist, Geff Galbari, illustrate it for you)....just something you think might interest or amuse Mini/MINI enthusiasts, and our Club Members. About 1 to 1 1/2 pages (single spaced) is just about right. Soooo....get those creative juices flowing and send your Articles/Adventures/Stories to me at cbaumann@lkdllink.net .
WANTED: Hosts for MMPEAPSHA meetings. If you'd like to volunteer your home or place of business to host a club meeting, contact Karl Jenstad at: jenstad@pro-ns.net or call: (612) 869-7611.
WANTED: Any Mini, decent condition, preferably running, if not all parts to make it do so, low cost (<3000), basically I am getting sick of looking at them and would love to have one of my own. Please call Nick Brogren at (651) 407-9579.
WANTED: I need some headlamp bulbs, the early MK1 type bayonett style with the slotted flange at the base and the glass tube that looks like a pear.These are the old Lucas lamps.Any help would be appreciated. Thanks again Mark A.Illinski (715)342-0361 or e-mail me at: cindylou1@charter.net
SERVICE OFFERED - Consignment Minis & Promotional Items - Member Michael "MiniGuy" Lewis is back and is brokering classic Minis (and other interesting collector cars) via the "Consignment" pages of his new, soon-to-be-relaunched website. He also has a line of Mini Club-related Apparel & Promotional Items. Michael says a large part of what he does now is Club Shirts, hats, jackets, lapel pins, patches, stickers, printing, grille badges and so on, but he can do just about everything. Check out his website at: http://www.miniguy.com/main.php or you can phone him at (805) 405-6263.
SERVICE OFFERED - Winter Car Storage....Greg Wold has now opened a car storage business in Maple Grove, MN. The new building has heated car storage complete with security system and sprinkler protection. Store your car with confidence that it will be safe and secure AND will stay warm and dry all winter long. $59/mo for Club members. This site is between I-94 and Hwy. 169 just north of I-494. Sign up now while there is still room! Fourth Stall Car Storage. Greg Wold 763-420-4503 or 612-801-7256
SERVICE OFFERED - British Car Restoration: Honorary Member Dave Wintz owns a full restoration facility specializing in classic British Cars. Contact Dave Wintz at New Life To Classics, 1101 N. Riverfront Drive, Mankato, MN. Phone (507) 387-2277.
FOR SALE: 1980 (1993) and 1975 (1996) Mini SPRITES for sale. One is a 1980 built to 1993 spec. 40 K, 1275 cc engine with carburator. Throaty exhaust. LHD, burl wood dash, new carpeting,excellent interior, new Minilite wheels, new tires. Hiflo centr exhaust, K&N air cleaner with no rust. Refurbished by a mini expert in England before being sent to America last year. It is blue with white racing stripes and a white roof. The other is a 1975 built to 1996 specs. beautiful red, 63K, same wood dash with new carpeting. It has a white roof and white racing stripes. We need to sell because I cannot drive the one I bought because of a foot problem with the clutch foot. Ian has too many cars and needs to get rid of his Mini. Asking $9250 for each. Contact Ian Rivers at 920 261 5218 or Sue Braatz at suebraatz@hotmail.com.
FOR SALE: - I have two beautiful minis for sale ,they will never rust , they are factory fiberglass ,they came from CHILE and they ready to go. My phone # is 515-570-3888 or 515-955-2425 call any time. I will send pictures and information to anybody that is interested in them. Francisco Visedo Francesco Visedo visedo@frontiernet.net
