Screw the local club crap and you have to come to MOTD. I dumped the MINI club scene long ago because of drama and it was not worth my time. The un-clubs are much better with true friends. Also life on M\A is a good way to stay in contact with the people you like and trust.
Just give it time, don't rush into anything. There was a group of people that had me feeling sort of the same way, although not as bad as what happened with you. They're all gone now, I'm still here...You just need to hang out in the right place. You have fun here, and people like you--don't let a few idiots in another club ruin a healthy obsession. I go through spells where I want to move on to another car, then I get in and drive the MINI, and I always come back to WTF was I thinking.
I know what you mean Rick. I kind of felt that way till I found MA. I know sometimes we piss and mone here but Its a good bunch you included. I wish there was a better group where I live too. Come to the Dragon if you can before you make a desition.
I've no idea what your bad experience is/was with your local MINI club, but I feel for you and can completely relate to what you may be feeling. Time - Distance - Shielding, has been my approach to moving forward, after I decided it was in my best interest to get away from an unwelcoming situation a couple years back. I Distanced myself from the deliberate negativity of a few key players, Shielding us (me and my wife) from the internal vacuum of deceptive desire to control which, in Time, led me to care nothing for those who are the root of the problem with the local club. We made some very nice friends and I miss those connections. But, when irradicating a cancer, some good cells are always lost with the bad... Some (those who get it) thankfully have remained our friends. I wish you well Rick and hope you might reconsider. There's a great bunch of MINI folks out there who get along just fine without the club scene. Cheers! :beer
Rick remember it is their problem not yours. I remember reading your post about what happened. Every car club I have belonged to ended up in a similar way because of a couple people. Don't let them get to you. Selling your MINI would most likely make them happy & that's something you don't want to do. Your MINI is a great car, but if you decide to sell please stay here where you have many friends & to most of us it doesn't matter what you drive. Think it over before acting. Good luck Rick.
Skooby needs a Jarvik 7 Monday when cleaning the winter crud off Skooby I noticed the coolant was down about a 1/2" added some & continued. Today I checked again & the coolant is down 1/2" again after about 40 miles of driving. The garage floor has a wet spot that is coolant. Guess I should be happy that plastic piece of carp lasted 65,000 miles. :incazzato:
Yeah, Dafuq?! Where did you relate the incident? Sorry you're upset, hope you can reacquire you MINI enthusiasm.
Sounds like Rick needs a MINI-vention!! Get a small group of proper MINI-iasts together and take him out for a nice twisty drive. Oh wait- that sounds like fun on the Dragon!!! Rick, those of us that know you and such really don't care what you drive. Heck in the MOM group several of us, (me), have GTIs now and yet we still feel welcome. I agree with others, there is always an ass-hat that shows up and gets his jollies by upsetting the cart. EFF EM. MINIs may have gotten us to MA, but it's the members of MA that make this worth staying around.
I'm going to let Anson at Best Motor Werks do a bypass or Jarvik 7 implant. Skooby has been good so I shouldn't mind a bit of service to keep it humming along. Trans fluid flush is on the menu too.
Rick, drive what you want to drive (whether it is a MINI or something else) and screw organized clubs, they are not worth the drama. IMHO, the worst are the clubs with officers and dues. Just because I share a common interest with a group of people does not mean that I want to pay to hang out with them (I have a very similar opinion about Fraternities/Sororities in colleges). Like others have said you may keep some friends both locally and on here and you may lose some. If you lose people as friends because you no longer drive a MINI or aren't part of a club, were they ever really a friend? Been over a year since I got rid of the Clubby and I don't regret it at all because I bought it to stay within the brand/family even though I was never completely sold on it (but had outgrown the R53 from a family perspective) and because I feel like getting rid of it has opened up some new opportunities to me. The other advantage of not being part of a club (formal or informal) is that I no longer feel obligated to attend club events. To be clear, I don't feel like there was/is an expectation by anyone in MoM for people to attend all local events (I just found myself jumping through hoops in my non-MINI life to attend as many things as possible).
Rick, I will bring the good Dark Beer again and we will all try and put a smile back on your face. :beer See you at Fontana, don't let me down drinking buddy. (no pressure) :ihih::lol::rolleyes5:
Installed a Pulsar third-brake light flasher. https://youtu.be/4EDGu9exorM Not this headlight flasher.
I know EXACTLY what you mean and are feeling, Rick. After that snafu with my local club at the Vintage races at Mid Ohio, I have disassociated myself from them...completely. But I have some good friends here in M/A! The good ones, I can count upon and they can count upon me. I'm 3-deep in MINIs here and all are paid for. I'm not going anywhere. Crashton has hooked me up with a good mechanic in C-bus, besides the dealer [with whom I have had some crap happen lately and with whom I am less than enthralled now]. That said, I hope you can fall in love with your MINI again. Besides, it is YOUR car, and it is a member of YOUR family there, in SC, and the one you are a part of on here, on M/A. You can do without your local club, as I am doing without mine. I have no regrets and neither should you.
Rick, I had similar situation back with the Triumph car clubs that really took the wind out of my sails, I kept one TR6 that I enjoy whenever I get the chance, just me and the Mrs. That's all you need. The MINI's came along and I promised never to let that kinda crap happen again and so far it hasn't! I love driving both the TR and the MINI's, if others join in, fine if not that good too!! See you on the porch!
Traded my 2010 R56 S for a 2006 R53 S. I believe that is something that is well supported by most users on this site...