This large and popular event always clashes with Newquay, so most of our members head to Cornwall.

Nevertheless Sarah, Kevin and Mark Chard joined Bridget and Bas to fly the flag for YMM.

We were lucky with the weather, Sunday being the sunniest and most wind free day of the weekend.

Sarah had PUR back on the road, having been rebuilt by Kevin after she had modified it up the back of a Mercedes last year!

Mark,who must be the unluckiest club member, was sporting dents in YOJ, having recently been shunted himself.

Mark treated us like royalty and took it upon himself to make sure that the food  was safe by sampling some from every burger, donut and ice cream van on site!

All in all it was a most enjoyable day with lots to do,  see and buy !  And there is always something to keep you amused, with a constant stream of events in the ring, at this well organised show.

We left Cooper’s Mill for Haselbury Mill around 9.30 a.m.

Half an hour later we arrived in Siberia!  My weather  app had predicted temperatures to be 2C feeling like -4C.

Fools had left off the O.

Felt more like -40C to me!

Whilst on the look out for polar bears,  we quickly erected our Igloo to give us some shelter from the biting winds.

At least the sun was shining!  Well it was on 95% of the site.  Yes, you guessed it,  we were in the  5% shaded by a bloody great conifer!

There were plenty of high quality vehicles on display in the second running of the event,  so ably organised by John Best and his crew,  in aid of Motor Neurone Disease,  in memory of his sister.

Like last year, over £1000 was raised for this worthy cause.

One of the highlights of the day was a surprise visit by members Andy and Ruth. We had not seen them for a long time.

Members come and go and when they disappear we assume that their mini has been sold or is off the road. Maybe they have joined a new club or maybe we have , unintentionally, upset them in some way.

We do not assume that that they have been seriously ill, spending many months in Frenchay Hospital,  fighting for their lives!

Naturally we were shocked to learn that this had been the case with Andy. So it added to our joy of seeing his ‘grinning’ face again and looking so well. Both he and Ruth have been through the mill and we wish them both all the best and look forward to seeing them again soon.

Colin and Mandys’ wonderful Royal Mail van,  looking resplendent in its pristine condition, won the Best in Show award. It is believed to be the only one currently on the road in the UK.

Colin celebrated by having his photo taken with Mickey and Minnie Mouse. At first he had his arm around Mickey. We didn’t know that he had ‘those’ tendencies. After we pointed this out to him he cuddled them both!

It was great to see Kirsty join us with her immaculate and rare Mini Special 1100, being one of only 74 currently licensed at the DVLA.(Source: Howmanyleft.co.uk)

We have some cracking good cars in the club and this adds to our list of rarities.

We must be the only club that takes the trouble to purchase and erect an Event Tent just to sit outside of it!

We think that THE STIG made a guest appearance in his casual clothes or maybe

it was Wallace and Gromit,  having a Grand Day Out,  in their Sunday Best!

All in all it was a very good day,  spent amongst good people for a good cause.

Next stop Newquay for most and Abbey Hill Steam Rally for others.

The Xmas party was another hoot,  with fine food and much fun and laughter.

Frank and Justin were particularly festive. Frank was hilarious, doing an impromptu sketch, in a German accent,  extolling the virtues of owning a BINI,  wearing a plastic moustache from a cracker, with  a comb over provided by a deflated torpedo balloon!

Talking of balloons.  Never before has such a simple thing provided so much joy,  fun and laughter. Those long ‘Torpedo’ balloons have it all. Double entendres and inuendo ensued as the girls pursed their lips around the end and blew hard, making them  become ever longer and  more erect. Jayne was particularly good at blowing hers.  She looked so good in jodphurs, that mine inflated itself!

We ended up with a 21 balloon salute,  launching them all at once to provide a cacophony of noise as they raced insanely around the room!

Our favourite teacher, Jan, provided an end of term report for some of the Clubs pupils. Have a look at the “Some say’ section of the site.

Jan and Stu are once again to be congratulated on organising the event. They really are ‘Jolly Good Fellowes’ and so say all of us!

Have a GREAT CHRISTMAS everybody!

writes Bas

Three cars set off on the annual run to West Bay and Portland. It was a shame that it was so few, after all the hard work that Roger and Carole had put in, organising the event.

Let’s hope that next year more members join in the fun!

Roger led us through Sutton Bingham- the reservoir was incredibly low-through the lovely villages of Halstock, Corscombe, Beaminster, Maperton, Melplash, Pymore, Broadoak, and Symondsbury, where we had never been before.

On route we meandered through lovely leafy lanes and hedgerows adorned with vibrant berries and autumn colours. Fallen leaves danced in the breeze almost as if they were glad to be untethered from their trees.

At one stage Roger swerved violently right. Was it to avoid a pheasant? -No

a rabbit? -No

a fox?-No.

What could it be? I hear you ask.

A giant pile of horse shit! The biggest that I had ever seen. Two more and they would have given the Pyramids a run for their money!

Talking of horses, Mandy had spent the morning riding one. No it wasn’t in the desert and the horse did have a name. And it wasn’t called Colin!

They caught up with us at THE CROWN, Bridport, where we had a fantastic roast with six different vegetables. Eight if you include two different types of potato!

We had the usual banter and a good laugh.

Before setting off along the picturesque coastal road to Abbotsbury, we could not resist doing a few laps around the MINI roundabout at West Bay! You have to don’t you?

Portland was a sight to behold with the waves crashing against the shore, throwing up tons of spray. The sea was awash with foam or as Mandy said “someone had put too much washing up liquid in it!”

The wind was blowing a gale but it was exciting and breathtaking to see.

Next up was tea.

Upon entering the Cafe, the place was pretty full and we needed a table for eight. I wandered about looking perplexed and was just about to approach a waitress when I spotted right next to me Jan, Greg, Roger and Carole and four empty seats.

The buggers had been their all along but Jan feeling playful decided to keep quiet to see how long it would take before I spotted them!

It was the first time that she had been quiet in her life!

Anyway we all had a great tea and another good laugh about Roger’s windswept look.

Incredibly stupid as I recall it!

I was up for ridicule next when I spilled tea all over the table.

For my next cup, Mandy kindly told me that I had overlooked the tea strainer, after I had filled my cup! So I sloshed it back in the pot and the table became awash with more tea!

Mandy was particularly playful. She and Colin had found a Blow Hole and suggested that I had to take photo of it. She knew the perfect place where I could stand to get a great shot!

So Gullible Gordon followed her and waited, with camera poised for the blow hole to blow!

When out of the corner of my eye I noticed that Mandy had scarpered.

Smelling a rat, I too legged it just before an avalanche of water hit the very spot where I had been standing! The little rascal!

I had the last laugh though. The Blow hole had gone very quiet. Mandy said that the tide had gone out. Inspector Chaffey and Harvey,his hound, went to investigate.

He peered over the hole and nothing happened, so he got closer and peered some more, when with an almighty whoosh, the geyser erupted and drenched him. And as he retreated for good measure a second spout drenched him some more.

His woe didn’t end there as Mandy then bollocked him for nearly drowning her dog!

So ended a great day,with beautiful scenery, much banter and laughter and a day spent in good company. Many thanks to all concerned.

This year’s Mini World Action Day at Castle Combe was a bumper event with 97 Club Stands from as far away as Liverpool, Brighton and Redditch.

There were over 50 traders too and most people seemed to be carrying round bumpers,  looking like they were on some kind of ski-ing holiday!.

Our very own Sarah and Kevin, were seen carrying lots of parts as Kevin gave Sarah a crash course in buying replacement parts for her stricken mini!

Daleks, Storm Troopers and other sci fi characters were to be found mingling with the crowd.

Frank exterminated the opposition in the H4H conker championship, proving that his nuts really are made of steel!

H4H deservedly won the best Club Stand award with their fine display.

Frank was their Private Dancer!

A giant cruise of over 200 minis took place but  none from YMM.

Thanks to Justin and Rob for organising the tickets, and to all those who turned up.

Mouth to Mouth Run Sunday 18 September 2011

writes Bas

Gary and Brenda, Roger and Carole, Stu and Jan, and Bridget and Bas set off with threatening skies as black as tarmac.

We drove through waterspouts, floods and tempests. (OK heavy rain!)

Watching windscreen wipers winking, blinking- swish-swash-swish-swash- swish-swash- bish-bosh- swish- swash on and on and on and…

On arrival at Weymouth our noses soon led us to The Pavilion Cafe, for a bacon bap and coffee. Cheap and with lots of bacon!

Afterwards we met up with Mark, Tina and Emily, who had  ’overnighted’ at Weymouth.

We left at 10.30am and on cue out popped the sun. Did he have his hat on? – No. It rained again.

We drove in convoy via Portland and had a pitstop at Chideock, the first village in England to have two speed cameras installed. Not a lot of people know that!

After a great roast served in fine surroundings by excellent staff we wended our way to Exmouth Rugby Club.

Where the sun shone on us in more ways than one, with a glut of raffle prizes coming our way.

We only needed a few cabbages to play Crackerjack!

We all went for a spin around the Esplanade, being greeted with waves, flags and smiling faces and youngsters saying “mini” as we drove by.

At one stage we passed some girls on ponies and one was heard to proclaim ”I love minis” and she was right. Most people do and despite minis’ tantrums and annoying habits we all do don’t we?

They are like your children. They play you up and drain your pockets but you wouldn’t be without them.

We drove home through Devon’s glorious countryside bathed in super sunshine and were grateful for the day and all the hard work that Tim Pedder and his pals put in, raising money for the RNLI.

Sunday 4 September 2011

An early start thanks to a cock up by Bas, saw us setting off for Bovington at 7.30a.m.  An 8.30a.m. start would have been fine.

It wasn’t a good start for Bas, who cursed loudly when he pulled back his curtains and saw RAIN!

That put paid to his 63 mini joining in the fun.  He cursed even louder when at the event the sun came out at 10 and remained for the duration! DOH!!

We set the cars up in an attractive display, organised by Stu and Roger, and the girls adorned the Coopers with balloons celebrating its 50th anniversary.

There was plenty to see and great bacon, mushroom and onion baguettes to be munched. You can never get an egg nowadays!

We settled down to do our customary quiz which is great fun, especially if you are winning. Carole gets incredibly excited when she answers a question……..wrong!

Next was an entertaining bird display.

Things went downhill when Bridget won a prize that never was in a raffle. Apparently they had two pink raffle books with the same numbers on the go at the same time!

Then none of our glistening cars won an award and we didn’t win the Best Club Stand.

But the half glass full gang said “It is not the winning but the taking part that matters”

The half glass empty crowd left feeling thirsty!

All in all, though another enjoyable day spent in good company.

Whilst our good old English weather is thankfully a far cry from Hurricane Irene it does tend to put the dampener on proceedings, writes Bas

Saturday, at the Wings and Wheels show at Henstridge, was no exception and persistent showers saw us frequently scampering for cover.

The highlight of the day was a fly past of a Lancaster Bomber accompanied by a Spitfire and a Hurricane.

Highlight was the right word as they certainly were high.

I took some great photos of three gnats in the sky. Never mind they became flies when I cropped and zoomed!

And it was a Fly past after all!

Here are some of Gillian’s photos.

It is a pleasant, if small, show with cheap and good food and superb service from the band of helpers.

TWELVE of us displayed our cars in an ‘M’ for Mini fashion at the Classics at the Castle event at Sherborne,  on Sunday 17th July 2011,

writes Bas

As the Mini Cooper was celebrating its 50^th Birthday we gave pride of place to our best  red,  white and blue Coopers.

Teamwork was the order of the day with Stuart marshalling the parking and the rest of the gang erecting our Coleman Event tent and decorating the cars.

The weather forecast was stormy and it certainly turned out that way. We took shelter in our Coleman’s Event tent and thank goodness for the side panels,  which kept the wind and rain at bay.

We whiled away the time during ‘rain stopped play’ moments by doing another quiz.

Did you know when the microwave oven was invented or who the first couple to be shown in bed together on prime time US TV were?   Or how many Mini Chelsea’s are currently registered at the DVLA?

I am sorry to report that the ONLY person to know the length of a standard saloon mini was Roger.

He also brought the house down with his antics when he dropped one of Jan’s DD Cup cakes,   which promptly plummeted between his thighs and lodged there.

The more he tried to prise it off the more he smeared icing all over the place.  Mind you,   I’m not sure that his wife,  Carol,  helped by squirting his crotch with water!

Talking of cakes, thanks to Jan for her Double ‘D’s and Mandy for her ‘little ones’,  and Jayne for her scrummy strawberry cheesecake.

When the sun came out it was scorchingly hot and we made the most of it wandering around looking at the hundreds of fantastic cars on display.

On the subject of displays we did not pull off the hat-trick of Best Club Stand’s awards.

I guess that it was too much to hope for,  to win such a prestigious award three years in a row.  We had to settle for ‘Highly commended’.

Eight of us rounded off the day with a meal at Mudford Inn where Bridget became the first person in the Universe to choose salad with Rice and Pork strogonoff.   Needless to say she didn’t eat it.  (thanks for reminding me, Mandy}

Answers;  1945,  Fred and Wilma Flintstone ,  83  and  10 feet and ¼ inches. 

Finally here some more photos.

If you hover your mouse over them,    you get a description  and if you click on a photo it fills the whole screen.