2005 had us returning to the East Meet Mini scene from a 2 year hiatus. It is depressing missing a meet and always a pleasure to return. This year's meet was in Dublin, Ohio. The trip distance was just under 700 miles each way. We decided early on that it was too much to drive the Mini with the kids and all the luggage that type of distance so we flat towed the Mini behind the Vanagon.

We left on Thursday at 5 AM to beat the traffic. We had no problems with the tow, and arrived at 4 PM in Dublin in the pouring rain. We registered, got our room and threw the kids in the pool to unwind. After a quick dinner I washed the car. I don't think I have ever seen it so dirty. We socialized for a while with the other early arrivals and then called it a night.

Day 1, Friday

Breakfast came as part of the special room deal so we went down and grabbed something to eat. New and old faces started to appear. It is kind of odd seeing people for a couple of days every year or so. You recognize most of them, but need to apologize constantly for forgetting names. Some wore their nametags, which was nice, as it would appear that I have a memory then. The Friday agenda included kid specific activities, Concourse and the panoramic photo. Most important to me were the vendors.

I bolted out after breakfast while Terri gathered the kids for the outing. The early bird does get good deals. Some people show up like pros, and do this regularly. Others just have stuff in boxes. Some digging through this latter group and I had a couple of early door lock assemblies, a braided oil line, ignition cylinder, tail lens and a couple of brackets for $20 bucks. Not bad, and perfect timing as the moths were drawn in quickly and all the good deals snapped up. After my triumph at the swap meet, I moved my car to the concourse display.

Now, most of you who know me know I don't even like to wash my car, much less detail it. It's not that the car doesn't get washed, I just hate doing it. So if it looks clean to you, it is because it sits under cover in the garage. I didn't have high hopes for an award, and as I found later didn't get one. But still it is nice just displaying it for others to see. I much prefer to drive than polish. During the concourse I met an acquaintance I had befriended over the Internet in England. Dave Coxon (AKA TurboDave) came over last Fall with his new job, but I had corresponded with him years before when I was doing the Turbo conversion. It was nice to meet him and see what a Mini putting out @180 BHP looks like. Actually it looks pretty normal but boy does it go like a bullet.

I left the concourse to meet up with Terri and the kids at the kids event. The location was called Magic Mountain. This was one of those places with bumper boats games and most importantly go-carts. I like go-carts. I like go-carts a lot. The admission was free for the Mini group so on the track I went. What a nice way to unwind. I took my oldest son Nolan with me on the track and we did some racing. He had a ball. I was disappointed when I couldn't bring my youngest son Mieles as he was too short, but rules are rules. We made up for that at the Bumper Boats. Nothing beats the 90-degree heat like a little water ride. We left Magic Mountain to return for the Panoramic Photo.

This is an annual event where all the cars are lined up for a very large picture. The pictures are usually 10" x 40" and show all the cars at the event. I believe we had around 140 cars in the picture. The photo location was right around the corner from the hotel so a short trip and we were there.

After the picture we had dinner with some friends, and then went on a caravan led by Mike Guido (World's Fastest Clown). If you haven't met Mike you are really missing out. He and his wife Rhonnie are great to hang out with. But following him in a car is another story... He is a little nutty behind the wheel. I think we found every roundabout in the Dublin area and clogged each one up with 15 Mini's going round and round until the waiting traffic was about to run us all over.

When the driving fun was over we headed back to gather in the parking lot for the informal social. You know how those things are:

Drink...

"my car has 80 HP"

Drink... Drink... "My car has 100 HP"

more Drinking...

"Dublin Wha? Where am I?"

Day 2 Saturday 8 AM

I make a beeline for the vendors to see who may have arrived overnight. Sure enough there are a few more good deals to be had, and I leave happy again.

The Rally starts at 10:00 so we gather our stuff and pile into the Mini. While waiting for our start a gentleman comes up to me and introduces himself as Fabio, LIME's newest member. I am surprised, and pleasantly so, that another member could make it to the event. Fabio decides to sit out the Rally, opting for the pool. I can't blame him, he drove the Mini all the way there, and leaves tomorrow for the long ride home.

These rallys are pure fun, or a guaranteed fight, depending on how serious you take it. I vowed to not care and just roll with the missed turns and missed clues. That works for the first hour, but by the second hour in I was tired of covering the same ground multiple times looking for clues and we decide to just head to the picnic.

We arrive, and barbecue it is. Really good barbecue, or maybe I am just hungry. We let the kids unwind and then head back to the hotel. We did the whole rally and didn't get lost, but for some reason the crystal clear directions back to the hotel get us lost. I am hot and somewhere in Ohio without a clue. I make the decision that should we ever make it back I am not going to compete in the Funkhanna. Fourty-five minutes later we arrive back at our room. Note to self: the Mini really needs AC.

I decide to make a run out for some hardware and drop by the vendor area once again. As luck would have it the vendors are right next to the Funkhanna track, and Terri and the kids are already walking the course. I am intrigued, and delay my departure to catch a little of the action. I should explain to those who don't know what a Funkhanna is. It is a timed event where you drive your car through a course stopping along the way to complete small obstacle like tasks (i.e. throwing something through a hoop, assembling a puzzle, etc.)

Well I am less than impressed with the people I see running. Terri and I took first place in this event in the first MME event we ever attended, but have been unable to reproduce that result since. The more I watch I decide we can do better and roll the car to the line. We set a blistering time and in the process show everyone how to do it. In the end we take third place, one second off a convertible which is really excellent as they have a great advantage in this type of event.

We hang around long enough to compete in the Team event with the kids and pull in a fourth place. Everyone is happy but tired so we eat and head back to the Hotel. Terri volunteers to stay with the kids so it is my opportunity to socialize again. Drink, talk, drink, talk, Turbo Dave offers me a spin behind the wheel of his beast. I decline, explaining to him that it will only make me sad at how slow my car is in comparison to his. He laughs -- I am crying inside -- drink?

Day 3 Sunday

I was unsure whether I was going to compete in the autocross. I did not bring race tires, and my 10 year old 008's are anything but competitive. I decide to give it a try and follow the caravan to Columbus Motor Speedway. Today is going to be hot, and as much as I like Autocrossing, I hate baking in the "tin can". I get tech inspected, walk the course and find shade. My first two runs are fast, but I am really taking a tight line and paying the price taking 3 cones and 2 cones respectively on my two runs. Terri and the kids show up with lunch before my third run. Inspired by my cheering section I decide to back off and just run clean even if it is a little slower. I pull a 51.83 good enough for first place in my class. We pack up and head back to the hotel to cool off in the pool.

Sunday evening holds the last event on the MME calendar: the Awards Banquet. We settle in for dinner, and awards for Concourse and Autocross are presented. The food was excellent, and once again, the company was lots of fun. We say our good-byes and head off to pack.

I make one last social run of the parking lot to catch anyone I may have missed, and then head to the room.

Monday, the trip home

The trip home was fine with the exception of being stranded along I70E for an Hour repairing a coolant hose on the tow vehicle.

One of the 20 year old plastic coolant connectors let loose and dropped all the coolant behind me. Roadside assistance shows up as I am repairing it and it goes something like this

Him: "HI"
Me: "HI"
Him: "You Ok?"
Me: "Yeah, I think I got this repaired, I just need some water do you have any?"
Him: "No."
Me: "Great." (My sarcasm completely wasted)
He: (glances at where I told the kids and Terri to wait away from the road...)
Him: "There's rattlesnakes back there."
Me: "Hon, move the kids NOW!"

In the end he calls me a AAA guy and then leaves.

A really nice couple in a camper stop to offer help, and give me some water. Not enough, but it is a start. They leave.

As luck would have it someone from the meet towing a couple of Mini's stops along the way to offer help. It is comforting to have another Mini owner nearby while we wait. The AAA shows up, and looks more like a AA guy who fell off the wagon before the call. He makes the standard comment on the engine being in the rear. I just don't know why that isn't funny to me now, 80MPH trucks whizzing by in front of me, rattlesnakes behind me. I dunno, maybe it's just me. I laugh anyway, not wanting to scare off my water supply.We fill it up and the fix holds. So off we go.

Overall trip rating B+