50th anniversary bash for MINI
The famous brainchild of Sir Alec Issigonis notches up 50 years in 2009 -- and there's cake and red cordial to celebrateMINI dealers in NSW and the ACT are planning a celebration in May to mark the 50th anniversary of the Mini -- the car that rewrote the book on packaging and front-wheel drive.
'Friends of MINI' can take part by attending Harold Park Raceway in the Sydney suburb of Glebe on May 24. The event, promoted as MINI AUnited 2009, is expected to attract between 200 and 400 cars and will raise money for children's charity, Barnardos Australia.
Organisers will open the event at 2.00pm and the MINI Motion convoy will roll from 4.00pm. From Glebe, the convoy will transport via the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House to the Blacktown Drive-In for MINI Vision, where 'The Italian Job' will be shown -- although the organisers haven't revealed whether it's the Michael Caine version or the Mark Wahlberg remake.
Attendees at Harold Park Raceway will be able to take part in the MINI Games, listen to music, review the cars and check out MINI merchandise for sale. MINI AUnited 2009 is open to NSW and ACT MINI owners and that presumably includes owners of the original Issigonis Mini.
The original Mini introduced the concept of a mass-produced front-wheel drive small car that provided better interior space than much larger rear-wheel drive cars of the time. With its transversely-mounted ('East-west') engine, the Mini was ground-breaking in a number of ways. It was widely regarded as a car that crossed class boundaries and it was pivotal in the acceptance of the car as a fashion statement.
Then, it forged a reputation as a giant-killer in motor sport, winning both the Monte Carlo rally in Europe and the Bathurst 500 touring car race here on multiple occasions. In 1980, the Mini was joined by the slightly larger Mini Metro, which was never sold in Australia. This car latterly became the Rover 100 after the demise of Austin -- the original manufacturer of the Mini -- as a brand.
BMW acquired the Rover Group and retained the MINI design subsequent to reselling Rover a few years later. The latest MINI is a very different car and the Oxford (UK) factory where it's built continues to be owned by BMW. Now in its second (R56) generation, the MINI has spawned the longer Clubman version and the range will soon expand once more with the MINI Crossman model (more here).
MINI AUnited is the first of a series of events to kick off the anniversary celebrations in Australia. Events will be held right around the country, with the next one, the 50th Mini Show, to be held in July at the Melbourne Showgrounds.
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