A New momentum - Update from Moderator Tony 105 (Roger)
Nov 9, 2020 14:58:11 GMT
mra-minis and limby2000 like this
Post by tony105 on Nov 9, 2020 14:58:11 GMT
I'd like to say hello to everyone both longstanding members and new members alike - and to reintroduce myself.
As you will see from my profile name, I'm Tony 105 (Roger) and I've been a moderator of this amazing forum for some time. I have had a life long passion for the Classic Mini and a real fascination and interest in the automatic AP Mini in particular. In fact, I'm drawn to the variety of BMC vehicles that have shared the AP transmission - having owned two Austin Metro Vanden Plas automatics back in the day, and would love to one day own a Princess 1300 automatic.
I am delighted to see the momentum and enthusiasm that Martin has brought to the site and thank him for taking the initiative to contact us member's in bringing a fresh direction to the forum.
I'd also like to sincerely thank and acknowledge the founders of the site and for taking the time, putting in the work and developing what is a truly unique forum aimed at developing what is - in my view - a significant, important and often little known aspect of the classic Mini's fuller story.
I have a few general idea's with regard to the new features that we can bring to the site - more of shortly. But I think the main issue to consider initially is how we raise the profile of the forum. I'm mindful that the automatic Mini - although a consistently available option from 1965 in a variety of the range of Mini models - the vast majority of vehicles were manual. Added to this, sadly, the transmission, if not cared for or serviced correctly could fail at relatively low mileages. This would often lead the automatic to be viewed with suspicion and tales of how expensive the units are to fix. - which in truth was often the case particularly when Mini's were cheap, disposable cars.
The reality is that mindful that in the late 1950's - early 1960's - automatics were a rare option in the UK and were often better suited to larger cars. The development of a completely new approach in developing an automatic for fitment to a small car captured the 'can do' atmosphere of the era' in addition to offering mobility, independence and choice to a much wider customer group. I personally think that both Sir Alec Issigonis and Automotive Products (AP) are to be congratualted for achieving this aim.
In terms of where we are today, our beloved Classic Mini is now a rare, valuable and iconic design (something we've all known for years, but that the rest of the world has now caught up with !) My feeling is that the automatic Mini has a number of unique challenges to face, it's original rare production volume, the amount of vehicles that have been converted to manual and of course the surviving units now and the challenges owners face in keeping them operational together with finding garages that understand the unit.
Rather than being viewed as potentially troublesome, my feeling is that the Classic Automatic Mini is now something of a delightful curiosity and that's its story needs to be told, preserved and the future of these cars developed.
I would be very interested to hear members views on any of the points I've raised and for your views too on anything 'automatic Mini related.
So, with regard to our forum, I think that how we raise the profile of the Automatic Mini Register' is key. Social medial in all its forms, articles and features within the two Mini publications - and of course the wider generic classic car publications as a starting point.
Secondly - and post Covid restrictions - I think we need to have a 'presence' at Classic Car events - a stand, literature and a sprinkling of members cars would I think do wonders for the Register.
I think our site needs to have more presence of images of our cars, and to bring together our cars and our stories.
An initial area that I think would be a great new feature, would be 'significant automatic Mini's' - for example the recently featured Cilla Black Wood and Pickett Mini that was a front page Mini World car (January 2020).
We know that Automotive Product's were key in the development of the design of the transmission - but how much do we really know about the company ? I'd like to see this developed - do we for example have any former staff within our membership - any memories to share?
I'm aiming to perhaps write a regular article for the register and would welcome any idea's or feature content so please feel free to message on any of the threads or by private message - I'd be delighted to hear from you.
I look forward to a new era for the forum.
