The BMW Club may in fact be reaching out to MINI owners, but a skeptic may have noted items in both the Roundel and on the BMWCCA website discussing the fact that club membership is declining. There are a lot of MINI owners who would like to think they have a mini-BMW and could pump up club membership. In fact there is a contest to try to get existing members to refer individuals for CCA membership.

Having said this and sounding like the Grinch, I joined the BMWCCA a few months ago. The Roundel is a great benefit. There are a few references to the MINI in there and to date I've not seen any anti-MINI references. There is an extensive section for write-in tech advice which while not addressing the MINI (yet, hopfully) is very informative. An added benefit is the ability to register for participation in the BMW driving schools held at Watkins Glen. One other thing is that the president of the local chapter is now an enthusiastic MINI owner.

Back in the Fall of 2002 there was an attempt to form a MINI Car Club of America, but it never reached critical mass. If enough MINI owners join the BMWCCA who knows if a MINI section might not form.

Membership is very reasonable ($40/yr) and well worth it.

- dl

-- Edited by Pamlico at 23:07, 2006-01-15

The past few issues of Roundel have had a smattering of MINI-esque things in them with the culmination of a nice spread in the current issue. It's encouraging to see the MINI being accepted.

Receiving the Roundel magazine is worth the price of membership, especially if the MINI ends up getting coverage in the same amount of detail as the Bimmers.