Mini Maniacs: California Meetup

Because%20of%20new%20Safety%20and%20Emissions%20Regulations%2C%20the%20Mini%20was%20withdrawn%20from%20the%20US%20market%20in%201968.%20%28photo%20credit%3A%20Brenda%20Plevyak%29

The%20Southern%20California%20MINI%20Maniacs%20%28SCMM%29%20celebrated%20their%2010-year%20anniversary%20this%20year%20with%20a%20meetup%20to%20benefit%20the%20Semper%20Fi%20Fund%20in%20Tustin%2C%20CA.%20%28photo%20credit%3A%20Brenda%20Plevyak%29

With%20about%201%2C800%20members%2C%20SCMM%20is%20one%20of%20the%20largest%20organizations%20dedicated%20to%20Mini%20Coopers%20in%20the%20world.%20%28photo%20credit%3A%20Brenda%20Plevyak%29

The%201967%20Riley%20Elf%20was%20built%20and%20marketed%20as%20a%20more%20luxurious%20version%20of%20the%20Mini.%20%28photo%20credit%3A%20Brenda%20Plevyak%29

Between%201960%20and%201967%2C%20U.S.%20Mini%20sales%20was%20only%20about%2010%2C000.%20%28photo%20credit%3A%20Brenda%20Plevyak%29

MINI%2C%20spelled%20in%20all%20caps%2C%20either%20refers%20to%20MINI%20as%20a%20brand%20or%20the%20new%20model%20which%20was%20first%20shown%20at%20the%20Mondial%20De%20L%26%238217%3B%C2%80%C2%99Automobile%20show%20in%20Paris%20in%20September%201999.%20%28photo%20credit%3A%20Brenda%20Plevyak%29

To%20make%20more%20room%20in%20the%20cockpit%20in%20the%20first%20Minis%2C%20the%20wheels%20were%20pushed%20out%20to%20the%20corners%20and%20the%20engine%20was%20turned%20sideways.%20%20%28photo%20credit%3A%20Brenda%20Plevyak%29

The%20Southern%20California%20MINI%20Maniacs%20%28SCMM%29%20celebrated%20their%2010-year%20anniversary%20this%20year%20with%20a%20meetup%20to%20benefit%20the%20Semper%20Fi%20Fund%20in%20Tustin%2C%20CA.%20%28photo%20credit%3A%20George%20Marsh%29

The%20Semper%20Fi%20Fund%20is%20a%20nonprofit%20organization%20that%20provides%20immediate%20financial%20support%20for%20injured%20and%20critically%20ill%20members%20of%20the%20U.S.%20Armed%20Forces%20and%20their%20families.%20%28photo%20credit%3A%20George%20Marsh%29

Mini%20owners%20love%20to%20express%20their%20spirit%20and%20personality%20by%20customizing%20their%20vehicles.%20%28photo%20credit%3A%20George%20Marsh%29

Built%20to%20combat%20the%201959%20Suez%20Canal%20Crisis%20fuel%20increases%2C%20Minis%20averaged%2050%20miles%20per%20gallon.%20%20%28photo%20credit%3A%20George%20Marsh%29

Over%20500%2C000%20Minis%20were%20built%20from%201959%20to%201962.%20%28photo%20credit%3A%20George%20Marsh%29

In%201960%2C%20the%20cost%20of%20a%20new%20Mini%20sold%20in%20the%20USA%20was%20%241%2C295%20%28about%20%249%2C440%20in%202012%20dollars%29.%20%28photo%20credit%3A%20George%20Marsh%29

British%20racing%20legend%20John%20Cooper%20got%20his%20hands%20on%20the%20Mini%20in%201959%20and%20two%20years%20later%20unveiled%20the%20Mini%20Cooper%2C%20a%20street%20legal%20performance%20racing%20vehicle.%20%20%28photo%20credit%3A%20George%20Marsh%29

This%20Mini%20was%20fitted%20with%20cold%20air%20induction%2C%20a%20new%20free%20flow%20exhaust%20system%2C%20painted%20calipers%2C%20a%20strut%20bar%20and%20sport%20springs.%20%28photo%20credit%3A%20Michael%20Shen%29

BMW%20bought%20Mini%20in%201994.%20%28photo%20credit%3A%20Michael%20Shen%29

The%20Classic%20Mini%26%238217%3B%C2%80%C2%99s%20roof%20looked%20like%20a%20lid%20on%20the%20rest%20of%20the%20car%26%238217%3B%C2%80%C2%99s%20body.%20This%20effect%20was%20maintained%20with%20new%20Mini%20hardtop%20models%20by%20concealing%20the%20pillars%20behind%20the%20glass.%20%28photo%20credit%3A%20Michael%20Shen%29

%26%238216%3B%C2%80%C2%9CCasper%26%238217%3B%20is%20a%202011%20Clubman%20S.%20The%20Clubman%20has%20an%20extra%20side%20door%20and%20split%20rear%20barn%20doors%20for%20trunk%20access.%20%28photo%20credit%3A%20Michael%20Shen%29

%26%238220%3B%C2%80%C2%9CFreebird%26%238221%3B%C2%80%C2%9D%20sports%20the%20club%20license%20plate.%20%28photo%20credit%3A%20Michael%20Shen%29

%26%238216%3B%C2%80%C2%9CBlue%20Demon%26%238217%3B%C2%80%C2%9D%20is%20a%202006%20John%20Cooper%20Works%20GP%20made%20in%20Italy.%20Only%20400%20exist%20in%20the%20U.S.%20%20%28photo%20credit%3A%20Michael%20Shen%29

With%20over%20300%20horsepower%2C%20a%20different%20engine%20head%20with%20large%20valves%2C%20bigger%20injections%2C%20free%20flowing%20headers%20and%20a%20larger%20catalytic%20converter%2C%20Blue%20Demon%20is%20the%20fastest%20Mini%20in%20the%20organization.%20%28photo%20credit%3A%20Michael%20Shen%29

%26%238216%3B%C2%80%C2%9CMiss%20Molly%26%238217%3B%C2%80%C2%9D%20is%20a%202012%20convertible%20with%20sports%20package.%20The%20first%20Mini%20convertibles%20were%20introduced%20in%202004.%20%28photo%20credit%3A%20Michael%20Shen%29

%26%238216%3B%C2%80%C2%9CThe%20Villain%26%238217%3B%C2%80%C2%9D%20is%20a%202005.%20%28photo%20credit%3A%20Michael%20Shen%29

%26%238216%3B%C2%80%C2%9CBad%20MINI%26%238217%3B%C2%80%C2%9D%20is%20a%202003%20fitted%20with%20a%20new%20intake%2C%20exhaust%2C%20shocks%2C%20springs%2C%20front%20and%20back%20sway%20bars%2C%20and%20a%20supercharger.%20%28photo%20credit%3A%20Michael%20Shen%29

Grille%20badges%20are%20common%20accessories.%20Mini%20also%20sponsors%20a%20Carfun%20Offset%20program%20where%20car%20owners%20can%20donate%20to%20a%20project%20that%20supports%20sustainability%20and%20renewable%20energies.%20Mini%20matches%20your%20donation%20and%20sends%20you%20a%20Carfun%20grille%20badge%20representing%20your%20support%20for%20that%20particular%20project.%20%28photo%20credit%3A%20Michael%20Shen%29

The%202012%20Countryman%20S%20is%20the%20first%20four-door%20Mini%20Cooper.%20%28photo%20credit%3A%20Michael%20Shen%29

In%202002%2C%20a%20bigger%2C%20stronger%20and%20faster%20Mini%20made%20its%20U.S.%20debut.%20%28photo%20credit%3A%20Michael%20Shen%29

In%202002%2C%20a%20bigger%2C%20stronger%20and%20faster%20Mini%20made%20its%20U.S.%20debut.%20%28photo%20credit%3A%20Michael%20Shen%29

For%20those%20who%20can%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%99t%20make%20it%20to%20Malibu%2C%20the%20meetups%20are%20in%20Long%20Beach%20on%20the%20second%20Saturday%20and%20in%20the%20Inland%20Empire%20on%20the%20third%20Saturday%20of%20every%20month.%20%28photo%20credit%3A%20Michael%20Shen%29

On%20the%20first%20Saturday%20of%20every%20month%2C%20SCMM%20has%20a%20meetup%20at%20Coogie%26%238217%3B%C2%80%C2%99s%20in%20Malibu.%20%28photo%20credit%3A%20Michael%20Shen%29

Most%20Minis%20are%20built%20at%20the%20BMW%20Group%20Plant%20near%20Oxford%20in%20the%20U.K.%20The%20Countryman%20is%20built%20in%20Austria.%20%28photo%20credit%3A%20Michael%20Shen%29

On%20the%20first%20Saturday%20of%20every%20month%2C%20SCMM%20has%20a%20meetup%20at%20Coogie%26%238217%3B%C2%80%C2%99s%20in%20Malibu.%20%28photo%20credit%3A%20Michael%20Shen%29

On%20the%20first%20Saturday%20of%20every%20month%2C%20SCMM%20has%20a%20meetup%20at%20Coogie%26%238217%3B%C2%80%C2%99s%20in%20Malibu.%20%28photo%20credit%3A%20Michael%20Shen%29

The%20Mini%20Cooper%20S%20is%20turbocharged%20and%20has%20181%20horsepower%20in%20comparison%20to%20121%20horsepower%20in%20the%20Mini%20Cooper.%20The%20S%20also%20has%20an%20air-intake%20bonnet%20scoop%2C%20larger%20wheels%20and%20a%20unique%20sport%20rear%20spoiler.%20%20%28photo%20credit%3A%20Michael%20Shen%29