The Doncaster Mini Register was launched in August 2004. The Mini club scene was growing around the new car thanks to clubs like Mini2mini, but only as an aiddition to the classic Mini scene.

Having attended the dealer organised preview of the new 'Italian Job' film where over 100 cars turned out here in Doncaster it was thought there might be enough local interest to get a club off the ground just for the BMW Mini.

The dealer wouldn't supply a mailing list of new Mini customers. However they offered to put a mail shot in with the promotional material they were sending out for the new Convertible.

The response was really positive, with over 40 members joining the club in the first few months.

It was coming to the end of the event season in 2004, but we still managaed to attend 'Mini in the Park' at Silverstone and orgainse a couple of runs ourselves.

2005 was a good year for us, with the club going to as many events as possible, and also hosting our own 'Heartbeat Weekend' which was a major success.

It also proved to be the turing point in membership. Initially some Mini owners joined because they thought it was a dealer supported club which it isn't, although Stratstone Mini are very good to us. It is thought that some of these people expected something different. Most of these people didn't attend many events, if any, and then didn't renew membership.

In a way it was good for the club as we were left with the hardcore of Mini owners who are dedicated to having a good time in their cars and making the club work.

2006 was a good year. Lots of events once again, including the birthday event which was huge this year, and really gave us the PR push we needed in the local area.

This year saw membership top 50 for the first time. The forum membership is twice as big as it was last year, and is constantly changing. It now has music, and rotating pictures etc just to make it look more attractive to new visitors.

2007 was our best year though. We attended lots of new events this time, as well as the usual shows at Himley Hall and Stanford. Membership peaked and Jason, the club's founding member recieved the first ever 'Spirit of Ownership' award in the 'Modern Mini' magazine oscars. The award is given to those dedicated to the Mini club scene, and was well desrved.

2008 has proved to be our quietest year, a reflection of the Mini scene as a whole though in these financially hard times. Jason, the club's organiser, has had things to deal with in his personal life which has led to the formation of a club committee in the hope that others can take on the organisation of events etc....

And this is where we are right now....

Membership is open to anyone with a Mini. It still is a club aimed at the BMW Mini but with interest from local Classic Mini owners we welcome those too.

We have male and female members of all ages, some have modified their cars, some haven't. It really doesn't matter.

We have members from as far away as Manchester to the West, Hull to the East, and Wolverhampton and Oxford to the South.

Free associate membership is now available, and the web site is still free to use once registered.

If you want to be part of it, get in touch. And if you want to attend one of our events, try us out before joining as a full member, you would be most welcome.

Thank you for your interest.

Jason

Club Administrator.